Leilani, wearing a polo shirt with her company logo embroidered across the top of her left breast, greeted them near the gangway. “Welcome to Windsong Tours, Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy. I’m Leilani Kealoha, your tour guide. Please, come aboard. We’re waiting on two more customers, and we’ll be on our way for a fabulous evening of snorkeling.”
Kimo grinned and joined the farce in case anyone in adjoining slips or on the dock was listening. “We’ve been looking forward to this since we arrived in Maui, haven’t we, Snookums?” She leaned back into Rex and cupped his cheek in her palm. “I can’t wait to see the little fishes, can you?”
He captured her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Been counting the seconds, Doodlebug. Maybe we’ll even see a turtle.” His lips twitched as he looked toward Leilani. “Think we’ll see a turtle, Ms. Kealoha?”
Leilani cocked an eyebrow at Rex. “We might.” She waved a hand toward the gangway. “Please come aboard and make yourself comfortable.”
Kimo crossed first, followed by Rex.
Angel waved from where he was arranging life vests, snorkels and masks. He waved at Kimo and Rex. “Aloha. I’m your deckhand, Angelo.”
“Aloha, Angelo,” Kimo responded.
Rex raised a hand at his teammate. “Angelo, where do we need to sit?”
Angel waved toward the benches lining each side of the interior. “Anywhere you like.”
Rex and Kimo sat on the starboard bench.
A moment later, two men showed up, wearing swim trunks and Hawaiian shirts that didn’t scream with their colors; they only chirped a little. They carried large gear bags and wore sunglasses and ball caps.
Kimo recognized Kiana’s guy, Devlin Mulhaney, but not the other man with him. She assumed it was Teller Osgood, sent from the Big Island by his boss, Jace Hawkins. She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing these men would provide cover on the boat while she, Angel, Leilani and Rex were diving.
The men boarded and found a seat on the opposite bench from Rex and Kimo.
Leilani unhooked the line from the cleat on the dock and tossed the line into the boat.
Angel grabbed it, wrapped it, lifted the lid of a box and laid it inside.
Leilani stepped aboard and drew in the gangway, stowing it on the side of the craft. She straightened and smiled. “We had an entire family cancel because they all came down with something. So, this is all of us. Sit back and relax as we take you on an adventure you won’t soon forget.” Her gaze swept the dock. “If you’re ready, we’ll get going. Angelo will give you the safety briefing on the way out of the marina.” She strode through the boat to the helm and started the engine.
Soon, they were on their way out of the marina with Angel reciting the safety briefing until they were well out of earshot of anyone at the marina.
Once they were in open water, Leilani cranked up the speed and drove the boat along the west side of the island, heading for Maalaea Bay.
As soon as they were reasonably out of sight of land, Devlin and Teller opened their gear bags and extracted a rifle and handgun, along with extra magazines full of bullets.
Kimo’s blood chilled, not so much at the weapons but at the fact that they might have to use them. What was the world coming to?
Rex reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “They’ll have our backs.”
Kimo nodded.
Angel came through the cabin to hand Rex and Kimo wetsuits. A full-length one for Kimo to protect her injured leg and a shorter one for Rex. He grabbed one for himself, stripped out of his Windsong Tours polo shirt and slipped into the wetsuit. Then he took the helm while Leilani put on her gear.
Kimo shrugged out of her beach cover-up and stepped into the wetsuit. When she fumbled to find the armholes, Rex was there to help her. Once she was in it, he drew the zipper up the front, his knuckles skimming across her breasts.
Her breath caught and held as she raised her gaze to his. He stared down into her eyes for a long moment. “Everything’s going to be all right,” he said softly.
Kimo nodded, too flustered by how close he was and how much closer she wanted him to be.
He stepped back, took off his shirt and reached for his wetsuit.
She couldn’t help herself. Kimo feasted her eyes on the man’s broad, tanned chest, narrow waist and those loud, crazy-colored swim shorts.
“Good to see you’re getting some use out of your Ugly Hawaiian Outfit winner,” Devlin said. “It’s good that you’ll be wearing a wetsuit over those trunks so that you don’t scare the fish.”
Rex’s lips twisted. “Bite me.” He dragged the wetsuit up his legs and zipped it before Kimo could offer to return the favor.
