Sidelined

“Maui. I’ve always wanted to go to Maui.” Secretly, it’s where she always wanted to have her honeymoon, but she wasn’t about to spill that tidbit.

“Done. I’ll work on the tickets this week. Better start buying lots of bikinis and more of that lingerie I like.”

Skye imagined if she could see his face he would wink at her.

“You got it.” She suppressed a squeal. “I can’t believe it.”

“I have to go, but I’ll call you in a few days. Bye, baby.”

“Bye.” She sighed as she tossed the phone on the bed. She hopped to her feet and started jumping on the mattress until all the pillows on her bed had been jostled to the floor. “I’m going to Maui. I’m going to Maui.” She started a hula dance and fell in a heap of giggles on the bed.

Twenty-Seven

Bolt tried not to clutch the lei made of orchids in his fist, but he was so damn nervous. It had been over two months since he had seen Skye. Talking on the phone and emails weren’t enough. He thought about her when he was running, when he was in the shower, when he was flying. She had crept into every part of his life. He had to tell her what he was feeling. The only problem was that he was terrified.

He waited next to baggage claim. He had taken a commercial flight the day before, wanting to make sure he was there to greet her when she stepped off the plane. The shells that were looped around his neck were starting to itch, but he didn’t want to take them off. He thought Skye would want the entire Hawaiian experience.

It seemed like every couple that passed him was in Hawaii on their honeymoon. He recognized the look they were wearing. It was the same one he saw on Skye’s face when they woke up together, when they sipped coffee together, or bet on baseball games. It was pure, devoted love.

He straightened his shoulders. The baggage carousel lights started to flash. Skye’s plane had arrived.

A line of passengers walked toward him. He dodged the newlyweds, searching the crowd for Skye. Then he saw her. Her raven hair, flowing around her shoulders. A white halter was tied around her neck, showing off her bronzed shoulders. Bolt couldn’t stand it. Humility be damned. He ran toward her, scooping her in his arms. She hopped forward, wrapping her legs around him.

“Hey, you.” She smiled before his mouth claimed hers.

She tasted like cinnamon and smelled like vanilla. He inhaled every part of her, his hands tangling through her hair. His chest surged with an aching that was eased as her fingers clasped around his neck.

“I missed you, baby.” He whispered in her neck.

“Me too.” She planted her feet on the airport floor. “I can’t believe I’m here. That you’re here.”

“Damn it,” he mumbled.

“What’s wrong?”

He held up the lei, some of the orchids were bent. “I had this whole ‘aloha’ thing planned, but when I saw you, I couldn’t think of anything else.”

Skye giggled. “It was the best aloha a girl could ask for.” She pointed toward the revolving carousel. “There’s my bag. The flowered one.”

Bolt wedged himself between another set of newlyweds and grabbed her bag, pulling it to the floor so they could wheel it out of the airport.

“Did you pack all my special requests?” He winked.

“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see if I have any surprises for you.” He couldn’t keep his lips off of her. He stole a kiss along her neck as they walked into the warm Hawaiian sun.

“I have a rental car in the visitor lot.” He led her across the lanes of baggage claim pickup.

“This is cute.” Skye admired the red two-door convertible.

“I figured we’re on a Hawaiian vacation. I have to do this right.” He tossed her luggage in the trunk and rushed to open the passenger door for her.

“Thanks.” She lingered long enough for him to kiss her again.

He couldn’t wait to get back to the resort. He had champagne, Hawaiian music, the whole thing ready to go. Now that she was here, they could finally get started.

Bolt held a cup of pineapple toward Skye. “Want some?”

“Sure.” She leaned across the lounge and he slipped a piece of the white fruit in her mouth. It was the third day in a row they had rented a cabana on the beach.