“It’s freeing to be out here, don’t you think?”
She hummed a yes as she turned back to get one last glimpse of the parakeets.
I reached over and gently took a hold of her hand. “To be yourself. To let go of everything.”
Her eyes lifted to mine as she gave a quick nod. “It is.” Her fingers laced with mine, and those cautious, but kind eyes of hers took one look at our hands before looking out to the road. “It’s very peaceful here, too.”
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to travel the world and see sights like this all the time?”
“Yeah, sure,” she spoke lightly, tucking back some hair that had fallen around her face. “But we have to be real about things. I have a job, a life. We can’t all just live like this.”
“Why not? You should be able to live however you want.”
“Easy for you to say.”
I shook my head, and for a moment, I held my tongue. I wanted to tell her that she’d never see the world like I have if she kept finding reasons to hold herself back, but it wasn’t my place. “You deserve more than you give yourself credit for.”
“Why?” She laughed, running her hand through her hair as the wind caught hold of those lengthy, shiny strands. “Just because I might be a little pretty and a hard worker doesn’t mean I can live the life of luxury,” she finished with a scoff.
“Whoa, don’t be honest or anything.” She shot me a glare, but thankfully, she was still smiling. I continued to ascend the hills and go deeper into the bright green foliage and tropical trees as more birds soared overhead. It was breathtaking, but not as much as Parvati’s candid expression. “First of all, you’re more than a little pretty. By far. And you do work hard, so you do deserve this vacation. And plenty more. You’re a part of the family now. You get to enjoy these things without feeling bad.”
“I don’t feel bad,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “Not really.”
I brought her hand to my chest and held it tight. “Honestly?”
She let out a sigh. To my surprise, she settled into her seat a little deeper, leaning close enough to me that her leg was nearly touching mine. Of course, the convertible was tiny, but that was why I chose it for the day.
“Dax, you make me think differently, you know. I feel more like myself—my true self—when I’m talking to you.”
I lifted her hand to my mouth and gave her skin a soft kiss. “That’s all I want for you.” Things were going perfectly well. I pulled over to the side of the road where a small gravel plot sat for parking and viewing the wilderness. We were up high on a cliffside where the sights of the island came to life in the grandest of ways. Miles and miles of wilderness stretched out before us. Rolling hills, rough, rocky outcrops, lush vines, and bristly trees. Parvati got on her knees and looked over the windshield. Her hand left mine as she oohed and awed at the splendor.
“Nothing like back home, huh?”
She faced me, catching my eyes with her excited gaze, saying, “It’s unbelievable.”
“I did plan today,” I confessed. “Just for you.” I placed a hand on her arm and slowly weaved my fingers with hers.
Her eyes trailed over the cliffside view, then down to the car as she took her seat. “Dax, you have to know that we can’t—”
“Can’t what?” I brought her hand to my chest again. “Can’t touch each other like we want? Can’t want each other?” I whispered.
“You just want me because I’m what’s available.” She put a hand on her chest and shook her head ever so slightly. “I’m here, in the flesh, but I’m not the only one.”
“You’re the one I want.” My eyes narrowed for a breath. “There are plenty of beautiful women here in Hawaii, and back home, but none of them compare to you.”
“Dax,” she spoke softly, but I stopped her.
“I don’t care if we’re related by marriage or not. The moment I saw you, you took my breath away. Ever since then, I’ve wanted nothing more than to find a way to be alone with you and tell you how I feel.”
“We barely know each other,” she said with a soft laugh. She was right, but I wanted her no matter what excuse she could give.
My eyes found the road, then I ran a hand through my hair. “No one is out here but me and you. I know you want me.”
Her lips parted as if she was going to say something, but she hesitated. It was just the break in her resistance that I needed.
“You want to touch me, to have me touch you.” I leaned closer to her and brushed her hair back. I kissed her neck and whispered, “No one will ever know.” She curled into me with a giggle, but then quickly pushed me back.