Attraction: A Temptation Series Prequel by Leigh T. K

Author:Leigh, T. K. [Leigh, T. K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adult
ISBN: 9781402266522
Amazon: B09PGBX5XS
Goodreads: 59988444
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published: 2021-12-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Julia

“You do understand I’d sound horrendous speaking French with my Southern accent, right?”

I squinted at the napkin on the table, Naomi’s scrawl practically indecipherable, thanks to all the wine we’d consumed as I officially bid farewell to my thirties with a fantastic meal at a restaurant I never would have picked if left to my own devices. It was one of Naomi’s many talents. She was like my own personal Anthony Bourdain, God rest his amazing, tortured soul.

As my director of operations, she traveled extensively, checking on the various locations of the bakery, as well as scouting potential new markets. As such, she was a seasoned pro at finding the best places to eat. While she may have been mediocre in the kitchen, she was a lover of food, through and through. Everywhere we went, she knew how to find those incredible hidden gems.

And tonight was no exception. There was no white-gloved waitstaff. No pretentious wine list. No pristine tablecloths. Just good food served in a casual atmosphere. Naomi always claimed the best thing to do was find where the locals ate, not where the hotel recommended you eat as a tourist. When we walked into this modest building with a midcentury feel, I felt like I stepped back in time to the heyday of Hawaiian surf culture.

If I didn’t know better, I almost expected Duke Kahanamaku to walk in at any second. Wood beams ran along the ceiling, the dark tone a perfect contrast to the otherwise stark, white walls. Booths lined the perimeter, the backs high to give diners a sense of privacy. While I loved the interior, it was no match for the ocean view from the lanai, where we currently sat. The sun had already set, but the lit tiki torches illuminated the space as a gentle breeze surrounded us.

It wasn’t until this moment I actually felt like I was in Hawaii. The Hawaii I fell in love with the first time I visited.

Sure, Waikiki was technically Hawaii, but there was something so busy about it that seemed to go against everything a tropical island should stand for. With the chain restaurants and commercialized shopping areas, it felt…wrong. And reminded me more of Santa Monica than an island escape.

But away from the city, it was an island escape.

“Especially your accent after a night of drinking.” Naomi grabbed the bottle off the table and proceeded to refill my glass yet again. “If you had to do a shot for every twangy ‘y’all’ that has come out of that mouth, you’d probably be in the hospital having your stomach pumped.”

“Probably.” I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip of the pinot noir our waiter suggested would pair perfectly with the Kalua pork we’d ordered.

How could we not order the pork when this place slow-cooked an entire pig on lava rocks covered with a combination of coconut and banana leaves in an actual underground imu? I’d already made a mental note to come back one morning so I could watch the entire process.

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