HEARTLESS─── RAFE CAMERON [1]

chapter thirty four

Two days later, we landed in Hawaii like Rafe had promised and drove two hours from the airport to Honolulu.

I stared out the window and let the breeze ruffle through my hair, my head spinning from how fast everything had moved. I couldn't believe Rafe was the one who suggested this type of trip, but I wasn't complaining. I hadn't visited Hawaii before, and five days in a tropical paradise sounded like, well, paradise.

"This is it," Rafe pulled up in front of a sprawling, two-story villa.

My eyes widened at the sight of it, and I felt my chest tighten with emotion as we unpacked our suitcases from the back of our rental car and walked toward the entrance. "Oh my gosh," I started. "How did you pull everything together so fast?"

Rafe shrugged. "Don't ask. I'm not that sure either." He snorts as he grabs the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door swiftly.

The moment I stepped in, I gasped.

The room boasted stunning views of the ocean, and the living room opened onto a furnished lanai, which in turn led directly to our private beach. "This place is stunning," I said, to no response. Rafe seemed equally as in awe, despite the fact that he booked the room.

My favorite feature, however, was the infinity pool on the second-floor terrace. From a certain angle, it looked like it fed straight into the ocean.

"Imagine what three days in paradise would do to you," I told him jokingly as we finished walking through the villa. "Dancing in a Hawaiian-print shirt? Joining me for sunrise yoga? The possibilities are endless."

"Lux." He leaned forward, his face serious. "The day I wear a Hawaiian-print shirt is the day cows fucking fly."

"You never know at the rate technology is progressing. It could happen," I said, undeterred.

The rich sound of his amusement filled the room. "You always know exactly what to say back to me, don't you?"

Before I could quip back at him, my stomach answered for me, grumbling loudly. We both burst into laughter.

"I think dinner might be a good idea," I say.

***

After my stomach made it clear that it needed some food, the first thing we did after we finished the tour was change and head into town for dinner. The main area of town was a twenty minute drive from the villa and, according to Rafe, a popular area for tourists from the East Coast like us. However, we chose to eat at a small, family-run restaurant whose owner, a round-faced older woman named Camille, lit up at the sight of Rafe.

She smothered him with kisses before embracing me too. Oh, comme c'est beau!" she exclaimed, looking me over. "Rafe, c'est ta petite amie?" How beautiful! Rafe, is she your girlfriend?

"Oui," Rafe said quickly. We glanced at each other as he continued, "Pour le mois dernier." For the last month.

What was it about men who spoke in a different language that made them so hot?

"Oh mon Dieu! Enfin!" Oh my God! Finally! Camille gushed proudly. "Every year Rafe has come with no girlfriend," she said in accented English. "I was almost ready to set him up with my maman." Her mother.

Rafe and I laughed loudly at the same time as she winked at me before leaving our table. I blamed my blush on the heat.

When she left, I gave Rafe a look. "I didn't know you spoke French so well!"

"Que puis-je dire?" Rafe said, giving me a grin. What can I say? "It's one of the few things I'm better at you in. Tu es complètement folle." You are completely crazy.