Meet Me in Hawaii by Georgia Toffolo (best affordable ebook reader TXT) 📗

She just had to make it right. She needed to apologize and hope he could forgive her, then maybe she would be able to move on without this feeling of emptiness swelling inside.

‘Don’t tell me you can’t find it!’ Kalani called from the doorway, shaking her out of her thoughts. ‘If you don’t hurry all the good food will be gone.’

‘Sorry,’ she said, scooping her bag over her shoulder. ‘All ready.’

‘Thank heaven for that.’ He lifted the umbrella between them as she locked up the apartment. ‘Your feet will be pleased to hear that I’ve brought the car.’

‘You’re a lifesaver.’ She gave him a small smile in thanks and turned to hook her arm through his. ‘Right, let’s do this.’

He laughed. ‘You sound like you’re about to head into battle.’

She gave him another smile – that’s because it feels like I am.

Todd checked his watch again. It was getting late and he really wanted to deliver his speech before too much champagne had been consumed. But how could he deliver the speech when she wasn’t even here, and neither was Kalani?

‘I think you’re just going to have to start,’ Grace said as she approached him, her trusty tablet still under her arm. ‘We’ve already delayed things by half an hour and the kitchen is wanting to bring the food out.’

‘Still no sign of them?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not, I’ve asked the men on the gate to message as soon as they arrive.’

‘OK.’

She looked to him with concern. ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’

He sipped his champagne and avoided her eye. ‘Yes, or I would be if our guests were all here.’

‘You were like this before, though, in fact, you’ve been like it all week. Is there something I can help you with?’

‘Not unless you can miraculously make our guests appear.’ He eyed the room, hoping for the umpteenth time he’d just missed them in the crowd, but he knew deep down he hadn’t. He’d know with every fibre of his being if Malie was in the room.

Was she going to bail on the evening? Were they both going to? Had she said something to Kalani to make him pull out?

Surely not. Not when the surf school’s work with the charity was so important. But then, why else would they not be here? Perhaps he should ring her, or ring Kalani at least. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, was about to look up his number when a ping came from Grace’s tablet.

She glanced at her screen, her smile instant. ‘Kalani’s car has just pulled up.’

He felt the tension ease from his body. ‘Thank goodness.’

She sent him a funny look and he knew she’d likely spied more than just the professional in his relief, but she didn’t comment on it, instead she suggested, ‘Why don’t you get started on the welcome speech and I’ll hurry them through?’

He nodded, calmer this time.

‘I’ll get the musicians to introduce you.’

He nodded again, took another sip of champagne but he didn’t taste it, didn’t even feel it go down, he was already preparing himself for seeing her. He had to get this speech right, he had to thank her for her work, he had to make her see that as far as their shared passion went, they’d achieved something to be proud of and to set aside the personal.

He barely heard the introduction; in fact, he was barely aware of the words coming out of his own mouth as he spoke about the Foundation, something that he could do in his sleep. Anything from elevator pitches to the full-on nitty gritty, he knew it all, because Fun For All was his baby and the past three weeks had been a huge milestone in its progress.

Not so much for his heart.

He scanned the crowd as he spoke, resting on certain individuals who had played a role, be it in the organization, the funding, the support workers, the parents – Tara’s parents. He paused, they looked so happy, so different to that first day on the island and he took a breath. It’s not all bad. So why did he feel so lost, so unfulfilled?

The main doors pushed open and his heart skipped a beat, his eyes landing on the arrivals, only to have it sink in his chest. Kalani and Grace. No Malie.

He was about to look away, to get back on track when Kalani and Grace stepped away from the door and a flash of red pulled him back. Malie?

Words failed him, the world tuning out as all he could see was her.

She looked hesitant, her eyes flitting about the room as she entered. Her hair had been tamed into a fountain of curls that spilled from up high, framing her face, teasing over her bare shoulders. Red silk wrapped around her upper body, enhancing her curves, her small waist, and from there the view disappeared behind the crowd.

She was breathtakingly beautiful and now everyone was looking at her, curious as to what had caught his eye and silenced him.

She gave a nervous smile to the room as the doors closed behind her.

‘Sorry we’re late,’ she said, lifting her shoulders in a self-conscious gesture and giving a little wave of her fingers. He could see the colour creeping into her cheeks, feel her embarrassment across the room.

‘Not at all, you’re right on time,’ he assured her. ‘I was just about to tell the room all about you, come up here, Malie.’

The crowd murmured as they parted for her, the men virtually drooling, the women beaming. There was no jealousy from the latter and normally it would surprise him. But not with Malie. All these guests knew of her already and his speech was just going to reiterate all that they loved about her. Loved – no one loved her like he did, however.

He cut the thought dead and forced his smile to be warm, trying to ease the weariness he could