Lei'd with Cupcakes

Prologue

Everybody dreams of a Hawaiian vacation…

They sell you on the drinks with little umbrellas, dolphin watching, and long walks on the beach. Which probably happens, if you’re that lucky schmuck living out your dream of your destination wedding, but if you’re a fish out of water PI like me, there’s no time for relaxing because trouble is never far behind.

Instead of sipping cocktails, I ended up dealing with the seedy underbelly of The Big Island.

And, I didn’t see one damn dolphin while undercover on a boat that was spilling over with drug dealers, kingpins, and pedophiles.

I did get to take that long walk on the beach, but that resulted in me and Cade getting busted by his parents, while we were all butt-ass naked.

Which leads me to the other issue, meeting Cade’s family. Elin and Elena think they’re the coolest people outside of TikTok, but it’s hard to meet the parents when your boyfriend is in his late thirties and has never had a serious relationship.

You want to talk about grand baby fever … His mom was foaming at the mouth at the thought of Cade reproducing, and, although the thought of little bad-ass babies who look like Cade is appealing, we’re definitely not ready to take that step.

I’d never missed my girls so much in my life, but Amy May, Bea, and Carmen were all dealing with issues of their own and couldn’t come to my rescue.

The only thing that may help me with this vacation is if I can get Lei’d with Cupcakes.

Chapter 1

We have started our descent into Honolulu. We should touch down in twenty minutes and the local time will be three fifty-eight.

I looked to my left to see Elin and Elena sleeping like angels, even though an hour ago they’d been fighting like rabid raccoons. Then, to my right, where Cade was passed out cold.

You’d think a large man like him would have a hard time getting comfortable in a standard coach seat, but as soon as he’d sat down Cade closed his eyes and was knocked out.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t keep my five-foot seven-inch frame still in the seat long enough to doze. My knees hurt, the seatbelt annoyed me and I swear I could hear every sniffle and sneeze for twenty rows.

So, while the loves of my life were snoozing happily, I was trying to find out how many mini liquor bottles it would take for me to get drowsy. It was just my luck that now when I was finally feeling happily buzzed and ready to nap, we were about to land. So, not only was I going to meet Cade’s family with no sleep, there was a good chance I was going to be drunk.

Miss, can I take your trash?

I swiveled my head to find one of the stewardesses holding open her bag for me to dump my empties in.

Are we still allowed to call them stewardesses, or is that no longer PC? What the hell are they supposed to be termed now? Oh, yeah, flight attendants. I don’t know why everything has to change…

Darlin’, Cade muttered, his voice rough with sleep. You’re talking to yourself.

Huh? I asked, turning to take in my gorgeous mountain of a man.

You’re mumbling something about stewardesses, but, babe, they don’t like to be called that, Cade replied, then shifted and closed his eyes again.

I blinked slowly, wondering how Cade knew so much about it, then turned my focus on the map in front of me.

I’d been watching the damn thing for hours. Tracking those little dots as we flew over the ocean for what felt like an eternity. I’d never considered myself a bad flyer before this flight. Maybe it was the prospect of meeting Cade’s family … Of introducing them to my kids and what it all might mean.

I mean, it’s a pretty big deal, especially since Cade has never brought anyone home to meet the parents before. It felt huge, like this one trip had the potential to change everything.

And that was pretty scary.

After all, I’ve only been divorced a little over a year. Shouldn’t I be sowing my wild oats or something?

I turned my attention back to Cade and smiled.

His scruff was a day old; his long, dark hair was starting to come out of its rubber band and was wildly framing his face, but even with his eyes closed he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. And any wild oats I had in me had definitely been sowed by him.

Truthfully, before he’d rode up to me on his motorcycle, I hadn’t been interested in dating anyone. So, although things seemed to be progressing quickly, there was no other man, shit, no other person, in this world I’d rather be with until the end of my days.

I’m not sure how long I sat there pondering that epiphany, but in what felt like a matter of seconds, the wheels touched down with a bounce and we were taxiing down the runway.

Elin, Elena, get up. We’re here, I said softly, leaning over to touch them each gently on the arm.

They both shot up, eyes wide, with grins on their faces, making me wonder if they’d been faking sleep, then turned to me and asked excitedly in unison, We’re in Hawaii?

Being the mother of eleven, almost twelve, year-old twins, you’d think I’d be used to them doing things in unison like that, but no … That shit is freaky every time.

Uh … yeah, we just landed, I replied, then shushed them when they started chattering excitedly and bouncing in their seats. I shrugged, knowing there was no use in trying to contain their excitement. They’d done a pretty good job of keeping a lid on it up until that point, so why not let them have a little fun. After all, who knew if we’d ever get another trip to Hawaii.

Cade, I whispered, leaning to my other side and running my hand down Cade’s arm. We’ve landed.

He grunted, then said, Wake me up when we’re at the gate.

