Chapter 9
Several days later, Crysta was walking down the aisle at the grocery store not any happier with the situation. Her father had tried to insist on traveling over and missing his upcoming appointment at Bethesda. She’d fought with him, something she rarely did. Eli had finally gotten on the phone and ensured him she was safe. Which ended up in an argument with Eli. It pissed her off that Eli could get on the phone and tell her father she was safe. She was a grown woman who had been taking care of herself for years. She didn’t need the big, bad cowboy claiming responsibility.
The tension had gotten worse every day. Truthfully, she was over the other argument, but they couldn’t seem to be in the same room without getting into a fight about something. Just that morning it had been about shopping. Eli hadn’t wanted her to come alone, and she had insisted on it.
Of course, he’d won that argument. He always seemed to. And that made her even angrier. She got so irritated with him hovering over her shoulder while she shopped, she’d found the feminine hygiene aisle. It had worked just like it did with her father.
With a sigh, she turned the corner and decided to find Eli. Before she could turn down the next aisle an attractive man stepped into her path. He was Hawaiian, a few inches taller than she was and dressed like a paniolo.
“Aloha, Crysta.”
She was taken back a bit. Sure, she was used to people knowing who she was when she was with one of the ranch hands or Eli, but she was by herself in the store. Still, Eli had told her that while the Big Island was the biggest island, it was still like a little ranch town, especially in the areas surrounding the ranch community.
She didn’t recognize him though. She had met a lot of people in the last few weeks, and she was usually good with faces. And there wasn’t a doubt in her mind she would have remembered such an attractive man.
“I don’t think you remember me.”
“We haven’t met.”
Confusion came and went so fast in his eyes she barely saw it. “Sorry, that usually works.”
“How sad for the women you run across.”
He threw his head back and laughed. It took a moment or so before he got himself under control.
“Is there something you wanted?”
“Yes. We’re family in a way. I’m Sean Kaheaku.”
It took all of her control not to take a step back.
He apparently didn’t need her to explain. “Ah, I see you met my stepfather, Sam.”
“Stepfather?” Now that she thought about it, he did look a little different from Sam and Sam Jr. He was taller and there was something different about him. She couldn’t put her finger on it.
He nodded. “My mother married him years ago.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I was too. I just wanted to welcome you to the island.”
“Now that you have, maybe you should get your ass out of here,” Eli said from behind her. He hadn’t raised his voice, but the threat was there. He stepped up beside her but didn’t even glance in her direction.
“St. John. I heard my stepfather was out there a few weeks ago.”
Eli said nothing for a moment. “And?”
“Anything he does or says has nothing to do with me.” Sean looked at her. “I just want that clear. And I wanted to meet my cousin up close.”
“You didn’t come to Joe’s funeral.” Eli made the statement, drawing Sean’s attention away from her.
Sam’s smile faded. “I was in Tokyo at the time. I didn’t hear about it until it was too late to get back. I was really sorry to hear about it.”
Eli nodded. “We have to get back.”
Sean ignored him and looked at Crysta. “If you ever need anything, here’s my number.”
He handed her a card. She took it even though she could sense it pissed Eli off. Man had to learn that he didn’t tell her what to do with her life and there was nothing wrong with taking a card.
“Remember, the family isn’t all a bunch of racist idiots.”
Sean turned and walked away. Women watched him as he walked by, and there was more than one woman she was certain sighed as he walked past. In fact, there was something about him that reminded her of Eli. Maybe it was the way he drew the attention of women, or maybe it was the way he walked. All power and control. If she didn’t know better, she would say he was a Dom.
“You need to steer clear of that man.”
She glanced at Eli and found him watching Sean too. “He’s harmless.”
He shook his head. “Hardly. I don’t know where he gets his money, but he always has a lot of it. There are rumors that the man has connections to the Triads.”
“Wow,” she said as she watched him tease a little white haired woman. A tiny cackle drifted back toward them. “Yeah, he looks like a gang lord. They always take the time to flirt with the little old ladies.”
“Understand this, you will stay away from him and the rest of that family. They’re dangerous. Very dangerous. And they will never accept that I own the ranch.”
