Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

ricocheted off the tray table, and hurtled straight into Baby Hater’s cheek.
    He slapped his face, flung off the eye mask, and inspected his hand.
    Ellie looked at him in dismay. “That wasn’t a bug.”
    His bright blue eyes opened wide. He glanced from his hand to her and back again.
    “Really. That was my fault.” She felt color flood her face as she held up the treats. “My rubber band broke and hit you. I’m so sorry.” A laugh that welled up from her stomach threated to break free. She clenched her lips and gripped the bag, hoping his angry explosion would frighten her into silence. Anything would be better than giggling at this Adonis.
    His face creased into a grin that left little space at the sides of his face.
    “Was having a freakin’ nightmare. Stoked you woke me up.”
    Ellie’s chuckle grew into laughter that burst from her in hiccups. “I’m so. Relieved. I felt. So bad.”
    The man handed her a paper napkin. “I must have looked funny. No worries. My wife will be sorry she missed it.” He reached out a firm hand. “Mike.”
    Ellie shook it, suddenly serious as her stomach sank. Your wife? Knew it was too good to be true.
    “I’m Ellie.”
    “You and your cat live in Maui?”
    “No.” Ellie had to fight against sounding depressed. “We’re just visiting. I’ve got a temporary job there.”
    “Where?”
    “Wai…? I can’t remember. I have it in my phone.” She began to dig in her bag, relieved to have something to do other than to meet eyes with the married man she had been lusting after.
    “Wailuku?”
    “No.”
    “Wailea?”
    “That’s it.”
    “Nice area. You’ll like it. My friend has a sick art gallery down there.” He ran his hand through his curls. Ellie suppressed a sigh. “There’s a gallery opening later this week. You should go.” He lifted his bottom from the seat to retrieve a bulging wallet. Ellie turned away, embarrassed to look. After sifting through a large assortment of paper, he handed her a warm business card.
    “Valley Isle Gallery.” Ellie hesitated. “I’m not really an artist. And I couldn’t afford to buy anything.”
    “Turn up. It’s in a hotel. Validated parking.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and stood over her, a picture of everything she had fantasized a man in Hawaii would be. “People on Maui are friendly. You’ll make friends in no time.”
     
    ***
     
    The veterinarian met Ellie and Viv at the gate. After an uneventful inspection, she received a signed entry permit for Viv and dragged her suitcases from the open-air baggage claim into the bright Maui sun. She fished in her bag for sunglasses and stared at the Bali Hai-style mountains in the distance. Undulating green peaks folded into soft curves, creating a deep, majestic tapestry. Ethereal clouds cast dark patches into shadow and obscured the heights, leaving what lay above to Ellie’s imagination.
    She squatted and lifted Viv by the scruff of his neck. She clipped a cat harness around his chest and legs and put him on the ground. He looked around, blinking. She poured the remainder of her water bottle into her cupped hand. He licked it eagerly.
    Almost an hour later, a cheery young Hawaiian woman slung Ellie’s suitcases into the back of a passenger van. “I’m sorry about the mix-up, yeah? They should have told you to come to the bus area, not rental car. Local agencies are different.”
    “That’s okay. It gave Viv here a chance to chase some chickens.” Ellie fanned herself with the rental car company brochure. “Are they wild?”
    The driver hoisted herself into the seat and turned up the air conditioning. “Feral chickens. Got loose in the nineties, they say. Your cat likes chickens?”
    “I don’t think he’d ever seen one before. But what he saw, he liked.” Ellie tugged on Viv’s leash and pulled him back from his inspection of the driver’s lunch cooler.
    “How long are you on the island?”
    “December. Maybe longer.”
    “It’s quiet season now,