Sins of the Flesh (Half-Breed Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

was full of concern. I glanced up. She was watching me, looking directly at me for the first time since our moment on the beach.
    I forced down the hurt and plastered a smile on my face. “My boyfriend and I were going to go look at the sugarcane fields this afternoon, but he had something come up.”
    Kai regarded me with sympathy and curiosity as she stacked the boards neatly against the wall. “Most tourists don’t have the sugarcane fields on their must-see list.”
    “Most tourists probably aren’t in the middle of writing a thesis on soil composition and its effects on downy mildew in hop rhizomes.”
    She laughed. It was a beautiful sound. I caught my breath, once again feeling a surge of attraction.
    “Uhh, no, you’re right about that one. I’ve got no idea what that even is.” She turned to put the oars on a shelf, and I saw a sudden, nervous tension in her shoulders. “If you want, I can drive you out. I don’t have any lessons until late this afternoon.”
    There was that thesis, and I probably should take advantage of the next few hours and find someone or two for quickie sex. But this was my vacation, and there would be enough time for all three activities if we hurried. Plus, to be quite honest with myself, I wanted to spend time with Kai. I liked her. Probably liked her more than I should if today were any indication. Still, it was nice to meet someone that I could see as a possible friend.
    More than a friend that sexy voice inside me suggested. Uh no. I know I’d contemplated doing my paddleboard instructor when I’d first entered the shack, but I refused to go there. I wasn’t usually attracted to women, but that wasn’t my hard line in the sand — the fact that I liked her was. I couldn’t do that to someone I liked. I couldn’t do that to someone I really hoped would become a friend.
    “I hate to impose....” But I actually did want to impose. I’d been looking forward to seeing the fields, and the idea of working on my thesis, even on the porch with a cold drink in hand, wasn’t all that exciting.
    “Not at all.” She smiled with genuine warmth. “Tell you what; you go change, and I’ll meet you at the lobby entrance in ten. I’ve got a blue Jeep.”
    “Deal.”
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    I skipped up the stairs into the hotel, dumping the wet swimsuit in the sink and struggling to get khakis and a shirt over damp skin. I was out the door and walking out of the lobby just as Kai pulled up. Her Jeep was the real deal — oversized tires, dirt-stained fenders and faded upholstery. The top wasn’t just folded down; it was completely missing. Kai was in a pair of cargo pants and a tank top, her damp braid thrown over her shoulder. We headed out of the resort and through the town of Lahaina. Then back the way I’d come from the airport, beach on my right this time, and scrubby desert on my left.
    “Sooo, how are you enjoying your vacation in Maui so far?” Kai seemed tense and nervous, her hands restless on the steering wheel. I settled back in my seat, determined to recover the light banter and camaraderie we’d had earlier.
    “I haven’t been here twenty-four hours yet, but so far so good.” I looked past her and saw the brownish green of the bushes dotting the red lava rock of the mountains. “It’s not really what I expected, landscape-wise. I know Maui is a volcanic island and all, but the brochures show this lush green with flowers and orchids, not something that looks like a scene from a western. No offense,” I added hastily, realizing I sounded like I was criticizing her home. Sheesh, what was it with my demon half lately?
    Instead of taking offense, she laughed, relaxing her hands. “Well, it is practically a desert in this section. We’ve got a variety of microclimates all over the island. Most of those pictures are from east Maui, where the rainforests are.”
    I perked up. Not that I didn’t enjoy desert flora as much as I did other varieties, but I hadn’t