by Amy Allen
Before she had the chance to answer, they heard Rob say, “Hank’s here. Come on if you want to find out about your place and want to be involved.”
Lana sighed. She knew her brother didn’t expect a reply since he knew she’d be there. But sitting here with Joshua had her wanting to stay where she was, which surprised her. She rested her head back against him for a minute, feeling his arms tighten slightly, surprised at how natural it felt to have his arms around her and to not feel afraid or wary. As with most times they were close like this, she could feel that he wanted her in other ways, yet he hadn’t acted on it, hadn’t done anything to push her in that regard. Leaning to the side slightly she smiled at him. “Mahalo.”
He wanted to laugh at himself since he was putting himself this close to her, knowing how it would affect him. Any other time he would have had the woman in bed already. He wouldn’t be just sitting and relaxing with her, as well as enjoying it, as he was with Lana. He nearly groaned when she moved slightly, but her smile was worth the pain, as was the simple comment. Since he knew his voice would come out rougher than he would mean it to, he only nodded and smiled at her. He didn’t have to ask why she was thanking him, he knew. He might be in pain most of the time he was around her, but in the end, it would be worth it. He could and would wait. Swallowing, hoping his voice sounded normal, he said, “Come on. Let’s go find out what Hank has to say.”
Looking up at him, she nodded, set her sketchbook and pencils to the side, shut the music off and got up. She gave a short whistle and then pointed to the house, knowing the wolves would head back in. Getting back inside, she wasn’t surprised to find Joshua following her to her room. Grabbing her boots, she sat down and put them on. She didn’t care that she had shorts on and that people may think it looked stupid, and she wasn’t in the mood to pull on her jeans. Checking on the wolves, she made sure the back door was firmly closed. She frowned slightly when she heard Joshua chuckle. “What’s funny?”
Joshua shook his head as he grabbed her hand, bringing her back to him. Bending down, he kissed her then said, “Nothing is funny. I was just thinking how cute you look wearing your boots with your shorts. The thought made me laugh.”
She looked at him skeptically. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to believe it, but even with the grin he now had, he didn’t seem to be actually making fun of her. Taking his word for it, and not letting go of his hand, she headed toward the front door. “You didn’t have to come in and wait for me. You could have gone around to the front.”
Stepping outside with her, he made sure he closed the front door firmly. “I know, but I wanted to.”
They joined the others out by her destroyed ‘ohana. Not realizing it, she started to squeeze Joshua’s hand hard.
Without thinking about what he was doing, he pulled her to him by putting their combined hands behind him then made sure he was facing her, putting his other arm around her. He could feel her shaking, as well as his shirt getting wet. Leaning down, he quietly asked, “Both?” He wasn't surprised to feel her nod causing him to smile. “Wanna go back inside?” Feeling her shake her head, he said, “You’ll need to turn around and look at it and hear what Hank has to say then.”
Lana took a deep breath, slowly let it out and turned around.
Rob looked at his mom and Craig when Lana turned into Joshua. They couldn’t hear what was being said but they could see her shaking when she’d first turned. They’d watched her nod and shake her head for whatever Joshua said to her before she turned back. Leaving it for now, Rob said, “Hank, this is my sister Lana. This was her place.”
Hank Bennet acknowledged Joshua with a tilt of his head before saying, “Nice to meet you, Lana.” When he noticed her nod to him, he continued with, “I was just going to go through what’s left here. I understand you have an idea on who did this but need the proof.”
Lana had been looking at the rubble, wondering if there was anything worth saving. Hearing Hank’s comment, she nodded. “There’s that but I also wasn’t here so I’m curious how he did it too. If you find anything, what happens then?”
“I turn it over to MPD-Maui PD. They’ll be the ones to find who did it.”
Lana nodded again, hoping that it’d be Eric who would get it. Feeling a slight tug on her hand, Lana glanced up. Seeing Joshua motion toward where her mom, brother, and Craig stood, she sighed. She was still upset and angry, but he had gotten her calm before she’d turned back around.
