should go back soon, but I admit, I could lie here all night long.”
“You sure? Because I brought three condoms. And they are still in my jeans. Sorry. You weren’t the only one who got distracted.”
“No worries, as you like to say. My sister, the doctor, handed me birth control pill samples the day she brought me here. The Rev might be the moral conscience of that family and his whole congregation, but Mintay is practical down to her toenails. I think she hoped we’d get together from the very start. I put them into use during that courtship period when I wasn’t sure if this would ever happen or not.”
“Very glad it did, my lovely Winnie. No worries about STDs either. Too much London Missionary Society upbringing for me to be a devil with the ladies, like Joe in his day. Besides, I was keeping myself clean for my taupou, that virgin princess I was supposed to marry.”
Winnie experienced that same sinking feeling she’d had when Doug told her about big-busted, blonde Talia. “Now I understand the first words you said to me. Must be hell settling for second best.” She rolled away from him even though she ended up in the sand.
A muscular arm gathered her in again. “After tonight, I’m pretty sure I’m over her. I want to be with you. When can we do this again?”
“Your cottage anytime the children are at school. I’m fairly certain our walk in the grove did not fool Joe and Nell one bit, and not even Dean, judging by his ugly remark to Stacy.”
“Dean’s opinion doesn’t count. None does but ours. Too bad coming here in daylight would be a bad idea.”
Winnie got to her knees and brushed off the sand again. She found her clothes and put on a show for him as she dressed in the moonlight, a reverse striptease. He could have used a condom again when she finished, but they really had to get back and put Teddy to bed. Adam covered his tattoos, and she lit their way to the house before the movie and the popcorn ran out.
Chapter Fourteen
Winnie slept soundly once she washed the sand out of her hair and off her body, but the household awoke early on Super Bowl Sunday. She and Teddy were the last to arrive at the breakfast table that held only a pitcher of orange juice, a container of milk, and a variety of fairly healthy breakfast cereals. She supplied Teddy with his choice and a cup of juice before pouring some coffee and making toast for herself. Beyond the kitchen door, she recognized Adam’s voice organizing some event that started the children chattering. Eager to join them, Teddy bolted his food. The sound of a solid whack and a chorus of “ahs” prompted him to scoot outside and join in the commotion.
Winnie admitted watching Adam splitting coconuts with a single blow of a machete went right up there with seeing him tackle an opponent on the football field. Putting all his considerable strength into his swing, he raised the heavy-bladed knife again and dispatched another. Coconut milk splashed. The dogs lapped it up. Joe and Knox Polk got into the act and showed off for their ladies. Nell allowed Dean and Tommy to take a turn, but held the others back as bits of shell went flying. Once all the coconuts had been slaughtered, interest diminished considerably when the meat inside the husks had to be pried out with a screwdriver or knife, a more difficult and less masculine task.
“Why do we need so much coconut?” Winnie asked.
“To make palusami . You can’t eat roast pig without palusami , lovely Winnie,” Adam answered. “Next, we grate it and squeeze out the coconut cream.”
“I remember grating coconut for my Nana’s custard pies when I was a child.”
“Good, then you have experience. All of this must be grated and squeezed dry. You be in charge. I must start the wood to heat the rocks for the cooking.”
“I have experience in getting my fingertips and knuckles grated, that’s all.”
“You will do great! Call me when all the coconut meat is shredded.”
The
“You sure? Because I brought three condoms. And they are still in my jeans. Sorry. You weren’t the only one who got distracted.”
“No worries, as you like to say. My sister, the doctor, handed me birth control pill samples the day she brought me here. The Rev might be the moral conscience of that family and his whole congregation, but Mintay is practical down to her toenails. I think she hoped we’d get together from the very start. I put them into use during that courtship period when I wasn’t sure if this would ever happen or not.”
“Very glad it did, my lovely Winnie. No worries about STDs either. Too much London Missionary Society upbringing for me to be a devil with the ladies, like Joe in his day. Besides, I was keeping myself clean for my taupou, that virgin princess I was supposed to marry.”
Winnie experienced that same sinking feeling she’d had when Doug told her about big-busted, blonde Talia. “Now I understand the first words you said to me. Must be hell settling for second best.” She rolled away from him even though she ended up in the sand.
A muscular arm gathered her in again. “After tonight, I’m pretty sure I’m over her. I want to be with you. When can we do this again?”
“Your cottage anytime the children are at school. I’m fairly certain our walk in the grove did not fool Joe and Nell one bit, and not even Dean, judging by his ugly remark to Stacy.”
“Dean’s opinion doesn’t count. None does but ours. Too bad coming here in daylight would be a bad idea.”
Winnie got to her knees and brushed off the sand again. She found her clothes and put on a show for him as she dressed in the moonlight, a reverse striptease. He could have used a condom again when she finished, but they really had to get back and put Teddy to bed. Adam covered his tattoos, and she lit their way to the house before the movie and the popcorn ran out.
Chapter Fourteen
Winnie slept soundly once she washed the sand out of her hair and off her body, but the household awoke early on Super Bowl Sunday. She and Teddy were the last to arrive at the breakfast table that held only a pitcher of orange juice, a container of milk, and a variety of fairly healthy breakfast cereals. She supplied Teddy with his choice and a cup of juice before pouring some coffee and making toast for herself. Beyond the kitchen door, she recognized Adam’s voice organizing some event that started the children chattering. Eager to join them, Teddy bolted his food. The sound of a solid whack and a chorus of “ahs” prompted him to scoot outside and join in the commotion.
Winnie admitted watching Adam splitting coconuts with a single blow of a machete went right up there with seeing him tackle an opponent on the football field. Putting all his considerable strength into his swing, he raised the heavy-bladed knife again and dispatched another. Coconut milk splashed. The dogs lapped it up. Joe and Knox Polk got into the act and showed off for their ladies. Nell allowed Dean and Tommy to take a turn, but held the others back as bits of shell went flying. Once all the coconuts had been slaughtered, interest diminished considerably when the meat inside the husks had to be pried out with a screwdriver or knife, a more difficult and less masculine task.
“Why do we need so much coconut?” Winnie asked.
“To make palusami . You can’t eat roast pig without palusami , lovely Winnie,” Adam answered. “Next, we grate it and squeeze out the coconut cream.”
“I remember grating coconut for my Nana’s custard pies when I was a child.”
“Good, then you have experience. All of this must be grated and squeezed dry. You be in charge. I must start the wood to heat the rocks for the cooking.”
“I have experience in getting my fingertips and knuckles grated, that’s all.”
“You will do great! Call me when all the coconut meat is shredded.”
The
Similar Books
