Burning up the Rain (Hawaiian Heroes) (14 page)

He walked into the big, sunny kitchen thirty minutes later, showered and shaved, dressed in a light T-shirt and shorts, shored up with pain tablets and antacids. Leilani, the Nawea cook and housekeeper, was just leaving. “Coffee and breakfast all ready,” she told him with a smile. “Enjoy.”

Malu sat at the big kitchen island in a dark silk tee and slacks, a cup of coffee and empty plate before him. He smiled at Jack without saying a word.

Jack walked over to fill a mug with coffee and then to perch on the stool beside his old friend. As he eyed the array of fresh malasadas, cornbread, fruit and covered dishes on the big counter, his stomach rebelled.

He swallowed a small mouthful of coffee and stared out the window at the palm trees waving in the morning breeze along the beach, the sea a sparkling turquoise behind them.

“Howzit?” Malu asked quietly.

Jack had to wait until he had control of his voice to answer. Here he sat in the middle of paradise. He had a successful career waiting for him back in California, great friends and things to do. Not to mention a new wahine who was more exciting, irritating and enticing than any he’d ever met. And yet he felt like something a
paniolo
, Hawaiian cowboy, would scrape off the bottom of his boot.

“I, uh—” He cleared his throat, swallowing hard. “I’ve got to slow down. On my drinking.” There, the words were said, their echo hanging in the sunlit air of the quiet kitchen. He drank too much.

Malu put a big hand on Jack’s shoulder and squeezed. “Sorry you have to deal with that, moke.”

Jack leaned his face in his hands, digging the heels into his eyes. He took a deep breath. “It’s such a mellow high, you know? Everything’s great, until… Sometimes, I just forget to stop when I should.”

Malu waited.

“Blacked out a month ago,” Jack went on, forcing the words out, lancing the wound. “Wrecked my Lincoln Nav. Went off the road in the dark, out by Vista Point. Woke up the next morning with the Nav on its side in the bushes, fucking airbag in my face. Side of my rig was all smashed in.

“Should’ve lost my license for that one, but by the time I crawled out and called the cops, I was sober. Boy, was I sober. Almost pissed myself when I saw where I was. Nothing but a big fucking rock holding the Nav from going over, a hundred feet down off a cliff, into the rocks and the surf.”

He lifted his head, hands to his mouth, staring blindly. “Should’ve killed me,” he mumbled. “But it didn’t, so I guess…I’m supposed to be here.”

Malu shook him a little. “Yeah, you’re supposed to be here, fool. Got a lot of people who love you.”

Jack nodded. “I know. I know that. I’m just…I don’t know. Tired, I guess.” He glanced at his friend and then away, shame burning in his gut. “Man, I’m sorry, laying this on you. You’ve got enough on your plate right now, with the baby and this development to fight.”

Malu’s heavy brows drew together, his exasperation clear. “Jack, you’re one of my best friends. You’re not bothering me, man. I’m here for you, and so’s Daniel. Moke, we both noticed you were whacked when you rolled in here. Stay here at Nawea for a while. Take it easy.”

“Thanks,” Jack said, touched by the offer.

Malu held on to Jack’s shoulder for a moment longer, his grip warming, so much that it seemed to burn right through Jack’s cotton T-shirt.

“E nonoi i ka Haku e kōkua iā ‘oe, a Pele ho’op maika’i,”
he intoned.

Jack blinked. Just for a second there, it was as if another Malu was transposed onto his friend’s face, a stately warrior with authority in his mien and voice.

He nodded, pleased but bewildered. “Mahalo, but…say what?”

“I ask God to send you help, and I ask Pele for a blessing.” Malu let him go and rose to walk over to the coffeepot. “Now you betta eat up, moke. Gonna need you grinds.”

Jack was surprised to realize he did feel better. In fact, as he looked at the big plate of Leilani’s malasadas, his stomach growled.

He got up to fill a plate with malasadas, scrambled eggs and bacon, nodding his thanks as Malu refilled his coffee mug.

“I got somebody you should meet,” the big Hawaiian said. “Somebody who might help you. His name is Lenny Liho’o. He lives up Kau Forest. You gotta hike to get up there, okay?”

