Burning up the Rain (Hawaiian Heroes) (10 page)

He leaned forward to take the can. “Here, let me open that for you,” he said wryly. “Then you can drink it and keep it the h—keep it away from me.” He pulled the tab with a snap and handed the open drink back to her.

“Mahalo.” Toasting him with the can, she took a drink. It was cold, sweet and frothy—delicious. She shifted it to her other hand so she wouldn’t accidently use Jack for a coaster again, and pretended she wasn’t cowering against him.

“Suzy, Benton, please join us,” David said politely. Lalei tensed, her stomach knotting with familiar pain as her mother and Benton walked onto the lanai. Lalei clutched her soda and leaned back against Jack’s bent leg, trying to appear as relaxed as Claire and Melia with their husbands. His warm, hair-roughened skin against hers grounded her, steadied her. Simple human contact or something more? Whatever, nothing on which she could depend. She needed to remember that.

Suzy inclined her head as if conferring a royal favor and allowed Benton to hand her into one of the upright chairs in the shade. She was as out of place among the swimsuited younger group as a bird of paradise plunked in among native hibiscus, Lalei thought with a mixture of love and resentment. And Benton was the stake to hold her upright so she could queen it over this informal arrangement.

Suzy turned her glass-sharp gaze on Jack. “Lalei, you have not properly introduced your…friend.”

Lalei smiled past her clenched teeth. “Mother, Jack Nord. Jack, my mother, Suzy. And Benton Choy.”

“How do you do?” Jack said pleasantly.

Suzy nodded, her smile sweetening in a way that made Lalei tense with suspicion. “And what is that you do, Jack?”

“Jack is a successful businessman in California, Mother,” Lalei answered quickly.

The leg supporting her nudged her back. She glanced at Jack, but he was looking at her mother. Lalei wasn’t sure if the nudge had been a “thank you” or a “shut up”.

“My partner and I have a realty office in Santa Barbara,” he told Suzy.

“We’ve been trying to get him to relocate to Kona,” David added. To Lalei’s surprise, he sounded serious.

“You interested?” Daniel asked.

Jack shrugged, his leg tensing. Lalei took a drink of her soda, wondering why his friends’ interest made him uncomfortable.

“Of course the realty market is quite saturated here,” Benton put in with a sneer. “By those who know the area.”

Jack smiled, showing his teeth. With his sunglasses hiding his blue eyes, he reminded Lalei of a big, lazy wolf. “You’d be surprised. The upper end of the market is where I work.”

“Upper end? How is it that we’ve never heard of your realty?” Suzy put in, her dark eyes wide.

“Oh, you have,” David corrected her gently. “Jack and his partner Tyler have a branch of WorldWide.”

Suzy and Benton were both silenced by the mention of one of the biggest realty firms in the world. Lalei watched her mother reassess the man with whom her daughter had been flagrantly indiscreet. Suzy had a social calculator in her head, which used a direct ratio of wealth, ancestry and social connection to decide the worth of each person she met.

Lalei was impressed herself. But now that she thought about it, she’d bet Jack was a big hit with wealthy clients. Handsome and urbane, he had an easy, joking manner. He would no doubt be willing to match them drink for drink in their environment. At the higher levels of commerce, she knew many business deals were struck on the golf course or aboard someone’s yacht.

Jack was holding his own with Benton and her mother, certainly.

“How about you, Choy?” he asked. “Businessman yourself?”

“Benton has many interests, here and in Asia.” Suzy bestowed a proud smile on all of them while Benton nodded, accepting her fealty.

Lalei caught David’s quizzical glance and had to bite her lip and look away. Her mother was defending Benton the way she herself had defended Jack.

“Ever heard of a guy named Frank Decker?” Daniel asked Benton. “He’s been investing in land here.”

“Ah, yes. TropicSun.” Benton nodded wisely. “Top-end resorts, very high-quality experience. They have several in Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Good news—they’re expanding here to Hawaii.”

No one said anything. Daniel and David stared at Benton as if he’d said something foul. Lalei peered questioningly at Melia, who mouthed something that looked like
tell you later
.

