Chief Distraction Read online

  Staring down at the water again, an idea struck, making her sit up taller. “What about swimming back to shore?” She knew it was impossible before the words had left her mouth.

  “Seven miles? Hell, we’d be shark food by the second mile, or drown.”

  Blythe slumped, at a loss once more.

  “We’re on the most western end of Kahoolawe. Smuggler’s Cove is over there,” Mak pointed down toward the rocky shoreline. “Just a little farther and help will be on the way.”

  She followed his gaze. “Look at that lovely beach down there. It’s as big as Makena.”

  “That’s Hanakanai Beach. Off limits. One step onto that golden perfection and you’ll get your leg blown off.”

  “Nothing’s ever as it seems.” Her comment was laced with hidden meaning.

  “This island has so much potential for tourism. It’s such a shame no one else can enjoy its beauty. Only smugglers up to no good.”

  “You and Lou were right when you said we should do everything to respect and protect the beauty of this island, of our surroundings.” She locked eyes with Mak before looking out toward the distant Maui shore. Tears welled up again in her already moist eyes. “I guess I never took the time from work to truly appreciate Maui’s splendor…and now it’s too late.”

  <><><>

  Mak felt the weight of the world as Blythe sobbed beside him. “Blythe, I’m sorry I asked you to come out here today. I feel responsible for getting us into this. And Lou, well…”

  She put a hand up to stop him.

  I know,” Mak said. “It’s hard to hear. But I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe and get us out of this. I promise.” Glancing over at her profile, the sunset illuminated her features and framed her auburn hair like a vibrant copper halo. Her beauty took his breath away, making him feel weak and invincible all at the same time. He noticed her blunt sex appeal had a softer edge in her vulnerability, yet it was there all the same – a subtle sexiness she wielded unknowingly. It was enough to bring a man to his knees.

  In the fading light of dusk, the ocean shimmered in splendor. In another time and place, Mak knew being here with Blythe would be romantic, but the urgency of their situation overtook all lofty notions. He would have to be her warrior, her savior. Come hell or high water, he would protect her.

  Noticing her shiver, he placed a cautious arm around her shoulders and pulled her close comfortingly. Her lips were lush and full – like her breasts he couldn’t help but notice. Her body was tall, lean, and ripe with womanly sexuality. Her soft curves smoothed over the hardness of her words. At the thought of her physical attributes, Mak’s body responded. Damn, she drove him crazy without even trying. Despite all best intentions, there was no fighting it. She had his libido in overdrive. Fire hot.

  Mak looked at his watch, trying to distract himself. It was just after six. They’d been walking for two solid hours without water. Three hours if you added the one spent hiking up to the initial lookout point. They would have been at the military camp long ago if it hadn’t been for those damn shoes of hers. Looking out at the choppy water, he wanted nothing more than to escape. If only he had his windsurf board, he’d sail them home in no time with these wind conditions. Would he ever windsurf on Big Beach again? Shaking off his uncertainties, he regained his composure. If not for himself, than for Blythe. “We have to keep moving. Once we reach the base camp we can stay a while, rest and hide in comfort. Well, relative comfort. The buildings are as basic as they come. There may be necessary supplies and hopefully water. You’ll need protection from the elements too. The night’s get cold and tomorrow the sun will be just as hot.”

  Mak knew making it to the base camp in the falling darkness was a gamble, what with the landmine risks and the rough terrain. The beaten path trailed away a bit, making it easier to stray into dangerous territory. He was tempted to hoist Blythe up into the Fireman’s carry in retaliation of her footwear, but thought the better of it.

  “How will we see where we’re going? I think I’d rather die than lose a leg to a landmine.”

  Mak suppressed his own reservations. “Well, at least they won’t see us. And it’s cooler for walking now.” His optimism was reaching, but he had to give her something. “Besides, it’s better than waiting like sitting ducks up on this crest. It’s too risky. You’re not exactly inconspicuous with that red hair of yours.” He widened his grin hoping she’d see it.

