“Gosh, this part of Texas is pretty,” Leilani gushed. She peered out the back car windows. Towering pine and oak trees dwarfed the four-lane highway taking them to the small East Texas town where the festival was due to start this evening. “I thought Texas was all cattle ranches and mountains and plains and desert. Kind of like in Giant.”
“A lot of it is,” Ren agreed from the wheel of their rental. “We have deserts and mountains and plains and lots of mesquite and creosote. But we also have pine forests and oak trees. Where I come from, we have live oak and cedar and lots of hills.”
“Don’t forget the coast.” Kylie turned to Leilani. “They don’t have as many beaches and they’re not as pretty as the ones in Hawaii, but the Texans do love them. Any beaches at all are more than Tennessee has.”
“The leaves are still green,” Leilani observed. “Fall comes later here?”
“Much later. If at all. I never saw fall growing up in San Antonio.” Ren consulted the rental’s GPS and turned right at the blinking light.
“This is my first autumn ever,” Leilani volunteered.
“Which to me is hard to imagine,” Bradley murmured. He covered Leilani’s hand with his.
Leilani gave his hand a squeeze. He had been at her side this entire trip, opening doors and helping with her luggage and instrument cases through three airports, subtly telegraphing his intentions without saying a word. Had Ren or Kylie noticed? Would they even care?
Would they care when they found out why she was in Tennessee? Would Bradley care when he found out the truth of her situation?
Leilani forced back her doubts. Besides, the hookup, or relationship, or affair, or whatever it was with Bradley wasn’t permanent, anyway. Whether or not she brought Nalani to Tennessee for a transplant, she would eventually be going back to Hawaii. Presumably Bradley realized that. He knew that she had only committed to a couple of months at Acoustics. He knew what they had would not be for forever.
But it would be wonderful while it lasted.
They pulled into the small Texas town around five o’clock and opted to go straight to the festival. The old high school turned museum hosting the festival was surrounded by vehicles of every size and shape. Ren pulled into a back lot labeled “performers only.” From there they found their way to a classroom on the main floor also designated for the performers. Kylie introduced her to the director, a bright-eyed retired music teacher, who gave them each a schedule of workshops and performances. Leilani found her two sets on the schedule, the set with Kylie Friday afternoon and the solo set on Friday evening. She noticed a blank spot in the Saturday afternoon performance schedule. “Would you like Mr. Barstow and me to take that spot? We do some good ragtime banjo-banjulele together.”
“That is, if I can borrow a banjo,” Bradley added.
The director penciled them in. Several of the musicians volunteered their instruments. They had a little time before the evening concert, so the four of them hit a food truck for dinner. They ate the surprisingly good tacos at a redwood picnic table in a covered pavilion with a group of jammers providing music. Kylie and Ren joined the jammers, leaving Bradley and Leilani alone. Bradley whispered in her ear, “Should I cancel my room? I have ten minutes before it’s too late.” His breath was soft on her skin.
Leilani glanced at Ren and Kylie. “Will it be an issue with your cousins?”
“They couldn’t care less, I would think.”
“Go ahead and cancel, then.”
Bradley punched in the hotel’s Web site and cancelled. Suddenly Leilani was assailed with doubts. Not about becoming Bradley’s lover. She wanted that. But about sleeping with him without telling him the truth. She could not risk jeopardizing her chances to get Nalani help.
Bradley’s eyes were both intense and tender as he gazed into hers. “Having second thoughts?”
“About tonight? Absolutely not.” The rest of her concerns would have to wait.
Bradley took her hand. They strolled into the large auditorium in the center of the school. Gleaming brass and dark, shiny wood spoke of an elegance seldom seen in modern schools. Rows of folding chairs were set up on the bottom floor, but the balcony still had the original seats. Tables lined the back and the sides of the room with vendors selling musical instruments, books, CDs, and every possible musical accessory. Leilani dropped off her own CDs with the volunteer manning the table. He placed hers next to a stack of The Barstows’ latest CD and one Kylie and Ren made together about a year ago.
