Chapter 29

Frank and Nancy were just being seated in the Puahlua Bar and Grill when Bess and Joe showed up. Frank and Nancy hadn't even had a chance to pick up their menus.

Bess dropped into the wicker chair next to Nancy and said, "Hi, guys."

Joe took the chair next to Frank. "Looks like we're just in time for lunch. Right?" Joe looked at Frank for confirmation.

Frank narrowed his eyes and drew in a frustrated breath. "Right." After enduring the wives and their bitterness, he had hoped for a quiet, albeit, late lunch with Nancy.

Bess held up a hand. "Hang on everyone. We don't want to eat too much. I got a text from Melinda right after our helicopter landed. She said Mr. Airedale has invited us to dinner tonight with him and Melinda in the Waikiki Restaurant at 8pm."

"That's the most expensive restaurant in the hotel," Frank said.

Joe smiled and rubbed his hands together. "Oh boy. I bet they have the best steaks in the hotel, maybe on the island."

Bess smoothed back her wind-swept curls. "Melinda said she has checks for you, too. For your detective work."

"I like the sound of that," Frank said. He checked his watch. "It's almost two. We still have six hours until dinner and I'm starving. I'm not holding back."

"Me neither," Joe said and picked up a menu.

During lunch Bess and Joe told Nancy and Frank about their helicopter tour.

Bess stabbed her lobster salad and said, "I wish you guys could've come with us. It was so beautiful. The ocean and beaches are absolutely gorgeous. You get to see everything from the air. There's nothing like it."

Nancy swallowed a piece of her shrimp scampi and sighed, "I wish we could've gone, too. But I really needed the rest."

Bess studied her friend's face. "You do look more rested today. How's the knee?"

"Much better." Nancy smiled. "The swelling's gone, but it'll be black and blue – and every other color of the rainbow – for at least a week."

Bess peered down at Nancy's knee and her face scrunched in distaste. "It is colorful. But as long as it doesn't hurt, that's good." She looked at Frank. "How's your jaw?" She noticed it was almost as colorful as Nancy's knee.

"Still a little painful when I chew, but light-years better than yesterday."

After lunch the four friends hit the beach. It seemed the best way to spend their last day in Hawaii. Nancy and Bess rented kickboards. Frank and Joe rented surfboards. The guys had been itching to surf ever since their arrival.

Frank figured he was going to pay for this later, as far as his jaw was concerned, but at the moment he didn't care. He was going surfing!

Since Frank and Joe lived on a bay in New York, they had some surfing experience. But the waves in Hawaii were monsters compared to the placid waves of a bay. Of course, that's what made surfing in Hawaii ten times better than their hometown of Bayport.

Frank and Joe waded into the ocean up to their waists then slid atop their boards and paddled toward deeper water. It was tough going against the oncoming waves. An especially big wave came and the guys stopped paddling. They held onto their boards and rode over the crest of the wave, huge smiles on their faces.

Bess and Nancy used their kickboards and paddled through the choppy water. A big wave swelled beneath Nancy and flipped her off her board and into the ocean. Down she went. A second later she came up sputtering, her hair plastered to her head.

Bess laughed at her friend as she paddled over. "Hey Nan, these waves are wick —"

A large wave swallowed up Bess and Nancy and swept them toward shore. Seconds later both women were pushing wet hair out of their faces and laughing.

Nancy looked around and spotted the brothers. "We need to get going. The guys are pretty far out."

The women got on their kickboards and paddled and kicked for all they were worth. They wanted to have a good view of the action. They weren't disappointed either.

Joe was the first to hop atop his surfboard. Knees bent and arms out, he teetered and tottered, trying to steady himself. Finally, he got all his body parts working as a coordinated unit.

Yes! He was riding the wave. Looking good, too.

A wide, confident smile broke over his face. He glanced over his shoulder to see how Frank was doing. Big mistake. Joe lost his balance and toppled into the ocean.

Frank was atop his board, having a heck of a time staying upright. These waves were killer and it took every ounce of concentration to maintain his balance. Then he saw Joe tumble into the sea and laughed. He pumped a triumphant fist in the air which was his undoing. He lost his footing and found himself, clinging to his board – underwater.

