“Believe me, it’s tempting.” And it is. So tempting that my decision-making skills are filing for early retirement. “But I should probably— Oh what the heck.”
“Sphynx!” Candy’s voice cuts through the moment like a chainsaw through a wedding cake before I could trot Koa off behind the nearest plumeria tree. “There you are! We need to discuss the ceremony timeline!”
Koa takes a step back, but his eyes still hold mine for a beat too long.
“Saved by the influencer?” I make a face because it’s definitely not true.
“More like interrupted by the influencer.” His voice is low enough that only I hear it. “We’ll continue this later.”
“That a promise or a threat, Detective?”
“Both.” He tips his head slightly. “I should make the rounds,” he finally says. “Try to behave yourself.”
“When do I not behave myself?” I ask, batting my lashes his way.
He gives me a look that could melt lava rock. “That’s a trick question, right?”
“Possibly.”
“Exactly.” He tilts his head toward the south end of the beach. “I’ll keep an eye on things. You stay visible. No sneaking off.”
A grin breaks out on my face without my permission. “Oh, Detective, if I sneak anywhere, you’ll be the first to know.”
I watch him go, and try to remember how to breathe.
“Oh my gosh, is he single?” Candy appears at my elbow, tracking Koa with her eyes like a lioness who’s just spotted dinner. “Because that jawline is absolutely made for content—I mean, he’s very attractive in a general sense.”
Right. This is going to be a long week.
“Oh shoot,” she snaps her fingers, and a hot pink fingernail goes flying. “I forgot what I was going to ask you. Whereis Alana when you need her? Honestly, sometimes I think she forgets who signs her paychecks. I have half a mind to kill her.” She stalks off to do who knows what. To commit a homicide if she’s being literal.
She got thehalf a mindpart right. And well, that’s probably a bit too generous.
I stand in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the luau swirl around me like a tempest in a coconut shell. The band has moved on to murdering “Tiny Bubbles,” while tourists post selfies with flaming tiki torches, and somewhere in the distance, I can hear Bertha lecturing someone about proper wedding etiquette.
Ruby reappears at my side like magic, carrying two fresh mai tais. “Lani sends these with her compliments and a warning that if anyone else criticizes her authentic Hawaiian cuisine, she’s going to start throwing poi.”
“Did you see—” I start to ask about Koa, but Ruby interrupts.
“Yes, I saw Detective Hot Stuff looking like he wanted to take a bite out of you right there in front of the moonandyour ex-husband.” She hands me a mai tai with a knowing smirk. “And before you ask, yes, I also saw the Great Halea Seduction Attempt. The detective escaped with his virtue intact, though I’m not sure how much longer that’ll last if you keep looking at him like that.”
“Like what?” I take a long sip of the mai tai.
“Like you’re trying to decide between jumping him orjumping off the nearest cliff to preserve your sanity.” She clinks her glass against mine. “Smart money is on option one, by the way. Much more fun. Now stop staring at where he went and help me enjoy this disaster.”
She lifts her drink, and we clink glasses once again. “To surviving this week,” she says.
“To surviving thisnight,” I counter, because honestly, that seems like a more achievable goal at this point.
The luau continues to unfold around us in all its chaotic glory. Candy is now posing with a group of tourists who’ve clearly never seen a ring light before, Erwin is hiding behind a palm tree with his third mai tai, and Della, the bride’s crooning sister, has cornered someone near the dessert table to discuss her music career.
“Look,” Ruby says, pointing toward the main building. “Even the cats have joined the party.”
Sure enough, Pineapple and Spam have appeared, stalking through the crowd with the confidence of resort owners surveying their domain. Pineapple immediately heads for the dessert table, while Spam positions himself near the appetizer station like a furry bouncer.
Ruby sighs. “Well, that’s my cue. When the cats start organizing, something is about to go wrong.”
She pats my arm. “I’m going to make sure the staff knows where the fire extinguisher is—and maybe say a prayer. Yell if anyone dies. I’ll be in the lobby pretending not to notice.”
