Saving Grace (18 page)

“Yeah, right.”  Zach folded his arms, and leaned back on one of the cars.  “Besides, your friend over there …  he’s a dead giveaway.  He’s not waiting for you to find a quarter beneath your car.  He’s waiting for you to grab a purse and do a quick hand off.”

“Hey brah, you looking for trouble?  You like beef?”  The kid puffed up and took a step toward Zach.

“I like what?”  Zach’s brow furrowed.

“Beef … fight.  Can’t even talk to you, hoale!  You’re too slow.”

“Well, I’m smart enough to see what you were really doing.”

“So?  What?  You gonna call the cops?”

“No.”  Zach narrowed his eyes.  “I just thought you might want a bigger opportunity.  That’s all.”  Zach watched the young man’s face he contemplated his options.

“What? You serious?”

“Yeah.  What’s your name kid?”

“Who wants to know?”  This hoale didn’t look like a cop, but he wasn’t sure if this was a trap.

“I’m Zach, and I’m looking for someone.  I’m willing to pay.”  He stuck his hand out for a handshake.

The young kid looked at him sideways, narrowing his eyes. 

“I’m Akau.  And if you’re looking for someone – I know people.”  He nodded, but didn’t offer his hand to for any formalities.

Zach promptly slid the picture from his jacket, giving Akau a clear view to what was inside.  He looked from the revolver to Zach’s face, in order to memorize every detail.  He didn’t trust the cops, but knew trouble when he saw it too.

“Here,” Zach said, pushing Grace’s picture in Akau’s face.  “She’s missing and her family … I’m willing to pay a large sum to find her.”

“How large?”  Akau said, taking the picture in his hands, instantly recognizing the girl’s face of that being the girl he tried to rob a few weeks ago in Kailua.

“Two thousand dollars.”  Zach lied.  Truth was he only had one thousand left in the account, which Mr. Aundine had set up for him.  He had no intention of paying that much to this kid.

Akau’s eyes darted up to meet Zach’s.  He warily said, “I might know where to find her.”

“Where?” Zach leaned forward in haste.

Akau grinned and stuck his hands in his pockets.  “I said I might, but I’ll need cash before I stick my neck out for you.”

“Nope.  After.” 

“No way, man!” Akau giggled.  “You think you get any’ting for free here?”

Zach rubbed his hands, wondering how little he could get away with offering this young punk. 

“Okay, I’ll give you two hundred now.  And the rest once I find her.”

“No way, hoale.  That’s no where near the amount she is worth to find.”

“Okay.  Five hundred.” 

Akau relented.  “Deal.  I’ll tell you what I know, but be prepared … she’s got some big brudda watching over her.”

Zach gritted his teeth.  “That doesn’t matter.  We just want to make sure she’s okay.”

Akau nodded, not believing for a second that the hoale’s intentions were honorable … not with the gun in his waistband.

“You have the money on you,” he asked.

Zach shook his head.  “Where’s the closest ATM?”

Akau pointed.  “That way.  I’ll wait here till you get back.”

“Then you’ll show me where she’s at?”

Akau nodded, as Zach stared him down.  He believed this young thug.  After all – he already knew about the man that was supposedly with Grace.

Although inside he was steaming that she had flaunted her new friend, to which the whole island knew about, he was also salivating at the thought of how he would make her pay.

Chapter 22

“Hurry up!  You’re going to miss the intro to the show!”  Grace yelled over the couch, through a mouthful of popcorn.

He smiled, wondering how he lived without her enthusiasm fused in his home.  If … when she left … he knew it would kill him, and was trying his hardest to figure out how to bring the subject up.  

After all she practically lived here now, but he had to remind himself that she had a home on the mainland.  She had a family that missed her.

“I’m coming.”  He leaped over the end of the couch and plopped down next to her, as they waited for Broadcast Affair to come on. 

Burke was never one for reality T.V.  He was more into ESPN, but seeing her face light up when Anne came on screen had him counting the days until another episode aired.

For Grace, it felt like an eternity until she could see her sister again.  This was the only contact she’d had in a few years, and she cherished seeing her sister’s relationship grow with Chad Chambers.

“You think he really likes her?”  Grace asked before popping another bite of popcorn in her mouth.

“You never know.  It’s a show.  I mean … he has other women there all fighting for his attention.”  He looked to Grace, who frowned in return.  “However if I were in that guy’s shoes, and you were a cast member – it would be over as soon as I saw you.”

Grace giggled.  “Shut up, you liar.”

He needed to talk about their relationship now, while he still had the nerve.  He grabbed the remote, and paused the television.

“What’d you do that for?”  She reached across him for the remote.

He laid a hand on her arm, and kept the TV remote just out of reach.  “Can we talk for a second?  The show will be here when we’re done.”

Grace’s stomach dropped.  “This sounds serious.”  Even though he had asked her to stay - in the back of her mind, she’d waited for the other shoe to drop … the day when he got tired of her being there.

“It is.”  He blinked and drew in a breath.  “Here goes … I know if I were your family, I’d be out of my mind with worry.”

Grace bit her lips, trying to avoid the pit that was growing in her stomach.  He was ready for her to go home, and the thought gave her anxiety for many reasons.  She wasn’t ready to leave him, and she wasn’t ready to face her family.  Where would she go? 

She abruptly stood and walked to the window, which overlooked the back lanai.  She took in what might be her last look at what had become
her
beach.

He hopped up and stepped in behind her, placing his hands on her hips.  He slowly turned her around, and softly said, “I think you know what I’m getting at.”

