Chapter Two – A Chance Meeting

Jordon P.O.V

I glance at the clock on the wall; it’s 9 p.m. “Fuck it,” I mumble out loud. I’m done for the day. I can’t look at these codes any longer. Switching my computer screen off, I stand up and stretch before going over to my bar and pouring myself a scotch. I step out onto my deck and breathe in the night air, and an instant sense of calm washes over me. I can see the lights from the central part of the island, and there’s rhythmic music carrying on the breeze. They must have a few at the pub tonight.

I never thought that I would live in a place like this. I moved from Brightview because I was sick of city life. The constant stress of the daily grind was becoming too much for me, and after sleeping through half the city, I was bored with seeing the same faces that frequented my bed. Being a software engineer, I can work anywhere in the world, so I quit my job and started my own business in Lai’eloa to be closer to my cousin, Mitch. Now I can just work from home with the clients I actually want to work with, and the rest of my time is my own. The slower pace of island life and the new pool of beautiful women has been the change I needed.

I decide to head over to the pub to see who is there. So I finish my scotch, go inside, and jump in the shower. When I’m done, I dry off and call a taxi, then change into a pair of jeans, a long-sleeve button-up shirt that I roll up to my elbows, and a pair of dress shoes. I quickly do my hair, put on my favourite cologne, and rush out the door as the taxi pulls up.

#

I get dropped off outside the pub, and I walk up the steps and head straight to the bar. ‘Oh good, Eva’s working tonight. I could really blow off some steam with her after the day I’ve had,’ I think to myself.

“Hey, lover,” she says as she pours my usual scotch with a seductive smile.

“Hey, beautiful,” I grin at her.

I’m about to ask her how she is when I hear a loud cheer coming from behind me. I turn around to see what the noise is about, and my breath catches in my chest. “Wow,” I mutter under my breath as my eyes lock with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her emerald green eyes have me hypnotised, and too quickly, she turns away and laughs at something. My heart is hammering in my chest as I gaze at her, taking in everything about her. Her long, dark brown hair is in loose curls down her back, and her pouty lips are giving me a semi-hard-on as she gives someone a breathtaking smile. I manage to take my eyes off her for a second to see who she’s talking to, and I see my cousin Mitch at the table. I try to get his attention, but he’s too busy talking to his group of friends.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” I hear Eva say.

“Who is she?” I ask, not able to take my eyes off her.

“Her name is Elisha. She just moved here,” she replies.

I sip my scotch while watching her, intrigued. Her laugh is contagious, and I can’t stop smiling just because she is. She’s intoxicating.

As I finish my first scotch, Eva brings me another. She grins as she looks at me, then at Elisha. “Go introduce yourself,” she says with a wink. I smile and take the scotch she gave me, and I stand up and head over to the table. Thank God Eva knows the score. No other woman would tell me to introduce myself to someone else.

“Hey, Mitch,” I say as I come up behind him and ruffle his hair.

“Cuz! How are you, bro?!”

“Wooooow, how many drinks have you had?” I laugh. He only ever calls me ‘bro’ when he’s tanked.

“Hey, just a few, we’re celebrating Elisha coming to work with us!” He explains.

My eyes lock with hers again, and I have to will my dick to stand down. Damn.

“Elisha, this is Jordan. He’s Mitchell’s cousin.” Ailani introduces us.

“Nice to meet you,” she says with a smile.

“You too, welcome to Lai’eloa.” I grin.

“Thank you,” she responds, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“So, you’re joining this crazy group?” I ask as I pull a seat up to the table to sit next to her. God, she smells so good, like strawberries. Her smell is driving me crazy, not to mention the effect her smile is having on me.

She laughs, “I guess so! Bob was generous enough to offer me a job, even though we only met tonight.”

“What can I say? That’s just what we do here,” Bob smiles at Elisha.

“Well, I’m certainly grateful to have met all of you today,” Elisha says, raising her glass to the table, then sipping her wine.

“Have you had a chance to see much of the island yet?” I ask.

“No, not yet. I only arrived this afternoon. I was walking along the beach when I found this place.”

“Maybe I can take you exploring when you’re free. There’s still a lot of the islands I haven’t seen yet, either,” I offer with a smile.

“I’d like that,” she grins.

“Great,” I say and give her a wink. She blushes again and finishes her wine, placing the glass on the table and giving me that breathtaking smile, and my heart skips a beat. I’ve never felt like this before.

Elisha P.O.V

I turn away from Jordan before I get lost in his dazzling smile. Since he sat down next to me, his stormy grey eyes and the smell of his cologne have made me want to squirm in my seat. I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off of him since he walked in. His tall, muscular frame and demeanour screams sex and danger, and he has my heart beating rapidly.

“One more round, guys?” I ask everyone. “My shout,” I add with a cheeky grin.

“You, my friend, are trouble, aren’t you?” Uku laughs. “Ah hell, why not?” He says, before he sculls the rest of his beer.

“Not for me, thanks, Elisha. I better get home,” Bob says. “I’ll see you all bright and early tomorrow!” He gives us all a stern look before cracking a smile.

We all laugh. “See ya tomorrow, boss!” We yell as he walks out into the night.

“Same here,” Mitch groans. “The wife is going to kill me. See you all in the morning.”

“Booooooo,” Uku yells at Mitch as he walks out, and Mitch flips him off.

“I’ll help you with the drinks,” Jordan offers as he rises from his seat. When I stand, he places his hand on the small of my back, sending a shiver down my spine, and walks with me to the bar.

