Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Leaving Hawaii was altogether different than when he'd arrived. He was full of apprehension back then and meeting Cora's brother had him worried and tied up in knots.
Now, as they reached the curb outside of Alaska Airlines, Vince reached for Cora's suitcase at the same time that Cameron did.
"I got this." "Man, I got this."
Cora laughed at both of them. "Both of you, back off!"
Vince stepped back and so did Cameron.
Before either of them knew what was going on, Cora reached between them and pulled her suitcase out of the back. "There." She gave Cameron a grin and turned to look at Vince. He got a wink.
The two men were left staring after her as Maile moved between them and took out the rolling carry-on suitcase and stuck her tongue out at Cameron.
"You two," Maile scoffed, "get it together and do something useful."
She walked beside Cora to the porter stand next to the walkway.
Vince managed to laugh softly and held out his hand to Cameron. "Are we good?"
Cameron gave him a look that had Vince rethinking the question.
A grin replaced his dire expression, and he grabbed Vince's hand in a punishing grip.
"Oh great," Vince chuckled, "we're back to this now?"
"No, we're good." Cameron eased his grip and a moment later, let go of his hand. "I just want you to remember that I can kick your ass."
Vince managed not to even flex his hand or move his fingers after they let go. "I know, man. I know. I just want to remind you that I'm not planning to do anything you'd have to kick my ass for. Cora's amazing and I plan on showing her that every chance I get. I've never felt like this about anyone."
Cameron folded his arms across his chest. "You don't have to tell me that." He tipped his head toward the curb where Cora and Maile were standing. "Tell her."
Vince nodded. "I intend to do more than that. I'm going to show her, too. I think actions have to match up with words."
"Well, shit, when did you start writing greeting cards, Navy?"
"Around the same time you stopped eating Crayons, Marine."
Before Cameron could come after him, Vince jogged up onto the curb and reached out a hand to say goodbye to Maile.
She rolled her eyes and hugged him goodbye. With her height a little shorter than Cora, he had to bend over or fall.
Maile held onto him as she spoke directly into his ear. "I know Axl warned you about taking care of his sister, but I'm telling you when push comes to shove, I'm the one you have to watch out for. I'm smaller, but I fight dirty."
"What?"
"It's easier for me to punch you in the nuts than do anything else, so keep that in mind."
Vince didn't know how to answer.
"Got that?"
She put a little extra pressure on the back of his neck.
He gave a little grunt at the pinch of pressure and managed to reply. "Got it."
She let go the moment Cameron grabbed the back of his shirt.
"Get off her, Navy."
Cora gave her brother's hand a smack. "Back off, Caminator. Remember, he's under my protection."
Cameron reached out to drop his arm over Maile's shoulders, but she avoided the gesture by giving Cora another hug.
"You take care of yourself, girl."
"You, too." Cora's voice hitched a little. "You've got my phone number. And Kawehi does too."
Maile's nose wrinkled a little. "I'm not big on phones but Facetime is good with me. And you know, if you need that one beat up for doing something stupid," she poked a finger in the air at him and Vince held up his hands in surrender, "I'll be on the next flight."
Cora waved off her concern. "I can take him if it comes down to it."
Maile gave her a wink and quick kiss on her cheek. "I don't doubt it, cuz."
When Cora heard that, she lifted a hand to dash away a tear that fell onto her cheek. "Got it, cuz."
Vince wrapped an arm around her and stepped into her side to place a kiss on her temple.
Touching her, showing her affection, was becoming as natural as breathing to him.
"Back off and let my sister give me a hug."
Vince stepped out of reach before Cameron could push him back, but he also gave Cameron a pointed look over Cora's head that said he wasn't thrilled.
Cameron's grin told Vince, he didn't care.
They were at an impasse, but they were also on good standing with each other.
Vince had to be okay with that.
After all, there was time for things to get better. Vince wasn't going to let things flounder. He was planning on moving things forward and making their relationship stronger. Things with Cameron would work when he showed that he was caring for Cora the way she deserved to be cared for.
"Sir?"
Vince turned to look at the porter. "Hmm?"
He held out his hand. "Would you like me to check your bag in?"
Vince hesitated for a moment, but Maile piped up.
"You should let him," she gestured down toward the counter inside, "it has to go through an agriculture scan. It's easier if you let him take it."
Vince nodded his thanks and handed the man his duffel bag, which was a good deal heavier than it was when they'd arrived. Once the man put it on his luggage cart, Vince handed him a tip. "Thanks." Before he turned away, he looked back and smiled. "Mahalo."
The porter grinned back at him. " A 'ole pilikia ." He nodded. "No problem."
Cora reached out and took his hand.
He looked at her with a raised brow. "Ready?"
She shook her head. "No, but we need to get inside and go through security."
With a teary-eyed look at her brother, Cora sighed. "I love you, Cam."
"Love you, trouble. Come back any time you can."
She looked at Vince and grinned. "We will."
Vince felt her words deep in his chest. "Sounds like a plan."
They turned and walked down the wide ramp toward the security check in.