She looked up to him with watering eyes, and nodded.  “I do.  I just didn’t think this would come so soon.”

“How long has it been since you got here?  I know time flies – and although I’ve been having fun…” He paused, not sure how to tread water with her family matters.

“Thanks.”  Her voice broke, but she forged on.  “I’ve had a good time.  Thanks for letting me stay.  I can have my things ready to leave in the morning.”

As a tear slid down her cheek, Burke wanted to laugh at how adorable she was. 

“Is that what you think?  That I want you to go?”  He stepped back with a comical grin.

Grace saw the amused look on his face and stammered, in utter confusion.  “Y-yes.  You said …”

He grinned from ear to ear.  “I never said it was time for you to go.”  He did laugh this time, and pulled her into his arms.  “What I was trying to do … was ask you to stay on a more permanent basis.  Obviously, I’m not so good at this.  I’m sorry.”

“But – but you brought up my family like it was time I go back to them.”  Her face twisted.  “I don’t get it.”

“Woman!  Do I have to spell it out?  You’ve ruined this for me.  I can’t see being here without you!”  He dropped his arms and paced the floor, before saying, “But I don’t want to be unrealistic about your situation either.  I know you have a family that is searching for you – that miss you.  I also know there may be someone out there who would do anything to have you back.  This guy, the one that hit you?”

“Ugh!” Grace shuddered, thinking about Zach, and gave him a look of steely resolve.  “He’s history.”

He walked back over toward the window, to take her in his arms.  “But, you ditched him on a plane.  So, he may not think you’re history.  And when you do finally reach out to your family – it could get complicated.”

“So, let me get this straight.  You want me to move in with you?”

Burke’s gut dropped in anticipation.  “Yes.  What do you think?”  He waited.

Grace’s eyes twinkled.  “Are you just ready to have your bed back?”

He nuzzled her neck and brought his lips to hers.  “Of course, but that’s not the main reason.  It is something I think about though … except in my head – you’re in it with me.”

He brought his hands up and ran them along her back.  His touch sent tingles along her spine, and the thought of his words send her mind into a tailspin.

Their kiss was full of passion and promise. Burke ran his hands underneath her tank top and let them rest in the center of her back.  His rough touch on her smooth skin, brought Grace to the point of no return.  She instinctively arched her back, brushing her hips against his causing him to catch his breath.

Her delicate hands grabbed his hair and gently tugged his head back down to her neck.

“Oh, sweet Grace,” he moaned, and lifted her off the ground. 

Her legs quickly wound around his waist, as if she was trying to take every ounce of him in.  Grace felt like she would explode from the inside out if she didn’t take this man to be hers now.

He fumbled for his bearings as they kissed, but managed to walk back to the couch, where he quickly laid her down.  From the moment he brought her in from the rain, he’d thought about this moment.

“Are you sure?”  He whispered in her ear.

Grace couldn’t find her voice.  She nodded and began reaching for his shorts.

It been ages since he had been with a woman, and he wondered how long he’d be able to last.

“It’s been a while. I haven’t been with anyone since my wife.”

Grace shot up. It was like she had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

  “Your wife?” 

He sighed, and dropped his head on her shoulder.  It was easy to see that the spell had been broken.  He nodded and settled in next to her. 

“My ex-wife. I assumed since you used my computer the other day, you would have seen some of what was inside the boxes in my office.  My divorce paperwork is sitting in the top box in plain view.”

Grace shook her head.  “I was tempted to look inside them.  But I felt bad enough for sneaking in your office, and didn’t want to snoop. So …” Grace gave him a look.  “You’re not married?”
              “No.”  He was kicking himself.  “In fact, hold on.”

Burke slowly raised himself and retreated to his office.  Once inside, he fully opened the lid to find a box load of memories he tried to forget but somehow couldn’t get rid of. 

His eyes shot to the family Bible as is lay inside, partially covered in dust.  He looked down to his feet, grabbed his divorce papers, shutting out any guilty thoughts of when the last time his Bible had been cracked open.

It didn’t take long for him to return.  The somber look in his eyes was enough for her to realize that the moment between them had passed, but Grace was okay with the outcome.  Because whatever he held in his hands was important enough for him to drag out, and this meant he was finally opening up to her.

He dropped back next to her and offered her the packet; he’d retrieved from his office.

“I want you to have proof.  I’m not married.”

“I believe you, but I’m glad we’re having this conversation.  Obviously, there are some things I should find out about you before …” She raised her eyebrow and wobbled her head.

“It’s okay, Grace.  And I should have told you before.  I’m just not used to opening up.  I’ve never had to since … my ex.”  He pulled her back into his arms.

“Are you over her?”

“It took a while.  But, yes.”  He took her hands in his and brought them to his lips.  “I am over her.  And completely into you.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and she ducked her head.  She tossed the unopened packet onto the coffee table, and pulled him toward her.

As he leaned in for another kiss, he saw the doubt that flashed across her face.

“Burke?  There’s just one more thing you should know about me too.”  Her gut twisted.

He leaned in and kissed the side of her face. 
“You can tell me anything.”

“Um. This might surprise you, but I’ve never been with anyone.  You’ll be my first.”

He dropped his head back and looked to the ceiling. 

Burke, you idiot. 

Now he knew he would put the brakes on a bit longer.  She was a virgin, and the pressure of being someone’s first was not taken lightly.

His reaction was enough to heighten her anxiety.  He didn’t look pleased, but she forged on.

“And, I was kinda raised not to have sex before marriage for obvious reasons but also because of my faith.  But with you … it’s like everything I’ve ever been taught – goes out the window.”