“Perhaps,” Lani murmured, clearly unconvinced as she snipped fresh chives into the mix. “But you’d think she’d at least answer her phone.”
“Probably not if they’re on their honeymoon.”
“I suppose that’s a point. But I can’t believe she wouldn’t have called me first. Ford runs a charter boat. I thought it would be fun if we could all have a twilight dinner sail this evening, but if she doesn’t call back, I guess that’s off the table. Meanwhile, we’re taking you shopping.”
“I am not, under any circumstances, going to wear one of those damned flowered shirts.”
Lani sighed and reminded herself to be patient. He was, after all, a malihini —a newcomer—and should be allowed time to adjust. “May I remind you that my dad wore one last night? And that I thought he looked great?”
“It fit him,” Donovan agreed. “He’s not only a native, he’s the king of the island. Literally. Which means he can pretty much wear whatever the hell he likes.”
“Point taken. But you can’t deny that Tom Selleck looked hot in them in Magnum P.I.”
“Selleck is an actor. He was playing a part. The shirts were part of his character’s laid-back image.”
“But not part of yours,” she guessed.
Just when she thought he might be beginning to unwind, he reverted to the man who’d shown up here yesterday. “Lani, I’m a police detective. My image is supposed to be a symbol of authority.”
Lani decided that this was not the time to point out that she’d never been all that fond of authority figures.
“All right.” She took the pan off the range and tipped the folded omelet onto a plate. “I’ll let you off the shirt hook for now, but those jeans have to go because they’re heavy and bulky, and don’t dry fast when they get wet. Which they will. The same as your shoes. Except for hiking over the lava on the volcano, you’ll need slippahs.” When she saw him about to argue, she clarified. “Otherwise known as flip-flops on the mainland.”
“No. Period. Way.”
“They’re more than an island fashion statement. They’re practical because they dry fast and it’s easy to shake the sand off them.”
“I don’t remember any fashion police when I was down here with Nate.”
“Maybe not. But I’ll bet you ended up borrowing his stuff.”
His brow furrowed as he thought back. “Yeah. I guess I did.”
“See?” She flashed him her best smile. The same one she’d pulled out while contestant wrangling on Beauty in order to urge intimate sharing in the “confessional” segments.
“The thing is,” Donovan argued, “I don’t need to worry about getting wet or sand in my shoes today because I’d planned to sit out on the lanai and get some studying done.”
“Wrong again,” she answered cheerfully, ignoring his frown. “Since the library’s not open today, and the tile hasn’t arrived, as soon as you finish that omelet, we’re going sightseeing. And, if you’re very, very nice, before shopping, I’ll even take you snorkeling and introduce you to Moby Dick.”
“Since I had to wade through the damn book in freshman English, Moby Dick isn’t really a draw.”
“You’ll like this one. He’s an uhu , or parrotfish I feed every day.” She nodded at the untouched plate sitting in front of him. “And if we keep arguing, we’re going to be late, and believe me, it’s no fun being scolded by a fish.”
“You’re telling me you’ve befriended a fish named Moby Dick. Who talks.”
“Would I make something like that up?”
“I’m not sure. Especially after you led me to believe your father considers Horatio your brother.”
“My bad,” she said cheerfully.
He shook his head and scooped up a bit of the omelet. “I don’t know which one of us is crazier—you for talking to a fish, or me for agreeing to tag along to watch you do it.”
Lani had only a split second to decide whether to be annoyed or amused by his aggrieved tone. She opted for amusement.
“Don’t knock it,” she said with a jaunty grin, “until you’ve tried it. You know, Donovan, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if you allowed yourself a little fantasy now and then.”
She took his mug, intending to put it in the dishwasher when Donovan snagged her wrist. “What makes you think I don’t allow myself any fantasies?”
His voice was low and smoky, and his eyes, as they locked onto hers were like a tempest-tossed sea. Slowly, deliberately, even as those nagging little body parts that had been too long ignored began doing the tango, Lani forced herself to relax.
“I was simply teasing, Donovan. Gracious, must you take everything so seriously?”
“I’m a serious person, Lani. I always have been.”