His Need, Her Desire by Malia Mallory Page B

and make the best of it. She could still have a good time, couldn't she? She was not the traveling-alone type. It made her feel self-conscious. She knew a woman at the office who did it often. Kim traveled alone all the time and raved about it, saying how great it was she didn't have to conform to anyone else's schedule or see anything that she didn't choose to see. Tabitha pondered that attitude for a moment.
    Tabitha didn't normally go out to restaurants alone. It reminded her of wandering through the high school cafeteria trying to find a place to sit and feeling incredibly conspicuous. Get a hold of yourself, Tabitha. Don't be stupid. You're in Hawaii for goodness sake. Eat great food, have a hula lesson, and spend some time on the beach. That was the new plan.
    Her mind made up, Tabitha found a new sense of confidence. She would enjoy herself, make great memories and have a few stories for the water cooler.
    When the taxi pulled up in front of the hotel, she was awed. The setting was breathtaking. Tall majestic palms lined the drive. Tabitha stepped out into the fresh, light breeze that had its own unique scent. Check-in was smooth and soon she was in her room enjoying the view from the balcony. Hers was a so-called city view, as an ocean view was considerably more expensive. However, the city view was beautiful too, encompassing the mountains that formed the backbone of Oahu and the tall buildings of downtown Honolulu.
    Tabitha changed into a bathing suit and made her way to the hotel lobby. She had everything she needed in her tote: sunglasses, suntan lotion, and a book. She was going to find herself a refreshing tropical drink and a little plot of sand. Although it was cliché, she just had to get herself one of those drinks in a pineapple husk or coconut shell.
    She spied a bar on her way out to the beach and within minutes, her taste buds were tingling from a piña colada. The bartender had even provided the ubiquitous paper umbrella. She exited the beach side of the hotel and marveled at the view. Palm trees swayed in the breeze at the edge of a silky sand beach. Gentle waves rolled in to the shore and sparkling blue ocean beckoned as far as the eye could see. The sky was bright and clear with a few puffy white clouds that simply heightened the contrast of a beautiful, sunny day.
    Tabitha slipped off her sandals and dug her feet into the soft sand. The tension of the trip drained away. It was so gorgeous it seemed almost unreal. It was like walking into a picture postcard. The beach wasn't even that crowded. She'd been to beaches on the mainland and, on a day like this, people would be stacked wall-to-wall on every square inch of sand.
    Tabitha ensconced herself in a beach chair in a shady area and let the breeze flow over her skin. Fresh ocean air. Gentle waves lapping the beach. She could get used to this. After indulging a bit, she opened her book. It was a recent bestseller she had picked up before leaving New York. She read for a few minutes and then set her book aside, thinking about the various sites and activities. There was no one to please but herself. No one she need compromise with or accommodate. It was rather freeing. Perhaps Kim was onto something.
    Tabitha definitely wanted to look into taking a whale-watching trip. And a luau. No tourist returned without taking in a luau. She was tempted to make a list, but she had neither paper nor pencil. Relax Tabitha . She was famous for list making, but this was a time to give it a rest.
    Tabitha gazed at the water, spotting several people on surfboards approaching the shore. No wait , she thought, that's stand-up paddleboarding. She'd read a description of it in the guidebook. As they moved closer, she saw clearly what they were doing. It looked like fun. Maybe she should try that too.
    A pair of paddleboarders approached the beach. When they reached the shallows, they both hopped into the water and guided their paddleboards the rest of the way. Two hotel