Page 52 of Pallas & Kawehi

"Yeah?"

She nodded, her heart swelling in her chest. "That sounds like a lot of fun. Maile's going to be so jealous, though. She thinks you're too hot for words."

"Why doesn't she come, too? I can have one of the guys pick her up and bring her if you'd like."

"Like? Well, I'd certainly like some time with you alone."

She couldn't help but marvel at the dark perfection of his eyes, the chiseled lines of his face. Dom really was too hot for words. It was all she could do to keep herself from inviting him inside for the night.

She wanted to, but she just wasn't sure if she was ready for that.

For what it would mean to lay herself bare before him after feeling like she was nothing more than an afterthought for Nick?

"Then we'll find some time to be alone, just you and me, Kawehi."

She swore she heard something in his voice that made her whole body come alive with hunger and light, too.

There was just something about Dom that was doing more than bringing her out of her shell. He was bringing her heart back to life.

"Yeah," she gave him a big, enthusiastic grin, "let's have the guys come to the beach. I'm really going to be looking forward to it."

"Me, too. I'll try to make sure the guys behave."

She laughed. "You can't make that promise, and I can't promise that Maile will either. Let's just have fun."

"That, I can do."

It turns out he could also make her feet feel like they were in heaven.

Dom certainly had skills.

She was a lucky woman.

EIGHT

KAWEHI

The beach was a surprise to Kawehi. She’d been to Bellows Beach before, but never on a weekday. Looking over at Domenico as they easily passed through the gate she smiled. "It's so... empty."

He grinned back at her. "It's only open to the military on the weekdays."

"Wow... You'd think I’d know that, but I don't get to the beach all that often."

"That shouldn't surprise me," he chuckled, "but it does."

She reached out before she could stop herself and touched his arm. "Looks like we're surprising each other."

He nodded. "Looks like."

They pulled into the parking lot and found a spot near the front. "Not as surprised as my cousin was when you asked if she wanted to come."

He got out of the driver's side and got around to her side of the car when she was already stepping down. "One of the guys in my platoon was standing nearby when I made the reservation. Word spread through the group pretty quickly. A bunch of them wanted to come by. I didn't want you to feel alone. Even though I would have happily told them all to stay away."

She shook her head and leaned in to give him a kiss on his cheek. "It'll be nice to meet the guys you work with. Although I'm not sure how many you're talking about."

"Hey, Pallas!"

Domenico sighed softly. "You're about to meet one of them right now. But I think we're only expecting... six to show up."