“I don’t know,” Jack drawled. “I hear there’s a grass roots movement to keep them out. Their business practices aren’t well thought of.”

Benton shook his head, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around him. “Anti-progress groups, locals who would rather live in a grass shack and go barefoot than get ahead. They need to get their minds in the twenty-first century.”

“Hawaiians should have a say in the development on our islands,” Lalei retorted, too incensed to keep her mouth closed. “Whether we live in a ‘grass shack’ or a big house on Oahu.”

“Why, Lalei,” said her mother with a brittle smile. “Your friend Diana and her new husband chose a TropicSun resort for their honeymoon just last winter. Don’t you remember, she recommended it to you when you are married?”

“Too bad I’m not going to be married anytime soon, then,” Lalei retorted sweetly.

Suzy’s face tightened. But David, Claire and Melia were all grinning at her. Daniel winked solemnly.

Flustered, Lalei leaned against Jack’s leg. It quivered, and under the guise of taking another sip of her soda, she glanced sideways. He was laughing at her too. She made a face at him behind her soda can.

“TropicSun is a good investment,” Benton insisted, his tone patronizing. “I myself have invested in their newest venture.”

Jack stiffened. Daniel leaned forward, his rough face like thunder. Even David was frowning.

“You mean the one they want to build on this side of the island?” Daniel grated.

Benton nodded. “Yes. It will be very nice—bring in all kinds of quality people to the area. Perhaps you’d like to get in on a piece of the action. I can arrange it if you like.”

Lalei stopped breathing. Danger crackled in the air around them, as if lightning were imminent. Couldn’t the fool feel it? Daniel was scowling as if he’d like to strangle Benton with his bare hands, and Claire was glaring as if she’d like to help.

“Not going to be a good investment,” Jack drawled. “Might want to get your money out while you can, Choy.”

Benton sneered. “I hardly think you’re in a position to know.”

“We are.” Daniel rose. Though he was clad in nothing but gray swim trunks, he had the air of an angry king of old, displeased with a visitor. He glared at Benton. “Jack is right. TropicSun’s development is not going to happen. Not near Nawea.”

Benton stared at him, clearly taken aback by her cousins’ attitude. Suzy fluttered, patting her scarf nervously.

“Here come Mom and Dad,” Claire announced, sounding relieved. A shiny rental car nosed into the curving drive.

“Great,” Melia said brightly. “Let’s see if they want to snorkel.”

“Good idea.” David stood up. “Excuse us, please.”

“Well,” Suzy said, “I think it is time we all got back to the airport. Doesn’t our flight leave in a few hours?”

“Yes,” Benton agreed stiffly. “Lalei?”

She leaned away from him, digging her nails into the lounger. Jack grunted, and she started, realizing that her hand had been resting on his, not the chair. He flipped his hand palm up, capturing hers. “Gotta do something about this sadistic bent of yours,” he muttered just loud enough for her.

“Sorry.” Too upset to be embarrassed, Lalei stared at her mother, ignoring Benton, who stood waiting for her to rise as well. Rebellion burned as Suzy gave her a steely look.

Rescue arrived from an unlikely quarter.

“I’m sorry, Suzy. I should have told you,” Melia said, swinging her legs over the side of her lounger. We invited Lalei to stay a few days longer here at Nawea. Didn’t we, David?”

“We did,” her husband agreed, taking her hand to help her rise. “Sure glad you folks could make it over.”

“Great that you could come to the wedding,” Daniel agreed, shoving himself out of his chair and pulling Claire after him. “Suzy, thanks again for the great, ah…”

“Towels,” Claire finished. “So beautiful, and what quality. We’ll use them for years and years.”

Lalei wondered if she’d lost her mind or if they had. Claire, gushing over towels?

Her backrest moved again, nearly catapulting her off the lounger. Jack giving her another nudge, this one not so gentle. She shot to her feet. “Oh yes. Sorry, Mama. Forgot to tell you I’m staying on. I’ll be home…Thursday or so.”

She moved forward, ducking Benton, and gave her mother an air kiss near her perfumed cheek. “See you soon.”

