Leia watched her, and in a few minutes, Candace began to look a little more alert. “You can’t do this again,” Leia said. “You have to think about the baby.”
Candace sat up straighter. “Tony would have made such a good fa—father. I’ll make a terrible mother.”
“You’ll be fine.” Leia smoothed Candace’s hair back from her forehead. “Look at the way you baby your flowers. You’ll be a great mother. It will be hard, but I’ll be here for you, and so will the rest of your friends.”
Candace clutched Leia’s hands. “You think so? I haven’t been around kids much. I—I’m scared to do this by myself.”
“I think it will come naturally to you. But you have to take care of yourself. No more alcohol. It’s bad for the baby.”
Fresh tears filled Candace’s eyes. “Is it really? I haven’t been to the doctor yet. Do you think I hurt the baby?”
“You’re going to be fine. Your baby is going to be fine. But you have to go see the doctor and let him tell you how to care for yourself.” Candace nodded and Leia let her lean back against the sofa again, then forced a few more sips of the drink down her. “I’ll be right back,” she told Candace before she went to tell Bane she needed to stay here.
Bane was leaning against the trunk of the car with his arms folded over his chest. “Is she okay?”
“Not really. She’s been drinking. I think I should stay with her tonight. Mahalo for bringing me over.”
“I’ll come by and get you for work in the morning. You’re stranded here.”
“What time?”
“About eight?”
“You know, don’t bother. I want to get my mom’s boat anyway. I’ll have Malia get me. Don’t look for me before ten.” She laced her fingers together and wished she knew what to say to him. He’d been a rock for her today.
“Okay.”
“Well, good night.” The words were barely out of her mouth when he stepped toward her and leaned down. His lips brushed hers, and the unfamiliar facial hair tickled her lip. Inhaling the masculine scent of him was like the most potent drug. Without a conscious movement, she found herself grasping his shirt and kissing him back. When she realized what she’d done, she jerked away. Dropping her hands, she whirled and ran for the house. Bane’s soft laughter floated after her on the wind.
Ten
Bane waved at his sister, who sat at the helm of a thirty-foot Chris-Craft. She waved back and cut the engine. The boat slewed sideways as it slowed near the Pomaik’i. He went down to the boarding platform to greet her. It was only then he noticed the dolphin zipping through the water beside her boat. Nani leaped from the water, rolled in the air, and splashed down. The spray arced through the air and drenched him in a warm salt bath.
“Hey, you did that on purpose! No fish for you, Nani.” The dolphin chattered from the water, and he could have sworn she was smiling. Her exuberance brought a smile to his lips. “Did you tell her to do that?”
“Nope,” Kaia said, climbing aboard the platform. “She is just trying to show how excited she is to see you.”
“Here, I’ll share the excitement with you.” He hugged her tight, trying to transfer as much moisture from his shirt to her red tank top.
“Ew, mahalo nui loa.” She hugged him back, then stepped away and looked up into his face “You’ve lost weight. Are you okay?”
“Sure. I’ve just been too busy to eat.”
“You get on a new project like this, and you get obsessed.” She shook her head, then linked arms with him. They went up to the deck of the research vessel. Kaia stepped to the salon, where she rummaged in the cooler and got a Pepsi.
“Don’t let Leia see you drink that. She’ll be on your case about how bad sugar is for you.” He probably shouldn’t have said anything about Leia. Kaia wanted to see everyone married now that she was happily settled. Mano was just as bad. Bane was the oldest and would be the last to enter matrimony.
Kaia stopped with the can halfway to her lips. “Leia is back? You never said a word.”
“She chucked her career and came back here. She’s making kapa now and working in the little clinic on Kalaupapa administering alternative treatments to the residents.”
She looked at him with a sharp gaze. “I can see her doing that. I never saw her as a traditional doctor. I hope you didn’t say ‘I told you so.’”
His sister knew him too well. “I didn’t expect her to hate it so much she’d quit. But I did talk her into helping out on the project.”
“Is that all you’ve talked her into? Is romance blooming again?”
“Easy, tiger. Don’t go pushing me.” He grinned. “How’s Makuahine? And T?t?-man.”
She shot him a droll look. “I guess I’ll let you change the subject. They’re fine. Grandfather wants to come over for the ukulele festival. Have you been practicing?”
“Not yet, but I will. Are you still happily married?”