White Ginger

chapter 9



Arne was delayed in Honolulu for two nights during which time Amelie played with Lani, talked at length with Lili about Arne and their childhood and discovered she had a quick memory and instinctive feeling for hula dancing.

Lani delighted in showing her the graceful hand movements and teaching her the natural rhythms of the form. She was teaching Amelie a whole dance before her uncle returned. Amelie surprised herself with her quick pick up and praised Lani’s skill, genuinely admiring the young girl’s beautiful interpretations of the ancient form of praise. As Lili explained hula movements were derived from nature, Lani demonstrated each one.

“It was believed that the dancer may become the vessel for a god or goddess. But for a long time, the old missionaries banned such dancing,” Lili said.

“It’s so beautiful and graceful! Why did they ban it?”

Lili’s scorn was evident and she tossed her head. “They called it lewd and indecent!”

Stepping into the center of the floor, she performed a series of graceful movements, speaking as her hands wove a hypnotic pattern. “How can you call this, which is praising the land and gods, indecent?”

After two days of dancing and laughter, Lani tied a grass skirt around Amelie’s hips and ceremoniously placed a lei around her neck. She hit the play button on the remote control. “Now, show us what you can do.”

Amelie concentrated on the music. As it filled her mind and took over her body, she wove traditional patterns with her arms, lightly tapping the ground with her feet. Hips swaying in the hypnotic, sensual movements of the hula, she all but forgot her audience until, as the music ended, she looked up at three pairs of eyes looking on in delight. Then they clapped in unanimous approval.

Lili’s husband, Kevin, had joined his girls during her performance. Not as tall as Arne, but well muscled and tanned, Kevin had a nice smile and kind eyes that lit in appreciation.

“Wow, Arne can certainly pick ’em. You fit right in with this family.”

Warmth rushed through her at his compliment. But it wasn’t just the compliment from an obviously appreciative male that brought her this warm inner glow. Her secret desire of belonging to such a lovely family was more tempting. And how that might happen.

* * * *

Early on the morning of the luau, Amelie sat chatting with Lili over coffee.

“Do you think Arne will be back in time for the luau?”

“If he says he’ll do something, you can count on it.” Lili tipped her face up to the sun.

“I know. So, what happens at the luau, apart from eating and Lani’s performance?”

“There’s dancing before the performance. I doubt Arne will want to miss that chance.” She looked at Amelie and grinned. “Got something sexy to wear?”

“At the cabin. I really need to pick up more clothes, as well as some painting gear. Would you mind dropping me at the cabin if Jeff says it’s okay, and picking me up on the way to the luau?”

“Sure. We’ll swing by about five on the way into town. Unless big bro is back by then.” Lili grinned wickedly.

Jeff agreed to let her collect gear and clean up. “Fingerprinting is finished. There’ll be some black powder around the place, but you can tidy up now. Just don’t you go staying there by yourself, ya’ hear me.”

“I won’t,” she promised.

When Lili dropped her off, she made it clear Amelie was welcome in her home as long as she needed to stay.

“We must show you more of the island soon too. Let’s plan a sightseeing trip when Arne gets back.”

Amelie nodded. “Girl time is good.”

“See you at five.” Lili waved goodbye then gunned the motor. Her pickup roared down the track.

Walking back into her little cabin was like going through a time warp. It seemed like months, not days, since she’d left.

She packed her overnight bag with more clothes, and another bag with painting equipment. Tomorrow she would have to arrange a trip to town to replace damaged items. For now, just getting her hands back on her sketchbooks calmed her lingering unease. She placed them on the cleared kitchen counter, and then turned to survey the mess that was her living room and studio.

A shiver flittered down her spine. If she’d been here when the burglar arrived… Her skin prickled. Closing her eyes, she pressed both hands to her stomach and forced herself to take a deep breath. Straightening her shoulders, she shook back her hair and humphed.

Nobody’s scaring me away from my home. Nobody!

With single-minded determination, she spent the afternoon cleaning and restoring the cabin to its former state.

Mid-afternoon, she returned to the kitchen for a drink. Her sketchbooks lay on the counter beside the tea caddy. Itching to capture images of Lani in costume, she flipped over pages, pausing at the sketch of Arne. With a fingertip, she traced the angle of his jaw and the curve of his lips.

Lani’s face as she danced came to mind. Her features were softer, but no less determined than her uncle’s. With deft strokes, Lani’s regal pose came to life, her face and hands in fascinating detail but her ti-leaf skirt suggested rather than delineated.

“You’ve caught her exactly.”

Amelie dropped her pencil and spun around at Arne’s voice.

“You’re back!” She flung herself into his arms, hugging his waist and pressing her face into his chest. The tang of lime and sandalwood and hot, hot male filled her senses.

“I’m glad you made it in time.” Her lips brushed his red Hawaiian patterned shirt. It showed off his tan, and, oh boy, did he fill the slim-fitting cream trousers. She smoothed the lapels. Would he kiss her now?

He ran slow hands over her shoulders and stepped back.

“I decided to poke my nose in on the way to the luau. Thought you’d be on your way there by now.” He frowned. “You’ve got smudges on your face. Aren’t you coming?”

“Of course I’m coming.” She rubbed at her cheeks and noticed smudges of black powder on the back of her hand.

Really cool, Melie. Greeting him in your cleaning clothes.

She glanced at the clock.

“Oh no, is that the time? I’ll be ready in ten minutes.” She dashed into the bathroom, and emerged ten minutes later, refreshed and with slightly damp hair. Had he missed her? Two days and two nights away from him underlined how irresistible she found him.

“You’re beautiful.” Arne drew her close, his hands warm on her hips. “I missed you.” His lips brushed her ear and trailed to her mouth.

She’d missed his touch, the way he looked at her, and the way her breath seemed to catch in her throat when she looked at him. She tilted her head back and parted her lips in invitation. Forget the luau. This was what she wanted to do tonight. Would he be tempted to stay with her?

Barely had his lips touched hers than a car roared up the track and pulled up in front of the cabin. Arne heard it too.

“Damn. Lili’s here.” He turned apologetically to Amelie and slung a casual arm around her shoulders and they strolled onto the veranda.

Lili’s truck pulled onto the grass beside Arne’s jeep and a small bundle of energy jumped from the back seat and hurled herself at Arne’s waist. “You made it; I knew you would.”

Arne tossed her high in the air and Lani squealed delightedly. After a quick hug, he put her down.

Stepping back, Lani examined Amelie then turned to her father. “Told you so, Daddy. I said she was as pretty as Mom. ’Course Melie’s blonde and Mom’s dark like me, but she’s still one of the prettiest ladies on the island.”

Two male heads nodded agreement and Amelie ducked her head. “So, what do I need to bring to this luau?”

“Your appetite.” Arne tugged her down the stairs. “Come on, let’s get going.”

“Can I ride down with you and Melie? Please?” Lani bounced up and down beside them as they walked to the jeep.

Lili agreed and lifted her into the back. “Okay, Miss Muppet. Put that seat belt on.”

Lili and Kevin followed them into town while Lani prattled on from the back seat about the cooking of the pork in the ground, and the music and the dancing to follow the feast.

As she listened, an ache lodged in Amelie’s heart. Briefly, she closed her eyes, envying what they had together. If only she belonged somewhere too, to someone special. To Arne.