Midnight with You Read online

  Midnight With You

  Cheyenne McCray

  Cheyenne McCray LLC

  Copyright © 2018 by Cheyenne McCray

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Momi

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Riding Tall: Amazed by You

  Also by Cheyenne McCray

  About Cheyenne

  Momi

  Momi is a fictitious Hawaiian island where all things beautiful await you.

  I hope you enjoy your visit to this lovely jewel.

  Chey

  1

  “I should stay in Prescott and wait for you both.” Bailey McBride couldn’t help the twinge of disappointment as she looked from one friend to the other. She raised her voice to be heard over the airport loudspeaker. “We are supposed to be going to Hawaii together.”

  “You need to get to the resort on Momi today.” Charlee Burke smiled.

  “Yeah.” Dara Winters’ freckles added to her beauty as she smiled. “You’ve got those backstage passes to the Kade Fields concert, and they’re only good for tomorrow night.”

  Charlee had a don’t-argue-with-me expression. “You’ve wanted to see him in concert forever, and you’ll get to meet him in person. Now go.”

  “But—” Bailey started to argue again.

  “No buts.” Charlee moved out of the way so a family of five could walk by. “I’ll be there in two days, after I help Jo with the twins. When Dara arrives, the three of us will paint the island red.”

  “I’ll join you as soon as I can.” Dara tucked her thick fall of reddish-brown hair behind her ear. “It sucks the investors just happen to be showing up at the ranch when I’m supposed to be on the plane with you, but it should only take a couple of days.”

  Bailey wrapped her arms around her closest friends and they gave a group hug while travelers flowed around them. “You two are the best.”

  They broke the hug and Dara inclined her head to the security checkpoint. “You don’t want to miss your flight.”

  “I’ll see you both soon.” Bailey grasped the handle of her carry-on, the grip cool in her palm.

  Charlee gave a wicked smile. “Don’t have too much fun without us.”

  “No promises.” Bailey adjusted the strap of her cross-body purse. “I’ll get the island warmed up for you both.”

  Charlee tossed her blonde-streaked hair out of her face. She owned a couple of salons and always wore her hair in one of the latest styles. “Save a cute cabana boy for me.”

  “And one for me.” Dara’s amber eyes sparkled with amusement. “Practice your hula dance, too.”

  “Got it.” Bailey smiled. “Two cabana boys and one hula dance coming up.”

  “Aloha,” Charlee and Dara said at the same time.

  The girls waved as Bailey took a step back. She returned the wave before she joined the flow of foot traffic toward the security checkpoint line.

  Despite heading to Momi alone, excitement tingled along Bailey’s skin like an electric current. She’d so been looking forward to this trip for months. She’d traveled alone before, and this time she’d only be on her own for two days.

  What could go wrong?

  Nothing.

  Come hell or high water, she intended to have fun.

  Seth Greer sucked in a lungful of Hawaiian air that smelled of the ocean, rich soil, and lush greenery. He’d missed this. Keola was his favorite division on the island and had become like a second home.

  He hitched his backpack over one shoulder and scanned the area as he stood at the foot of the ramp off the Moku Ferry.

  It had only been a year since he’d been on Momi, the best of all the Hawaiian Islands in his opinion. It was even lusher than the others in the chain. After over a decade of visiting Momi for a couple of weeks out of each summer, he still couldn’t get enough.

  He hoped that this time his saddle and the rest of his gear made it here before him. Last visit he just about had to borrow one for the ranch rodeo—he got his own in under the wire.

  A pretty woman with a long golden-blonde braid caught his attention as she disembarked the ferry. How had he missed her on the trip from the Big Island that had just deposited him and a host of others onto Momi?

  Not just pretty. Full-out sexy and gorgeous.

  He pushed up the brim of his Stetson with one finger and barely held back a whistle of appreciation as he stepped out of the crowd flowing onto the dock.

  The tall, tanned blonde had a smooth, athletic stride, and a confidence to her that intrigued him. Her yellow skirt rested a couple of inches over her knees and a sleeveless brightly-colored Hawaiian top showed off her toned arms. She pulled a red hard-shell carry-on behind her.

  A Hawaiian woman, whose hula skirt swayed gently at her hips, met the blonde in front of the dock. The woman slipped a lei made with plumeria over the blonde’s head, and her answering smile was enough to make any man stop dead in his tracks.

  Damn.

  Seth walked at an easy pace behind the blonde as she moved on. His legs were longer, his stride bigger, so it wouldn’t be long before he caught up.

  Casual-like.

  The same dark-haired woman who’d slipped the lei over the blonde’s head offered one to Seth. “Aloha,” she said with a smile.

  “Mahalo.” He gave her a quick return smile and dipped his head long enough for a lei that matched the blonde’s. The plumeria smelled sweet and strong. He thanked her again before he looked for the blonde.

  Well, hell. She was gone.

