“Kay, what did you think of the stores you saw today?” Shelby asked.

Kay smiled. “Well, needless to say I think my store is more organized and takes in a better quality of furniture. But the stores today seemed to be doing a remarkable business.”

“Really?” Dan asked, smiling at her.

“Yes, Dan. It was quite impressive,” Kay assured him. “I think I could move my business here and make a good living.”

“Aunt Kay! You aren’t thinking of doing that, are you?” Shelby demanded.

“Of course not! I was just thinking—”

“Why not?” Dan asked quietly.

“Because it’s not home!” Shelby answered for her aunt.

“But it could be,” Dan said. “Home is made up of the people you love.”

Shelby had a panicky look in her eyes as she turned to Pete, as if to say, See what he’s doing!

Kay finally gave her opinion. “You’re right, Dan. But Shelby is like a daughter to me. I could never leave her in Cleveland and come here, no matter how beautiful Hawaii is.”

“So, to get you here, I’ll have to persuade Shelby to move here?” Dan asked, his voice light, as if he were teasing.

Shelby gave Pete a quick, questioning look, but he could only shrug his shoulders. He had no idea if that was Dan’s plan. And truthfully tonight he didn’t have much objection to it. Last night was another matter.

“I have no intention of moving to Hawaii. To pass the bar I’d have to learn an entire set of new laws. That would be too hard,” Shelby told her aunt, softening her staunch words with a slight smile.

“Maybe we’ll talk later,” Pete said. “I might find other reasons.” He wasn’t surprised to see Shelby’s outraged expression. But Dan drew the most interest from him. With a twinkle in his eye, his friend raised his glass in Pete’s direction.

Was that it? Did he want Kay to stay? Was he in love with her? Not that she wasn’t attractive, but Dan had dated more than his share of beautiful women before.

The waiter arrived just then with their dinners and Pete didn’t have to respond when Shelby whispered, “You promised!”

Maybe he could get her alone later and they could have a discussion. He wouldn’t mind that. And apparently Dan wouldn’t either, as he’d be left alone with Kay.

Dan offered to take them on a tour of Oahu the next day, and Kay eagerly accepted for both of them.

Pete caught Shelby’s hand as she opened her mouth, no doubt to protest. He didn’t want her to decline the invitation, especially since he planned to invite himself. “I’d like that, too, Dan, assuming I’m included,” Pete said with a smile while he squeezed Shelby’s hand.

“I—” Shelby began.

“We’ll enjoy ourselves, Shelby,” he hurriedly said.

“You’ll come, won’t you, Shelby?” Kay asked, worry in her voice.

Shelby drew a deep breath before she spoke. “Yes, of course.”

Pete continued to hold her hand below the table. She hadn’t pulled loose, and he saw no reason to give up the warmth of her skin against his.

As if she’d read his mind, she removed her hand from his. “What shall we go see?” she asked in a bright voice.

“Would you like to climb to the top of Diamond Head?” Dan suggested.

“Will it be too hard?” Kay asked.

“Well, it’s a challenge,” Dan said. “I have an idea. You and I can go by elevator up to the bar on the top floor of your hotel and wait for the other two while they climb up to the top. It has the same view.”

“Wait a minute!” Pete protested. “I’ve already been to the top of Diamond Head. I’ll join you two in the bar. Shelby can tell us all about it when she finishes the climb.”

“How gentlemanly of you!” Shelby said sarcastically.

“Okay, okay,” Pete teased. “We’ll let you in the elevator, too.”

“But that’s not so exciting, going up in an elevator to look out a window,” Shelby said.

Pete leaned toward Kay. “Your niece is a hard woman to please, did you know that?”

“I’m sure she doesn’t mean to be,” Kay said with a smile toward Shelby.

“I’ll tell you what. After drinks in the bar, we can go on a dinner cruise for the sunset. How about that, Shelby?” Pete asked.

“That would be exciting.”

“Is that okay with you two?” Pete asked.

Dan nodded to his friend. “It sounds good to me. How about you, Kay?”

“That sounds great. And Shelby and I can try out the beach during the day while you two work.”

“Aw, spoilsport! I was hoping to see Shelby in a swimsuit,” Pete said in a playful tone of voice, though he truly meant it. “Do you wear a bikini, Shelby?”

He loved her flustered look. He was seeing more sides of her tonight, and they were all beautiful.

Dan played along. “How about you, Kay?”

Kay’s cheeks turned pink. “No, Dan. I’m afraid I have a one-piece suit.”

“Looks like we’ll have to work tomorrow, Dan,” Pete said.

“Hmm, maybe half a day.”

“Why only half a day?” Kay asked.

“I have my reasons,” Dan teased.

To say Pete was shocked by Dan’s comment was an understatement. As long as he’d known him, Dan had put in minimum twelve-hour days. Now he was taking time off for some secret reason? Maybe Shelby was right to be suspicious.

Pete owed Dan a lot. He’d worked closely with him for the past seven years and known him for thirteen years. He couldn’t accept that Dan would do anything to hurt Kay.

Dinner continued, but he noted that Shelby was not as relaxed as she had been. She was back to giving one-word answers to any questions.

When the waiter offered dessert, Pete insisted they all indulge. “I want Shelby to get sweeter,” he insisted.

When Shelby protested, he added, “Of course, it’s really because I love chocolate. They’ve got a fudge brownie sundae to die for. But I’d look terrible if I ordered it and none of you had any, right?”

“Yes, you would,” Shelby retorted. “But I’ll sacrifice and join you because that sounds too good to pass up.”

He was surprised by her words but pleased as well.

After the dessert, which they all shared, they exited the restaurant, chatting excitedly about their plans. Suddenly Shelby grabbed Pete’s arms and came close to him, her mouth mere inches away from his ear. As she spoke, her warm breath on his neck stirred his fantasies. He imagined she whispered sweet nothings to him. Instead she said, “We need to talk!”

When the foursome reached the hotel, Pete said, “Do you mind if Shelby and I walk on the beach for a while? It’s a beautiful night.”

“No, of course not,” Kay said, after looking at her niece.

“We won’t be long,” Pete promised as he caught Shelby’s hand in his and headed out the open back door to the moonlit beach.

Kay looked at Dan. “Do you suppose he’s interested in her?”

“Why not? She’s attractive. You don’t mind, do you?”

“As long as it’s nothing serious. I wouldn’t want to leave her behind.”

Dan studied her carefully. “You wouldn’t consider moving to Hawaii?”

“I don’t think I’d make a good island girl. I’m a little too old and much too serious for a carefree existence.”

“I don’t live a carefree existence. I run a business, but I do it here in Hawaii.”

“I don’t think the question will come up, Dan. These boy-girl things happen on vacations all the time.”

“As I remember, when I left home, you had one of those boy-girl things going on. Whatever happened to him?”

“Tony Rico. I dumped him.”

“Why?”

“Because he wanted sex, and I refused. I’d already had an example right before my eyes of a forced marriage because of a pregnancy. But that was a long time ago.”

The elevator opened and Kay hurriedly said, “You don’t need to see me to my room. I’m fine.”

“I know you are.” Dan got into the elevator anyway.

They stood silently in the elevator, surrounded by strangers. When the door opened on her floor, Kay got out, calling a good-night to Dan over her shoulder. To her surprise, he followed her down the corridor.