Page 15 of Maliea's Hero
The thought made her cheeks burn even hotter.
She could be having lusty thoughts over a married man.
“So, Reid,” she said, “how long have you and your wife been on Oahu?” She clapped her hand over her mouth as soon as the words left her lips. “You don’t have to answer that. It’s none of my business.”
“I’ve been on Oahu for several weeks. No wife.”
“Widower?” she asked, unable to stop herself.
“Divorced,” he said flatly and held the door for her to enter the restaurant and bar.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly as she brushed past him, her arm touching his chest and sending a spark of electricity zinging through her.
“Me, too,” he said.
A cute blond woman smiled from behind the counter. “Hi, Reid. Have an early day at the ranch? Where’s the rest of your gang?”
Reid nodded toward the young woman. “Hi, Jenny. Logan and Rex are still working. I’m playing hooky.”
“Awesome,” Jenny said with a grin. “Sit where you like. I’ll bring menus.”
Reid led Maliea and Nani to the outdoor patio where bistro tables sported umbrellas to shade the customers. Just off the south side of the patio was a playset with a swing and a play fort with ladders, rope bridges and a slide.
Nani’s eyes grew wide, and she bounced up and down. “Can I play? Can I, please?”
Maliea laughed. “Of course, you can. Go on. But you’ll have to come back to eat your lunch.”
“I will,” Nani said as she ran for the fort, climbing up the ladder to the top.
Maliea smiled at her daughter’s happiness. “If only life were that simple and joyous.”
Jenny appeared with the menus. “What can I get you to drink while you’re looking over the menu?”
“I’ll have water,” Maliea said, mentally counting the little bit of money in her purse.
“Tap or bottled?” Jenny asked.
“Tap,” Maliea responded.
“I’ll have the same,” Reid said.
As soon as Jenny left to get their drinks, Reid leaned closer. “Now that little ears are occupied, are you going to tell me what happened that made Tish send you to me for help?”
She told him about the break-in and destruction of her apartment and the man in the ski mask breaking into her car. While she talked, Maliea continued to watch Nani playing. Even without looking at the man, Maliea was no less aware of his presence.
As she finished her story, Jenny appeared with their drinks and took their orders. Maliea ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, sure it was all her budget could afford. She’d share it with Nani as her daughter would only ever eat half anyway.
“Aren’t you ordering anything for you?” Reid asked.
“I’ll share with Nani,” she answered, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks all over again. She didn’t like that she had to count every penny. Now that her apartment was trashed, she’d have to squeeze even more out of every dime. Replacing furniture was nowhere in the realm of her current finances. A blow-up mattress would have to do for both of them until things started looking up.
Reid ordered two hamburgers and two orders of fries.
Maliea raised her eyebrows. “Hungry?”
He nodded. “I am. We were up too early for breakfast.”
Reid’s gaze followed Nani as she climbed the ladder to the top of the fort and slid down the slide for the third time. “How much is Nani aware of what’s happened?”