Too Hot Four Hula: 4 (The Tiki Goddess Mystery Series) Read Free

tall, dark, and handsome hapa -Hawaiian detective who moonlighted as a fire knife dancer at luau shows. But it was too soon after a messy divorce to ride that wave again.
    “Where is he? I thought he’d be here tonight,” Sophie said.
    “He ended up on a case.”
    “Wonder if it had anything to do with all the cop cars that raced by headed north a few minutes ago?”
    “Probably. He called about forty minutes before. That would have given him time to drive out here.”
    “Too bad he won’t be here.” Sophie nodded toward the ladies’ room door. “Looks like the old girls are good to go. Kiki said she has a special number planned.”
    “When doesn’t she plan something special?”
    “Hopefully they won’t set the place on fire tonight.”
    “I told her all dances that involve flaming coconuts or anything to do with fire are kapu . Don’t let them try anything dangerous while we’re gone.”
    The last time Kiki and the Maidens performed a “special” number they’d nearly burned the place down, though the incident inspired the flaming cocktail that Louie entered into the regionals.
    “How much damage can they do in a week?” Sophie wondered.
    “Don’t even go there.” Em saw Louie waving her over to the table and waved back.
    “I’ve got this,” Sophie said. “Go join Louie. The show’s about to start.”
    “You sure?”
    “Go. Your dinner is probably cold by now.”
    “No worries. Kimo’s macadamia nut-crusted seared ahi is perfect hot or cold.”
    Em left the bar and threaded her way across the room to a table right in front of the stage. Her uncle was holding court wearing a pile of lei from well-wishers. They were so thick around his neck they nearly reached his chin.
    Completely oblivious of the humidity, he looked as dashing and debonair as ever in one of the colorful silk aloha shirts from his vast collection of originals made in the forties. Loose white linen pants completed his outfit. His thick white hair and golden tan accentuated his deep blue eyes. Six foot two and in great shape, Louie could command a room with his megawatt smile.
    “Here she is.” He rose and pulled out Em’s chair with a flourish and remained standing until she was seated. “Em, you know everyone, don’t you?”
    She smiled at the people gathered the table and nodded.
    “Of course. Thank you all for coming.”
    “Are you kidding me?” Jack Robbins, the part-timer from New York, had to yell to be heard over the din. The crowd nearly drowned out the Tiki Tones, the three-pieced combo playing old retro Hawaiian tunes on stage. “We’re delighted to be here!” Jack pounded Louie on the back with one hand and fanned himself with a dessert menu with the other. “Louie and Irene were the first people we ever met when we bought our condo here thirty years ago. Never saw two people as full of aloha, that’s for sure.”
    “They were quite a team,” Em agreed.
    A life-sized portrait of Louie’s deceased wife, Irene Kakaulanipuakaulani Hickam Marshall graced the wall above the stage. Irene appeared to be smiling her regal Hawaiian smile down on the revelers. Each evening Louie wrapped up the nightly entertainment with a song he had written especially for Irene, his Tiki Goddess. All the old timers, the kama’aina , and the newcomers, malihini , joined in to help Louie salute the one true love of his life.
    Em took a bite of her ahi . It was so delicious she stifled a moan of delight. Kimo, their chef, was Kiki’s husband. He had outdone himself tonight. The thick fillet of ahi was seared to perfection. His aioli sauce to die for, and the ahi was nestled on a creamy bed of whipped purple sweet potatoes.
    “Aren’t you having a Great Ball of Fire?” Annette Robbins, Jack’s wife, was a blonde. She was seated across from Em. She held up her glass for a toast.
    “I’m fine with water.” Em figured it best to stay clearheaded while the Hula Maidens were on stage. She picked up her water glass. “Plenty