Page 32 of Riptide

Kaimana nodded as Seth stood and headed toward the back of the plane. She was beginning to think she’d lost her mind allowing herself to feel anything, let alone possessive of him. She told herself that she had no right to feel anything but grateful for his help.

“Seth had a good life before he went off that cliff,” Garrett commented, still looking down at his phone.

“Of course. He’s a world class surfer. An innovator,” Kaimana agreed.

“He’s had girlfriends.” Garrett set down the phone and spun his chair to face her.

Though taken off guard by his direct comment, Kaimana forced an impassive expression and didn’t respond.

“Cami wasn’t one of them,” he told her.

“It wouldn’t matter if she was.” Kaimana averted her gaze in an attempt to conceal her feelings.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“What do you want me to say?” She shrugged.

“The truth.” Garrett leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know you very well so yeah, the truth will do.”

“What does it matter to you what I think about who he dates? I mean…Seth is a lot of things. He’s good looking. He’s obviously very intelligent. Athletic.” Sexy. Talented with his tongue. She blew out a breath. “But he’s not mine.”

“As long as you get it. Because when we go to Club Altura…things happen.”

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but I can handle it. Besides I’m only going to San Diego for a few days. I agreed to go to this club of yours. I know you want to know who else is a mole at your company, but I’m really only going to see if I can get information to find Evan. Whether I do or don’t I’m going back to Hawaiʻi to try to find him and break up the next auction.” Garrett wants honesty? I’ll give it to him, all right.

“I’m going with my instinct when it comes to you. This thing with Evan. He may or may not be alive. But Seth? He’s right here. You need to know the deal with him.”

“I just want Evan back. As for Seth, I guess he’ll get back to his old life when this is over.” Her stomach tightened as she articulated the reality of the situation. Seth wasn’t hers and she wasn’t a part of his life. “This will all come to an end soon. So you don’t need to worry. It’s not like I’m trying to join your little club.”

“We’ll expect you to play a role for the party. Can you handle it?”

“Of course I can. It’s just a few hours. And like I said. This will all be over soon.”

“Champagne? Charcuterie?” Seth asked.

Kaimana swiveled her head around to find her sexy surfer holding a bottle of open champagne in the air. He wore a mischievous smile.

“You two are looking pretty serious up here.” Three glasses hung upside down in his fingers. Kaimana took two and placed them in front of her and he handed the other to Garrett.

“Just discussing the plan for tomorrow.” Garrett flipped his glass over in front of him.

“He can be pretty intense,” Seth told Kaimana. “Don’t let him scare you.”

“I’m practical,” Garrett said.

“You see what I mean? I’ll tell you another thing that’s intense,” Seth continued.

“What?” Garrett rolled his eyes.

“This new jet, bro. It’s pretty sick. That’s right. You know I had to take a tour.”

“I’d like to do some traveling with Selby soon. We like to have a lot of room when we travel.”

“Like that king-sized bed you got back there.” Seth laughed. “I think we might need to take this baby to Nazaré. Tavarua, too.”

“Fiji?” Kaimana asked.

“Right on. I’m due to surf Cloudbreak.”