Unexpectedly Yours by Toni Logan

Author:Toni Logan [Logan, Toni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Celebrity, Contemporary, HEAT LEVEL: Medium, Island, Lesbian Romance, Resort, Vacation/Travel
Goodreads: 197208850
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-09-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Allie stepped out of her casita, squinted at the rising sun, and pushed the oversized plastic sunglasses farther up her nose. She had hoped to sleep in this morning, but after she got up to pee, she couldn’t settle her mind, so she’d surrendered and decided to start her day earlier than she planned. She paused for a moment and took a deep breath to appreciate the smell of the clean salty air and the sound of the crashing waves instead of the car horns that greeted her every morning in LA. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the wind was almost nonexistent, and the warmth of the sun felt good on her skin. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

“Ah, to be rich and have the option of where to live, huh, Dad?” she mused as she craned her neck toward the backpack slung over one shoulder. She gave the bulge from his urn a loving pat. “Come on. Let’s get you to where you want to be.”

As she meandered down the path past the kitchen, she saw Mila out front, bowl in one hand and scissors in another, bent over and cutting some herbs from a raised garden bed. She approached. “Hi, Mila, I met you the other night, and I just wanted to tell you again how much I enjoy your cooking.”

Mila raised her head just enough to flick a glance at Allie, then returned to her task, clearly uninterested in what she had to say.

Although a feeling of awkwardness settled in, Allie was not deterred. “Anyway, I think you’re an amazing chef and I just wanted you to know that. Sorry to bother you.”

Mila let out a sigh, placed her scissors in the bowl, and straightened. She cocked a knee, and her face hardened in an expression Allie interpreted as more than just mild irritability, as though she had been interrupted from her morning meditation.

Oh-kay…so much for that. After an uncomfortable several seconds, Allie began backing away until she noticed Mila’s eyes widen and become fixed on her necklace. Allie cupped the shell pendant. “It was my father’s. It’s a—”

“Sea turtle.” Mila said, then gazed at Allie. The expression that moments ago held a sternness that could rival a nun on a rampage had softened.

“Yes, he believed we are descendants of a small tribe of islanders. This pendant is a tribute to a handful who lost their lives in a last stand to save their people. My dad used to tell me the turtles carried their souls to their final destination.”

Mila nodded, and Allie could have sworn she saw sadness in her eyes. “They carry little souls too.” The words were barely audible. A beat later, she blinked, picked up her scissors and waved a hand, shooing Allie away. “Now go on, get. You’re standing in my sun. Got’s no time to talk to anyone, I’m busy,” she said as she bent back down and started snipping more herbs.

As Allie continued backing away, she noticed a small tattoo on the underside of Mila’s right wrist.

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