The volunteer picked up her CD and looked at the picture. “I saw you in Hawaii. You were part of a trio singing in a Honolulu nightclub on Ala Moana Street down from the hotel. I didn’t know you were here in Texas now.”
“Actually, I’m performing in Tennessee for a couple of months. Your ukulele talent cancelled and I flew in this morning. I’m flattered you remember me.” Leilani turned to Bradley. “I was performing with Kekoa and one of his friends that night.”
“You three were mighty good,” the woman added.
Now it was time to change the subject. “Do you have much interest in ukulele here in Texas?”
“Oh, yes.”
She went on to tell them about the ukulele program in her grandson’s elementary school and the ukulele choir at the local college. Then they spent a pleasant few minutes walking down the tables, laughing at the canjo, a single-string stick-and-tin-can instrument, and admiring the beautifully handcrafted psalteries and dulcimers for sale. Bradley tried out an exquisite handmade hammered dulcimer, but sneaked a peek at the price tag and handed the hammers back to the vendor. “Too rich for my blood.”
Leilani turned over the price tag. “I see what you mean. So who made yours?”
A shadow crossed Bradley’s face. “The bastard who murdered my brother and Kylie’s first husband.”
“What?”
“The drug dealer who shot and killed Jake also happened to be the best dulcimer luthier in the Appalachians. I almost took mine outside and burned it, but Danny said we needed to keep them. Every time we play them, we remind ourselves that the murdering bastard will spend the rest of his life behind bars while we walk free and make music with his instruments.”
“Wise kid.”
They stopped in front of another vendor, this one selling exquisite mountain dulcimers. Leilani zeroed in on one her fingers just itched to try out. “What kind of wood is this?”
“Back and sides are poplar and the top is walnut.” The vendor smiled proudly. “I made it myself.”
“It’s exquisite. May I?”
The vendor handed her a pick. Leilani ran her fingers over the smooth, burnished wood, savoring the satiny texture. She put her fingers on the taut strings, testing the instrument with an experimental strum or two before playing a tune her mother taught her, a lively little melody that, as far as she knew, didn’t have a name. She handed the pick back to the vendor. “It’s a beautiful instrument. Has incredible tone.”
The man murmured his thanks. She turned around to find Bradley staring at her, openmouthed. “I didn’t know you could play the dulcimer. You sound like you’ve played one for years.”
I have. Hell. She’d been so eager to try the dulcimer she’d forgotten he didn’t know she played one. “Uh, Kylie’s been working with me a little. It’s really not hard if you have a musical background.” Bradley looked doubtful and she rushed on. “I learned a little bit years ago at that music camp. That’s where I learned that tune.”
“I didn’t know Kylie was working with you.”
“She explained the tuning and showed me some fingering. I borrowed a dulcimer from Cooper’s daughter and taught myself the rest. I do lots of noodling while you’re out building cabinets.”
Bradley’s face cleared and she breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was for him to be wondering about her. Which was ironic, really. Considering all the lying she’d done, he’d be justified in wondering about her.
They looked at the rest of the merchandise. Leilani treated herself to a couple of CDs of musicians Bradley recommended. They wandered back out into the hallway where a crowd was gathered around an old upright piano singing gospel songs. Someone handed them a hymnal and they were happy to join in.
Since neither of them were on that night’s schedule, they took seats about halfway back and settled in to enjoy the music, which wasn’t bluegrass per se but mostly old mountain tunes. Leilani tried to keep her mind on the musical offerings, but her thoughts kept straying to the man sitting mere inches from her on the closely packed folding chairs. She could feel the warmth of his body as he leaned forward to hear the music, his intense gaze mostly on the stage but occasionally turning to her, desire and anticipation in his eyes.
