Chief Distraction Read Online Free Page A

you
again. I guess I could have saved my own bacon, literally.”
    Chief Kalani pointed at her and chuckled. “Good
one.”
    “Hmm,” Blythe smiled again, not knowing what
else to say. She hadn’t planned on talking to him in the first place. Hadn’t
planned on being this close and having to witness his bulging biceps or bedroom
brown eyes roving hers. Even the smell of his cologne was an unexpected draw.
When he smiled, she noticed how the tanned skin around his eyes crinkled in a
relaxed way, like he did a lot of laughing. It was hypnotic.
    “So, are you just taking in the sights?”
    “Um, yes. My sister and her boyfriend are here
for the week, so…”
    “You’re playing tour guide, got it,” he winked
and Blythe felt a little rush of excitement. “So that’s who you were cooking
for when the fire broke out.”
    “Yes, they’re here from the mainland. Needless
to say, they weren’t surprised to hear that I burnt dinner. I have a tendency
of doing that.”
    “Did you get yourself an extinguisher yet?”
Chief Kalani raised his eyebrows expectantly.
    Blythe’s stomach twisted with unease. “Um, no.
Not yet. But I will. I promise.”
    “Don’t do it for me. Do it for you.”
    “Sure,” she said, thinking the line was a little
self-righteous. But then again, it was probably impossible for him to turn off
the Fire Chief mentality.
    As if sensing her thoughts, he seemed to lighten
up a bit and his shoulders relaxed. “These are my nephews, Kai and Cade. I’m
giving my sister a breather and spending quality time with them. Guy bonding,
right?” He wrapped his arm around the older of the two and brought him closer.
    “Yep,” the boys said in unison before reaching
out and lightly poking each other in the ribs. They broke free from his grip
and raced toward a toy display, their attention instantly diverted.
    “Kids,” Chief Kalani shook his head, his smile
wide. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground before
turning those brown eyes her way. For a guy living under the umbrella of a
potent curse, he didn’t seem too phased. Life seemed pretty sweet and
easygoing.
    “Well, I’d better get back,” Blythe thumbed over
her shoulder. She felt that urge to escape again.
    “Yeah, okay. Nice to see you.” Chief Kalani
stood glued to the spot as if waiting for something. Blythe got the impression
he wanted to keep talking, but she knew that couldn’t happen. It was too risky.
    “Bye.” Turning on her heels, she practically
raced to Rachel and Jarrod, feeling Chief Kalani’s eyes burn into her back.

 
 
    Over
the course of the next hour, Blythe discretely watched as The Chief attentively
spent time with his nephews, pulling them close and reading the information
boards. She admired how he sounded words out slowly, attentively. They asked
question after question and his patience abounded as he answered with care.
With each tender response he gave, she pressed a palm firmly to her stomach,
easing down the intense feelings of butterflies.
    The Makaio Kalani she’d written about all those
years ago had been a titillating fact sheet she’d dug up solely for the purpose
of filling article space in the Chicago tabloid she worked for. And now,
standing six-foot-three, dark skinned, dark haired, and full of taut muscles,
Blythe couldn’t for the life of her understand how something as silly as a
curse could keep women away; not from someone so magnificent. In the charged
circumstances at the cane burn, she hadn’t given him the inspection he’d
deserved. And at her kitchen fire, his fireman’s gear, although sexy, hid his
physique. Now, taking in the sight of him, she was sorry she’d ever written a
negative world about him.
    But Chief Kalani would remain at arms length
– Blythe would make sure of that. She couldn’t risk him ever discovering
who she was or what she’d done.  

 
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    Mak
watched as Blythe Davenport moved with the