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  After the Storm

  Cynthia Hickey

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  Copyright 2018

  Written by: Cynthia Hickey

  Published by: Winged Publications

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  No part of this book may be copied or distributed without the author’s consent.

  All Rights Reserved

  Chapter 1

  Kayla Denton stepped off the tiny prop plane and was immediately greeted by salt-laden air, an ocean breeze, and a pretty Hawaiian girl. “Aloha,” the girl said, placing a fragrant lei around Kayla’s neck.

  “Thank you. I’m the manager at Maui Lani, Kayla Denton. They should have sent a ride.”

  “I’m your ride, Miss Denton. Come, please, I am Alana Mabee, your assistant.” She flashed a smile and set off at a brisk pace toward a small white jeep.

  “Oh.” Kayla glanced around for her suitcases.

  “No worry, miss. We will bring them.” The largest man Kayla had ever seen nodded. “Alana has to wait for the new handyman. Always in a hurry that girl.”

  So was Kayla and waiting on a late arrival did not fit into her packed schedule. Heaving a sigh, she slid into the front passenger seat of the jeep.

  While she’d never visited her new home and place of employment, she had seen the pamphlets. A man-made island off the shore of Maui. Accessible by a half a mile of road, then another half a mile of wooden bridge, the resort gave the illusion of isolation, yet the ability to see all that Maui had to offer.

  “Sorry, I’m late,” a deep voice said from the backseat. “My bags were misplaced.”

  “Not a problem.” Alana pressed the gas pedal and shot them down the road before Kayla had a chance to introduce herself.

  “We have the governor spending three days with us next week,” Alana said. “A very important guest.”

  “We’ll make sure everything is to his expectations.” Kayla stared out at the sea. Everything had to be perfect. Her job depended on it. Grandfather had made it plain that one more screw up and Kayla was out of the hotel business.

  After growing up on the plains of Nebraska, the island was indeed heaven. Waves lapped at the shore mere feet from the road. A light mist she could see but not feel because of the humidity fell from the sky. She smiled and stuck her hand out the window.

  “You can set your watch by the wind surfers,” the man in the back said. “Three o’clock, they hit the beach.”

  “You’ve been here before?” Kayla turned in her seat and lost her breath.

  Eyes the same color as the sky twinkled under a head of short light brown hair. Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and khaki cargo shorts, the backseat passenger was quite possibly the most handsome man she’d ever seen. And, as a hotel manager, she’d seen a lot.

  “I love Maui. It’s wonderful that I can now live and work here.” He thrust out his hand. “Chase Mitchell, handyman.”

  She returned his shake. “Kayla Denton, manager.” She slid her hand free and faced the road. Goodness. They’d be working together every day.

  They turned onto a gravel road, parking in a small lot next to the entrance to the wooden bridge. Alana pressed a button on a post. “They’ll send a buggy. No cars are allowed on the bridge.”

  Ten minutes later a horse-drawn carriage arrived to carry them and their belongings to the resort nestled amongst palm trees and floral vegetation in a rainbow of hues. Kayla’s heart quickened. This had to truly be the job of her dreams.

  She climbed into the carriage only to find herself squished next to Chase, not at all a bad position to be in. The man’s large frame took up a lot of room, and he smelled of the woods. She took a deep sniff, then stared out the window as the carriage rumbled over the bridge.

  “Normally, a carriage would hold four people,” Alana explained, “with suitcases on top or tied to the back, but since it is just us, we piled them inside.” She motioned to the cases on the bench seat next to her. “The builder prided himself on a vintage feel with modern conveniences.”

  Yes, Grandfather took great pride in his projects. Thirty minutes later, Kayla stood inside her new home and watched the ocean kiss the beach outside her window. A cottage with a perfect view of the ocean. In fact, the brochure promised every room, whether a cottage or a room in the main building, had a view of the ocean. The architect had thought of everything.

  She left her bags just inside the door, then left, locking it behind her. While her work day officially started tomorrow, she wanted to get a good look at the place she’d live and work.

  The lobby was full of guests, either checking in or enjoying the free buffet of local fruit. One man, blond and deeply tanned from a tanning booth, shoved a bite of pineapple into his mouth and nodded in her direction. She returned the gesture and continued into the large modern kitchen of the restaurant. She introduced herself to the staff and headed down a short hallway to her office. She ran her finger over a gold plaque on the door that spelled out her name. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

  Even her office had a fantastic view. A large cherry wood desk faced two upholstered chairs. A bookcase filled one wall, a counter and cupboards the opposite wall. Directly in front of her was a large window that showcased the setting sun.

  The sky filled with swipes of magenta, orange, and indigo. The foliage outside the window turned dark with purple shadows. The view wasn’t one she would tire of anytime soon. She’d take the steps necessary not to fail this time.

  Locking the door behind her, she headed back to the community room and lobby. Alana fluttered around like a butterfly in her bright colored muumuu. While it looked good on the girl, Kayla was glad she’d be wearing navy blue pants or skirt and a white blouse as her uniform.

  Chase sat in a chair in front of the large windows. While he appeared relaxed, the way his gaze scanned the guests gave Kayla the impression he was looking for someone.