  Blythe shot him a look, “You’re a funny guy. Again, I appreciate your attempt to placate.”

  Mak shrugged. “I try. Listen, seriously though, if we can get to that CB soon, help will be on the way. We just have to survive until sunrise.”

  <><><>

  Over the course of their walk, Mak talked about the best windsurfing spots around Maui, the best restaurants, and the local festivals. Blythe noticed his attempts to put her at ease, to distract her. Perhaps he was interested, but realistically she figured he’d been trained to handle emergencies and how to lead those in shock. Keep them focused on something, anything. He was doing his best. When he eventually began asking personal questions, she grew uneasy.

  “You don’t have to do this you know.”

  Mak stopped and turned to face her, his expression curious in the dimming light. “What do you mean?”

  “This. This talking. This chitchat. I’m sure my life doesn’t interest you in the least, especially the way I treated you when we first met and considering I’m the reason why you’re out here running for your life.”

  He stared, stricken.

  “I just don’t want you to feel, you know, like you have to keep me from slipping into shock. That’s what you’re trying to do, right? Because I want you to know I can handle this,” Blythe declared with false confidence.

  Mak’s face was stony. “I know you can. And I don’t, by the way.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t feel obligated to keep you talking for any reason other than getting to know you.”

  “Oh,” Blythe said quietly, again fighting down a rush in her stomach. There was a definite pull to be closer to him. To press herself against him, clothing optional.

  “What’s this?” Blythe stopped in front of a shallow patch of earth that looked as if it had been dug up recently.

  “See that blue flag?” Mak pointed.

  “Yes,” she said, though she found deciphering between the blue flag and an orange flag difficult in the falling darkness.

  “This is an archaeological site. There are quite a few along the way to the base camp.”

  “What could they possibly be digging for?”

  “Blythe, we have close to 500 archaeological dig sites on this island. Ancient Hawaiians used to live here and the island is the site of many sacred places of worship.”

  Blythe slumped in thought. “Huh. I never would have guessed that. How far back do you mean?”

  “There are artifacts that date back as early as the 1600’s. Not much to find, but it’s still worth looking. This island used to be a penal colony too, back in the early 1800’s.”

  “You know a lot about this place.”

  “Of course. It’s my culture, my history.”

  “So watch for orange flags and blue flags. Got it.”

  Walking on, Blythe’s mind wandered into sinister territory. Her throbbing head swam with endless scenarios of doom that played over and over again on a loop. What if they didn’t survive until sunrise? What if the men caught them and killed Mak first? What would they do to her before she too was mercilessly killed? She’d seen her share of news reports on atrocities, situations with groups of men holding a woman captive. The gang mentality spurs each individual within the group to become more violent, less empathetic. Who would ever know what happened to her on this island? There would be no one to witness the horrors that awaited her, no one to hear her desperate screams for help.

  “Watch your step here. It’s getting rocky and too dark to see,” Mak warned.

  Blythe’s
breath quickened and her head spun. Her heart beat so fast she was sure it would fly out of her chest. “Mak,” she panted. He stopped and turned, though his image was a mere silhouette now. “I can’t keep up. I’ve got to take a break again. It’s this damn altitude. I’ll sit over here and…”

  “No!” Mak cried, but it was too late. Blythe had disappeared within an instant. Her foot slipped on the dry earth and the momentum had thrown her over the edge of a deep gully. It happened so fast, she barely had time to clutch the side to save herself. Her automatic impulse was to scream, but every ounce of energy was used instead to grip the jagged rocks that now held her between life above and death on the rocky shoreline below – some fifty yards down.

  <><><>

  Mak dove for the ground with his arms outstretched, desperately clawing at the ridge that had swallowed Blythe. As if his eyes were deceiving him, she’d been there one minute and gone the next. The drop off was steep and ragged, the ground dry and unforgiving.

  “Blythe?” he called, his face searching the black abyss below.