Joshua managed to get Lana to move back so they’d be out of the way. What he really wanted to do was take her back inside but he knew she wouldn’t go. She’d calmed enough so she wasn’t shaking anymore and her voice had stayed steady. He realized he was still worried, but somehow he knew she’d fight going back inside.
It took Hank about two hours to thoroughly go through the rubble, looking at every little thing. He managed to find some broken glass and what smelled of fuel residue on pieces of wood. Walking to the group, he looked somber. “I’m going to take the wood I smelled fuel on as well as the glass to have it checked for verification. Since I’m not sure of what rooms were where all I can say is that the heaviest fuel smell came from that area.” He pointed toward the back corner of the cottage.
Realizing what room it was, Lana suddenly said a few choice words in Haitian, glad that her mom couldn’t understand. She’d almost said them in Tanoan–Kiowa but had switched at the last minute. Returning to English she said, “My room. I’d left the window open so it wouldn’t be stuffy. He probably thought I was home since there was a light on in the front room.” She started shaking again.
Hank smiled gently at her before looking back at them all. He had been glad to see first Rob and then Joshua since he worked with both at times and they would have an understanding of what he’d say. Finding out it was Rob’s family had surprised Hank, and more specifically that it was Rob’s sister who had been involved. “As soon as I know the results, I’ll let the Police Chief, Captain Hayashi, know so she can go from there.” He nodded to the group and was starting to head to his car.
Realizing they forgot to ask something, Rob called out, “Hank. One more thing.” When the other man turned back to him, he continued with, “Can we start the cleanup and see what’s salvageable yet?”
“Wait, please. I should have the results from the wood and glass in the next couple hours, so hopefully you’ll have someone from MPD out here this afternoon. They’ll want to look around before clean up starts, I’m sure.” Giving a brief wave, he was in his car and gone.
Lana was blaming herself. Thinking if she hadn’t left the window open he wouldn’t have been able to burn it down. She’d moved from standing with everyone else to stand by where her bedroom window would have been.
Following her, Joshua stepped behind her, putting a hand on her waist. “He didn’t just throw something through the window. We heard two explosions too. If those hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have known until you got home that it was burning. It wasn’t your fault. It would have happened anyway.” His arm slid around her waist and he pulled her back to him. “Go grab your bag. I want to get you out of here while we have to wait. Rob can call me when there’s news.”
She leaned against him, not really paying attention that she was or that she relaxed slightly and found some comfort in his words. “You guys hadn’t mentioned the explosions. I’m glad it wasn’t my fault with leaving the window open. I just …” She was still at a loss and wanting to blame herself. Turning, she rested her head against Joshua’s chest.
He started to lightly rub her back without thinking about what he was doing or why he was doing it. “I get it. But that’s why we’re leaving for a while.” He felt more than saw her nod and then sigh. “Do you have leashes for the wolves?” Feeling her nod, he smiled some then said, “Bring the boys then, but grab the leashes.”
Lana leaned back slightly and smiled. She surprised herself when she stood on her toes and kissed him before heading to the house. She was glad she had a set
of leashes in the main house. Going to the back, she grabbed her tote bag and phone then went in, grabbed the leashes and called the boys. She smiled when they barked at seeing their leashes. She figured they were heading to the beach, but she wasn’t sure which one. Getting back outside, she walked back over to Joshua. “I’m ready.”
“Go relax and I’ll call when we know more,” Rob told her. He wasn’t going to argue with Joshua getting her away. He could tell she wasn’t happy again.
Passing one of the boys to Joshua, Lana smiled slightly at her brother, telling him, “Mahalo.”
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Sydni watched her daughter get in Joshua’s truck and then drive out. She smiled up at her son and Craig. “I like him. He seems good for her. I do wonder, though, how long it’ll take them to figure out that they are in love with each other.”
