Chapter 6 #2
“I think Mustang has a lot to do with that. Also, she’s a naturally friendly person. She had to keep her guard up while on the run, but now that she’s safe and happy, she’s more herself again. And she’s definitely done with working on a fishing charter.”
The dimple Pid had longed to see finally made an appearance as Monica laughed. Actually laughed out loud. “I can’t blame her.”
“She’s now working with Lexie at Food For All, a charity organization that helps feed those in need with ready-made lunches.
She wasn’t happy with the bland and somewhat gross peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips that were being given out.
So now she’s on a mission to provide healthy, gourmet lunches to their clients. ”
“That’s cool.”
“Yeah,” Pid agreed. He hadn’t noticed that clouds had moved in until he heard the sound of raindrops hitting the cover of his deck. It had also gotten cooler. “You want to go in?” he asked.
Monica shrugged. “If you do.”
“What do you want?” Pid asked. “You don’t have to do whatever I want.”
She bit her lip and sighed. “Sorry. Habit.”
“I know,” he said gently. And he did. “I personally love rainstorms. And while I’m not sure I miss the extreme cold I grew up with in Alaska, I’d much rather be chilly than hot.
But if you’re cold, you can go inside. Or you can grab a blanket and come back out.
Or if you’re comfortable, you can stay right where you are.
Or you can go inside and watch TV. Or grab something for dessert. Or read a book. Or go to sleep.”
For the second time in minutes, Monica chuckled. “All right, all right. I get it. The world is my oyster.”
“Exactly,” Pid said with satisfaction. “And for the record, I think I’m going to stay out here for a while and listen to the rain. Feel free to join me or not. It’s up to you.”
“What about the dishes?” she asked.
“I’ll get them later.”
“Later as in tonight, or three days from now?” Monica asked.
Pid snorted. “Was that a joke?”
“Maybe,” she said with a small grin.
“Smart-ass. I’ll bring them in later. And in honor of you being here, I’ll even put them straight into the dishwasher.”
“I can do it now,” she suggested.
“Nope. Leave them. You’re my guest. And guests don’t do dishes.”
He thought she was going to protest for a moment, but then she nodded. “I wouldn’t mind sitting out here for a while.”
Internally, Pid jumped up and down and cheered. Outwardly, he smiled at her and said, “Cool.”
For the next thirty minutes, the two of them sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts as they watched and listened to the rain.
Then Monica said, “I think I’m going to go inside. If that’s okay.”
Pid didn’t like that she was essentially asking permission, but the fact that she was making the first move to go inside was a step in the right direction. “No problem. I’m gonna sit out here for a while longer.”
“I can bring the dishes inside when I go,” she offered.
“Nope. I’ll get them. I’m thinking we need to leave around seven-thirty tomorrow morning to get to the base by eight,” he told her.
“Okay. I’ll be ready.” She scooted her chair back and stood.
When she reached the door to go back inside, Pid said, “Mo?”
Turning, she said, “Yes?”
“I’m sorry for the reason you’re here, and about being forced to come here to talk to the commander, but I’m pleased to get to know you better.”
She stared at him for a beat before nodding and slipping into the house.
Sighing, Pid closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of his chair.
The sound of the steady rain soothed him, but he wished he knew better how to make Monica feel more comfortable.
He had no idea how long she’d be in Hawaii; it was entirely possible she’d talk with Huttner tomorrow, then be on a flight back to wherever the ambassador and his family were in the evening.
But it was also possible the commander would want to keep her close until he found this mystery man he’d apparently been searching for. Monica probably wouldn’t like that, but Pid didn’t find the prospect unpleasant in the least.
He hadn’t lied. He liked Monica. Yes, she was quirky and hard to get to know. But that just made him even more interested in chipping away at the shield she’d put around herself. He also had a feeling the more time she spent around Elodie and the other women, the more she’d win them over too.
Pid stayed outside for another thirty minutes, until the rain tapered off, then he went inside.
He rinsed their dishes and put them in the dishwasher just as he promised he would.
There wasn’t much else to put away around the house, so he headed for his bedroom.
He stopped outside Monica’s door and didn’t hear anything from inside.
As he stood there, an idea formed. He thought about how he’d first met her and some of the things she’d said since then. It was a pretty crazy thought, but the more he considered it, the more he wanted to do it.
He’d need to get permission from the owner of the house, and his plan only made sense if Monica was there for longer than a day or two. He’d have to wait and see what happened in her meeting with the commander tomorrow.
As he continued to his room, Pid felt guilty for actually hoping Huttner would request that she stay in Hawaii.
It wasn’t fair to her, she deserved to get back to her life, but there was a lot Pid wanted to show her.
His mind swam with the places he’d like to take her to, all the special things he wanted to share about Hawaii.
He supposed he should be alarmed at how excited he was over the prospect of spending more time with the wounded woman, but he wasn’t.
Pid fell asleep a couple hours later, thinking about Monica…and when he woke up just three hours after, he had a sudden urge to get up and make sure all was well. He’d never had that feeling before, but with Mo in the house, he wanted to make sure the doors and windows were locked up tight.
Not even questioning the need, Pid rolled out of bed and silently went through the house, double checking the locks. Everything was as it should be and when he climbed into bed once more, he was satisfied that for tonight at least, Monica was safe.
Tomorrow would hopefully bring a lot more answers as to what would happen in the immediate future with his houseguest, and hopefully about whatever was going on with the man their commander was so desperate to identify.
While Pid wasn’t thrilled about Huttner’s actions, he couldn’t deny he was glad to have a chance to get to know Monica better.