Page 17 of Between Hello and Goodbye

I blinked irritably. “You want to wait for Towel Boy?”

“I thought you didn’t like me.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Oh, nothing. Just everything you’ve said to me since the moment we met.”

“Maybe you’re growing on me.” I shot her a half-smile. “Like a barnacle.”

She huffed indignantly and was about to protest when the Uber driver rushed over, waving a white towel.

“Got it.” He beamed. “Ready, ma’am?”

Faith winced. “Why is everyone calling me ma’am? I’m twenty-nine, for God’s sake.” She looked between me and the driver, hesitating.

I took a step closer to her so that we were face to face. “I’ll get you home safe,” I swore. “It’s what I do.”

She arched a brow, but I didn’t miss the hard swallow in her delicate throat. “Do you practice lines like that in the mirror?”

“I don’t need to practice.”

Her eyes flared again, and her lips parted but this time she had no snappy comeback. I took the crutches out of her hands and thrust them at the Uber driver. “Carry these,” I barked and then slipped my arm around Faith’s slender waist. I lifted her easily, cradling her around her back and under her knees, and carried her to my Jeep.

“My hero,” Faith said.

She was valiantly trying to maintain her sarcasm, but I felt her melt against me. Carefully, I maneuvered her into the front seat, stowed her crutches in the back, and sent the Uber driver on his way.

“Where are you staying?”

“Pono Kai condos.” Faith watched me throw the car in drive and take off, wincing as I hit the gas. “You don’t need GPS?”

“I’ve lived here for four years,” I said. “And this island isn’t exactly huge. Why aren’t you at one of the big resorts in Poipu or Princeville?”

“Because if I stayed there, I’dstaythere. At the pool bar, specifically. No personal growth, remember?”

“I remember,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road.

“But that’s over.” Faith sighed. Not a dramatic one, but a real letting go of something she wanted. Or needed.

I wanted to tell her it didn’t have to be over, but that was bullshit. Everything would be a struggle because she had no one to help her through the first, hardest days.

I could practically see Morgan’s annoying, expectant smirk and promptly ignored it.

“I’ve had a day.” Faith yawned and leaned her head against the glass. “I’m going to take a little nap, if that’s possible with your stellar driving.”

“That bad, eh?”

“The helicopter was less traumatic.”

I scoffed but had to hold back a stupid grin, still wondering what the hell it was about Faith Benson that was making me sacrifice the rest of my day to put up with her. I was supposed to be in Hanalei in a few hours. Not to mention, I’d made it a personal rule to never get involved with tourists for more than one night in the sack. Two, tops. But sex wasn’t on my mind.

That’s a goddamn lie.

Okay, fine. Faith was a stunningly beautiful woman, and I was a red-blooded male. But she was injured, alone, and needed help—not to be taken advantage of. I was many things, but a lowlife wasn’t one of them.

I stole a glance at Faith, her head pillowed against the window, eyes closed. Her face was relaxed and free of pain and worry for the first time since I’d met her. I liked that I’d done that for her. I likedher. She was a pain in the ass, but I liked her fire and her wit…

My brother’s knowing smirk returned.That’s a lot of liking.