Ren and Kylie played the last set. Perfectly attuned to one another, the couple sang a series of love songs that had the audience captivated and sent shivers running down Leilani’s spine. She glanced over at Bradley and wasn’t surprised when he picked up her hand and cradled it on his thigh, his muscles rock-hard beneath her fingers. She would be touching that hard thigh soon, as well as other parts of his delectable body. And he would be touching hers.
They waited for Ren and Kylie to finish autographing their CDs, halfheartedly joining in a jam session that had sprung up outside the front door. The air was much warmer than it had been in Tennessee, where it was getting downright nippy in the evenings. They checked into the chain motel, Ren winking and Kylie smiling knowingly when they learned of the cancelled room. Leilani felt herself blush. Bradley grinned at them all.
The elevator ride took forever. Bradley’s hand was shaking as he swiped the card, fumbling the first attempt and pushing the door open with more force than necessary. They dropped their luggage and instrument cases on the extra bed and turned to face one another. His gaze smoldered as it met hers. “Here we are.” He ran unsteady fingers down the side of Leilani’s face.
“Yes.” Leilani framed Bradley’s face between her hands and drew it to hers. “Do we do this slow and sexy, or fast and furious?”
“Oh, slow and sexy, no question.” He threaded his fingers through her lush blonde locks. “I’ve wanted to do this since the day I laid eyes on you.”
“Make love to me?”
“That, too. I meant I wanted to touch your hair. It’s so incredibly beautiful. Soft. Shiny. Kissed by the sun.”
“Yours is, too.” She tucked a strand behind his ear. “Have you always worn it long?”
“Nah. It was short until Jake died. I haven’t cut it since.”
“Is there symbolism involved?”
Bradley shook his head. “Just something I felt like doing. Like I feel like doing this.” He closed the space between them and claimed her lips.
They kissed for long moments, their lips and tongues tangling together in a dance older than time. It felt good. It felt so right, so much like she’d come home. All her doubts and fears melted like an ice cream cone in the August sunshine. She and Bradley were meant to be together. If not forever, at least for the here and now.
Finally, Bradley lifted his head. “I have wa-a-a-y too many clothes on for what we have in mind.” He undid the top button of her blouse. “And so do you.”
“Bet we can remedy that.” Leilani undid the rest of her buttons and pulled off her blouse. “Your turn.”
He whipped his T-shirt over his head, baring his shoulders and a muscled torso. A tantalizing patch of honey-colored hair covered his chest and narrowed down to disappear into his jeans. She ran her fingers through the light furring. “It’s as soft as the hair on your head. What about—” She blushed furiously.
He grinned wickedly. “Wanna find out?” He sat down on the edge of the bed, pulled off his boots, then shucked out of his jeans and boxers, baring himself completely. She took a moment just to study his powerful arms and shoulders, the lean waist and washboard stomach, muscular thighs and legs, and a butt to die for. Sure enough, the trail of hair snaked down his stomach and flared again to surround his swollen, jutting cock. “Go on. Find out for yourself.”
Leilani stepped between his legs and ran eager fingers down his stomach to the patch of hair surrounding his erection. “It is soft. The hair, that is.” She stroked his manhood. “That feels like velvet on steel.”
He let her touch him for a moment. “My turn.” He reached behind her and flicked her bra open and off in one deft motion, exposing her breasts and nipples. Bradley whistled. “From the looks of those tan lines, you must not wear too much on the beach.”
“I don’t.” She stepped out of her jeans and panties, exposing tan lines that were just as provocative. “Unless I’m surfing, which calls for a little more in the way of coverage. I grew up on a surf board.”
“It’s given you a beautiful body. A body I’m looking forward to devouring about now.” He pulled her closer and buried his face between her breasts, kissing first one pink nipple and then the other, his lips warm and wet, his tongue raspy as he tortured them into matching peaks. She moaned as he took his time paying homage before he pushed back onto the bed, taking her with him in an inelegant sprawl that had her lying on top of him. His legs were tangled with hers and his insistent cock poked her in the stomach. “Here, let me,” he murmured as his powerful arms lifted her up and off his body, laying her gently on the mattress beside him. “Now I get to touch you.”