“We.”
He blinked. “What?”
“We own the ranch. Not you. Not me. We.”
“Yeah. We.” He looked like he wanted to say something else, but he just shook his head and said, “Let’s go.”
* * *
Eli was stillpissed hours later. He sat through the boring meeting. Usually he had no problem paying attention. He took comfort in the routine of things. One of the many things Joe had taught him was how to deal with the nightmares after the missions he’d served.
But now, he was irritated. The fact that Sean was back on the island wasn’t a good sign. It was a really bad sign actually. If he wanted to make a play for the ranch, he didn’t have a chance. He wasn’t even blood related. But he wouldn’t put it past Sam to call him back to ask him to help. He didn’t have money, but he could offer Sam something more. Land. Land was hard to come by in Hawai’i, even here on The Big Island. And much of the ranch was well hidden. A man who dealt drugs could get away with a lot there.
Everyone was getting up and walking out of the room when he realized the meeting was over.
“St. John, are you daydreaming there about your partner?” Syd Makelo asked. The guy was okay, hard worker, and he ran a tight ship on his Hawaiian style dude ranch.
He stood and tried not to let him see how he irritated him. “Naw, just fell asleep while you were talking. Kind of boring.”
Makelo chuckled as did some of the men around him. “So, you don’t find that wahine sexy?”
“I’d have to be dumb, deaf and blind not to, but she’s my partner. And, on top of that, she is Joe’s niece. I’m sure he wouldn’t have appreciated anyone disparaging her character.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean that. She’s, well, a few of us saw her riding the other day. She’s an excellent horsewoman.”
It was a big compliment, especially coming from Makelo, who was known to be one of the best riders around. Why was it a compliment pissed him off? He hadn’t said it as if he was referring to something else, but dammit, it sounded like it. To Eli. “Sure. Gotta get back.”
“Wait,” Louella Donnely said. “There’s been talk of having a scholarship in Joe’s honor. We would really like your input.”
Joe’s family might have shunned him, but the rest of the island didn’t. Hawaiians cared for each other as if they were all related, because if they had a little Hawaiian blood in them, it was a pretty good chance they were.
“Joe would have really liked that, Lou.”
“We thought so. You call if you need anything. Don’t be a stranger.”
At that point, he had a chance to escape and took it. Without looking at anyone, he slipped away and ignored the worry in his gut that this had more to do with the woman and not the ranch.
* * *
Danny wasin the kitchen again that night. Eli was out at some rancher meeting for the area. She had no idea what it was about, but she was exhausted beyond belief and truth was, she didn’t really feel right horning in on things like that. At the end of the six months, she was back to the mainland. This was his ranch, his livelihood.
So, instead, she was sitting in the kitchen with Danny laughing over stories about his grandfather.
“So, he’s become a Houdini. I tell Dad to just let it go, but he worries.”
“You have to be careful with people that age.”
Danny rolled his eyes. He really was a pretty man. Pretty being the operative word. He was lean but muscled and seemed so approachable. Part of it was his age. And he flirted without being serious about it. Since he’d been to the airport to greet her, she’d gotten to know him. If she’d had a younger brother, she had a feeling he would have been a lot like Danny. Or she would have hoped.
“Naw. Grandpa is just getting him some.”
She giggled. “Come on.”
“No. Senior citizens are now becoming the fastest growing age group getting STDs.”
She took a drink of tea. “Really?”
“Yep. They’re living longer and well, they’re retired, don’t have to worry about pregnancy. Plus, there is that little blue bill to help it along.”
“I suppose.”
“What else would you do if you were them? And face it. It makes you feel better, right? Gets the juices flowing, so to speak.”
She laughed. “Well, that’s definitely interesting. Not sure I would have the energy when I am in the rest home.”
Danny winked at her. “I have a feeling you would still be hot at that age.”
Another laugh bubbled up, but she didn’t have time to release it.
“Do you think that’s any of your business, Aiona?”
She jumped at the sound of the lethal voice behind her. She turned to find a very angry Eli staring at them.