  ~

  Chase wasn’t sure of the identity of the man he sought, he suspected, only that he needed to find him before the governor arrived or risk the governor’s life. When the opportunity to go undercover as a maintenance man at Maui Lani came up, he’d jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t when the job entailed a stay on Maui? The fact the new manager was a beautiful woman was definitely a bonus.

  As if his thoughts called to her, Kayla stood in front of him. “Nice view, isn’t it?”

  He grinned, staring at her. “Very.”

  A red hue rose up her neck. “Starting tomorrow, staff will not be allowed to lounge in the lobby or community room.”

  “I understand.” He would be wearing a grey shirt with his name embroidered across the left side. Not something you wanted the privileged people to have to see. “But, since my job doesn’t start until six a.m., I intend to enjoy what I’ll be working hard to keep looking good.”

  Her eyes narrowed. She opened her mouth to say something, but chose not to and left him alone. He chuckled and resumed his study of the guests mingling in the room.

  He had to stifle a laugh at the oompa-loompa in the corner. Why would anyone spray tan themselves orange? Add in almost yellow hair and the look was ridiculous. Still, from the cut of the man’s clothes, he had money. Another man, tall and thin, wearing an outfit very similar to Chase’s, as most of them were, also watched the crowd. A few more gathered at the bar that ran the length of one side of the room. Women giggled and exclaimed over pictures and dresses. No one seemed the least bit sinister. Had the man he was sent to find not arrived yet?

&nbs
p; The informant had said the assassin would have arrived yesterday. Almost a week before the governor.

  Chase pushed to his feet and walked the lanai. The wonderful aroma of salt spray and seaweed filled his senses. Maybe he should leave the San Francisco PD and see if he could get on with the precinct here in Maui. There were worse places to fight crime.

  The oompa-loompa left the main room and stood in the shadow of a palm tree to light a cigarette. The scarlet ember glowed as he took a drag. Chase stepped closer to the building in hopes he wouldn’t be spotted.

  When yellow hair stepped off the lanai and headed down the wooden bridge, Chase followed, wishing he’d had time to change into dark clothes. Obviously, the man didn’t expect to be followed. He didn’t glance back once as he approached the waiting vehicle in the parking lot.

  Chase hunched in the shadows of the bridge posts. He couldn’t hear what was being said between the man and the occupant of the car, but he could watch.

  When the window rolled up on the vehicle, Chase stood and whistled a tuneless melody as he pretended to be strolling for pleasure. Yellow hair turned and slipped something into his pocket.

  “Beautiful night for a walk, isn’t it?” His dentist-whitened teeth flashed in his face.

  “Sure is.”

  The other man lit another cigarette. “Name is Bill Davis. I’m on my first vacation in over ten years. When I saw the advertisement for this place, well, I couldn’t resist being one of the first visitors.”

  “Chase Mitchell. Maintenance.”

  “Ah, you have the privilege of working in paradise. Lucky man. Me…I sit behind a desk in a New York high-rise.”

  The man talked too much, and Chase didn’t trust anyone who vomited personal information the way this man did. “Well, I’ve got an early morning ahead of me. See you around.” He turned and marched to his cottage, vowing to keep a close eye on Bill Davis. He snapped a quick picture of the man as he turned to go into the main building and sent it to the office in California.

  CHAPTER 2

  Dressed in her uniform of white blouse and navy skirt, hair pulled back into a severe bun and a walkie-talkie clipped to her belt, Kayla stared out her large cottage window at what appeared to be a wall of clouds. Since it didn’t move, only grew lighter as the sun rose, she shrugged and grabbed a clipboard on her way out the door. She’d sent a memo alerting everyone to the fact there would be morning inspections on the lanai, no exceptions.

  She smiled to see her employees standing right where she’d told them to. Only…why weren’t they in a straight line? “Alana.” Her assistant hurried toward her. “Why isn’t everyone lined up?”

  Alana frowned. “Line up? No, ma’am. We don’t do things in such a strict manner here on Maui. We hang loose, make people smile.”

  Kayla straightened and lifted her chin. “You won’t be as loose anymore. We have a resort to run with military precision.” She tucked the clipboard under her arm and clapped until she had everyone’s attention. “Straight line please. Let’s make this quick. Lots of work to do.”

  The amused look on Chase’s face gave her pause for a moment. Deciding to ignore him, she moved down the line, pleased to see that everyone was dressed in Hawaiian shirts, muumuus, or other appropriate uniform attire. Except for Chase. She sighed and pointed at the sloppily tucked in shirt.

  “It keeps coming out. It isn’t long enough for my frame.” He winked and shoved the tail of the shirt back into the waistband of his pants. “Besides, crawling under sinks and such doesn’t really go with a tucked in shirt.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Perhaps we should have you wear a coverall.”

  “A onesie? No, thanks.”

  “The rest of you are dismissed. Mr. Mitchell, please follow me.”

  “Anywhere.”

  The moment they were around the corner, she whirled. “You must stop this flirting and treating my orders as a joke. Especially in front of the other staff.”

  “Alana is right. This isn’t the mainland. Things are different here.”

