by Reina Torres
Besides, having her close by meant he could see her expression when she saw the couples again.
She was easy enough with the women. Hi`ilani took both of them in her embrace as he’d seen her do with others. Her smile and her gentle energy washed through the room like sunlight after the rain. Hugs and smiles easily passed back and forth between the three, especially when they offered their condolences for her loss.
Ghost was next and Jackson was glad that Rayne stood beside her husband during the greeting.
He saw the other Delta Team leader’s surprise when Hi`ilani wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek as she offered him her thanks for trying to catch the gunmen.
It wasn’t until Hi`ilani turned to welcome Truck that Jackson really understood what a blessing the Delta Force family was.
The big man treated her like she was made of glass.
And it was probably that sweet gesture that broke through the dam that she had been building since Mackie’s death. Crouching down low enough that he could wrap his arms around her slender frame and she could wrap her arms around his neck.
As Truck lifted Hi`ilani off of her feet, she hiccupped a sob into the sudden silence. He held her like that for what could have been a few minutes but no one seemed to notice the time.
Mary, standing at her husband’s side, watched them with tears in her eyes and a sympathetic smile on her lips.
When she was finally set back down on her feet, Hi`ilani apologized for the tears she’d left on his shoulders.
“Don’t worry,” he turned and looked at his shoulder with a shrug, “I’ve got broad shoulders, I can take a little bit of water.”
“This is Hawaii,” Mary added, “if you can’t take a little water you’re in big trouble.”
The group moved to the living room area and found their places on the assortment of furniture. The overhead fans helped to stir the air coming in from the screened opening to the lanai.
Ghost and Rayne set the bags of food on the tables. Rayne explained what they’d found. “One of the locals at the Dole center mentioned a southern barbeque restaurant near the base. The way she talked about it made all of us hungry so we picked some up for all of us.”
Mary grinned and helped to pass out the paper plates and utensils. “We’re so glad we got the chance to actually spend some time with you, Hi`ilani. Your voice is amazing!”
She flushed, her cheeks pinking as she struggled to accept the compliment. “My mother taught me all of her favorite songs when I was a little girl. If anything, it’s all her doing. I copy the way she sang and keep her tradition alive.”
“I have to admit I had my reservations about the showcase. I thought I knew what hula was,” Truck admitted. “They have some pretty silly videos on-line.” He shrugged a little, giving him an oddly boyish look. “That’s what I get for trying to get trip tips from random YouTube channels.”
Mary gave his arm a squeeze. “I love you even when you’re silly.”
“That’s good, ‘cause I love you, too. Wife.” He grinned as he made his last word fill the room.
Jackson saw Hi`ilani blush and share a look with Rayne.
If he’d worried that the gathering might be awkward as the first time that she’d met any of these people was probably the worst night of her life, he was proven completely wrong.
If anything, they all seemed to rally around each other, sharing little jokes and comments back and forth. The couples asked Hi`ilani questions about the places they’d been and planned to be.
Jackson relaxed in the arm chair and smiled at the group, telling Ghost, “I’m glad you’re getting a chance to ask her. She’s the real expert on local activities.”
Hi`ilani easily brushed that off too. “Except for the beaches,” she brought over the napkin holder from the kitchen counter, “living here you’d be surprised how little the locals get to the beach.”
Jackson’s phone chimed from his pocket and he cringed.
Mary, from her seat beside Hi`ilani on the couch, gave him a look full of curiosity. “Who’s that?”
He didn’t even have to look to know who it was. That ‘tone’ was reserved for one person.
Standing up from where he was sitting on the arm of the sofa, he gestured to Hi`ilani that he’d be outside.
The screen door slid open easily enough, He stepped outside and took the call.
“Commander?”
“Hello, Ajax.”
He swore he could almost see the commander’s expectant expression.
“Sir? Is there something I can help you with?”
The commander cleared his throat and it sounded like he was sitting in his office chair. That thing could squeak like an operatic mouse when given the chance. “You could explain to me why I’ve been fielding calls from a rather irate HPD officer.”
“Not a detective?”
There was a long pause on the other end. “So besides the officer, you’re also involved with a detective? I’m assuming that you didn’t manage to drag the other Deltas into it. If you had, I’m sure their commander would be in my office trying to rip me a new one.”
Jackson looked back into the room and caught Ghost’s attention.
“No, sir. The other Deltas are enjoying their vacations. They just stopped in to see us.”
“Us, hmm?” The commander’s sigh was incredibly eloquent. “So the officer is correct in assuming that you have his witness at your house.” It could have been a question. Should have been. But apparently his commander knew him too well.
“Yes, sir. She’s here with me. Her apartment was vandalized and the police believe that-”
“Officer Ballard explained his take on the situation.”
There seemed to be a bit of humor in the commander’s voice.
“Sir, I need to let you know that I’m going to keep her here, at my home. On base. If you have any questions or concerns, I would be more than happy to come to your office or your home and explain my actions.”
