Awakenings

1

Tani Rey couldn't sit still. She was very excited to be going away for the weekend with Junior Reigns. They were beginning with a Friday night dinner cruise on the Makani Catamaran, followed by an overnight stay at a nearby four-star hotel. She made sure her bags were packed and by the front door, ready to be hurried into her car.

When the doorbell rang, she stopped short and tried to talk herself into calming down, but failed miserably. She stared at Junior for a split second and then bounced into his arms and kissed him for a long moment.

He returned the kiss until he felt himself laughing at her exuberance. Then he smiled at her from ear to ear, leaning his forehead on hers.

Tani threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. She was still reacting to his kidnapping the week before, and she didn't like letting go of him.

Junior hugged her back. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he spoke softly. "I'm okay, Tani, and I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here with you."

She leaned on him, and nodded. She was very glad that her feelings for him were out in the open now. It made everything so much easier. She still hadn't completely forgiven Quinn for telling everyone about her crush on Junior, although she knew it had been done in friendship.

"Are you ready?" Junior asked, cupping her face in his hands and looking into her pretty brown eyes.

Tani took one of his hands and held it tightly, and leaned into the other. "Yes!" Then she gave him a hasty hug. "Let's do this!"

Junior burst out laughing. He enjoyed being with her because he never knew what she was going to do next. She could be quiet, serious, silly, happy, weepy, or zany in the span of five minutes, and he was all for it. She was never dull or boring.

Keeping her hand in his, he picked up her bags and brought them out the door, giving her a moment to lock her door. Then he stowed their bags in her car.

After he buckled his seatbelt, Junior pulled out his phone and poked the GPS button.

Tani laughed. "We're only going to Waikiki. The boat is docked at Waikiki."

Junior snickered. "I know. I was looking up something else."

"Really? I thought this was all planned out so we wouldn't waste time getting lost!"

He shook his head. "We're not getting lost, Tani. We are going on a dinner cruise, and then spending the night in a hotel!" He tried to avoid looking at her, but couldn't resist. He saw the spark in her eyes, and knew that she was pulling his leg.

"On the USS Minnow?"

This time, he laughed out loud. "No! That sank during that three-hour tour! We are sailing on the Makani Catamaran, and it won't sink!"

Tani laughed. She was having fun baiting him. "Okay. I'll stop, Junes. I promise." To prove her honesty, she put her hand on his knee, and then scritched it.

Junior took her hand in his, and held it for the remainder of the ride. After they parked the car, they made their way over to the pier, and boarded the catamaran. A steward showed them their reserved table, and they sat down. Several minutes later, a waiter brought them their Rainbow Paradise Cocktails in sturdy, crystal-clear plastic tumblers.

The dinner menu offered an Island-style hot and cold buffet. Tani and Junior chose foods that they didn't often have at home, and savored every bite.

After dinner, Tani shifted her chair so she'd be close enough to put her head on Junior's shoulder, and then she settled down and enjoyed the cruise. They were particularly enraptured by the dusty pink, blue, lavender, and amber hues that were sprinkled across the horizon.