Only he hadn’t told Lucie that he loved her. He’d been too shocked to speak, never expecting to hear her say the words. She hadn’t said anything since, and he knew that was because he had so easily ignored the situation, trying selfishly to come to terms with how he could explain his feelings for her.
Today he was going to have the chance. There was no way he was going to let another day go by without showing Lucie exactly how much she meant to him.
The gentle knock on the condo door had both Haley and Lucie turning abruptly to look at him. He smiled and moved over to the door. A quick glance through the security hole told him it was, in fact, his mother.
After a quick hello, Susanna Steele moved into the living area, followed by a little girl squeal as Haley recognized who had come to see her.
“Grammy!” Haley yelled as she ran across the room, right into his mother’s open arms.
“There’s my little ray of sunshine!” Susanna greeted Haley before standing up and facing Lucie. “Hi, honey. You look like you’ve gotten some sun. You’re radiant.”
Kane watched the blush creep across Lucie’s sun kissed cheeks, and he smiled. Although Susanna and Lucie had only met one other time, he knew his mother didn’t hold anything against her for what she did. Susanna wasn’t like that. Maybe that’s because she had experienced so much pain in her life already, she was constantly reminding him to keep a positive outlook. He wished it had always been that uncomplicated for him.
Kane met Lucie’s gaze, and he smiled. Yes, his mother’s arrival was obviously a surprise to her, but he had wanted it to be. Seriously, they were in Hawaii of all places, and there was no way he would forgo a relaxing, romantic day with her if he was given the chance. Considering his mother had offered, insisting she wanted to come to Hawaii for a few days anyway – a lie he knew – he had been unable to refuse her.
“Can we go to the beach, Grammy?” Haley asked, making all of the adults turn to look at her.
“Of course we can,” Susanna smiled.
“Will Mommy and Daddy go with us?” Haley asked, and Kane noticed the way his mother’s back stiffened. He beamed with pride once more.
Susanna turned and grinned, making him feel even more elated by his daughter’s acceptance. When she crouched low, getting right at eye level with Haley, Kane waited to see what she was going to say next.
“Don’t tell anyone,” Susanna said in a mock whisper, “but I think your daddy is going to take your mommy on a date.”
Kane met Lucie’s gaze again, and he saw the smile tip the corners of her perfect heart shaped lips. He was happy to know she was onboard with the plan.
An hour later, Kane was assisting Lucie off of the small speed boat that had transported them from Maui to a small, quaint island that the natives boasted about. According to what he had heard, there was a tiny resort that had beach front rooms and lucky for him, they had had a vacancy when he called. Considering they were flying back home the following afternoon, he had reserved it for their last night there with the understanding that Susanna would be staying with Haley overnight.
Lucie hadn’t complained, but nor had she said anything else since they left the condo. He’d tried for small talk, but the most he could get out of her were brief yes or no answers.
After a short trek from the beach up to the small cluster of individual cottage style structures, Kane found the number of the room they had been assigned to. Carrying one bag they had packed containing both of their things for one night, they moved along the walkway until they reached the semi-private condo.
Looking around, he admired the view of the beach and the numerous palm trees that waved back and forth in the gentle breeze. This was perfect for what he had in mind.
Opening the door with the key he had been given earlier on the main island, he entered the small bungalow and stepped back so that Lucie could join him. Once inside, he admired the cozy, elegant surroundings before dropping the bag at his feet.
“You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” Lucie stated, standing in the middle of the room, her arms crossed over her midsection like she was keeping herself warm. Kane knew that wasn’t the case because without so much as a breeze, the room was stifling.
Moving around to the windows, he pushed them open, allowing the warm breeze to circulate through, stirring the sheer curtains. Once that was done, he crossed over to where she stood, pulling her up against him. Ever since the night Lucie told him that she loved him, Kane knew he’d been a little standoffish.
He’d even resorted to sleeping on the couch after they made love because she had insisted she was going to do so. After their bodies had come together, something neither of them could resist no matter how awkward things had become between them, they had both fallen fast asleep until Haley had woken them each morning ready to go back to the beach.