Helen needed banana bread, but Jake’s pesky chickens blocked her path. Again.
She clutched her keys in one fist and the door handle of her car with the other. She’d survived last Wednesday and the Wednesday before. It was highly unlikely they would attack her before she got her bread.
It was after she had to worry about.
A knock caused her to bump her head on the roof.
“Are you getting out of the car?”
Jake. He stood on the other side of her window, the sun glinting off his white teeth and black eyes. His large, deep eyes. The color of lava rock.
Don’t stare. Just pull the door handle. “Aloha, Jake.”
Jake offered his hand, always the gentleman, but she would not bite. Only one more month on Oahu, and then principal photography would wrap. She’d be back in L.A. before the ocean cleared her footprints from the sand. Leaving no time for gentlemen.
Jake used his empty hand to scratch his dark chest hairs.
Staring again. “Where’s your shirt? Isn’t that a health code violation?”
“Maybe.” He closed her door and flashed another grin while stroking his bare chest.
Her stomach flopped over. Look somewhere else. Don’t let him bait you.
“I need sixteen loaves today.” As she pulled a wad of bills from her back pocket, pain stabbed her ankle.
Chicken! She recoiled, landing in Jake’s arms. Ignoring the merriment in his eyes, she tried to scramble onto her roof, burning her hand.
He pulled her back down. “Don’t harass my chickens.”
“It bit me!” What happened to her gentleman? He wouldn’t laugh while vicious monsters terrorized a maiden. He’d give her a boost.
Jake stroked the feathers of the pesky pecker. “Kolohe is a bird. It’s your flashy anklet that’s to blame.”
She tucked her ankle behind her other foot. “You name them?”
“Of course.”
More pain in her ankle. Chicken!
She jumped away from the car to see a beak peeking out from underneath. Chickens everywhere. Watching her with cocked heads and beady eyes.
“Can you help me, please?”
If the director didn’t insist on bread only from Jake’s stand, she’d have found a substitute long ago. Such a nuisance. She could not understand how he retained customers.
Except that she could. His banana bread was unmatched. Light and fluffy. Pale white without dark spots like the bread of the other stands. Perhaps, if she used her wiles to get his recipe, she could…
Her feet left the ground, and his strong shoulder pressed against her abdomen as he carried her towards his stand. Every chicken followed, including the black one with the turquoise tail which terrified her the most. What did he do, give his chickens dye jobs?
He set her down inside his stand, stepped in, and shut the door. In the cramped space, the air was thick with cinnamon, coconuts, and musk. Her hands pressed against the rock of Jake’s chest.
“Can you give me a little more space?”
His abs vibrated as he chuckled. “Where?”
Look anywhere but his eyes. Not his eyes. Oh, they’re so intense. Now, he’s biting his lip. This is worse than the chickens.
“If you’ll just give me my bread and carry me back to my car, I’ll be on my way.”
“Bread won’t be ready for another minute.”
She met his eyes. “Is that an island minute?”
“Maybe.”
Leaving in a month. Leaving in a month.
Tap!
She jerked into the counter behind her and then, falling forward, bumped noses with Jake. Don’t touch him! She tried to steady herself, but there wasn’t enough space to get her bearings. Rough hands cupped her elbows.
“It’s just Akamai. She can’t get you in here.”
Tap, tap, tap.
At the service window, a white chicken with black spots pecked on the closed plastic panel. Cocking its head and staring at her between jabs.
“Why won’t they leave me alone?”
“They like you.”
Or, rather, they knew he liked her. Just a glance to see if he was… yep. His look could melt cold butter, but she couldn’t let it melt her heart. She didn’t want an island fling. Her heart was too fragile since Dave. She had to put a stop to his smolder.
“Don’t look at me like that. I know what you’re thinking.”
“What am I thinking?”
Don’t name it. It’s too dangerous. “That this is the perfect place for a clandestine kiss.”
His lip twitched. “Is it?”
She licked her lips. Raspberry chapstick. Wonder what his lips taste like.
DING!
Salvation! “It’s done.”
His hot breath tickled her neck as he leaned closer. “Nope, that’s Akamai ringing the service bell.”
Reaching back, she grasped the counter. Look at the cash box. Look at the cooler filled with drinks. Look at the rows of banana bread, lying on paper towels.
Wait.
She swiveled around, bumping him with her hip. “The bread is done, and this bag has my name on it.” She turned back, clutching the bag, to find Jake laughing. Laughing!
“Busted.”
Insufferable islander. She stuck her hand in her back pocket. Where was her money?
Tap, tap. A chicken with a ten-dollar bill in its beak mocked her.
Time to go. “Your pets have the money.” She shoved past Jake, opened the door, and ran for her car.
“Go on a date with me!” She glanced back to see him leaning out the service window. He wasn’t going to give up, was he?
“Would you wear a shirt?”
That intoxicating grin again. “Maybe.”
Reaching her car, she slid into the seat and slammed the door. Would it hurt? One date?
She reversed the car and rolled down her window.
“Jake!”
His eyebrows raised.
“I’ll go on one condition. You leave the chickens at home.”