And thus began a leisurely exploration of her body that soon had her gasping. He meant it when he said it would be slow and sexy, as he kissed and nibbled his way around, deep drugging kisses on her lips followed by a slow, sensuous visit to every erogenous zone she had. Breasts, navel, and down from there, his lips and tongue slowly lit a fire inside her, awakening feelings and desires that no man, not even her late husband, had. She was already moaning when he kissed the neatly trimmed mound that guarded her secrets. “Open your legs. I’m not through getting to know your body.”
She let him push her legs open. He settled in between them like he belonged there, and she felt his lips and tongue’s gentle exploration as he found and caressed her feminine bud, experimenting a bit, until her sharp intake of breath and soft moans told him he’d found the right touch. Already on fire for him, she felt herself climbing higher than she ever had before, until a climax the likes of which she’d never had sent her soaring. Powerful tremors tore through her, rippling throughout her body all the way to her fingers and toes. She was just recovering from that orgasm when he began again, despite her protests. “Nah, you’re not done. Just wait.”
She wasn’t. Always a one-orgasm-only kind of girl, Leilani had no idea she had that kind of response in her, until Bradley showed her just what she was capable of. He had her soaring for a second time and then a third, before he donned a condom and entered her, impaling her with a single thrust. This time they soared together, climbing higher and higher. He held off until she exploded in a final fiery release, and only then did he take his own pleasure also, pounding into her body as his seed pulsed into the tip of the condom. He rolled to one side, not breaking the contact between them, and cradled her head on his shoulder. “Day-um, woman, you are something else.”
“I’m something else? Are you kidding? It’s never been like that for me. Ever.” She snuggled closer to him, her lips nibbling the chin that was beginning to sport a five o’clock shadow.
Bradley’s smile was smug. “So it’s all hype about the sexy beach boys in paradise?”
Leilani laughed. “We have sexy beach boys ringing the rich tourists’ bells all over the place. They just never rang mine.” She planted a slow, sensuous kiss on his lips. “I’ve always dreamed about them hunky mountain men.”
“You mean the ones in overalls up in the mountains, raising pot and ducking the revenuers?”
She laughed even harder. “No, I was thinking more like Bo and Luke Duke. Come to think of it, they ducked the law on occasion, didn’t they?”
Bradley wrapped his arms around her for another kiss. “I always dreamed about blondes. Leggy, tanned blondes with long hair bleached by the sun and the body of an athlete. In bikinis, of course.”
“Kind of like the Olympic beach volleyball team?” Leilani’s grin was impish.
“Kind of like you, silly. Although I have to admit the girls on that team weren’t bad. They weren’t bad at all.” He laughed and she swatted his butt. “Seriously, you’re a fantasy come true, Leilani.” She could feel him start to harden again. “Let me switch out this condom for a new one and I’ll show you just how much you turn me on.”
* * *
Bradley took Leilani’s hand and they bowed to their enthusiastic Saturday afternoon audience. The crowd had grown considerably since yesterday, with younger families and children joining the mostly senior citizen attendees of Thursday and Friday. But everyone, from the oldest to the youngest, seemed to be enjoying the various musical offerings. The workshops, especially Leilani’s, had been standing room only, and the audience, made up of mostly amateur musicians, could appreciate better than most the talent of the professionals. Both his and Leilani’s solo sets were warmly received, and Kylie and Leilani were bombarded with questions after their set of ukulele-dulcimer duos. He was amazed at how many musicians were interested in combining the two instruments, especially after they heard them played together and realized just how complementary they were. With the enthusiastic reception he and Leilani just enjoyed for their banjo-banjulele duets, he predicted a similar question and answer session at her next workshop, which was due to start as soon as the afternoon concert finished.
