Cara Lockwood - Her Hawaiian Homecoming

“Thanks,” Kai said, standing a little straighter, clearly taking pride in his establishment. “I never imagined having a life other than surfing, but my finance guy said it’s good to diversify.”

“That’s only because surfing is probably going to kill you,” Jesse scolded. “ This guy liked to surf the big waves. Like seventy feet!”

“Seventy...?” Allie’s mouth dropped open in shock. Kai had always been fearless, even as a toddler, but somehow she couldn’t quite imagine his muscled body handling such serious surf.

“That was on a slow day,” Kai said, half teasing, half not. He pointed to the espresso machine. “Care for a cappuccino? On the house.”

“Well, I...” Allie hesitated for a split second, but before she could even properly answer, Jesse had bounced over to get started.

“You don’t want him making one. He doesn’t know how,” Jesse explained.

“I do so!”

“You’re only here a couple days a week,” Jesse teased, as they bickered warmly like the siblings she remembered. “During the slow times. Ask him where he is in the morning, during rush time?”

“Hey! I surf mornings!” Kai protested. “Got to keep giving those young kids a run for their money on the circuit. I just come in here to supervise, make sure you’re not sleeping on the job.”

Jesse snapped a dishrag at him, and Kai just laughed. In a few moments, she handed Allie a lush cappuccino.

“This is the second time this week someone put coffee in my hands.” Allie inhaled the rich aroma and then took a sip. It was the richest, most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. Nothing bitter about it, just dense, lush goodness.

“This is amazing,” Allie said, dumbstruck that she actually liked coffee without a sugary shot of vanilla or caramel.

Kai grinned, ear to ear. “Made from one hundred percent Kona Estate coffee.”

“My grandmother’s coffee?”

Kai nodded.

“Wow, this stuff is really good.” Allie took another sip, relishing it.

“The best Kona on Hawai’i,” Jesse said.

“Your grandmother’s coffee made this place,” Kai seconded.

Allie felt a shudder of guilt as she glanced around at all the happy patrons in Kai’s shop. They all seemed to like the coffee so much, and she could understand why. It was delicious, like none she’d ever tasted. But she had no intention of growing coffee, at least, not with her share. What would happen to Kai’s shop, to these patrons drinking her coffee, if they sold the land? Developed it for condos?

Not your problem , Allie thought. Your problem is Dallas McCormick and that smug smile he wears on his face.

“You said someone else gave you coffee?” Kai asked. “Where did you get it? Please don’t tell me it was you-know-what down the street. Please don’t!”

“Kai won’t even say their name, it’s that personal,” Jesse said.

“Don’t get me started on why ,” he said. “Big corporate lattes! Wouldn’t know good coffee if it bit them in the...”

“Oh, no, don’t worry,” Allie said. “I haven’t been to any competitors. Your aunt gave me coffee grounds, actually.”

Kai immediately relaxed. “You saw Auntie K? She’s always had a soft spot for you. Did she make you a lei?”

“Uh, yes, actually. Gorgeous.” Allie cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you about her, actually. Grandma Misu wanted me to talk to her about the estate if I was going to sell, so...”

“She did?”

“Yeah, and I didn’t have much luck. She, uh...she...pretended not to know English.”

Kai and Jesse exchanged a meaningful glance. “ That wasn’t very nice. Let me go talk to her,” Kai pronounced, like a big brother ready to go to bat for a little sister.

“No, that’s okay. I mean, I know she probably didn’t want to talk to me about selling Grandma Misu’s land, so I get it. But now she won’t answer the door, and...”

“That’s none of her business whether you sell or not,” Kai muttered. “That’s your choice, not hers. You should be able to sell if that’s what you want to do.”

Jesse didn’t say a word. Allie could tell she didn’t approve of selling, but she was grateful Kai didn’t judge her. “I just feel kind of stupid. I fell for it. I really thought she didn’t know English.”

“Aw, she does that to everyone,” Kai said. “Hell, the postal carrier didn’t know for years , and I don’t think the tax assessor still does.”

They all laughed, and Allie felt an easy kinship between them that she hadn’t felt in...years. She liked Jesse and Kai a lot. They felt like long-lost family.

“Hey, want to come to dinner tomorrow? We could help you talk to Aunt Kaimana. Maybe get this all sorted out.”

“Oh, I don’t want to put you out.”

“You won’t,” Kai assured her. “I’m barbecuing, and we’re having a few friends over anyway, at Aunt Kaimana’s house. One more is no big deal!”

For the first time since Chicago, Allie actually did feel like getting out. She ignored the little voice of warning at the back of her head. She was on a mission: sell the land and get out.

But, what would one little barbecue hurt? Besides, if she could convince Kaimana to sign her paper at the party, all the better.

“Sure,” she said. “I’d love to.”

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