“You are behaving like a—a loose island girl,” Suzy hissed near her ear. Aloud, she added plaintively, “Benton, I’m so sorry about the wasted money on the plane ticket.”

“I’ll reimburse him,” Lalei said through her teeth. “Better go. Don’t want to miss your flight.” She and her mother traded one last glare, and then Suzy turned away, her chin high, reaching for Benton’s arm. But he was staring at Lalei, his face so tight that white lines creased his cheeks.

“I’ll walk you up.” David offered his arm to Suzy. “You can take the Ford Escape. Just leave it in long-term parking, and someone will pick it up tomorrow.”

“Lalei.” Benton’s sharp voice made Lalei react as usual, freezing. Why couldn’t she just walk away? Even after her wild rebellion last night, all those years of ladylike pliancy were drilled into her very bones. “Please walk with me and your mother.”

She nodded tightly and walked beside him, around the palms and up the lawn. The sun was hot on her back, the grass cool and prickly under her bare feet.

“I am extremely displeased by your behavior,” he said coldly as soon as they were out of earshot of those on the lanai. “As is Suzy. You must put all this foolishness aside and come back to Honolulu with us.”

Lalei stared at him from behind her sunglasses, her heart sinking. He still wanted her after he knew—hell, after he’d
heard her
having sex with Jack?

He gazed straight ahead, his stance implacable. “I am prepared to overlook this episode, if you promise it will be the last of this…promiscuousness.”

Lalei flinched as if he’d slapped her, shocked and then furious. “I am not a whore, Benton. Jack is—”

He cut off her words with a sharp motion of his free hand. “It is clearly the influence of this branch of the Ho’omalus. They live the old-fashioned island lifestyle, free and easy. You do not belong here—you are your mother’s daughter.”

Lalei didn’t care any longer if anyone saw them. She pointed her finger at him, shaking with rage. “Don’t you insult my ohana. I am proud to be a Ho’omalu. My behavior is
my
choice.”

She realized her voice had risen only when the nearest door into the house opened, and Homu stepped out. He stood there in the deep shade of the lanai, watching.

Lalei shook her head at Benton. “You’re the one who should return to Honolulu. I’m staying here. And I may not come back.”

With that, she turned and ran across the lawn toward the house. Homu held the door open for her, his brows lowering as he looked past her at Benton.

The screen door slapped softly shut behind her as Lalei stopped in the middle of the cool, comfortable room. A ceiling fan stirred the air lazily, the day’s newspapers were strewn across a table, and a laptop sat open on the ottoman before a big, comfortable chair.

“You are very upset, keiki.” Homu touched her shoulder, his deep voice kind.

Lalei wrapped her arms around her bare midriff, hot tears flooding her eyes. “I’m sorry to make a fuss in your home. I should never have let Mother bring him here.”

Homu surprised her by chuckling. “Might have been difficult to stop her. Suzy is very good in her sweet way, at getting what she wants.”

Lalei lifted one hand and swiped at her wet cheeks, somehow not embarrassed to cry in front of him. “You know her well.”

“
‘Ae,
yes.”

This calm acknowledgement made her look up into his face. “Uncle…why did you invite her here, to Daniel’s wedding?” The two sides of her family had little in common other than their Hawaiian heritage.

Homu sighed. “Always before, Lalei, you have come to us by yourself. You pass back and forth between da Big Island and Honolulu, between the two sides of Hawaii. And each time you return to us, you seem…less comfortable here, less able to relax and be the girl we remember. I hope that you don’t think your old uncle and auntie meddle too much, but we wanted Suzy with you this time so that you can see the difference in the two parts of your life.”

Lalei sniffled. “Maybe Benton’s right and I don’t belong here either. I am my mother’s daughter.” As she repeated his words, they sank in her middle like a stone weight.

“You are your father’s daughter as well. You are Ho’omalu. You will always belong here,” her uncle corrected. He smiled at her, but his eyes remained serious. “If you want to. And you are indeed your mother’s daughter. But perhaps that means something other than what you think.”