Bradley sneaked a peek over at Leilani. Her face was flushed and wreathed in a huge smile. She loved an enthusiastic audience as much as he did. But in his mind’s eye he saw some different smiles on her face. Several of them in fact. There was the one he’d woken up to this morning. It had been a sleepy smile, all innocence, as she ran her finger down his stomach and around the base of his cock. It had turned wicked when his cock leapt to attention, and slumberous with desire as she rose and straddled him, sheathing him with the last of the condoms in his box. It had morphed into an expression of ecstasy as her orgasm overtook her, and turned smug when she said that they could start on her box of condoms. Now she was turning toward him with a smile that was just for him, with a promise in her eyes of more interludes like this morning’s.
They took their bows and left the stage. Kylie and Ren made room for them on the bench to one side of the stage that the performers used to hear the other musicians. “Y’all rocked it,” Kylie whispered. Ren gave him a thumbs-up and mouthed, “Way to go.” Bradley wasn’t sure if Ren was congratulating him on the music or on Leilani. He didn’t particularly care. He was happy for the first time since he put his brother in the ground. It was like his dream girl had come out of nowhere and landed smack dab in the middle of his life.
Leilani was definitely his dream girl. Pretty, good, kind, and dynamite in his bed. They made wonderful music together. Leilani unlocked something inside of him, something that had been lacking all those years of performing. He wasn’t sure what that something was. He just knew that when he made music with her, it wasn’t just music. It wasn’t just good music. It was magic.
The rest of the performers that afternoon gave it their best, and their best was damned good. The audience was whistling and stomping and clapping by the time the last group, a Cajun trio out of Shreveport, took their bows. Since he and Leilani had made no CDs together, they wouldn’t be at the signing table and had a few minutes to wander around before she needed to report to her workshop. “Want to go outside and jam?” he asked. “I think the rain stopped.” They had stood at the window the previous night, between bouts of lovemaking, and listened to the wind and rain from the cold front that had blown in.
“No. I may go back and see if that dulcimer’s still for sale.”
“The walnut-poplar?”
“Yes. If I’m going to pursue it seriously, I need one of my own.”
They walked across the room to the vendor, who had considerably fewer dulcimers displayed for sale than he had on Thursday. Their quick perusal of the offerings didn’t turn up the dulcimer she wanted. “I guess I should have bought it when I first saw it,” she said ruefully.
“Which one was that?” the vendor asked.
“That wonderful walnut-poplar.”
“Yep. That one went yesterday afternoon. But I have one out in the trailer you might like. Can you give me ten minutes?”
Leilani glanced at her watch. “Sure.”
The vendor was back in seven. He withdrew a beautiful instrument from a padded case and handed it to her. “It looks different but it sounds just as good. Here, sit down and give it a try.”
Leilani glanced in Bradley’s direction and appeared to hesitate. “Go ahead,” he urged. “See what it sounds like.”
She sat down in the folding chair provided and balanced the dulcimer on her knees. “I’ll play the one that Kylie teaches the kids.” After a few experimental strums, she played a lively version of “Bile dem Cabbage.” Bradley again had to wonder. How had she picked it up so quickly? Was she just that good? Or was she not entirely forthcoming about her experience with a dulcimer?
Leilani played a second tune Bradley didn’t recognize. “It sounds wonderful. Brighter in tone than the other one. What’s the wood?”
“The bottom and sides are sassafras and the top’s Sitka spruce. I can sell it to you for a little less than what’s on the tag since the sound holes are simple.” Rather than the usual elaborately carved design, these were unadorned cutout hearts.
Bradley listened to her play a little more. “It’s a wonderful instrument, Leilani. It would be an interesting addition to your instrument collection. And your little girl might want to learn to play it someday.”
“Yes, she might.” Bradley couldn’t interpret the fleeting bleakness on Leilani’s face at the mention of her daughter before she nodded her head decisively. “Okay. Looks like this baby’s going home with mama.”