“Am I also to assume that you’re involved with this young lady?”
Jackson looked through the screen and caught Hi`ilani’s curious look. He put a smile on and nodded at her. “Yes, sir. I’m as involved as she’ll let me be.”
“Well, we’ll have to talk about this at some point, Ajax. As team leader, your actions are going to change a lot about the dynamics of the group.”
Looking at the two Deltas and their wives, Jackson felt confident in telling him, “I believe I’ve got a handle on this, sir.”
An exasperated sigh came through the phone clearly. “Make sure you do, Ajax. If this causes a problem, you’ll be the one to answer for it.”
“Respectfully, sir. You were the one that asked me to meet with the Deltas.”
“Sometimes it’s best not to rub your commander’s nose in his own orders- requests.”
“Sorry, sir. It won’t happen again, sir.”
“It damn well better not.” The older man’s laughter had Jackson stifling his own.
Jackson ended the call and stepped back inside.
He certainly didn’t miss the way the conversation quieted down when he re-entered the room. “Okay, what did I miss?”
Ghost was the one who answered him. “I think it’s time you called in your team.”
Chapter 8
“Hey.”
Jackson set his phone on the coffee table and leaned back against the sofa, opening an arm for Hi`ilani.
Smiling, she walked over and sat on the cushion beside him, tucking her legs under. The casual position helped her look him straight in the eye. “Did you finish with your calls?”
He touched his hand to her back and trailed his fingers up and down her back. She was wearing one of his t-shirts and some pajama pants that Baron’s sister had left during her last visit to Hawaii.
It didn’t escape his notice that she wasn’t wearing her bra under the shirt.
And he felt the familiar weight on his chest that always came
with thoughts of her. Of how he’d messed things up.
He was trying to focus on the present. Make sure that how he treated her at that moment was the best that he could. His future depended on it.
“I just talked to Mace. His real name is Whitford Mason, but don’t ever call him Whitford. The only person who can get away with that was his mother and she passed on a few months ago.”
He saw the sympathetic frown that touched her lips. “He’s working through it. The commander gave him the option of taking leave when he got the news, but he opted to stay. He had his mom’s ashes sent here and he put her in a niche at Kaneohe Veteran’s Cemetery.”
She sighed as he traced the top of his thumb up from the lower curve in her spine to the middle of her back. Leaning sideways she relaxed against his arm. “Where is he now?”
“Well, Mace and Shado are climbing all over Angel Falls in Venezuela. I was lucky to get a hold of them on Mace’s satellite phone.”
“Venezuela? That’s a bit of a distance.”
“Well, if there’s a rock wall those two are going to climb it. They won’t be able to get to a plane for a few days, but I’ll keep them informed.”
Cradling the back of her head with his hand, he lowered her head as he sat up and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Cullen is in Canada with his cousins. The man has Mounties on his mother’s side of the family and they’re tracking a group of traffickers preying on women from the First Nation. He sends his regrets.”
Hi`ilani moved a little closer, tucking her shoulder under his arm so she could lay her head on his shoulder. “He’s doing a good thing. I hope they find the people they’re tracking. No one should take people away from their families.”
He turned slightly and drew her closer, enjoying the warmth of her body with the cool evening air coming through the screened doors. “I bet they’ll find them. Cullen isn’t someone who leaves things half done.”
Jackson felt her lay her palm on his stomach. His tank top was barely a barrier between her hand and his skin. Having her that close was becoming a temptation likely to kill him before he had a chance to protect her.
“You call him Cullen. Is that his nickname?”
Jackson shook his head. “No. Cullen is his first name. Cullen Andrews is the only one of us who doesn’t have a name yet.”
“I would think it was some kind of requirement for a team as specialized as you are.”
He shrugged and turned a little more until his free hand settled on her knee.
Touching her was heaven and torture all at the same time, but he’d never give up the opportunity.
“So far we just call him Cullen. One of the ladies that works at the PX thinks he has that ‘vampire’ look and blushes every time he goes through her line. He has no idea what she’s talking about, but it makes us smile.”
She laughed and he enjoyed the sound of her joy like a physical touch against his skin. “You guys should clue him in.”
“He could just Google ‘Cullen’ and ‘vampire’ and find out himself.”
“Maybe,” she sighed. “And your housemates?”
“You’re going to like them. They’ll be back on island probably Monday. Tuesday at the latest. Baron is in Australia swimming with sharks.”
She gave a start in his arms and he moved his hand a few inches higher on her leg to give her a reassuring squeeze. “You’re joking right?”
Jackson shook his head, chuckling at the sound of her concern. “Don’t worry about him. If anyone is in danger, it’s the sharks. All Baron has to do is glare at them and they’ll roll over and die. He’ll catch a flight as soon as he can get to the airport.”
Burrowing closer into his side, the hand she had set on his stomach smoothed over his belly and wrapped around his waist. “And Train? That’s a strange nickname.”
