White Ginger Read Free Page A

perfume. “I think I’m going to love being here.”
    Behind her, Arne unloaded her gear from the jeep. Using a flashlight from the glove compartment, he located the electricity box and switched the power on. Light blazed out across the strip of lawn, revealing a small grassed parking area amidst lush tropical vegetation. A few meters further on, the land dropped away.
    “We must overlook the beach.” Lured by the thrill of the unknown, she wandered toward the cliff edge. Dune grasses waved in the sea breeze and the clean scent of the sea carried on the night air.
    Arne joined her, directing her attention with his torch to a break in the dune grass. “There’s a path to the beach down here. Do you want to have a look now?”
    Amelie stifled a yawn. “Much as I’d love to, I think I’ll wait till morning. Would you like a cuppa?”
    “Cuppa? As in…”
    “Hot drink?” Amelie rubbed her gritty eyes.
    Great time to meet such a nice guy. Looking like something the cat dragged in and all but asleep on my feet.
    Arne held the screen door open for her. “Thanks. Come on in. I’ll help you get set up.”
    “You know this place well?”
    “Yep. Friends of mine lived here until they moved to Honolulu.” Arne led the way to the kitchen and put the grocery bags on the counter.
    She pulled out several items, searching for the jar of coffee and held it up. “Would you like a drink?”
    “Yes, please. There should be a coffee pot here somewhere.” He rummaged in a cupboard below the counter and then stood, flourishing a silver hot pot.
    “Thank you, Arne. You’ve certainly been my white knight today.”
    “At your service, ma’am.” He doffed a pretend cap in her direction. “If you’d care to drive in with me, I’m going to the airport to pick up some equipment on Saturday after next. We could pick up your replacement car then. I’d suggest a four-wheel drive vehicle next time though.”
    “That’s what I booked and they told me they had none left.”
    “I’ll sort it out with Jimi.” Arne’s voice deepened. “I can’t imagine who would have thought that gray pile would be suitable for this end of the island. It’s rough driving here.”
    “And yes, I did tell them where I would be driving, and for how long.”
    She leaned a hip against the cupboard, an odd mixture of exasperation and elation filling her chest. She’d be without transport for several days, a nuisance, surely, but not an insurmountable problem. However, if not for the abysmal failure of her hire car, she would not now be enjoying Arne’s company. Strange how one got what one wished for.
    She looked across the room, meeting his chocolate brown gaze.
    A girl could lose herself in those eyes.
    “So…how long will you be on Kauai?”
    “Three months.”
    Arne folded his arms and leaned back against the door frame. His slow smile touched something in her, lightening the depression of Victor’s walking out on her. “I’d be happy to chauffeur you until your car is ready. By the way, there’s a luau on the point just out of town the last Friday of the month. Would you like to come and see how it’s done?”
    His gaze locked with hers. He could suggest any destination and she’d accept if she were the object of his attention.
    What a welcome to Kauai.
    “Thank you, yes.”
    The hot pot whistled.
    “Coffee?” she asked.
    * * * *
    Arne parked in front of her cabin late the next afternoon. Would Amelie like the Australian chardonnay he’d selected? He hoped a taste of home would be welcome. He called out as he mounted the steps.
    “Amelie?”
    She came through the screen door wearing an oversize, paint-spattered khaki man’s shirt, and carrying a loaded paintbrush in one hand and an artist’s palette in the other. A smudge of blue paint highlighted her cheekbone and her hands were covered in a mix of greens and blues. Strands of hair escaped from her high ponytail. Her sea-blue eyes lit up with pleasure as she greeted