Aloha Fantasy. Devon Vaughn Archer

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СКАЧАТЬ I suppose.” Boyd realized he was fighting a losing battle with little ground to stand on. Maybe he was just being overprotective of her and the property they co-owned.

       “What are you so worried about anyway? Do you honestly believe Danica plans to come here and make a mess of things just to piss you off? Or maybe rob us out of house and home, as if she needs to?” Ashlyn folded her arms, giving him a look that suggested how ridiculous that was. “The lady’s an award-winning, highly respected photographer, who’s doing quite well for herself, thank you.”

       “I never suggested she was a thief,” Boyd said lamely. Even if he questioned her motives, it was obvious to him that Danica was successful in her own right. Just as Ashlyn was, as an international relations specialist. And he was an unqualified success as an investor in everything from stocks to high-end properties. His keen investments afforded him the ability to act as a tour guide on the side. Showing visitors his appreciation for the paradise he lived in made his pleasant life even sweeter.

       “If you give Danica half a chance, you just might find you two have a lot in common,” Ashlyn said.

       “Such as…?” He imagined this would be good.

       She met his gaze. “You’re both headstrong, great looking, educated, successful, independent, outgoing…and available—”

       “Whoa…hold on a minute.” Boyd had no argument about the adjectives applied to them until she got to the available part. Yes, he was single again and—by choice—had been for some time. Between work and not finding that one woman who really fit the bill, he wasn’t looking at the moment. “This isn’t about my love life.” Or was she being sneaky in trying to play matchmaker between him and her college friend?

       “Hey, I’m just saying…” Ashlyn gave him a coy look.

       “Yeah, right.” He frowned lightly, even though he knew she had his back always, as he did hers.

       “Danica’s a great gal and still my best friend. All I’m asking is that you give this experiment a chance to work for me and her. And don’t be afraid to put your tour guide cap on to show her around our great city. I promise she won’t bite.”

       Boyd grinned. He wasn’t entirely averse to being bitten by the right woman. And maybe nibbling on her body, too. It would be premature, though, to think that this was in the works with her friend.

       “Fine,” he relented. “She can come and hang out at the house for a month. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior and make her feel welcome on the island.”

       Ashlyn’s face broke into a wide smile. “Mahalo.” She lifted up on her toes and hugged him. “I knew I could count on you.”

       “Always,” Boyd promised. He would take Danica’s visit one day at a time till her month was up and Ashlyn was back where she belonged.

       And Danica was back in Chicago.

      * * *

       It was exactly a week after they made plans to switch residences for a month that Danica was aboard a plane bound for Hilo International Airport. Though she had hardly been able to think about anything else, it was still hard to believe she was actually en route to heaven on earth. She was almost giddy with excitement and intended not to waste one moment in this trip of a lifetime.

       If that meant trying new things, she would.

       She’d love to be swept off her feet by a hunk in Hawaii who could take as much as he gave. But she wasn’t getting her hopes up. Whether in Chicago, Hilo or anywhere else, romance only happened if the connection was there. And if it wasn’t, oh, well…

       Danica sipped on her cocktail in first class, looking out on the thick white clouds. She knew that at that moment Ashlyn was en route to Chicago. They had timed it to practically pass each other in the air as they literally switched places in their lives.

       Before she’d left, she had given her loft a more thorough cleaning than usual, wanting to leave a good impression for her friend, whom Danica believed was getting the short end of the stick in the exchange. She, on the other hand, was getting a slice of Hawaii, which spoke for itself.

       Nevertheless Danica was proud of her place in the Windy City and wanted Ashlyn to feel right at home. Toward that end, she’d left her a few goodies—fresh fruit, chocolate and wine—the latter two of which were Ashlyn’s guilty pleasures. And Danica’s friends promised to take Ashlyn out on the town and be available if she needed anything.

       As promised, Danica had asked a handsome male friend named Hunter Ortega to give Ashlyn a call and see if they might hit it off. Hunter was a successful investment banker who had been to Hawaii many times. He was also single after ending a long relationship and seemed a good match for Ashlyn.

      One can only hope we both do better in each other’s stomping grounds than in our own backyards when it comes to finding love.

       When the plane landed, Danica had butterflies in her stomach. She was on the Big Island and there was no turning back now. For a month, this was home.

       She received a spirited lei greeting and was pointed in the right direction to retrieve her bags. Afterward, she found Ashlyn’s white Suzuki Kizashi sedan and was on her way. Marveling at the lush scenery, Danica drove from the airport and, per Ashlyn’s instructions, wound her way through several streets before reaching Kalanianaole Avenue and the house she would call home for the next month.

       It was a large two-story Hawaiian plantation-style residence surrounded by mature landscaping of palm trees and lush tropical plants.

       Danica walked onto the lava-rock front porch with a built-in koa wood seat. She found the key under the doormat and went inside, stepping onto a ceramic-tiled floor in the foyer.

       All she could think of after one glance of the great room was Wow! The place was huge, with a eucalyptus hardwood floor. The sun shone through a skylight over a vaulted beam ceiling. The furnishings were an impressive blend of antique and contemporary. On a hexagonal glass coffee table was a bottle of macadamia nut honey wine with a ribbon around it and a tag that read Welcome.

       Before she sampled it and went on the grand tour, she had one task—to set up her laptop.

       She and Ashlyn had sent each other a short video message to be played the moment they arrived in each other’s homes.

       Sitting down on the plush couch, she watched as Ashlyn’s face came onto the computer screen.

       “Aloha, Danica. Welcome to my home. I won’t take up any of your precious time. Just wanted to tell you a bit about the house. It was built in 1937 by my grandparents, who left it to my parents, and eventually it became my and Boyd’s property. The house overlooks Richardson Beach with black sand that you’ll find really interesting. Okay, enough from me. Have fun and maybe meet the man of your dreams. Aloha!”

       Danica smiled. She was already having fun. As for meeting the man of her dreams, she was keeping an open mind but not getting her hopes up.

       She rose and approached stained-glass doors that opened to the backyard garden and a path toward the ocean. After grabbing her digital camera, Danica stepped outside, basking in the warmth and sunshine. She couldn’t resist taking a few pictures right away to send back to her friends in Chicago.

       Walking across winding cobblestones, Danica СКАЧАТЬ