Page 6 of Knot Your Sunshine (Snugverse Romcom #2)

Chapter five

Mia

Hawaiian heat envelops me in its warm embrace the moment we step outside the airport, while a refreshing breeze drifts past, carrying traces of salt and plumeria.

Josh walks beside me toward the helicopter, and I keep stealing glances at him and his beautiful wavy blond hair, trying to be subtle and probably failing.

There's something about him that's been pulling at me since the moment he said my name in the airport.

Something that makes my pulse quicken every time he adjusts those glasses.

I don't think it's his height, though he's easily six feet and I do love me a tall alpha. No, it's something else... His scent, maybe? I can't quite capture it fully, but… there's something about it that makes my omega take notice and—

"So, uh, what's your favorite color?"

The question comes out of nowhere, and I glance at him sideways. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, shoulders slightly hunched like he's thirteen and asking someone to the school dance.

"Violet," I say, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. "Like my eyes."

"That's... that's a beautiful color." He pushes his glasses up his nose, and I notice his fingers are long, elegant. "I mean, on you. Your eyes. They're beautiful."

Heat blooms across my cheeks, and I breathe in deeper, desperate to catch more of that elusive scent. It's like it's wrapped in cotton, muffled somehow, but what gets through makes me want to lean closer.

Behind us, Elena makes a soft sound, definitely a suppressed laugh, and I shoot her a look over my shoulder. She's grinning, eyes sparkling with mischief.

We round a corner, and there it is, the helicopter, sleek and modern, all glossy black and chrome. My stomach does a little flip. I've never been in a helicopter before.

The pilot, a beta woman with short-cropped hair and aviator sunglasses, greets us with a professional smile.

"Welcome. I'm Captain Torres. We'll be taking a scenic route today: twenty minutes of the best views Hawaii has to offer on the way to the Oceana Deluxe Resort.

" She hands us each a headset. "These are for communication and will block out the engine noise while letting you hear each other clearly.

The sides are open for optimal viewing, but please keep your seatbelts fastened and all body parts inside the aircraft.

Now, please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the ride. "

I slide into the plush leather seat, ending up between Elena and Cole. Josh settles across from us, his knees almost touching mine in the confined space. Even with the gap between us, I swear I can feel his warmth, catch whispers of that maddening scent every time the air shifts.

The helicopter lifts, and my stomach drops. The ground falls away and the open sides let warm Hawaiian wind rush past us, tugging at my hair.

"Oh my god," I breathe, gripping Elena's hand. "Look at that."

The ocean spreads below in shades of blue I didn't know existed, turquoise near the shore deepening to sapphire, then navy where the seafloor drops away. Waves crash against black volcanic cliffs, sending spray high into the air where it catches the sunlight like diamonds.

"That's incredible," Elena says through the headset, squeezing my hand back.

Josh leans forward, and his whiskey-brown eyes are bright with enthusiasm. "See those valleys?" He points to our left where emerald green cuts deep into the mountains. "Those are the Ko'olau Mountains. They're actually the remnants of a massive shield volcano."

"When did it last erupt?" Elena asks, and I love her for encouraging him because his whole face lights up when he talks.

"The Ko'olau volcano has been dormant for about two million years," Josh says, and god, the way he gets excited about geology shouldn't be this attractive. "But the volcanic soil is what makes everything so lush. Those waterfalls you see?"

I follow his pointing finger to silver ribbons tumbling into hidden pools far below.

"Some of them are over a thousand feet high.

And that plantation on the slope—" He indicates terraced hillsides dotted with neat rows of green.

"That's a coffee plantation. The combination of altitude, volcanic soil, and climate creates beans with notes of chocolate and cherry.

It's actually fascinating how the mineral content—"

He catches himself, color rising in his cheeks. "Sorry, I'm probably boring you."

"Not at all," I say quickly, maybe too quickly. "I love hearing about it."

Our eyes meet, and the view around us fades away.

After what seems like it could be one second or one hour, Cole clears his throat. "Is that the resort?" His voice snaps me back to reality, and I blink, suddenly aware that I've been completely lost in Josh's gaze.

Did I really just zone out staring at him for that long?

When I look around, slightly dazed, I catch Elena watching me with an amused smile.

The helicopter banks toward a secluded cove, and buildings emerge from the coastline like they grew there naturally. All warm wood and glass, with infinity pools that seem to spill directly into the ocean.

"The Oceana Deluxe Resort," Josh announces, pride evident in his voice. "The architect spent three years living on-site before designing it, studying how the light moves, where the winds come from, how the tides shift."

The helicopter settles onto a private helipad with barely a bump. The rotors slow, their whoosh-whoosh-whoosh gradually fading until I can hear waves against sand, birds calling from the trees.

Josh unbuckles and steps out first, then turns back, offering me his hand. "Careful, the step down is a bit high."

I take his hand, and the contact sends electricity shooting up my arm. His palm is warm, slightly rough, and fits against mine perfectly. Our eyes meet as I step down, and my heart does a little skip-thump-flutter that leaves me breathless.

"Thank you," I manage, but I don't let go immediately. Neither does he.

"Of course," he says softly, and is it my imagination or does he lean slightly closer?

The heavy thud of Cole's landing jolts us out of our trance, and we hastily release each other's hands, stepping back with slightly flushed faces.

But this shifts my attention to our surroundings and… wow .