Jack stared at his food, embarrassed. It wasn’t like he needed help, not really. He just needed to slow down, have a couple of drinks instead of a lot. But then he shrugged, forking up a bite of scrambled eggs. He had nothing else to do today.

Malu nodded. “Good, here’s how you go.” He described a path up the mountain. “I’ll call him, let him know you’re coming. You can bring him some of Leilani’s malas; he eat dem fo’ days.”

As Jack tucked into his breakfast, Melia walked into the kitchen. He was surprised to see that she wore a dress, makeup and carried a jacket over her arm. Despite being dressed up, she didn’t look her usual perky self.

“Morning, Jack. Honey, are you ready?”

“Morning.” Jack swallowed his bite of eggs. “You two going into town?” Maybe she had an obstetrician appointment and was worried about that. Pregnancy was a risky business. His married friends seemed to worry until the kid popped out okay, when they switched to worrying about whether it would get into the right preschool to prepare for one of the Ivy League colleges.

“Yeah,” Malu said, reaching for a jacket hanging over his chair. “Meeting with our lawyers about the development.”

Jack took a swig of coffee, wincing as it burned his mouth. “You did mention that last evening. You want me to come, see if I can lend any counsel from the realty end of things?”

“That’s sweet,” Melia said.

Malu shook his head. “Don’t worry, we’ll be asking for your counsel, my friend. Today is just bringing us up to speed on an injunction we’re trying to get against them cutting any roads.”

He put a hand on his wife’s back, steering her toward the door. “We’ll be back this afternoon. I’ll fill you in on what happens, see what you think.”

“You’re driving all the way over there and back?” Jack was glad he didn’t have to tackle any winding roads this morning.

“Nah, going the fast way. Renting a chopper.”

Jack raised his coffee mug in a salute. Fastest way around the Big Island, that was for sure.

No sooner had the couple left than Jack’s cell phone rang. He grabbed it automatically from his pocket, and scowled as he saw his partner’s name displayed. He’d known this call was coming and dreaded it.

“Hey, Tyler,” he said, forking up another bite of eggs. “What’s up?”

“What do you mean, what’s up?” his partner demanded. “You were supposed to call me last night, about the Eagle Crest Canyon deal. What happen, you have one too many again and forget?”

Jack set his fork down, appetite gone. He closed his eyes, rubbing his free hand over his forehead. “You know what, man, you’re right. That’s exactly what happened. And I’m sorry.”

There was a short silence. “Well,” said his long-time friend and partner, “that’s a start. At least you’re admitting…y’know.”

“That I’ve got…a problem,” Jack finished for him. “Yeah, I am. And I’ll tell you what, here’s what I think you should do with Eagle Crest. You and Marisa handle it. Make it your deal, and take me out of it.”

“What?” Tyler sounded dumbfounded. “You mean it? But…you’re the one who got us the deal, man.”

Jack snorted. “Yeah, I got it, and you and I both know I almost lost it too. I was wasted that night at the club, and I don’t think any of the Eagle Crest folks were real impressed.”

“Well,” Tyler hedged. “Polly Symes was making prissy faces, but—”

“But nothing.” Jack smiled wryly. He could picture Tyler sitting back in his chair, raking his fingers through his short, spiky red hair as he tried to put a positive spin on things. “She’s the balls of that bunch, and don’t you forget it, son.”

Tyler snickered, and Jack laughed with him. Then he slid off his stool and walked over to the window, looking out at the peaceful scene. Frank was down on the dock, polishing his boat, while the sun sparkled on the sea behind him.

“No, I mean it,” he said. “The deal is yours. You can, uh, e-mail me the paperwork, and I’ll sign off on it and send it back. Marisa’s ready, you know she is. The two of you’ll do a good job, a great one.”

“Thanks, man.” Tyler sounded choked up. “Jack—you should take some time, just hang out there. Man, you’re in freakin’ paradise. Stay for a while. The next deal, we’ll haul you back in and off we’ll go.”