At least he'd managed to stay on the board, he thought as he surfaced and spat out a mouthful of salty water. He looked for Joe. There he was, heading out to sea again. Frank followed suit.

Frank and Joe soon developed a friendly competition between themselves. The goal was to see who could ride their board the longest. Bess and Nancy were the judges. Frank gave Nancy his waterproof watch so she could keep track of their times. Nancy and Bess stood on the beach, each woman cheering her man on.

Joe had the edge for a while. He was quicker on his feet and took more risks. He rode the waves with a fierce tenacity and his times got longer and longer with each ride.

Frank initially was more cautious, trying to guard his sore jaw. That all changed when Nancy informed him Joe was winning. Time to step up his game, Frank decided, and take more risks.

Both guys, wanting to outdo the other, became more and more aggressive in their rides. They pushed themselves so hard they soon spent more time falling in the water than riding their boards. Nancy and Bess laughed uproariously.

When the brothers came ashore for a break, a couple of Hawaiians, who looked like they'd been born with a surfboard in their hands, offered the brothers some friendly advice.

"Own the wave," said the older of the two men, his own personalized surfboard tucked under his arm.

The younger Hawaiian said, "You have to become one with the ocean. Feel it, ride it." He made a gentle undulating motion with his hand.

Joe patted Frank on the back and said, "Oh, I think we've become one with the ocean. I don't know about you, but I've felt and rode every undercurrent out there!"

Frank agreed and everyone laughed.

The brothers were soon back in the water and the afternoon slipped away .. gradually, subtly. Before the friends knew it, the sun was setting. They hadn't even noticed their fellow sunbathers, surfers, and swimmers packing up and leaving. The beach was now deserted.

The darkening sky forced Frank and Joe ashore. They trudged through the sand carrying their surfboards, water dripping from their hair and swim trunks.

"What time is it?" asked a drenched Frank. He wiped water off his face with his hand.

Nancy came up beside him. Her damp hair hung in long, loose curls around her sun-kissed face. She caught hold of his wet arm. "A little after six."

She and Bess had spread beach towels out on the sand.

Nancy guided Frank toward a towel. "Let's sit and relax. We can watch the sun go down before we get ready for dinner."

Frank laid his board on the sand next to the towel then took Nancy's hand and pulled her down onto the towel with him. There was a possessive glint in his eyes.

Joe and Bess sat a short distance away laughing and talking. Bess handed Joe a bottled water.

Smiling, Nancy pushed Frank away in a playful manner and handed him a dry towel. He toweled off his face and hair then tossed the towel aside. He moved closer to the object of his desire, brought a hand up, and buried it in Nancy's damp hair. He drew her close and captured her lips with his own. He'd wanted to kiss her all day and this seemed the perfect opportunity. The perfect place and moment .. the beach, the sunset. Romantic.

The kiss was intense and passionate. Frank's lips moved against Nancy's as his wet body brushed hers. She tasted the sea on his mouth and smelled the salty water in his hair. It was utterly intoxicating.

The sky grew darker and the kiss grew deeper. That's when rational thoughts made their way, unheeded, to the front of Nancy's logical mind. They weren't alone, Bess and Joe were only a few feet away, and things were heating up fast between her and Frank.

Although restless by nature, Nancy did not rush into things, especially in matters of the heart. She, of all people, knew that passionate affairs often burned out long before they even had a change to start. However, her heart, a heart not easily persuaded, was telling her Frank was the one. His kiss brought a fire in her heart like no one before. That fact alone was both unsettling and reassuring.

His lips and tongue continued their quest – seeking, testing, reveling in new sensations.

She stilled him with a hand to his chest, felt the beating of his heart beneath her fingertips.

He broke the kiss and looked at her, his dark eyes smoldering in the fading light.

"Bess, Joe," she said quietly and nodded in their direction.

The pounding in Frank's ears almost blotted out Nancy's words. He was breathing heavily and the heat of the moment caused his breath to catch in his throat. He glanced over his shoulder then back at Nancy. "I, I honestly forgot about them."

"Yeah, me too. You .. you surprised me with that kiss." Her heart was racing and her face was flush.