“Hey guys, another round?” Eva asks.

“Last one, thanks, Eva. I start work tomorrow!” I tell her excitedly.

“Oh, that’s so great, Elisha! Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” I say with a big smile on my face.

I turn to Jordan, and he smiles at me. Man, he is gorgeous. And tall. I need to remember to wear heels around him; I giggle to myself.

“What’s funny?” He asks, raising his eyebrow as he looks at me.

“Oh, ah, nothing,” I say quickly and feel my cheeks go red.

He brushes my hair away from my face and tucks it behind my ear, then cradles my cheek with his hand while looking into my eyes, and for a brief moment, I feel as if he can see deep into my soul. ‘Oh boy, this is bad,’ I think to myself. My heart feels like it’s in my throat as Jordan leans down and kisses me softly.

The moment is over way too quickly, as I hear Eva clear her throat, and I almost whimper as Jordan pulls away. I blush and turn back to the bar, seeing that Eva has finished pouring the drinks.

“Thanks, Eva,” I say, but she won’t make eye contact with me. I give her the money for the drinks, and when she hands me the change, she gives me a strange look. Is she upset with me? I wonder what I did.

Jordan helps me take the glasses back to the table, and once we’ve placed them down, he pulls my chair out for me to sit down. I take my seat, trying not to blush more when I hear Uku giggle. I give him a little kick under the table as Jordan sits beside me again.

“So, Jordan, how’s your work going? Mitchell says you’re a software engineer,” Keoni asks.

“That’s correct,” he replies with a smile.

He talks to Keoni, but I zone out as I study his profile. God. All I can think about is running my fingers through his toffee-coloured hair while he’s on top of me. I gulp as he turns to me and catches me staring at him, and I quickly grab my glass of wine and take a sip, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

He puts his arm around the back of my chair, leans in close to my ear and whispers, “are you okay, Elisha?”

I turn to face him, his face close to mine. “Oh, I’m fine,” I say with a smile, my heart pounding nervously as I brush my hair forward over my left shoulder.

“Good,” he says, smiling again. He leans back in his chair but leaves his arm around the back of my chair, and he begins to gently trace circles on my bare back with his thumb. He continues his conversation with everyone, but I can barely concentrate on what they’re talking about. My skin feels like it’s on fire with his touch.

I’m snapped out of my dreamy haze when Jordan leans over again and whispers, “I’ll be right back,” then excuses himself from the table.

“Fuck me, he is so hot,” Uku whispers with a sigh as Jordan walks away. “Such a waste.”

“Don’t worry, honey. You’ll find your mister right one day, “Ailani pats his hand.

“I’d settle for someone with an ass like Jordan’s. It looks like you could bounce a coin off it,” he smirks, and we all laugh. “He seems to be taken with you, Elisha,” he says with a cheeky grin.

“What’s his deal?” I ask the group.

“Well, he’s only been here a short time as well, maybe six months. Seems like a playboy,” Keoni says.

“Oh?” I say, trying to hide my disappointment.

“Yeah, we’re pretty sure he’s with Eva at the moment. I’ve seen him leave with her a few times,” Uku says.

“Oh, well, that would explain the angry look I got from her when Jordan and I were at the bar.”

“You mean when he kissed you at the bar?” Uku wiggles his eyebrows at me. “We all saw it, Trouble,” he says, smirking.

“Trouble?” I ask with a laugh.

“Yep, that’s your nickname now, and you’re stuck with it,” he laughs as well.

“If he’s with Eva, why would he kiss Elisha in front of her?” Ailani asks.

“Maybe he and Eva have an arrangement,” Keoni says. “He has left with other women from here when she’s been working.”

“I guess,” Ailani says, and I sink into my seat, feeling a little disappointed.

“Ah well, I’m not interested in anything casual, especially if he’s already with someone,” I say, taking a sip of wine. “I shouldn’t be starting anything, anyway. I just got here.”

Jordan returns a few moments later and returns to his seat next to mine. My heart begins to race again, but this time I try to calm it down with a deep breath. I discreetly look over at the bar as Jordan talks with Keoni again, and Eva is staring daggers in our direction. ‘There’s definitely something going on there,’ I think to myself. I sit forward when Jordan tries to put his arm around the back of my chair again. I need to get home before I do something I’ll regret.

“Are you still okay with walking me home?” I hint to Uku, giving him a pleading look, hoping he’ll go along with me as if we had discussed this.

“Yeah, of course! I was just about to ask if you were ready to go. We have an early start tomorrow,” he says, and I could kiss him for understanding.

“I can walk you home if you like?” Jordan offers with a smile.

“Oh, it’s okay. Uku had already offered. Thank you, though,” I say with a small smile and stand from my seat. “It was so great to meet you guys,” I tell Ailani and Keoni. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

“Night, Elisha. It was great to meet you, too,” Ailani stands to give me a quick hug, and Keoni gives me a smile and shakes my hand.

“Let’s go, Trouble,” Uku says, then says goodnight to the others, and I follow him out of the bar, forcing myself not to look back at Jordan.

“Thanks, Uku,” I say as we walk down onto the sand.

“No problem at all, Trouble,” he says, softly nudging my shoulder with his. “Would you like me to pick you up in the morning? I can show you how to get to the office.”

“That would be great. Man, I’m really glad I met you,” I tell him, giving him a big smile.

He chuckles and wraps his arm loosely over my shoulders. “Me too, Trouble. Me too.”