  He hurried through the dissipating crowd, searching for the leggy woman who had totally wrapped him up in thoughts of sitting on the beach beneath the stars and drinking Haupia cocktails in the moonlight.

  Seth grimaced. Romantic, nice.

  He made it to the street along the pier, hoping he’d spot her.

  There.

  By a taxi, the driver putting her bag in his trunk.

  He made it to her in six steps, just as the cab driver slammed the trunk shut and started for the driver’s door. Before the blonde could reach the passenger door, Seth grasped the handle and opened it for her.

  Her braid swung over her shoulder when she looked up in surprise. She flashed him a smile. “Last thing I expected was to run into a cowboy on Momi.”

  He grinned. “Just wait until you see me in my boots and board shorts.”

  The blonde had a laugh that made his insides melt like butter. “If I see you around, I’ll watch for it.”

  “Mind if I ride with you?” He hoped like hell she wouldn’t have a problem with it. “Momi is a small island and always has a shortage of cabs when the ferry comes in.” He didn’t mention that he could have arranged a drive with Uber. Hopefully, she wouldn’t think of it.

  She tipped her head to the side as if considering then shrugged. “Sure.” She turned and slid onto the seat and a
cross to the other side of the vehicle.

  “Must be my day.” Seth let out his breath as he took off his Stetson and eased onto the seat beside her. He tossed his backpack between his boots on the floor.

  He caught a whiff of her soft, flowery perfume mixed with the scent of the plumeria lei.

  The cab driver looked over his shoulder. “Where you headed?” he asked in a heavy pidgin accent.

  The blonde pulled a paper out of her purse and squinted at the printing. “The Kapu ‘Aina Resort, Keola.”

  Yeah, it was definitely his day.

  “That’s where I’m headed.” He smiled as she met his gaze, a glint of suspicion in her eyes. “Forbidden Land Resort is the nicest place on the island, in my opinion.”

  “Then my big brothers chose well.” She rested against the seat back. “This is my first time in Hawaii.”

  “I’m Seth Greer.” He held his hand out to her. “What’s your name?” He couldn’t keep calling her “the blonde.”

  “Bailey McBride.” She accepted his hand. The confidence in her firm grip told him volumes.

  “Do I detect a hint of country accent?” He knew he had, but he figured he’d play it easy.

  “Grew up on a ranch in a houseful of cowboys an awful lot like you.” She shook her head. “And a whole valley full of cowboy cousins.”

  “Is that a good thing?” he said in a teasing tone.

  Her grin was just as mischievous. “If you’re a cowboy, you can’t be all bad.”

  Seth rested his western hat on one knee. “I was born and raised on a few thousand acres in Montana.”

  “I’m from Arizona, north of Phoenix.” She fiddled with her long braid. “A thousand, not thousands of acres.”

  She turned to look out the window as the cab pulled away from the pier and onto a two-lane road. “It’s so gorgeous here.”

  “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” His words drew her attention. “This island is easily the prettiest of them all.”

  “So far, so good.” She turned her attention back to the road as they passed several hundred acres of sugarcane and pineapple fields—a rarity now in the Hawaiian Islands—before traveling deeper onto the island. “I’ve been waiting for this trip for months.” She had a nice voice, easy to listen to.

  Seth didn’t want to interrupt her as she drank in the sights, but he dove in anyway. “Do you have anyone to show you around?”

  She shook her head but continued to look out the window. “Not yet.”

  “I’ve come to Momi every year since my freshman year in high school,” he said as the vegetation grew thicker and lusher as they traveled. “I’d be happy to show you around.”

  Bailey glanced over her shoulder and looked at him a long moment. “I don’t know you.”

  “Do you know anyone here?”

  Her lips quirked. “You’ve got me there.”

  Seth grinned. “I’ll buy you a Haupia cocktail this evening and you can get to know me better. You can drill me and see if I’m good tour guide material.”

  She settled in her seat and studied him. “What’s a Haupia? Some kind of roast pork?”

  Damn, she was cute. “It’s a Hawaiian favorite. White crème de cacao, coconut syrup, and smoothie mix.”

  “Smoothie, huh?” She tossed her braid over her shoulder. “So, you’re offering to buy me dinner.”

  He laughed. “I’ll treat you to something far more substantial than a smoothie. Are you hungry now? We can grab a bite at the resort.”

  She flashed him a grin. “I didn’t say yes.”

  “Why don’t I start being your tour guide now?” He shifted in his seat and pointed out the window and she looked in that direction. “We’re leaving the pineapple and sugarcane fields now.”

  “I heard that Hawaii doesn’t produce sugar cane and pineapple anymore.” She looked back at him.

  “You heard right,” he said. “Momi is one of the few places where you can find both. The plantation in Keola is run by a family that’s had the business for generations. Low volume and little exporting, but it’s popular with tourists and locals. All of it is enough to keep the family in business.”

