Page 22 of His Hawaiian Heart (Stateside Doms #26)

Chapter Fifteen

Samantha

The restaurant was exactly as one I’d imagined Sam would choose.

It was every bit as classy as he was. Not that I believed he ate here often.

For that, I pictured him sitting at the counter in some local diner, or joining friends at a table in a place very few tourists would ever know existed, or even eating a sandwich leaning over his kitchen sink.

There was so much I wanted to know about Sam, but I wasn’t in a great rush.

Right now, I was content to trust my instincts.

The fact he’d closed his eyes despite the slight stiffening of his posture and brief clenching of his fists told me trust was an issue with him.

Someone had hurt him and it hadn’t just been a graze.

Whatever had been done had caused that trust to wobble off its axis, and whoever had done it, had wounded him deeply.

The gift he’d offered me back by the side of the road was worth far more to me than anything a person could buy.

I was sure dinner had been Michelin-star worthy, but to be honest, with the exception of Cookie’s cookies, I wasn’t much of a foodie.

When I was hungry, I ate. It didn’t much matter to me if it was Lobster Thermidor or a chili dog.

As long as it filled my stomach until the next time it growled, I was satisfied.

“Thank you for this,” I said as I looked at him across the table.

“Thank you for joining me.” The smile she gave at my statement warmed me as no meal could ever do. “I’m afraid they don’t have cookies, but their dessert menu offers a nice variety of choices.”

“Hmmm,” I hummed as I used the toe of my stiletto to run up his shin. The flare of his nostrils had me pretty sure there could be a wet spot on the chair when I stood. “Speaking of choices, I do believe I’m ready to make mine.”

The fact he didn’t even bother to pass the leather-bound dessert menu didn’t go unnoticed. He’d been nothing but focused on my every possible need from the moment I’d watched him pull his car off the road. This sudden lapse had me intent on returning the favor and focusing on his needs.

“How about instead of eating any one of what I’m sure are delicious confectionaries here, we go someplace else to share dessert?”

“Seeing as how you’ve told me you’ve never been to Kauai before, just tell me what you fancy, and I’ll do my best to find it for you.”

I leaned forward and turned my hand he’d covered with his over in order to entwine our fingers. “I don’t believe we’ll need a map. I already know exactly what I want. Take me home, Sam.”

His smile slipped a bit and I almost drew my foot back to kick myself. Instead, I shook my head. “Rewind. What I meant to say was take me to your home, Sam. I want to strip off my dress, kick off my heels and enjoy my dessert… on my knees.”

His eyes widened and his fingers tightened on mine as his free hand reached to cup my cheek. “Your wish is my command, and you can strip off your clothes, but, babygirl, those heels? Those stay on.”

It was my turn to clench though it wasn’t my fingers but my core as he drew his thumb across my slightly parted lips.

“Is that understood?”

“Sir, yes, Sir,” I said, my breath wafting over his thumb.

I was pretty sure I was the only one who heard his growl, but I didn’t care if everyone in the restaurant heard.

All I cared about was the man who stood, threw a wad of cash onto the table, then drew me up and out of my chair.

I’m pretty sure I walked out of the restaurant on my own two feet, but I wouldn’t swear to it in a court of law.

All I knew was that before the night was over, I was going to fly.

The drive didn’t take us down to the beach or even along the coastline. It took us up, giving me alternating views of both lush forests and the expanse of the ocean as we wound higher and higher. The air wafting through the windows was soft and got slightly chilly as the elevation rose.

“Do you live on top of the mountain?” I asked as we took another curve.

“Pretty much,” he said, surprising me.

“Seriously?”

He glanced over and grinned before turning his attention back to the road. “I can’t take any credit for the choice of location. That honor belongs to my great-great-great grandfather. It was pure luck that put me in the family line.”

I shook my head. “Funny, as I don’t see you as a playboy…

well, not in the common definition of the word.

I mean, if you aren’t a boy who enjoys play, then I’ve not only misplaced the bases, I’m not even in the stadium.

What I mean is, you don’t strike me as a man who is content to do nothing more than loll around sucking off the family teat.

” His bark of laughter was genuine and had me smiling. “Are you saying I’m wrong?”

“Depends, on what part you’re talking about. If it’s the part about baseball, I assure you you’re not only inside the stadium, you’re sitting in a box seat behind home plate. I do indeed enjoy playing and unless I totally failed anatomy, I’m pretty damn sure I’m a boy.”

I laughed. “Though I’ve not yet seen actual proof of that, I’m willing to state you didn’t fail unless all that twitching behind your zipper is some gerbil attempting to get free.”

