Heat Wave

He clears his throat and starts reading from the paper. “Okay, we’re one week into November now, which means things are going to start getting more chaotic, especially after Thanksgiving. You all know the drill. You also know that if any of you were planning on flying home for Thanksgiving, you should have made those plans with me a long time ago. As it stands, Charlie you’re off for a week and so is Nikki. That means the kitchen is going to be understaffed. Veronica, Big John, I trust you’ll prepare for this.”


I meet Johnny’s eyes and he gives me an easy smile. We’ve already discussed what to do when Charlie is gone and all it means is a bit of extra prep. Thanksgiving happens to be one of the slowest times of the year here.

Logan goes on talking about the upcoming season and how things are going to get a bit more competitive because other hotels on the island are slashing their prices.

“I was thinking about bringing back Mai Tai hour on Fridays, and starting up the Wednesday night Luas, just like we did a few years ago. There are only three official luaus on the island and we know that when guests come to the island they’re looking for the total Hawaiian experience. It’ll take some extra work but we need to capitalize on that.”

“Um, what’s Mai Tai hour?” I ask.

Logan finally looks at me. “Every Friday from four to six, we serve free Mai Tais by the pool.”

“Everyone loves free booze,” Charlie adds.

“Then why did you stop doing it?” I ask. I look to Daniel, our resident booze expert. “Too expensive?”

Daniel shakes his head. “Mai Tais are some of the cheapest drinks you can make. It’s mainly fruit juice and a splash of a few cheap rums.”

“We stopped,” Logan says, eyeing me sternly, as if I’m stepping on his toes. Which I probably am. “Because there was no way to directly measure if it had any influence on whether guests stayed here or not. And if you can’t measure it, then it’s not worth the money.”

“But what if you advertised it so that tourists in Hanalei came here for it? Or people on the way to Ke’e Beach or the Kalalau Trail? Or Tunnels? Put a sign on the side of the road, everyone welcome.”

“No one is stopping just for free watered-down drinks,” Logan says gruffly.

“Maybe not, but what if we offered free pupus as well?”

Like clockwork, Charlie snickers at “pupus.”

“And who would be making them? You?” Logan asks. “You’re willing to do extra work? Because you know I won’t be paying you for that.”

I purse my lips for a moment, narrowing my eyes at him. It feels like the whole room is watching us with bated breath. Lord knows how many of us do extra work on the side, from shuttle-bus driving to handling luggage to being a barista, without getting extra compensation. “I wouldn’t dream of you paying me extra. I’d do it for the sake of the hotel and everyone who wants to keep their job here. Plus the fact that I enjoy cooking. I actually like my job.”

“I’d be down for that,” Johnny speaks up. “It will bring in new people. They’ll take a look at the hotel, see the restaurant, the location. Our drop-dead gorgeous staff.” Everyone laughs as Johnny pretends to preen himself.

“We’ll see,” Logan says, looking back to the paper.

“Hey, she was right about the seating in here, aye,” Johnny goes on. God bless him. “The customers are happy and no one minds the wait for a table.”

Damn. If looks could kill. I half expect flames to shoot out of Logan’s head.

But he just clears his throat again and says, “The luau itself will attract people from all over the island. We’ll deal with that first and see how it goes.”

Johnny looks at me and shrugs to say that he tried. I could kiss my co-worker right now, just for that.

When the meeting is over and everyone starts scattering, Kate hurrying out the restaurant and back to reception, Logan walks over to Nikki and Daniel. “You guys ready?”

I know I should head back to my room and get a head start on my day off. Pick a book on my e-reader, bring it to the beach with some snacks and work on my tan, maybe Facetime Claire again since it’s been a week since I last talked to her.

But I don’t. I don’t know why and I can’t explain it, but I walk right over to them and I say, “What are you guys doing?”

“Nothing you’d be interested in,” Logan says gruffly, obviously still miffed I spoke up earlier.

“We’re hiking the Kalalua Trail,” Daniel speaks up, ignoring the glare from Logan. “It’s been dry the last few days so it’s easier. Less mud.”

“We’re only taking it to Hanakapiai Beach and turning back,” Nikki says with a bright smile. “You should come. You haven’t done it yet, have you?”

I hadn’t and it was one of the things Kate promised to take me on, except that our schedules keep having us miss each other.

“I’d love to,” I say quickly before Logan say anything else discouraging. He obviously doesn’t want me along and that makes me want to come even more. “Give me five minutes—do I need to bring anything?”

“Backpack, water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen,” Daniel lists off.

“And good shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Sneakers or hiking boots if you have them,” Nikki adds.

I nod and flash Logan an overly sweet smile. “Be right back.”