  A thoughtful expression crossed her beautiful features. “I’ll try both.”

  “In Olino is Kana, a town with shops and a farmer’s market.”

  “I love shopping.” The spark of interest grew brighter in her blue eyes. “I’d like to go there.”

  Seth wanted to jump in and tell her he’d take her tomorrow, but he had to be patient so he didn’t scare her off. “If you enjoy shopping, then you’ll have fun in the market.”

  “When Charlee and Dara get here, we’ll have to head to the market.”

  A flash of disappointment shot through him. “You have friends arriving?”

  She sighed. “They were supposed to leave with me, but Charlee needed to help her sister Jo take care of her twins while Jo recovers from a serious bout of food poisoning. Dara has some kind of last minute audit going on at work, but hopefully it’ll only take a couple of days.”

  Well, then. He had those couple of days to get to know her. Who knew what could happen in two days?

  She turned to stare out the window as the car drove higher up the extinct volcano.

  Sugar cane and pineapple fields gave away to tropical greenery, which grew lusher as they traveled to the resort.

  Now that he was closer to her, and had engaged her in conversation, she was more beautiful than she had been the moment he spotted her. He just about couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  Her lips would be so soft to kiss, her skin like satin beneath his palms, her lithe body firm against his…

  Seth rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Pull it together, Greer. He mentally shook his head. Thinking this way about a woman he had barely met wasn’t the smartest thing he could do.

  “We’re just about there.” He gestured ahead to a driveway that split off from the road they were on. A sign reading Kapu ‘Aina Resort stood to the left of the entrance.

  Bailey’s expression grew more delighted as the cab driver guided the taxi onto the paved drive and the vegetation grew more tropical yet.

  “It’s gorgeous.” She flashed Seth a grin. “I wasn’t sure what to expect when Mom said Jack, one of my older brothers, booked the trip for my present. This is above and beyond his practical nature.”

  “Is it your birthday?” Seth asked as the cab closed in on the resort entrance.

  “Nope.” She shook her head. “I just finished grad school and they surprised me with the trip.”

  “Congratulations.” Not only was she beautiful, but exceedingly intelligent.

  “Thanks.”

  The driver rolled the cab to a stop in front of the elegantly fashioned double doors with Hawaiian designs carved into them. Floor to ceiling glass windows took up the space to either side of the doors.

  “This looks wonderful,” she said.

  The moment the cab came to a complete stop, Seth grabbed his backpack, got out and rounded the back of the vehicle. He opened Bailey’s door before the resort doorman could get to it.

  Bailey smiled up at him, which did insane things to his gut. “Thank you, Seth.” Damn, but he loved the way she said his name.

  Seth dug out his wallet and paid the cab driver for the fare and a good tip.

  “How much do I owe for my share?” Bailey asked him as the driver took her suitcase out of the trunk.

  “I would have had to pay the whole thing if I was alone.” He shook his head. “So, it’s covered.”

  Bailey frowned. “I pay my way.”

  He smiled. “I’ll bet you do.”

  She wrinkled her brow, as if trying to decide how he’d meant that. Her expression cleared. “You’re all cowboy, aren’t you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a good natured grin.

  “Thank you for the cab ride.” She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes that had fallen loose from her braid.

  “I’ll take your
suitcase for you.” He reached for the handle but waited for her agreement.

  After a slight hesitation, she said, “I appreciate that.”

  He blew out a breath of relief that she hadn’t argued about paying the cab driver and had agreed to let him help her with her luggage. So far, so good.

  He’d butted heads against women who insisted on paying and even went as far as one of the woman getting angry with him. It wasn’t in his nature, and it went against everything that had been ingrained in him since he was a kid. His papa would have tanned his hide when he was young if he hadn’t treated a woman or a girl of any age right and with the respect they deserve.

  Doormen opened the massive doors and he and Bailey walked into the lobby. She looked around, a wide smile illuminating her features. “This is fantastic.”

  Her excitement gave him a whole new appreciation for his surroundings. The Hawaiian fabric-covered koa wood furniture, the colorful murals on the walls depicting local life, and fresh tropical flowers scattered around the lobby in heavy koa vases really added to the resort’s appeal.

  They didn’t have to wait in line, and after Bailey walked up to one of the two smiling women at the front desk, he went to the other. He didn’t think Bailey would leave without another word to him. He had a feeling it wasn’t in her nature to not say something before leaving.

  Besides, he still had a hold of her suitcase.

  The woman behind the reservation desk greeted him and checked him into a suite. The resort was only one level. Maybe he’d be lucky enough that Bailey would be in the same wing.

  He caught Bailey’s sweet perfume before he turned away from the reservations agent. He smiled at her. She was tall, but he still had her by a good six inches.

  “Thank you for bringing my suitcase in.” She stayed beside him as he moved away from the desk. “I can take it from here.”