I turn in a slow circle, taking it all in. The air smells floral, palm fronds rustle overhead in the trade winds, and waves whisper promises against the shore.

"No way," I breathe, and Josh smiles like I've just given him a gift.

* * *

Wicker chairs with plush white cushions cluster near the helipad, arranged to face the ocean. We settle in to take in the whole view, and Josh claims the chair beside mine, sitting close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his skin.

"So, what do you think?"

"It's amazing." I shake my head, searching for better words.

"I've never seen anything like this. Back home in Lakeview, we have mountains and pine trees.

Beautiful, but..." I wave my hand at the paradise surrounding us, the impossible blue ocean, the swaying palms, the green exotic mountains. "This is something else entirely."

His whole body relaxes, a genuine smile spread across his face.

"I'm so glad you like it. Consider this place yours for your entire stay. If you need anything at all, I—" Pink blooms across his cheeks, creeping down his neck. "We're here for you."

The 'we' snags my attention. "'We', as in more assistants?"

The pink deepens to crimson, and he pushes his glasses up even though they haven't slipped. God, he's adorable.

"Well, something like that..." He clears his throat and stands abruptly. "But you must be tired from the flight. Should I escort you to the resort?"

Elena shifts in her chair, tucking her legs underneath her. "We should wait for Mom and the guys."

Cole nods, his posture finally relaxed instead of coiled-spring ready. "Yeah, they're only a few minutes behind us."

"Right, of course." Josh pulls a slim device from his pocket, checking something on the screen.

"And I should head over to make sure your luggage arrives at the correct suites.

The helicopter with your luggage landed and left a few minutes before we arrived.

" He gestures to a line of golf carts waiting on a palm-lined path.

"You can take any of those to the resort once everyone's here.

Just follow the main path, you can't miss it. "

"Thank you, Josh," I say, watching him adjust his glasses one more time.

He catches my eye and winks, quick and playful. "Of course, Mia."

He heads down the path with Captain Torres, and I watch him go, admiring the way he walks, humble but sexy. When he disappears around a bend of the lush path, I feel his absence and I unconsciously pout.

Elena bumps Cole's shoulder. "Told you he wasn't a kidnapper."

Cole stretches his legs out, crossing his ankles. "I have to admit, he seems... okay."

"Okay?" I turn to him, eyebrow raised. "That's your assessment? Okay?"

"Okay, he seems quite fine. Happy?"

Quite happy actually , I think, pride bubbling up in my chest. My instincts rarely steer me wrong, and right now they're screaming that Josh is very, very fine indeed.

The distinctive thrum of rotors pulls our attention skyward. Another helicopter approaches, identical to ours, settling onto the neighboring pad. The doors slide open, and Dorian emerges first, then James, then the both of them turn to help Rose down.

"That was divine!" Rose's feet touch the tarmac, and she spins in a circle, arms out, silver hair flying. "Absolutely incredible! I felt like a movie star! I even think I saw whales, actual whales!"

The moment Rose is steady, both alphas converge on Elena.

Dorian's arms circle her waist from behind while James cups her face, thumbs stroking her cheeks.

Cole joins them, one hand on Elena's shoulder, the other on James's back.

They murmur to each other, too low for me to hear, immersed in their own bubble of pack intimacy.

My chest tightens, a hollow ache blooming behind my ribs. Not jealousy exactly, I'm happy for Elena, genuinely. It's something else. Something that feels like standing outside a house, watching warm light spill from a window and hearing laughter from within.

"How was the ride, Rose?" I ask, my smile returning.

"Oh, darling, spectacular! Did I mention the whales? A whole pod! The pilot said it was unusual for this time of year."

James finally extracts himself from the pack huddle, running a hand through his artfully mussed hair. "That was positively cinematic. Only thing missing was a dramatic orchestral score."

"Kenny Loggins," Cole suggests deadpan. "Danger Zone."

"That's for fighter jets, you heathen," James shoots back, but he's grinning.

Dorian keeps his arm around Elena's waist as he surveys our surroundings. "Well, shall we see what this resort has to offer?"

Rose's eyes light up when she spots the line of golf carts. "Oh, can I drive one? I haven't driven one of these in ages! Not since that time in Scottsdale when I accidentally drove into the pool."

"All yours, Mom," Elena says with a grin.

Rose practically skips to the first car, sliding behind the wheel with glee. "James, darling, you're with me. I need someone who appreciates a good scenic route."

James climbs in beside her with theatrical resignation. "Just remember we're not in a Fast and Furious movie, Rose."

"Speak for yourself!" she calls back, already starting the cart with enthusiasm that's mildly concerning.

The rest of us pile into the second cart, Cole taking the driver's seat with Dorian beside him, while Elena and I settle in the back.

The path winds through what feels like a botanical garden designed by someone's fantasy.

Hibiscus blooms bigger than my hand in shades of coral and magenta.

Birds of paradise thrust orange and blue spears toward the sky.

The air is so thick with perfume from the flowers that every breath feels like aromatherapy.

Rose stops twice, once to exclaim over a tree dripping with what look like pink powder puffs, and again to take approximately thirty photos of a rainbow that arcs perfectly over the mountains in the distance.

When the resort comes into view through the palms, I find myself holding my breath at the sheer beauty of it all.

But despite all this beauty surrounding me, I can't shake the questions that have been gnawing at me since we landed.

Who exactly is Josh's mysterious boss? And when will I get to meet him?