Herman as he strolls up to my private cabana on the beach carrying a notepad for orders. Herman’s charismatic personality is infectious. He’s the friend that will always make you laugh. I’m usually that guy, so I like him. He’s not as young as most of the other waiters, probably in his fifties, and he’s lived here his whole life. “I’ve been hearing rumors about you.” He points his finger at me with a toothy grin.
Story of my life. Rumors. Except, most of the time, they aren’t true. I have a feeling this one is. Especially with pictures floating around. I shrug without a care. I’m not embarrassed to be seen with a gorgeous woman.
“You’re the one who mentioned this is the land of romance.”
He laughs out loud and then his expression turns serious. “I also informed you to be wary of that one.” His warning about Aspen jogs my memory. Pure heart, tainted mind. Having been around her the past few days, nothing seems off about her to me. Aspen told me the people didn’t take to her dad very well. I wonder if that has something to do with his warning. I mean, her dad was scary in a sleep with one eye open kind of way.
“I like a challenge,” I say, waggling my brows.
His lips thin as he sets a knee on the cushion, leaning into the private cabana and at first I think I offended him, but then he says in a hushed voice, “I like you, Mr. Dallas. Just be careful.” His gaze jumps to our left and right before he stands up. My head draws back from the serious warning and I too look around, prepared to find someone spying on us. It’s not like it would be the first time someone was hiding in a bush to get close to me. But, no one is paying any attention to us.
People here are more passionate than Americans. Maybe he’s looking out for Aspen more than his concern for me. I’m a foreigner and according to Aspen, people here don’t care for us.
I nod to appease him despite deciding to take his warning with a grain of salt. “I’ll keep a watchful eye. How about a drink, Herman?”
His smile returns, he takes my order and parades down the sand singing. Crazy old man. I lean back and stare out to the water. A cloud hides the top of Mount Otemanu. I grin thinking about our hike. Aspen is the perfect woman. Confident, athletic, loves being outside and she’s not afraid to put me in my place. Most women bow down to my every whim, afraid they’ll lose their chance with me, and I’m tired of fake women. It’s refreshing being with someone who doesn’t know my biography by heart before they even meet me.
I glance at every canoe passing by, searching for her face. It sucks having no way of getting ahold of her. Is this what it felt like before there were cell phones in everyone’s hands? I don’t like it.
Between being up all night, the warm breeze and reggae music off in the distance, my eyelids are heavy.
I wake from my light sleep when I hear someone approach. Herman sets my drink on the table. “Let me know when you’re ready for your next one,” he calls over his shoulder.
Thankfully, the private grass-covered ceiling in the cabana shields the sun. After taking a quick drink, I stretch out, focusing on the water again. My slowed breaths catch in my throat when I notice a woman stand up out of the water, like straight out of a James Bond movie, and start walking toward the beach.
Not any woman. Aspen.
I sit up and watch the most beautiful woman walk through the water. Droplets of water cascade down her body, leaving her tanned skin glistening. She smiles, catching my gaze. Holy shit. She’s wearing a barely-there black string bikini. Her dark hair is slicked back, showing off her toned shoulders. I drink in every curve of her body. My heart slams against my chest and my dick rages against my swim trunks.
Her eyes never waver from mine as she gets closer. “Enjoying your stay, Mr. Dallas?” she purrs, crawling into the cabana like a tiger about to eat its prey. She can feast on my meat any time.
“I didn’t realize it could get better.” But it just did.
Her fingers release the white fabric from the ties holding it in place so it falls, closing us in.