Wren is a hardworking archaeologist on his first vacation in years. While he’s tempted to look for ancient artifacts, this is Maui and he needs to focus on taking it easy. So it’s off to the beach to relax. There Wren dives into trouble, literally. Luckily, the backward roll and breathing techniques he learned studying Ninjutsu saves his life, because the shore break called Satan’s Washing Machine grinds him up and spits him out, temporarily blinded and badly battered. A karate dojo owner named Steven takes him to a doctor, a pharmacy, and then back to the beach, only to find Wren’s car and all his belongings have been stolen. So Steven invites him home instead. Will their mutual love of martial arts lead to other a deeper relationship? Or will their shared desire for humbleness and respect for others keep them from falling in love?

Beyond Black Belt

Oh, the contentment inside that car right then. But like a storm cloud coming over the mountain, my moodchanged as my brain started to work again. I now had less than ten dollars in my pocket, and it wasn’t even mine. I was sipping a nice cold drink that I hadn’t even paid for. I had brought my coffee shop gold card and hadn’t even used it. And if he would happen to get his eyes hurt, like I had, I couldn’t even drive his car home because I fucking had no driver’s license. I had no identification of any kind.My plane ticket home, my insurance information, my rental car lease, my charge cards, my—what the hellwas in my wallet anyhow, let alone in my suitcase? What hadn’t I done that I should have done immediately? Like cancel my charge cards, go to the rental place, call my…


Chapter 10