Lei'd With Cupcakes (Cupcakes 3)

“What’s the matter, don’t think you can keep your hands to yourself?”

“Shut up,” I grumbled, causing him to laugh.

“C’mon, I’m hungry,” Cade said, changing the subject as he grabbed my hand and pulled me from the room.

I took one last look at the bed over my shoulder, wondering how in the hell I would manage to keep my hands off of him at night, before turning back to pay attention to where we were headed.

Elin and Elena were still in the same spot, except now they had milk to go with their cookies.

“Mama,” Cade called once we hit the open area. “Please tell me you have some poi and laulau ready for me.”

Cade’s mother just beamed, then turned to pull some covered dishes from behind her and placed them on the counter.

“Aloha au ia ‘oe,” he said, before kissing her on the cheek and letting go of my hand so he could uncover the dishes.

“Lila, can I get you something to eat or drink?” Cade’s mother asked.

“You gotta try these cookies, Mom,” Elin mumbled, holding up the cookie in his hand.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I said, then turned to reply to Cade’s mother. “I’d love some water, thank you.”

“Here, you have to have some pork laulau,” Cade said, his mouth also full. “This shit is the best.”

“Swear jar!” Elin shouted, his mouth still full.

I turned to Cade’s mom with a smile and said, “I give up.”

I sat down at the table with my water and some pork, while Elin explained the concept of the swear jar to Cade’s dad.

“Any time they swear, they have to put a dollar in the jar,” Elin said as he licked chocolate off of his fingers. “Then we use the money for something for the family. Since Cade’s been around, we’ve saved like two hundred bucks! I’m hoping for the new Xbox, but Elena wants some video equipment. She wants to start her own YouTube channel.”

“YouTube Channel?” Cade’s dad asked, obviously confused.

As Elin and Elena illuminated the Wilkes’ about wonders of YouTube, I took my dishes to the sink, cleaned them, and put them in the drying rack, then walked toward the back of the house. I could barely make out the view of the ocean from where I’d been sitting, but when I rounded the corner of the kitchen, the full view slapped me in the face.

It was breathtaking.

I paused, happy to just take in the sight for a few moments, then crossed to the sliding glass door and opened it.

Waves crashed onto the beach that made up Cade’s family’s backyard. There were palm trees framing the yard, and a small patch of grass that led from the back door to the sand. I took it all in as I shut the door behind me, then took a deep breath of ocean air and smiled.

I looked to the left and saw a dog house, which made me wonder, since I had yet to see a dog. Then I turned my head right, and sighed when I saw a hammock set up between two palm trees.

My feet carried me toward the hammock, as if they were fully in tune with my heart in that moment.

I sat on the polyester fabric, then swiveled to bring my feet up and laid my head back. I closed my eyes as the hammock swayed gently, and listened to the ocean hitting the shore.

Bliss.

I’m not sure how long I stayed there, or if I dozed off, but I opened my eyes when I heard the sliding glass door open. Then watched serenely as Cade moved toward me.

“I don’t know how you ever left here,” I managed, my voice low and rough.

“It’s pretty perfect, isn’t it,” Cade remarked, his gaze on the vast ocean in front of us.

“It sure it,” I replied with a dreamy smile. “Wait until the kids see this. They’re going to want to spend the rest of their time right there in the water.”

“Pops is already talking about surf lessons in the morning,” Cade replied with a grin. “Elin isn’t sure, but Lena is all for it.”