  “This is an upscale resort and will be run as such.”

  “Miss Denton.” Alana hurried toward them with a sheet of paper. “Chance of a hurricane.”

  “What?” Kayla took the printed off sheet.

  Chase peered over her shoulder. ‘It might veer. Besides, it’s only a tropical storm at this point.”

  “True, but we must prepare for the worst. Alana, plan a safety meeting for day after tomorrow. How are we on supplies?”

  “They’ve been ordered for next week. Would you like me to order more in case we’re stranded?”

  Kayla chewed the inside of her cheek. She’d never been in this situation before. Just her luck such a thing might happen when she had one last opportunity to prove to her grandfather that she was up to the task of running a resort? Should she err on the side of caution or wait to see whether the weather changed?

  “I think she should place the order.” Chase glanced out to sea. “We’ll know in another couple of days whether we’re in the danger path, but it pays to be safe.”

  “And we could spend money we don’t need to spend.”

  “True, but what if the worse happens and you don’t have enough supplies for your guests?” He crooked an eyebrow.

  “Alright. Alana, you know what we’ll need. Place the order.”

  “I’ll just double it. Hurricanes are rare for Maui.” She scurried off, bare feet clapping against the wooden floor.

  Kayla sighed. The employees must at least wear sandals. Wait. Hurricanes were rare? She glared up at Chase. Then why had he suggested she spend a small fortune?

  “Relax, boss lady. Guests want the true Hawaiian experience. Let the staff give it to them. You should try going barefoot sometime. It’s very freeing.” Chase gave her a heart-stopping grin and sauntered away.

  She could not allow herself to be distracted by a handsome face and a hard body. This was her last chance to prove herself. Grandfather was expecting a report at the end of every day. After a quick glance around to make sure no staff were lounging instead of working, she set off at a brisk pace to greet the arriving guests.

  She stopped at the end of the bridge and pasted a smile on her face, pleased to see two of the staff loaded down with leis. “Aloha. Welcome to Maui Lani. Your taste of heaven on earth.”

  Happy couples exited the carriages, chattering about the resort’s beauty. A couple of younger women eyed Chase as he sat near the fountain and started whispering among themselves.

  Kayla sighed, again. It seemed all she did was sigh and try to figure out how to keep the staff out of sight but do their job. If these two girls were any indication, Chase could very well be a problem without meaning to be.

  He seemed to notice the girls’ interest and took his handsome self out of sight. Good man.

  Once the guests were escorted to their prospective cottages or rooms, Kayla went to her office and sat at her desk. This wouldn’t do. Her desk faced away from the window. She grabbed the walkie-talkie from her belt and radioed Chase. “Would you come to my office please?”

  “Be right there.”

  He couldn’t have been far because he arrived in less than five minutes. “What’s up, boss?”

  Kayla rolled her eyes. The man was hopeless in the respecting her department. “I’d like the furniture in here moved around.”

  He eyed the heavy desk and book shelves. “Do you want me to clear everything off, too?”

  “Oh.” Her face heated. “No, I can help with that.” She kicked off her shoes and started pulling books and files from the shelves.

  Chase laughed. “Now you’re getting the hang of things. Barefoot, just like the natives.”

  ~

  Kayla glared. “Out of necessity. Not because I don’t like wearing shoes.”

  He shrugged. “Where do you want things moved?”

  “I’d like the desk to face the window.”

  “Then all that needed clearing was the desk.” He
tilted his head to study her face. “You seem flustered. Want to tell me why?”

  She thought for a moment, then plopped into the sofa across from her desk. “Oh, this will need moved under the window, won’t it?” She curled her toes into the thick carpet. “Why would someone put carpet in a tropical resort?”

  He pulled up her office chair, straddled it, and folded his arms across the back. Something was definitely on her mind. “What’s wrong, Kayla?”

  “I don’t usually tell strangers personal things, but…okay.” She took a deep breath and met his gaze. “I have to make a success of this resort or I’m out on my ear. I made a horrible mistake at my last job.” Pain flickered across her face.

  “How?” What could be so terrible as to make her so driven?

  “I put off checking smoke alarms because my to-do list was a mile long and my grandfather lost a hotel to fire. If I’d done what I was supposed to do, followed the rules to a T, the fire might have been controlled.”

  “Might have is the magic word here. Were any lives lost?”

  She shook her head. “Thank, God.”

  Chase had always enjoyed the “protect and serve” part of his job and sitting there with the pretty Kayla spilling her heart out was probably one of the best times he’d had in a long time. Now, to help ease her suffering. “Trust your employees, Kayla. They know their jobs. They’ve all come from other resorts with high recommendations. There’s nothing you can do about the past.”

  She frowned. “How do you know that?”

  “That you can’t change the past?”

  She shook her head. “That they all came from other resorts.”

  “People talk to me.” He needed to be more careful. Until he caught the assassin, he couldn’t let his identity be known or the fact he’d researched every employee. “People also talk about each other.”

  “Hmm. I don’t like gossip.” She sat back and crossed her incredible legs. “The view is absolutely stunning.”

  He turned. “Except for that mass of clouds.”