Pleasure in Hawaii (Kimani Romance) Read Free Page A

the wave had hit her, she looked around for Gene but didn’t see him anywhere. A tiny streak of disappointment whizzed through her, as if he should be at her beck and call. The reality was that he had better things to do than hang around in hopes that she might show up again.
    Sloane looked up toward the bed-and-breakfast, which sat on a hill and offered a nice view of the ocean. She was having second thoughts about making contact with him again after they had already said their goodbyes. Would she give him the wrong impression by showing up there?
    Never being known for backpedaling once she had made up her mind, Sloane sprinted across the sand and up some steps. She marveled at the rectangular plantation house. It was alabaster and embodied the Southern country manor, neoclassical and Greek revival styles she had always admired in magazines with its low-pitched roof, soaring columns and tall French windows bordered by black wooden shutters. When she was a little girl, Sloane had imagined living in such a house.
    She stepped onto the lanai and was about to knock on the half-glass, stained front door when it opened. A young couple stood there in matching colorful outfits.
    “Aloha,” they said.
    Sloane smiled. “Aloha.”
    They came out and skipped along on their way. Sloane went in and stepped onto the hickory hardwood floor. The interior was open and roomy, with a blend of antique and contemporary furnishings. Some hanging spider and Swedish ivy plants gave the interior a homey feel.
    An attractive dark-skinned woman in her thirties approached Sloane. “Hi. Are you looking for Gene?”
    Sloane wondered if she was his wife. “Yes, I am. I just wanted to—”
    “There he is,” the woman interrupted as Gene walked in from the kitchen. “I think another guest has arrived.”
    “Sloane—” His tone and wide-eyed look told her that he clearly wasn’t expecting to see her in his establishment.
    The woman smiled at Sloane and turned to Gene with a little wave. “Be back later. Have fun.”
    Sloane watched her leave the house before facing Gene. Like the day before, he was a sight for sore eyes, and he seemed just as taken by her. She liked the way he smelled of a nice woodsy-type cologne.
    “Hey,” he said, smoothing a thick eyebrow.
    “Hi.” Sloane felt slightly awkward but hoped it didn’t show.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I just wanted to check out your bed-and-breakfast,” she told him as the first thing that popped into her head. “Hope you don’t mind?”
    His amazing eyes creased at the corners. “Not at all. You’re more than welcome.”
    “Thanks.” Sloane paused, thinking this was a good start. “I’ve never been in a bed-and-breakfast before.”
    “I’ll be happy to show you around. It’s a cool place to stay for anyone who wishes to enjoy the surroundings in a down-to-earth, family-friendly-type atmosphere.”
    She lifted a brow playfully. “You mean unlike at the big resort hotels?”
    He grinned. “Didn’t say that. Different strokes for different folks. Some people prefer big, extravagant, expensive places for their vacation. Others want a more relaxed, laid-back place that won’t take much of a bite out of their wallet.”
    Sloane couldn’t argue with that. The reality was, she actually would have preferred more modest trappings had she been there as a vacationer, especially with the host being so appealing and sexy.
    She gazed up at him. “So, was that woman who just left your wife or…?”
    “No,” Gene said, jutting his chin. “Her name is Ngozi. She’s a guest from Tanzania. I’m not married, divorced actually, and not currently seeing anyone.”
    “Oh.” Sloane tried to pretend to be nonchalant at the news. I never would have imagined a man like you would be available.
    Gene angled his eyes upon her. “How about you?”
    “Single, never married.”
    “So the right fellow has never come along?” he asked curiously.
    Sloane considered whether this was the