The vendor threw in the case for free. She fished out her credit card and they made short work of the sale. “Oops, my workshop starts in five minutes. Are you coming?”
“As soon as I return this banjo to its rightful owner. See you in a bit.”
She hotfooted it out of the auditorium, juggling the dulcimer with the ukulele and banjulele. Bradley snickered a little and followed her out. He found the owner and returned the banjo, thanking him profusely. He decided a break was in order and was sipping a soda and chilling a little when Kylie came in the performers’ room. She sank down beside him with a soda of her own. “You and Leilani were nothing short of spectacular. Good going.”
“Thanks. From you, that’s high praise indeed. Oh, wait until you see the dulcimer she just bought. It’s simple but sounds like a million bucks.”
Kylie look surprised. “I didn’t know she played the dulcimer.”
Now it was his turn to be surprised. “Really? She said you showed her how one afternoon.”
“I don’t know that I showed her all that much. I just explained to her how they’re tuned and played her a few chords on it. How good is she?”
“Pretty damned good.” Bradley’s eyes narrowed. “Better than she should be with no lessons.” Suspicion raised its ugly head. Was Leilani lying about knowing the dulcimer?
“How good is that?” Kylie’s eyes danced. “It doesn’t surprise me one bit that she’s good. A lot of musicians can transition to a dulcimer with little or no effort without any formal instruction whatsoever. It would be a natural switch for her to make.”
“You mean she’s just that good?”
“She is just that good.”
Bradley felt the tension inside of him loosen. If Kylie thought Leilani had learned the dulcimer that quickly, then she had. Besides, what purpose would be served by her lying about it?
He finished his soda and headed upstairs to Leilani’s workshop. Sure enough, she was fielding all kinds of questions about unusual instrument pairings. Bradley answered his share of questions also, and what was supposed to be a workshop on basic fingering techniques turned into an informal jam, with the participants getting out their various instruments and trying them out with one another.
The workshop attendees thanked them both, all promising to experiment more with interesting instrument combinations. They drifted out one at a time, until the only person left besides him and Leilani was a pretty young woman, probably in her late twenties. Her considerable baby bump made it hard for her to hold an acoustic guitar. “I wish I was better on the ukulele. It would be easier to hold than this thing.”
“It most definitely would be,” Leilani agreed. “When are you due?”
“Not until March, but I’m carrying twins. The doctor’s warned I’m probably looking at bed rest from about January on.” The woman glanced toward the door and smiled as a towheaded little boy of about three barreled into the room, followed by a tall young man in jeans and boots. “My heroes.” She bent to place a kiss on the little boy’s cheek. “Cole, Bobby, this is Leilani and Bradley. They’re musicians.”
“Like you, Mommy?”
“Way better than Mommy.”
The young man shook hands with them both. “I enjoyed your set this afternoon as well as your performances yesterday. Leilani, Patty says you give her hope.”
“Thank you. Patty, you’ll be playing well in no time.” Leilani turned to the child. “Hello, Bobby. I’m glad to meet you.”
Bobby stuck his thumb in his mouth and hid behind his father’s legs. “He’s shy,” Patty explained.
“He’s adorable,” Bradley said. “You must be so proud.”
Patty and Cole beamed. They chatted for a few minutes with the charming young couple, learning that they had been married for almost six years, and that she taught English and he taught agriculture and coached baseball in a nearby town. It was clear that they loved one another and they loved the children they’d made together. Mom, dad, kids. Couldn’t get more basic than that.
Bradley watched them leave with more than a little envy. “Right there,” he murmured under his breath.
“Right there what?” Leilani shut her ukulele case.
“That couple. They have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
A strange look crossed Leilani’s face. “I suppose they do.”
“That’s what I’m looking for.” He turned to Leilani, hoping to make her understand. “It’s out there. It does exist. Maybe not as often as it used to, but it is possible.”
“Not for everybody,” Leilani said enigmatically. “Tell you what. I’m tired of the food truck. Let’s go see if we can find some of that chicken-fried steak Texas is so famous for.”