Craig started laughing. “I give them to Saturday when they go out.”
Rob nodded. “Yeah, won’t take long. I know he’s never let any woman in before her, but he’s never told me why. And you’re right, Mom. He is good for her. But I think she is for him too.”
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Lana turned in her seat, moving her legs so her feet were in the middle on the floor, watching Joshua. “Where are we going?”
Leaning down and pulling her legs up to rest across his, resting a hand about mid-thigh on her, he said, “Kapalua Bay beach. It’s on the quieter side this time of day. I thought you’d like to just relax at the beach and draw if you want. And not have the beach be busy. You can also give some thought to what we should do on Saturday.” Since he would be off Friday morning, he was already thinking about picking her up after he got off and spending the day together.
She glanced at her legs and then his hand. She was surprised she wasn’t trying to move his hand and her legs. It felt right sitting like she was. Though he was making her feel things she hadn’t before, she found she liked it. Looking back at her boys, she put a hand over the back of the seat to them. Smiling, she looked at Joshua again. “That does sound good. And I’ve already given that some thought. Spend the day in the water … surfing, diving, windsurfing or kiteboarding … and then just dinner in the evening.”
His hand started rubbing her leg, but he concentrated on not going above the bottom of her shorts. Going slow was new to him. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want her in his bed, but it was more than that. He wanted more with her than just a bed partner and a few dates, yet he still hadn’t put his finger on why. “Good way to spend the day. You don’t want to see a movie too?”
Lana shook her head. She found she wished his hand would travel up farther. Wondering where that thought came from, she ducked her head briefly. When she looked back up she noticed they were parked and he was watching her with a cocky grin, like he could read her mind. “What?” When he shook his head, still grinning, she couldn’t help but grin in return. “To your question, no, at least not at the theater.”
“Then where? And where would you like to go for dinner?”
She shrugged. “Depends on what you have for movies. I did have a good selection at my place.” She gave a humorless laugh. “Guess I’ll have to replace them all now, as well as my CD’s.” Her breath hitched for just a minute as a tear slid down her cheek. Shaking it off, she continued with, “Either your place or my parents to watch a movie. As for dinner. How about Hard Rock?”
Joshua was glad that she only got a little upset and not angry, though he understood both feelings from her. Leaning to her, he wiped off the tear. “Easier to replace the things than it would be to replace you. You aren’t replaceable, Ki.” He surprised himself with saying that. But he knew it was true, she wasn’t and for some unexplainable reason, he didn’t want to lose her. Part of him wondered about finding a way to make her immortal. “Hard Rock sounds good for dinner and we can figure out where for a movie after dinner.” Regrettably, he moved her legs from his lap. Getting out, he went around and opened her door, catching her when she fell backwards. Laughing he said, “I thought you’d turn back straight when I got out.” Setting her on her feet, he opened the door to the back seat to let the wolves out.
“Guess I was lost in thought and didn’t think about it.” Leaning in, she grabbed her bag. She was tempted to take her boots off, leaving them in the truck, and walk down barefoot. But she didn’t know what was on the ground here. Shutting the door, she followed him to the beach. As soon as she stepped on the sand Lana put a hand on Joshua to stop him so she could take her boots off.
Keeping the leashes in his outside hand, Joshua took Lana’s hand and pulled her to him. Leaning down, he kissed her. He felt her bite his lower lip. Ending the kiss, he laughed. He leaned down, kissed her again and then grinned at her as they started walking again.
Lana only gave him an innocent look when he grinned at her. When he laughed, she knew he hadn’t bought it. Finding a spot to sit, she stopped. “This will work.” Dropping her bag and boots, she moved to take the leashes.
“I’ll take care of them. Sit, relax, draw, or even restart your music. I’ll be back shortly. Text me if there is a problem.” He smiled when she started to say something. Taking a guess, he added, “It’s in your phone.” Taking the wolves he headed a little ways down the beach, letting the boys get at least a walk for now.