  The cloak of night made it impossible to see anything now. He looked peripherally and spotted movement as her hair swirled back and forth in the breeze. An arms-length away, he’d found her holding the rocky ledge for dear life. The crash of waves against the jagged shoreline some distance below tolled her fate rhythmically. If she let go, she would fall and keep right on falling since the incline was so steep.

  “Can you reach up to me?”

  Blythe remained silent. Mak figured she was in shock for sure, as anyone would be. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, like she was having trouble taking in a full breath. Mak worried that she’d punctured a lung in the fall.

  “Blythe, listen. I need you to reach for me.”

  His stomach tightened into a knotted fist of dread. Dangling from the edge, she swayed left and right as the hot island breeze whipped her hair in all directions. He was fully aware that she couldn’t possibly hold on much longer, especially since she was dead tired to begin with.

  “Just hold on. Please, Blythe, hold on.”

  Reaching down with everything he had, his fingers made contact with her knuckles. She cried out at his touch, her tone sounding hopeful. Inching just a little more, he brought his fingers around her wrists and grabbed on tight. Using his abdominals and digging his knees into the rocks for leverage, he positioned himself for one massive attempt. He knew he would only have one chance to lift her. If his grip slipped she would be gone. Using every last ounce of strength he could find, he suppressed his screams as he lifted her like she was weightless, the adrenaline pumping like a g-force through his veins.

  Blythe cried out in relief and fell back across the rocky path. “Thank you. Oh, thank you, Mak,” she huffed in exhaustion. Mak lay on his back, his chest heaving from exertion. She sat up, her breath finally calming as she pushed her unruly mane back.

  <><><>

  Mak sat up too. His breath leveled out to a normal gate and his heart calmed after practically beating out of his chest full throttle. “Time to assess the damage.”

  Blythe winced as she twisted, looking down at her left arm and touching it gently. Bringing her hand away, Mak spotted the dark liquid at her fingertips. A deep gash ran the length of her bicep and blood trailed to her wrist. The rocky ledge had shredded her knees in her frantic scramble to climb to the top and her cheeks were smeared with dirt. In a word, she was a mess.

  “Sit still,” he instructed.

  Thinking quickly, Mak knelt beside her and unbuttoned his white shirt, pulling it off in haste to reveal a tight white tee shirt underneath. He tore the back of the shirt into long wide shreds effortlessly. He noticed she didn’t shy away, but rather moved her arm up to accommodate the makeshift bandage. Flinching, she sucked in her breath as he wound the fabric around the gash a few times before tucking the end up under itself.

  “That should stop the bleeding.” Shoving some extra shreds of fabric into a cargo pocket, he noticed how she stared at his biceps and then his chest. She was overt, but he didn’t mind. She probably thought the darkness disguised her curious glances. Little did she know how her stare burned right through him, how it turned him on to no end. And there it was again, even after all the walking, the smell of mango and spices. This haole had his mind reeling with the possibilities.

  “Again, thank you,” she whispered. She looked on the verge of tears as she watched him, but she managed to hold it in, probably wanting to be strong and fearless. Mak knew she was putting on a proud act for his benefit and he admired her newfound strength. The city girl was finding her backbone whether she wanted to or not.

  Blythe put a hand across the tight bandage and pressed down firmly. “Sorry about your shirt.”

  “It’s nothing, just a uniform. I’ve got dozens.”

  Mak looked down into her beautiful waiting face. He was struck by how open and trusting she’d become in his presence. When they’d first met, she’d run away faster than a tailspin. But now, she seemed willing to tolerate him. Probably because she knew she needed him to survive and was willing to tolerate him out of self-preservation. Mak realized he didn’t mind the reason behind her change of attitude. He’d take what he could get.

  “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

  She shook her head, holding his gaze. The pause between them was charged. Her supple lips were so close he could easily tilt her head back and claim them. The need was making him dizzy, the feeling almost urgent. It would be so easy, but she was in pain. Still, a good long kiss might erase her worries.