Bradley started to argue but thought better of it. “Chicken-fried steak it is. We’ll go online and see if we can find someplace that serves it.”
But he couldn’t get her comment out of his mind, was still thinking about it three hours later while they listened to the final concert of the festival. What had Leilani meant, it wasn’t for everybody? She was probably referring to her daughter. Her to-die-for figure and flat stomach didn’t give her away, but the faint silvery stretch marks on the lower part of her belly, barely visible except up close, proclaimed her status as a mother. He wondered about her child. Other than that one picture of Nalani as a toddler, he had no idea what she looked like. It was obvious Leilani adored her little girl, but for whatever reason she seemed reluctant to talk about her. Which was a shame. Bradley would love to know more about Nalani. What she looked like these days, what she liked to eat, what she liked to do at the mall, what she thought of the latest teenage heartthrob, and whether she was looking forward to middle school. All the things that were so vital to Bridget and the other tweens he knew.
He asked himself why his curiosity burned to know more about Leilani’s little girl. Because he was trying to figure out how to fit this child into his life plan, maybe? How he could marry her mother someday and still have the family of his dreams? Thinking that way was premature. He knew that. But this thing with Leilani, whatever it was, was filled to the brim with rich potential for the future. He wanted to give it—give them—every chance. Because Nalani or no, he was beginning to daydream about the family he saw in his dreams. Him, Leilani, Nalani, and whatever children they made together. It would still be mom, dad, kids. Couldn’t get more basic than that.
* * *
Leilani lay still and stared at the soft pink light of early morning filtering through the hotel room blinds. They stayed late after the last performance, jamming until well after midnight, and ended the evening with another round of the most spectacular lovemaking she’d ever enjoyed. She’d fallen straight to sleep after that, but woke again three hours later, her troubled thoughts not letting her go back to sleep for a couple more hours of needed rest. She glanced over at the man sleeping so soundly beside her. They’d gotten separated in the night but not by much. He looked younger asleep, his face relaxed and without the hard edge she hadn’t even realized was there until it wasn’t anymore. Was it because he was relaxed in sleep? Or because of what they’d shared this weekend? He’d seemed happier than he’d been since she came to Tennessee.
So was she. In spite of the constant worry about Nalani, she’d enjoyed—no, make that loved—making love with Bradley. She felt lighter and freer and more at ease than she had in such a long while. For a time, she’d been able to forget about her problems and just enjoy. Enjoy making love, enjoy making music, enjoy the company of the most compelling man to come her way in a very long time. What they shared—she really didn’t know quite how to label it—was special. Seriously special. Spectacularly special.
But it also had an expiration date. Sooner or later, she had to go back to Hawaii. Sooner, if Joe refused to be tested or proved not to be a match. She would go home and pray that somewhere there was a stranger whose tissue type was close enough to support a transplant. In the worst-case scenario, she would bury her daughter. If Joe was a match, she would bring her daughter to Tennessee for the transplant. But even if the transplant was a success, even if Nalani’s health was restored, sooner or later she still had to go home.
She would go home to a family that did not in any way, shape, or form resemble Bradley’s life plan. The dad, mom, and kids plan he wanted so badly. There was no way he could ever have that with her.
Leilani sighed and turned over to stare at the drawn window. No, she hadn’t missed the longing on Bradley’s face yesterday, the yearning in his eyes as he watched Cole, Patty, and Bobby walk down the hall. He wanted a simple, traditional nuclear family. Something that was certainly within reason, something he could have with any number of young women. But not with her. Nalani alone would prevent him from having that with her. And Nalani was the least of it.
So she would have to keep her distance. Not physically. That ship had sailed and she wasn’t sorry that it had. But she needed to keep her distance emotionally. Not fall for him, and not let him fall for her. She needed to keep it light and casual, so that when all was said and done, they could both walk away with no regrets. To do anything else would be unfair to them both.