As they walked, Vince looked over at Cora and saw her glancing over her shoulder at the curb.
She looked up at him and smiled. "I'm okay."
He nodded at her. "Yeah, you are. You're awesome."
She blushed and squeezed his hand. "We are."
They didn't part at the baggage claim, Vince had his car in the parking lot, and he got a cart to pile their luggage on to get it out there.
Cora was trying to focus on the moment instead of the lonely night ahead. Vince had to get back to his place and sleep because he was due at the base in the morning.
She knew that the small talk that came out of her mouth was probably inane, she just hoped it wasn't mind-numbingly stupid.
Vince opened her door for her and held it while she got in.
She reached out to grab the handle and close it, but felt his hand catch hers.
"I got it, sweetheart."
Cora looked up at him, shocked. He gave her a grin and walked around to the back to load in the bags.
When he opened the driver's side door and got in, she was waiting to meet his gaze.
He looked over at her and his smile slipped a little. "Too much?"
She blinked at the tears that gathered in her eyes and lifted a hand to wipe them away.
"Hey," Vince reached out and touched her shoulder, "is something wrong?"
"No. No." She waved off his question and concern, but it was nice to have it. "I'm exhausted and while I work for an airline, I haven't flown in a few years."
Cora felt his thumb gently rub against her shoulder.
Looking into his eyes, she smiled. "And no, it's not too much." She let out a breath. "It just... It just took me by surprise."
"Well, meeting you took me by surprise."
Her smiled deepened. "Like going to Hawaii on a lark? With a strange woman you'd just met?"
"You're not strange." He drew in a breath and let it out. "You light up a room. You make me smile. And I'm hoping that," he lifted his hand from her shoulder and turned it over to touch her cheek, "we're going to be seeing a lot of each other."
"I'd like to think so. I'm planning on it."
"Good." He leaned in and kissed her, but she was the one who pulled back first. "It's time for us to get going. You have to go to work in the morning."
Vince pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. "Can't argue with good logic. And I can't find a reason to argue with a gorgeous woman."
She rolled her eyes. "Now I know you're exhausted. Let's get going so you can get home before I worry that you're going to fall asleep at the wheel."
"I won't do that," he explained, "I have precious cargo riding shotgun."
By the time she climbed into bed that night and pulled the covers up to her chin, Cora felt like the world had changed completely.
The last time that she'd been in her bed, looking up at the ceiling, she'd been ready to go to work and start her vacation in Hawaii. But now, she'd visited paradise for almost a week and try as she could, she couldn't ignore the plain truth.
She'd gone and fallen in love in paradise.
Cora laughed out loud into the silence of her bedroom.
"I'm in love!"
Vince dropped his duffel bag onto the floor by this bed and sat down hard.
His cell phone beeped with an incoming message.
MOM: You're home!
Vince read the message and shook his head. He'd put his mother and grandmother on the family tracking app for his peace of mind, but his mom had gotten the hang of it quickly.
VIN: Yes. I am. What are you doing up?
Before he could even send the message, his phone was ringing.
He tapped the screen to answer the call.
"Hi, Mom."
"Aloha, Vince!"
"Nice, Mom."
"Aloha Kakahiaka."
"Ahh," Vince had no clue what she'd said.
"It means 'Good Morning,'"
She sounded so happy he could only laugh.
"What?" His mother sounded a bit affronted. "Why are you laughing? I'm pretty sure I said it right."
"You probably did, Mom. I just didn't learn that phrase while I was there."
"If you didn't learn the language, why did you go there?"
Vince shook his head. "You know why I went there, Mom."
He looked over at the clock on his bedside table.
"So, are you going to tell me how it went?"
"Mom, I'm not going to talk about it. I sent you some pictures."
"I know..."
He'd heard that tone of voice before.
His mom had always been able to see into his mind and heart even when he didn't want her to.
"I know that you've fallen for her, Vinnie."
"Really, Mom? How do you know that?"
"I know you, Vince. I can hear the difference in your voice. I could see it on your face when you look at her. When you're next to her. It's sweet, baby. So sweet."
"Mom..."
"So, when are you going to bring her home with you?"
"Mom!" He laughed out loud and hung his head. "We're not ready for that yet."
"But you went to Hawaii with her!"
"I went because there was an empty seat on the flight."
"Really now," she sighed, "you might say that to anyone else. And they might believe you, but not me."
Oh, boy.
"I can see straight through you, son."
"Mom, I'm not transparent."
"No, but I'm your parent and I know you."
"Okay, Mom."
"Vincent Albert Lazar! Don't you take that tone with me! I want to meet her."
"Mom, I love you."
"Vinnie-"
"We haven't even had one official date yet. I just survived meeting her brother who is as big as a yeti and is a Marine."
"Oh, my."
He heard her concern clearly through the phone. "That's right. And, I have to be at work in," he glanced at the clock again, "a few hours. But... I promise, Mom. I'll come for a visit as soon as I can."
"And Cora?"
"Mom."
"Okay, okay..."
She sighed and he felt the full weight of the sound.
"Get some rest, Vinnie. I love you."
He grinned. "I love you, too."