This time, I didn’t smile when he laughed, I laughed right along with him. It took a few minutes before he reached up and wiped his eye. “God, you’re not afraid to say what you want, are you?”

“Nope,” I said, wiping my own eyes. “I find I have more in common with your Grammy than just being rather fond of you. We both believe life is too short to waste beating around the bush.”

He shot me another grin. “I agree. Now back to your question about being wrong on the second part of your assessment, I’d say it’s pretty much a split decision.

Do I enjoy lolling around doing nothing?

Absolutely not. But do I enjoy sucking? I’d say that depends on what teat we’re talking about.

If it belongs to a gorgeous, flame-haired, smartass doctor, then I believe you’ll find me guilty as charged. ”

Pleasure flooded through me at the thought of his lips around my nipple.

“Exactly how tall is this mountain of yours, Mr. Blackwell?”

“The highest peak is over five thousand feet, but we won’t go that high. Cattle don’t have a problem with water but when it rains on them every day, they tend to get a bit antsy.”

“You have cows?”

He chuckled. “The ranch is home to several hundred head of cattle, yes.”

“Wait, you own a ranch?”

“My family owns a ranch. I’m just the executor of the estate until the next Blackwell picks up the reins.”

“Wow, I didn’t even know this place had ranches. I mean, it’s an island.”

“That it is and I assure you, the cattle didn’t even have to swim over from the mainland. They arrived by ship and called Hawaii home before it became part of the United States.”

“A ranch, cool. Does that mean that I can stop worrying about Mr. McNut being lonely? Or do you only have cattle?” I saw his lips curl into a smile though all I could see was his profile.

“I assure you, he has lots of equine friends. In fact, one day if you’d like, I’ll introduce you to Sugar. Riding the land is really the best way to see it. Do you know how to ride?”

“I assume you’re asking about horses?”

I would never get tired of his chuckle. “Well, I was .”

“Horses, elephants, camels. I’ve ridden them all,” I said. “And though I really enjoy riding with you, I’m very much looking forward to riding you .”

“I’d pull over right now and let you do exactly that, except for one thing?”

“You’re shy?” I teased.

He shot me a glance and that grin and arched brow had my sex complaining it was still without something to hug. “I’ll take that as a no?”

“Smart girl.”

I gave him the most serious look I could manage, which, granted was a bit hard seeing as I was having the time of my life. “Would you care to prove that, Mr. Blackwell?”

“If you insist, though I might add that, we’re here. Your choice, Doctor Laughlin.”

For the first time in several minutes, I turned my gaze from him to look out the windshield as he pulled to a stop.

There was no massive gate bearing intricate scrolled initials I’d half expected but was a simple gate.

I glanced back at him and smiled. “Next time then. Right now, I’m even more intrigued to see what lies beyond the gate. ”

“One cattle ranch is pretty much the same as another cattle ranch.”

I shook my head. “No. Granted there might be thousands that fit that bill, but not this one.”

His eyebrow didn’t arch and his lips didn’t twitch as he gave me a long look. “Because?”

“Because this one is your home.”

He looked surprised at my answer for a moment but then he smiled. “Pomaikai.”

“That’s beautiful. What does it mean?”

“Exactly what you said. The story goes that when my great-great-grandparents, Benjamin and Britta, his wife, saw this place, a rainbow appeared and they knew they were supposed to make this their home. That’s why they chose the name Pomaikai. It’s the Hawaiian word for home.”

“Wow. That’s about the most romantic story I’ve heard.” I leaned across the seat to kiss his cheek. “Your great-grandparents would be proud to know their descendants continue to feel blessed with their legacy.”

He smiled and I sat back. Glancing at the gate again, I lifted my index finger and waved it at the gate. “Alohamora.”

When the gate actually opened, I squealed and Sam just laughed and took his hand off the button that had provided the Harry Potter moment.

“I believe it’s alohomora.” When I could only stare, he chuckled. “You’re not the only Potter fan.”

I shrugged. “Fine, but I was simply trying to, you know, islandize the spell.”

“Islandize?” He shook his head. “You’re fucking adorable.”

When the car rumbled over a cattle guard, I didn’t squeal but I was smiling inside.

He’d not seen it necessary to change what I was sure had been put in place when the very first cow had been guided onto its new home.

That told me all I needed to know. Samuel might be a descendent from what I was pretty sure had become one of the wealthiest families on the island, but he didn’t stay for the money.

He stayed because he loved this ranch and this island.

Sitting back in my seat, I smiled and watched as Sam showed me the most important part of his world… Pomaikai. His home.