After Candace washed out of Stanford University she managed to pick herself up and find a passable job in San Francisco. Then she took another job at a coffee place to get ahead of her bills and the result was she was always exhausted.
Then one day Steve showed up at the coffee place. He was in town on routine business and when he saw Candace he saw right past her glasses, the mousy clothes, and all he saw was brown-eyed perfection. She had a womanly figure, sandy blonde hair, and a subtle smile. He was bold enough to speak to her and he asked her what the nicest restaurant in town was and she told him.
"That sounds great! I'll pick you up here at six and we'll have dinner!"
She was flabbergasted by the charming man's brashness but she also liked his take charge manner so she accepted. Frankly, she was hungry for a decent meal and that swayed her decision far more than his good looks did.
She'd had a single relationship in school but the young man was typical of his generation and was utterly self-absorbed. There was only room for one person in that relationship and she thought he was sort of happy when she ended things. He'd taken her virginity but between their studies and his narcissism they'd only managed to follow up that first time with only a few other times together. He wasn't particularly confident or aggressive but he was responsible, always making sure to interrupt their romance to put on a condom.
Steve was something completely different. When he picked her up for dinner she discovered he was a gentleman who would help her with her coat, he opened doors for her, and it wasn't even a discussion when he paid for the lovely dinner. He made Candace feel like a princess and the insecure girl was swept off her feet.
That evening was followed by several more evenings that left the hesitant Candace with the heady feeling of understanding that this extraordinary man saw value in her as a person.
One Sunday he took her to the Napa wine country for the day. She knew little of wine but she still enjoyed his company as he explained how to taste and evaluate the wine. It was not lost on her that his name was known at more than one of the wineries. She enjoyed his modest kiss when he left her back at her apartment.
Her insecurities rose up and she wondered why such a man was interested in someone like herself. At the same time she didn't want to lose him and she didn't want to lose the feeling of being important to someone.
At the end of two weeks he told her that it was time for him to go back home to Maui. He had a place that was 'Up Country' on Haleakala and he invited her to come stay with him to enjoy it. She dithered because she was in no place to take time off from either job and she was struggling to pay the rent. She told him all of this and his response was to go right downstairs to the apartment manager and pay her rent for the next month.
"Now you don't have to worry."
"I don't want to appear ungrateful, but why me? Why are you doing all of this for me? I'm nothing special."
"Candace, you are the most truly beautiful woman I've ever met."
She went to object and he held up a hand and continued, "Some women are merely beautiful but you inhabit beauty. Even your modesty and humility are beautiful. You tell me you're nothing special when I think you're amazing."
She felt warm when he kissed her.
Two days later she was in an airplane sitting next to Steve on the way to Maui.
When they landed in Maui the weather was a marked contrast from San Francisco. Candace had left a cold, gray, and rainy city for a warm, sunny, and sometimes rainy countryside. It was her first time in Hawaii and she marveled at the warmth and the lush greenery as they drove up the mountain to his house.
The house was nicely appointed and quite Spartan in the lack of clutter that she was used to seeing in most people's homes.
He took her hand and showed her around and then led her to a room off the patio that he told her would be her room for the stay. Once again she was impressed that he didn't assume anything.
She settled in and then changed to a tank top and shorts. It was warm so she didn't bother with shoes.
The two of them got together for a glass of wine and a plate of cheese and they watched the sun set.
It was too warm for her flannel night shirt so she decided to just wear her tank top and panties to bed. The bedroom had a lanai and she left it open all night to enjoy the paradoxically cool yet warm breeze. The modest pool was very tempting but Candace knew it could wait until she rested.
The next morning there was a light breakfast of tropical fruit and local coffee and then Steve had her get ready for a day of adventure. She had expected so many stereotypical things about Hawaii and Steve surprised her by taking her to offbeat family farms, a farmer's market, they strolled about the cute town of Paia where Steve surprised her and bought her a hippie-style maxi-dress she'd admired in a store window.
Dinner was anything but fancy. Steve knew a roadside stop where he pulled up and two homemade chicken plates were quickly brought out to the car, and again Candace took note of how Steve was well known and warmly greeted.
It wasn't long before they were back home and Steve suggested they get comfortable before dinner. For Steve that meant putting on a tank top and swim trunks and for Candace that meant enjoying her new maxi dress.
Steve approved of the strapless maxi dress with its bandeau top. The barest hint of Candace's cleavage could be seen and he liked the view.
A bottle of pineapple mead was brought out to go with the chicken dinner. Candace approved and she knew he was setting a mood.
Candace wasn't naïve. She realized all along that the charming older man wanted to be romantic with her and she hoped that he would be. She figured this would be the night and she happily enjoyed herself.
The sun eventually set into the sea while Steve and Candace pleasantly chatted about the day. The afternoon clouds had given way to a clear sky and the stars were everywhere.
"No one will see if you'd like to take a swim with me." he said to her.
"I'd like that." she said.
He pulled off his tank top and shorts and Candace got her first look at him. He was trim and tan, handsome, and properly equipped.
She stood up and just before she was about to do anything he said, "May I?"
She felt a flush of warmth as she said, "Yes."
His hands went to the sides of the stretchy top of her dress and eased it down her body. She felt the tropical air on her bare breasts.
Taking her hand he led her into the warm water of the pool and instead of rushing into romance he kept a modest distance while they discussed the day.
She was very relaxed by the time he led her out of the water. The naked couple dried off and then sat for a few minutes to comment on the lights shining from Wailea.
When he stood up and offered her his hand he said nothing. He didn't need to.
She took his hand and he led her to his bedroom only steps away. His lanai was open and the tropical breeze wafted through the room.
He guided her to his bed and she took her place.
"Would you forgive me if I was impatient?" he asked her.
Not quite sure what he meant she nodded, "Of course."
She watched as he went from the side of the bed to the foot of it and then gently moved onto it. She liked how he moved. She could see his strength in the ease of his motions. He moved like a dancer.
Moving himself towards her he parted her knees and she understood and spread her legs for him.
"Ahhhh" he sighed as his body settled onto hers.
Now he kissed her and it was much more passionate than their previous kisses. Candace enjoyed feeling his hands on her body as he explored her. He kissed her breasts and suckled at her nipples and she liked it. He liked that she held his head to her body while his mouth explored and tasted her.
