“Whether you believe it or not, she’s horribly upset about Ford’s disappearance. And as much as I want to be with you, after what happened today, she shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. I need to spend the night with her.”
His face gave nothing away, but his eyes revealed both frustration and regret. “Not exactly what I’d had planned for tonight.”
“Me, neither.” So much for breaking her fast.
“Maybe this Ford guy will show up before tonight,” Donovan said without conviction.
“Maybe.” Anything was possible, right? And Mt. Waipanukai might erupt while they were standing there, his gaze moving over her face like a caress that promised the wait would be worth it. Wasn’t she, after all, the one who’d been stressing the appeal of island time?
“Maybe she’ll even tell you whatever it is she knows that she didn’t want to share with me. I’ll stop by the police station and have them do some drive-bys during the night.”
Her blood, which had warmed nicely beneath his hot gaze, chilled. “Do you really think it’s dangerous?”
“If I thought it was, I wouldn’t be leaving you alone. But there’s no point in not taking precautions. Meanwhile, I’m leaving for Oahu in the morning.”
“Why?”
“In the beginning, I figured her fiancé just got cold feet,” he admitted. “But I learned early on never to go for the easy answer. Now that someone has upped the stakes by vandalizing both shops, I’m going to do a little digging.”
Lani’s heart hitched. “Thank you, Donovan,” she managed to say even as she realized that not only was she going to have sex with this man, she was now in danger of having her heart broken when he returned to his real life.
And your point is ? that reckless heart and needy body asked.
Lani couldn’t come up with a single answer.
He cupped her chin in the manly hand she was aching to feel everywhere on her body. “Don’t think this little reprieve gets you off the hook,” he warned. “A sexy, intelligent woman once suggested that I learn to follow my instincts. To act on my impulses. So, after giving the matter a great deal of study and consideration, I’ve decided to take her up on it.”
This time her foolish heart didn’t just hitch. It began turning somersaults as he bent his head and brushed his mouth against hers. “Do you have any idea how much I’m going to miss you while I’m off island?”
“I’m going to miss you, too.” Which had to be the understatement not just of the century, but the millennium.
“What would you say to forgetting about Taylor and Ford and spending the night making crazy mad love in your brother’s passion pit?” When, apparently forgetting that they were on the street where anyone could see them, he plucked at her lower lip with his teeth, Lani’s body spiked to to DEFCON Two.
“Don’t tempt me,” she managed on a weak moan as he pressed her against the driver’s door of the Jeep.
“Why not? That’s what you’ve been doing since you practically attacked me at the lighthouse.”
“Me? Attack you?” She escaped that way-too-seductive touch and climbed into the Jeep. “You certainly have a selective memory, Detective,” she said as she fastened her seat belt.
“Okay, perhaps it was mutual,” he said as he got in and fastened his own passenger seat belt. “But I certainly don’t remember either one of us complaining.”
She should know better than to try to argue with a man skilled in interrogation. “You’re going to drive me crazy, Detective Quinn.”
Donovan leaned across the console and planted a firm, noisy kiss on her tilted lips. “Count on it.”
12
“So what’s the story with the hot buns detective?” Taylor asked over takeout ham and pineapple pizza and wine.
“And here I thought you were going out of your mind with worry over Ford,” Lani countered.
“I am. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t care about my best friend’s love life.”
“Donovan’s only here on vacation. He’ll be going back to the mainland after New Year’s.”
“That’s what he says now. I’ve known more than one mainland type to get hooked on the islands. Look at Ford.” With that, Taylor’s eyes grew misty. “I’m so worried about him, Lani.” Her expression was more earnest than Lani had ever seen it. “Your Donovan will be able to find him, won’t he? He is as good as you say he is?”
“He’s not my Donovan.” As hard as she’d tried, Lani had not been able to get Donovan’s allegations about Taylor out of her mind. “But Nate says he’s the best. And he wouldn’t be being considered by the FBI if he wasn’t very good at his work.”
She put her glass down on the table and leaned forward. “Taylor,” Lani prompted gently, “have you told Donovan everything you know about Ford’s disappearance?”
Something like desperation flashed in her friend’s eyes but was gone before she could fully grasp its meaning. “Of course I did.”