“She must be so stoked to be coming here again,” Libby said.“Is this her first visit back?”
“Yeah.We’ve planned to come several times over the years.When I was younger, we couldn’t afford it, and then when we could, my sisters kept having babies, and Mum likes to be on hand for each new arrival.”
“How many kids do your sisters have?”
“At the last count, Femi has four and Gabi has three.”
“Seven grandchildren!Whoa, that’s one busy grandma in need of a break.”Libby grinned, not quite believing how much Cranky was talking after being so…well, cranky.“What have you got planned with your mom and aunt?”
“They both like to read and do crossword puzzles.”Dan leaned back in his seat.“I guess we’ll mainly be hanging out on the beach doing that.”
Hanging out with two old ladies… Not quite how you imagined spending your honeymoon…
But that would’ve been one bad joke too many for Cranky Jones, especially as he should’ve been lunching here with his gorgeous wife instead of her and Karim.What a letdown.
“So, I told your mom what happened with our accommodation,” Libby said.“Once she knew you were okay, she found it funny.”
“Yeah, she would.”
“She also said it was a shock to hear that you were here.Why didn’t you tell her you were coming?”
“I didn’t tell anyone.I slipped out the back of my house early one morning, got the first train to London, and then jumped into a cab to the airport.It was best that she didn’t know.I didn’t want her to worry.”
“That makes sense.I’ll still worry about Karim when he’s your age.So, it’ll be cozy with the three of you staying atAre Moana.Will your mom and aunt sleep on the couch bed, like we did last night?”
“No.”Cranky shook his head but gave out a little laugh.“Believe it or not, my mother raised me to be a gentleman.”
“Ha.”
“Seriously, she’d give me what for if she knew how I behaved toward you and that it was you and your son who slept on the sofa last night.”
“We won’t tell.Honest.”Enjoying herself, Libby leaned back.Daniel Jones wasn’t bad company.The light didn’t quite reach his eyes when he smiled, but it was good to see him make the effort.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” he said, “and then I’ll move to a dorm bed in the main house when one comes available.”
“A dorm bed?You mean like a bunk bed in a shared room?Are you serious?”
“Sure.Why not?”
“But you’re…you’re…”An Olympic hero, a sporting superstar—with lots of money.Surely he had money, right?She leaned forward, so inexplicably intrigued.“Why not stay in a big, fancy resort?Are Moanais cute and all, but it’s budget accommodation.”He shifted, as if she’d poked that bruise.Damn her and her big mouth, always with the questions.“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, “I didn’t mean to get personal.”
“No, it’s okay.”He played with the corner of his napkin.“Everyone expects that with people in the public eye, but I’ve come to learn from sad experience that there’s always someone sniffing around for a shot at celebrities in places like that.”
He wasn’t wrong.Libby knew lots of journalists and photographers who hung out at the most exclusive Beverley Hills hotels.Although it worked both ways.Often, celebrities went to such places to be seen and tipped paps off that they’d be there.
“But anyway,” Dan continued, “I also thought it would be cool to stay where my parents stayed thirty years ago.”
“I didn’t thinkAre Moanawas that old.It looks quite modern.”
“The bungalow’s new, but back then, they had two dorm rooms in the main house.One for boys, and one for girls.My parents had to sleep apart.”
“So, this really would be a trip down memory lane for your mom.Are Moanais gorgeous.I’m sure she’ll love what Mr.Hehu and Serita have done with the place.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had to move out.”Dan looked at his hands.“If it’s any consolation, when I saw Hehu and his daughter this morning to pass my thanks on to the nurse, they couldn’t apologize enough for the double booking.”
“Oh, they’ve been great.I’m not mad at them at all, and they’ve fixed me up with a nice little place farther along Muri Beach.It’s got a second room, too, so Karim can sleep there.The only thing is, after tonight, it isn’t available again until the day before Christmas Eve, but even that’s okay because—get this!I went ahead with this cool ten-day package deal to Atiu.”
“Atiu?That’s another island near here, isn’t it?”