I rolled my eyes, then, five minutes later when we pulled into the gate and they turned off the fasten seat belt sign, I woke him up again. This time, Cade immediately unfastened his seatbelt, stood right up, and stepped into the aisle.

Then, he proceeded to stretch. His black T-shirt came up, revealing his glorious stomach and gave me a bird’s eye view of his happy trail.

Once I’d tucked my tongue back into my mouth and got a good eyeful, I turned to make sure the kids were gathering all of their belongings from the seat pocket in front of them and were ready to get off the plane.

When it was our turn to disembark, Cade pulled our suitcases down from the overhead compartment and we started off the plane. First Cade, with his well-worn leather backpack slung over one shoulder and a ratty Army-green duffel in his hand. Then Elin and Elena, with their Harry Potter and Star Wars rolling bags, and finally me, trailing behind with my new hard-case roller, wondering why I’d been in such a hurry to land when all I wanted to do in that moment was run back to the plane.

With every step closer to the arrival area, my stomach grew tighter and my buzz started to fade. By the time we stepped out of the corridor into the open space filled with happy sounds and tons of people, I was ready to upchuck the six tiny bottles of vodka that had seemed like such a good idea in-flight.

I looked up in time to see a tall woman hugging Cade tightly, while a handsome, older version of Cade was placing leis around the twins’ necks. I plastered a smile on my face and as I joined the group all eyes turned to me.

Cade’s mother’s face lit up as she looked to him and said, "Nice job, Hiapo. She’s got great hips."

Chapter 2

The trip from the airport to Cade’s family home was luckily pretty short. It was, however, along a long and winding road. Everyone else was talking happily while I stared out the window and cursed myself for drinking.

It’s horrible when you have a buzz and you really don’t want to.

I really wanted to make a good impression on Cade’s parents, but all I could do was pray the car would stop soon and this roller coaster of a ride would be over before I did something really embarrassing. Like throw up in the back seat of Cade’s dad’s car.

I was trying to focus on breathing and enjoying the gorgeous scenery around me, when we took a sharp right, then dipped down a steep hill and pulled to a stop. I turned in my seat, looking back at the hill we’d just come down, and wondered how in the heck you’d drive back up that thing.

I was still pondering this when everyone else exited the 4Runner and started grabbing bags out of the back.

Cade’s family home was a modest bungalow surrounded by lush trees, bushes, and flowers. As I did my best to carry my large suitcase over the rocky ground, I noticed a sitting area surrounding a large open pit. There was a hodge podge of places to sit. A couple chairs, a few logs, and a large leather bench seat that must have come out of an old car from the fifties.

We spend more time outside than in, Cade said from beside me. We’ll cook there, sit around with a drink, or just spend hours talking.

Oh, I replied, then turned my head to smile up at him. Is that the ocean I hear?

Cade lifted his chin toward the house.

Yeah, I’ll take you out back once we put our stuff down.

I followed Cade through the front door, which led right into an open area where you could see the living room, dining room, and kitchen, which is where Elin and Elena were currently planted. They were sitting on bar stools, eating cookies, while telling Cade’s parents about the flight.

And, as if they’d known them five years, rather than five minutes, Cade’s mother and father were smiling at my children and listening to their every word.

My heart warmed at the sight and although I wanted to go join them, I followed Cade down the hall to put my bag down and give myself a minute to get my shit together.

We’ll be in here, Cade said, pausing at the threshold of a room before walking inside.

I followed behind him, taking in the large bed, well-worn dresser with trophies scattered across the top and the row of lockers against the wall.

This is your room? I asked, even though it was pretty obvious.

Yeah.

I’m in here with you? I asked, my eyes darting back out into the hall.

Yeah.

I dropped my bag by the bed and walked up to Cade, lowering my voice to say, I can’t sleep with you in your parents’ house.

What the hell are you talking about? Cade asked as he took out his rubber band and pulled his hair back to secure it again.

We can’t have sex in your parents’ house.

Cade turned his face toward me, eyebrows raised.

Lila, I’m thirty-eight years old. I’m pretty sure they know I fuck.

My eyes widened and my face went red.

"Don’t talk like that, my God … Just because they assume, doesn’t mean it should happen in their house. It’s rude."

Cade chuckled and replied, "All right, darlin’, I’ll keep my hands to myself, in the house, and we’ll see if you can do the same."

I placed my hands on my hips, offended that he thought he could control himself, but I couldn’t.

Well, where am I going to sleep then?

Here, Lila, Cade said, his smile indulgent. My sister, Alani is sharing her room with Elena and Elin is on the couch. You’re in here with me, unless you want to sleep outside, or on the floor somewhere.

I scowled at him, but he just grinned and stepped up close. Close enough that I could feel his heat, smell his spicy scent, and had to tilt my head up to look at his fully mouth.

What’s the matter, don’t think you can keep your hands to yourself?

Shut up, I grumbled, causing him to laugh.

C’mon, I’m hungry, Cade said, changing the subject as he grabbed my