  The moment evaporated as Blythe looked away, breaking the spell. “I’m better now,” she said, seeming suddenly distracted. “Do you mind helping me up?”

  Mak got to his feet highly aware of the wounds he’d suffered trying to rescue her. His knees were burning and his ribs ached from the rocks digging into them. He hadn’t noticed just how severe they were in the moments of adrenaline. Now his knees and ribs smarted with every slight motion, but he hid his pain. Blythe had enough on her mind without having to worry about him.

  “Can you walk?” he asked with concern.

  “I’ll be fine. And thanks again.”

  <><><>

  Their injuries slowed the pace a little as they walked on. The narrow path accommodated single-file travel, so Blythe stayed as close to Mak as possible, practically on his heels. Emerging from a cloud of shock and disbelief, her gratitude soared to new heights for the Fire Chief. He’d rescued her…again. Sure, the first rescue hadn’t been a big deal at the time, but thinking back on it now, perhaps she would have been in grave danger at the cane field had Mak not ‘swept her off her feet’ as he’d teased earlier. And come to think of it, maybe she wouldn’t have been able to douse her own kitchen fire had Mak not arrived with his team when he did. He always seemed to be there, coming to her rescue. If the curse was supposed to drive women away from Makaio Kalani, why then was she constantly being driven toward him?

  Blythe ran a hand over her wound as she trudged onward. The blisters on her feet seemed like small potato injuries now, hardly worth a complaint. As she touched the bandage, she was reminded of Mak’s image as he pulled off his shirt, his physique every girl’s fantasy. Could her thoughts be yearnings? Yes. Definitely. She knew he’d wanted to kiss her back there. After all, she was an experienced woman and had seen that look before. It usually led to extremely pleasant things, intimate things. Crossing that line with the Fire Chief would bring nothing but trouble…and a loose tongue. Pillow talk would lead to truths she wasn’t willing to reveal yet – if ever. She would rather die with her secret than spill the beans and have Mak want to push her off a cliff anyway. Her shame ran as deep as the now jet-black ocean that surrounded them on this island of doom.

  The gash in her arm felt like a hot poker searing all the way to the bone. As if in consolation, the pain lessoned to a dull throb the longer they walked…which seemed like an eternity. Would they ever reach this damn military camp? The farth
er they traveled from their arrival point, the more Blythe was consumed with an overwhelming feeling of guilt for abandoning Lou. It was as if a tether bound her to him but she couldn’t cut the cord. She was responsible for bringing him to Kahoolawe and the reasons had more to do with him acting as a buffer between herself and Mak than necessity. Ultimately, she was responsible for his murder simply because of her cowardly obsession with staying anonymous. She tried to distract her thoughts from the image of Lou’s body dropping like a heavy stone onto the dry dusty path. Whenever that heartbreaking moment came flooding back, she looked at Mak, her hopes renewed that the same fate wouldn’t befall her as long as he was near. Maybe it was a false sense of security, but one she clung to.

  As a coping mechanism, she thought of the future possibilities. Could she make it work with someone like Makaio Kalani? A man so steeped in island culture and tradition that he was willing to stay despite a curse that shunned him in everyone’s eyes? Why stay? Was this guy a glutton for punishment or just true to his convictions? One thing was certain – she wanted to find out. Blythe drew a deep steadying breath and then let it out slowly. Having nerves in front of the camera was one thing, she could manage that, but the buzzing of nerves in her belly while in Mak’s presence was too much to bear. She would need a release. Either get as far away from him as possible, preferably off this island, or indulge in her ramping desire and be done with it. For now, she’d walk.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Okay, we’re getting close. Can you see the rooftops there?” Mak pointed toward the distance. Blythe was able to make out the structures looming up ahead in the moonlight. They sauntered down an incline, leaving the raw wilds of the island behind as they entered the distinctly ordered and urbanized space of the base camp. Drawing closer, a ripple of fear washed over her. The place stood eerily quiet, the lapping of distant waves on the shoreline the only sound. “This place is totally creepy,” she muttered.