“Yeah,” Jack said. “You bet. I’ll, uh, let you know what my plans are. Anything comes up that needs my name on it in the next few days, just send it. And tell Whitney I’m fine, not to worry.” His assistant fussed over him like he was one of her teenagers.

“All right, man. Take care.”

Jack clicked his phone shut and then stood there for a moment, feeling the quiet settle down on him like a light cloak. For once, it didn’t feel as if it would suffocate him.

He turned back to the kitchen, and stopped short. Lalei leaned on the counter by the coffeemaker, a cup in her hands. She wore a pair of brief brown jogging shorts, a tiny halter the same color and running shoes. Her hair was caught back under a white baseball cap. Her golden skin gleamed with perspiration.

“So,” she said. “You’re going to be staying for a while, hmm?”

Embarrassment forged into anger. He shoved his phone into the pocket of his shorts. “How much did you hear?”

She looked startled. “Of your phone conversation? The last few words. Was it private?”

He shook his head, pissed at himself now. “No—yeah. But, I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Guess this is a public space.”

She shrugged, a flirtatious little move of her slender shoulders. “You can snap as much as you want, big guy. I bite back.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you do.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, because he wanted to reach for her and brush back the little strand of hair that was stuck to her cheek, and then…

“So, you want to go for a snorkel with me?” she asked.

He stared at her. What he wanted was to take her back in his bedroom and pick up where they’d left off this morning, lose himself in her. He scowled, because he couldn’t very well say that—could he? What would her reaction be to He shifted uncomfortably. Not that she hadn’t used him first, but…
Baby, what I really want to do is get naked with you and stay that way all day, use you to help me forget?
She’d think he was a total user, that’s what.

“Hey.” She turned away, cup in hand. “Not that big of a decision, moke.”

“No, listen,” he said, running his hand over his hair. Shit, he couldn’t even remember her question. “It’s just—I have to see someone.”

“Whatever,” she threw over her shoulder. Then she was gone.

He blew out a breath of disgust. Great, he’d hurt her feelings. Well, the hell with it. He had to see this Lenny Li-ho-ho or whatever his name was. And take him sweet rolls.

Lalei was steaming as she stalked into her room and ripped off her baseball cap, tossing it on the bed. Her halter top and shorts followed, and her shoes landed on the floor outside the bathroom. Everyone here had things to do, it seemed, except her.

She’d met Malu and Melia outside, getting into Malu’s big shiny pickup to drive out to Kona airport, where they were meeting Homu to fly to Hilo.

Daniel and Claire were off on their honeymoon cruise.

Even Jack, who was supposed to be here to relax, was busy with his mysterious errand. He’d actually blushed. She stopped dead, her bikini bottoms in her hand. He was meeting a woman, that was it. Why else would he be so embarrassed? He’d been like a big keiki with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

She yanked her bikini on with sharp movements. Why on earth had she thought staying here was a good idea? None of her cousins were here, and apparently even her new lover didn’t consider her important enough to spend time with. Well, the next time that big football jock got amorous, he was going to get a surprise.

The truth niggled at her as she walked outside, rash-guard shirt in hand. Her feelings were hurt, yes. But more than that, with no one around, she’d have lots of time to think—that was what she was really afraid of. Time to remember her fight with her mother and all the phone calls she’d been ignoring. Time to recall her dreams or visions or whatever they were.

Time to remember that she’d called the rain.

“I am my mother’s daughter,” she whispered to herself. She said it again, aloud this time. “I am my mother’s daughter.”

But whose? Suzy Kai’s or…Madame Pele’s? The idea that her vision, her dream, had actually been real scared the pee out of her.

On her run up along the mountain roads this morning, she hadn’t let herself think, just pushed her body faster and harder so that all she could concentrate on was her breathing, her heartbeat, her striving limbs. The exertion had helped, the endorphins flooding her system, relaxing her as usual.

But now in this quiet moment, it all hit her again, the uncertainty, the terror of being handed a responsibility that was so much bigger than she could handle. She was just a gallery manager from Honolulu, for heaven’s sake. She wasn’t ready to be told she was a wild child of Hawaiian nature.