He rubbed his cheek on the top of her head enjoying the silken stroke of her hair against his skin. “What about Ajax? That’s what they call me.”
“Really?” Her laughter was almost a giggle and he felt her body relax further into him. “I hope it’s not because you had to clean the bathrooms during training?”
“Ha ha.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Very funny, but no. It seems that our commander has an unhealthy obsession with Greek wars.”
She yawned and sighed. “Ah, the Trojan War. We had to read about it in school. You’re the heroic warrior.”
He had to pull in a breath to keep himself still as her fingers shifted against his side, driving him near to distraction.
Hi`ilani rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “I like that.”
“You do?”
He wondered if she thought he sounded like he was two years old, but sitting next to her, sharing her warmth, having her touch him and letting him touch her, made all the difference in the world.
Jackson felt like he was getting a new start in his life.
A new chance with her.
He didn’t want to push. Not then, not ever. He wanted to give her a chance to set the pace. Jackson was going to wait until she knew what she wanted from him.
Hi`ilani listened as Jackson showed her pictures on his phone of Baron and Train, but she found herself as anxious as she was exhausted.
She just didn’t know how to tell him.
So, she picked an easy topic of conversation so she didn’t have to go to sleep. Not just yet.
“You still haven’t told me why he got that nickname.”
Jackson groaned and leaned his head back against the sofa. “If you want to know, I’ll tell you, but you’ve been trying to hide how tired you are. Why don’t you get some sleep?”
He took his hand off of her leg and set it on the pillow he’d set up against the arm of the sofa. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Yeah. Exactly what she didn’t want to hear.
It would be a little difficult to admit, especially while everything was going to hell around her, but she really wanted him to stay with her in the bedroom.
Not because she wanted him in bed with her…
Okay, not ‘just’ because she wanted him in bed with her.
Spending time with him. Meeting his new friends. Realizing that the future she’d thought lost to her forever was suddenly possible again.
It was a heady thing.
Hearing that he’d ended things because he thought he was protecting her.
That had thrown her for a loop.
A big fat crazy loop.
All of those tears. All the worry that she just hadn’t been enough.
It was a hard truth to hear that it wasn’t about any of that.
And she knew that she could tell him that his apology hadn’t been enough. She could have thanked him for explaining why she’d gone through all of that, before telling him to walk away.
Finally close that door in her past.
But then all of the feelings started rushing back.
All the excitement she felt every time she saw him. The rush of her heart beating faster just because he touched her hand or said her name.
The heat that curled through her when she felt his lips on hers. When his hands touched her body. When he kissed her… there.
All of that became a possibility again.
And maybe she was ready to give into the feelings she still had for him.
She just had to figure out how to tell him.
“So,” she kicked herself mentally for the warble in her voice, “you’re going to go to sleep?”
He took a moment to answer and she sat up a little to look at his expression.
Jackson lifted the hand he had on the back of the couch and looked at his watch. “I’m going to check the doors and windows and then I’ll keep watch for a while. Catch a few minutes here and there.
“I’ll feel better when I’ve got some backup. I’m sure we’ll see Detective Wong at some point and we might see Officer Ballard if he can talk his way through the gate.”
She cring
ed a little and he set his hand on the back of her neck, working his fingers lightly over the muscles in her neck.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned him.”
Hi`ilani tried to brush it off. “Kyle’s just intense. When I met him, I was telling myself I was over you. And that intense part of him felt good at first.” She swallowed and continued speaking even though she felt like she was confessing some deep dark secret to him. “He made me feel wanted. Made me feel… desirable.”
Beside her, Jackson shifted uncomfortably. He continued his gentle pressure on her neck, his fingers kneading at the tension. She felt it slowly easing away, but another tension was replacing it… building faster than she thought she could handle.
“Why aren’t you two still together?” He bit into his lip for a moment and then released the pressure. She wanted to soothe the angry red line with her kiss. “If you don’t mind me asking?”
“I don’t mind since I was going to tell you anyway.”
She shifted slightly on the couch, moving her weight off of her knees and leaning slightly in the other direction to get some of the blood flowing into her legs.
There wasn’t a problem with blood flowing in other places, not with Jackson so close.
“We stopped seeing each other because Kyle and I went from casual dating and straight to a proposal.”
Hi`ilani felt Jackson stiffen beside her. Felt his hand still on the back of her neck.
“Apparently it took him less than a few dates to figure out that I was the one for him. He took me to dinner, saying he wanted me to meet his sister. Which wasn’t a huge thing for me. I thought it was going to be fun. A nice dinner, some dancing.
“And when I got to the restaurant it wasn’t just his sister. His parents were there, some of his cousins… I’m fairly sure that he might have had some old school friends, which was saying something since he moved here from California a few years ago.”
She saw Jackson’s smile and narrowed her eyes at him. “What?”
“I pegged him for a surfer.”
Hi`ilani rolled her eyes. “You both can act like little boys.”
