I laughed. “I can't be the first person who's ever told you that,” I said teasingly. “In fact, I can't even be the first person who's told you that tonight, or if I am, it's only because the other guys were all too shy to say it!”
She giggled a little, blushing even worse. “Shall we?” was all she asked, though, cocking her head to the side.
I draped an arm around her shoulders and led her out to the parking lot, where Mark was waiting for us. He opened the car door and ushered Gretchen inside, mouthing wow at me as she climbed in.
My thoughts exactly.
I reached over and caught Gretchen's hand as we drove along. I wasn't normally the hand-holding type, but there was something about being there with her, with her in a dress like that, that just made me feel like I needed some sort of contact with her.
When we got to the beach where the luau was being held, we found that there were already quite a few people there, milling around and getting things set up or else just mingling. I grinned as I looked around, realizing that I was the only non-local there, at least for now.
“I'm honored that you've brought me here with you,” I murmured lowly to Gretchen.
“I'm glad she has as well,” Mark said, grinning crookedly. “Means that I get paid to hang out at a luau for the night!”
I laughed and aimed a swat at the back of his head, which he laughingly ducked. “Yeah, yeah, get out of here,” I told him. “Go have some fun. Maybe get a girl; the cab has a front seat that she can sit in, after all.”
Mark snorted. “I've known all of these girls since we were kids, though,” he said. He shrugged a little. “I could never hook up with another Islander; I know too much about them.” He winked and wandered off, though, quickly attaching himself to a group of friends.
“So, now what?” I asked Gretchen, only partially teasing.
“Now we get a drink, and then I guess I introduce you to some people,” she said, smiling up at me. “Come on.”
We grabbed drinks, and then Gretchen steered me over toward the group. I vaguely recognized her friend Mina from before, at the massage parlor. “Hey everyone,” Gretchen said, greeting them all with a wave and a smile.
The group paused whatever it was that they were talking about and stared over at me. “Who's this?” one of the guys finally asked.
Mina laughed. “It's Christian Wall, the real estate exec,” she said. “Duh.”
One of the guys raised an eyebrow, looking at Gretchen. “You know these luaus are mostly for the locals to get together and see each other,” he said, a disapproving note to his voice.
“I know that,” Gretchen said, tossing her hair a little. “But Christian and I have been hanging out a bit while he's here in Hawaii, and I'm trying to show him the real Hawaii, the places that the tourists don't normally see. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Wouldn't he have more fun at the clubs?” someone else muttered under their breath.
I winced and held up my hands. “Look, if you guys don't want me here, I can leave,” I said. “I didn't mean to intrude or anything like that.”
“Come on,” Mina said, stepping into the middle of the circle. “We don't own the beach. And we get other tourists over here all the time. If he wants to have some fun and chill out with us, we can't just kick him out.”
There were mixed looks from the group, but finally, the first guy who had spoken sighed. “All right,” he said, putting his hands up. “But if you pull anything douchey…”
“Definitely not what I plan to do,” I said tightly.
“So, how long are you here in Hawaii for?” one of the guys, Rob, asked me.
I shrugged. “I'll probably head back to New York after the New Year,” I said, glancing over at Gretchen to see her reaction. But her smile didn't falter. She was proving to be a tough one to crack. I still didn't know what had happened after we had sex or why she'd still come back to find me a couple of days later, but I was starting to wonder just what the deal was.
I liked it though. It kept me on my toes.
“That's a nice little vacation,” Vicky said.
I laughed. “It's been a very nice little vacation,” I agreed. “In fact, I almost wish that I never had to leave. The pace of life is so different here, compared to New York. It's so much calmer. I'm enjoying it.” I tightened my arm around Gretchen's shoulder. “And I've been enjoying this one's company, as well. Not just in the massage parlor; she took me out to some waterfalls the other day too. It was incredible.”
There were smiles all around at that one. “I'm glad you're getting out and seeing different places,” Mina said. “We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful place.”
“Amen,” was the chorus all around.
Later that evening, after the food had been eaten and I had drunk my way to a pleasant buzz, I sat with Gretchen down on the beach, staring out over the waves. “It is pretty here,” I said quietly, almost reverently.