Before he’d turned, she’d nodded to him. After watching Joshua start further down the beach, she sat down and pulled her pad out of her bag. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she first looked at her contacts, finding Joshua in there. Suddenly grinning like a schoolgirl, she opened her music, this time starting Shania Twain. Singing with the songs, and not paying attention to anything else, she finished filling in the color on the sketches she’d already done of Joshua. When she finished those, she opened to a blank page. Looking up and seeing Joshua, Baal, and Ash still walking, she started sketching. She looked up every once in a while. Something she thought dead in her stirred each time she watched the three. She wondered if she was finally healing. Baal and Ash seemed to like Joshua and they appeared to listen to him which made her smile. She went back to her sketch, capturing the three with ease. She looked at her rough sketch and smiled again. To her, it captured the ease of Baal and Ash with Joshua and his ease with them. The three made a striking picture, in the sketch and in real life. Going back to the sketch she added in all the color. Satisfied with it, she turned the page and started the next one she wanted to do. Thinking Joshua should be back within the next couple minutes, having looked up and not seeing them now, she knew she would have a total of three sketches done, including the color, as well as adding in the color to the ones she’d done of him the day before.
When Joshua and the boys got back, he noticed she was focusing on whatever she was sketching. Moving to where he was behind her, but keeping his shadow off her, he saw she was sketching her cottage, at least that’s what he thought it was. Moving closer, he motioned for the wolves to lie down and then sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her. “Your place?” he wondered as he leaned forward slightly.
Stopping her singing temporarily, Lana leaned against him, nodding and saying, “Yeah. This one is how it looked.” Flipping back a page, she continued with, “And this is how I want it to look when Jack rebuilds it.” Then, without saying anything she flipped back one more, letting him see the one of him, Baal, and Ash.
He was glad she showed him the sketch of how her place had looked originally because he could tell the minor changes for what she wanted with it for when it was rebuilt. She could have been an architect or a designer. When she flipped the page again he was speechless. He knew she’d done the sketch as he’d walked the wolves. She did so well capturing the moment. He could see in it what she had – an ease he had with the wolves and the wolves with him. When he was walking the wolves, even though Brandi was a wolf shifter and her wolves would listen to him, it had surprised him that
Lana’s wolves had easily listened to him. It was as if they sensed something that he was still trying to figure out.
Lana was starting to wonder if he liked it since he was so quiet. Leaning slightly to look up at him, she only said, “Well?”
Joshua hugged her tight and nuzzled her neck before saying, “I love it. You captured us perfectly. And it seems you see past what is just on the surface for people. Like you can see what the person is feeling or wanting to hide.”
Closing up her sketchbook, she put it and her phone back in her bag. “I’m glad you do. It was easy to capture the three of you. You three look good together and they trust you. That says a lot. You handled them better than even Rob does.” Her boys trusting Joshua did say a lot to her. Although she never told anyone, it was how she knew if a guy she had a date with was okay or not. How the wolves behaved around the guy always gave her the answer. They hadn’t liked anyone, until Joshua. It had her looking deeper into all the strange feelings she was having. Shrugging at the rest of his comment so he didn’t think she was trying to get him to talk about all the pain she can see in him, she added, “I guess I can, and even more so when I’m sketching a person. It’s part of my ability to sense things and have visions. I don’t ever really think about it.”
Joshua nodded, knowing that made sense.
Even though she couldn’t see it now, since she was looking back out at the water, her back against his chest, he smiled. “I’m impressed. That’s definitely using mind over matter.” He couldn’t help but laugh at his own stupid joke. “Is that something else you got from your grandmother?”
“Yeah. I’ve always had the abilities, but they’ve intensified over the last seven years. They were real intense just after this change while I was in the hospital at that time.”
“You don’t have to tell me what put you in the hospital if you don’t want to, but how did this change come about?”