Frank saw desire in Nancy's eyes, but hesitation, too. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. It gave his pounding heart a chance to calm down. "I, I wanted to do that .. kiss you I mean .. before the pain got too bad." He gestured at his jaw. "It's starting to throb again. All the surfing … and falling."

He sat up a little straighter. It put an emotional distance between them. "I, I didn't mean to do anything that .." his voice trailed off.

Had he moved too fast? Had he frightened her? That was the last thing he wanted to do. All day he'd wanted to kiss her. For days actually. Finally, he had. He'd kissed her with all the passion and desire he'd held in check. The kiss had been like lighting a stick of dynamite. When their lips met, his emotions had exploded. His passion had been immediate – almost beyond his control.

Nancy sensed Frank's doubts. She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I liked it, Frank. The kiss. And I like you. I like you a lot. I hope you know that." She ran a hand tenderly along his arm and looked up at him from beneath dark lashes.

"I like you a lot, too," he said, his voice thick with emotion. His heart told him it was much more than like, but that was the word Nancy had used and he decided to play it safe and use it, too.

Their eyes met, searching for the truth and were overjoyed to find it.

Nancy leaned closer, put her mouth to Frank's ear and in a husky whisper said, "That kiss .. literally took my breath away."

That, and the kiss she gave him, provided all the reassurance he needed.

They turned to the setting sun, shoulder to shoulder and hand-in-hand. The last of the sun's feeble rays lit a watery path through the ocean. Dots of light flashed like diamonds on the water's surface.

Nancy thought of the handsome man sitting beside her, his hand wrapped around hers. She hadn't told him, hadn't wanted to admit it yet, thought perhaps it was too soon. But she was falling for him. Completely and totally.

# # # #

The friends met up at seven-fifty. Nancy wore the aquamarine dress she'd worn to the luau. She hadn't had time to do laundry since her arrival in Hawaii so her clothing choices were limited. She didn't really mind though, the dress held pleasant memories.

Frank offered her his arm. He was wearing a white, long-sleeved, button up shirt. He'd rolled up the sleeves, very neatly of course and tucked the shirt into a nice pair of Ralph Lauren khaki shorts. His newly bronzed skin looked good against the bright white of the shirt.

As Nancy took his arm she saw the fatigue in his eyes. He'd overdone it today. The furrowed brow and subtle tension running along his jaw told her he was in pain.

"You got a bit of a tan today," Frank said brushing his thumb over a rosy cheek.

"Yeah. You too. It blends nicely with your bruise. How's the jaw feel?"

"Like someone hit me with a sledgehammer." He gave a weak grin. "I took three Advil the minute I hit the room. I'll be icing my jaw as soon as dinner's over."

As the group walked to the restaurant Joe told everyone he'd heard from Butch. "Butch says Rosita's mother arrived right on time and he picked her up at the airport and took her to the hospital. The other good news is, Rosita is doing great and the doctors say she'll be released tomorrow."

The tall, leggy Melinda Smith was waiting for the group when they got to the restaurant. Nancy still thought Melinda's angular, porcelain white face was attractive, not in a conventional way of course, but Nancy imagined the former model's bone structure meant she photographed well. And no doubt about it, the woman knew how to dress. The cobalt colored silk dress she wore fit her like a glove. It showed off her magnificent figure and great legs to perfection.

"Ah, right on time," Melinda said with a smile, a genuine smile.

As Nancy and the others followed Melinda, Nancy felt there was something different about the dark-haired woman. Warmth, Nancy suddenly realized. Melinda emanated real warmth tonight.

The group approached a table elegantly set. Mr. Airedale was talking to a waiter, giving him instructions, but when he saw the group he cut his instructions short and turned to his guests.

The man that greeted Nancy and her friends was completely different than the man they'd met when they first took the case. That man had been filled with grief and pain. This man was relaxed and taking charge of his life again.

The emotional weight Mr. Airedale had suffered beneath for the past few days was gone. The sobering knowledge that Gwen had very likely known about Diana's murder and said nothing, had probably taken much of the sting out of her death.

Tonight, Lance Airedale had some color in his face and a glimmer of hope in his hazel eyes. He motioned for everyone to take a seat.

The table was exquisitely set with fine-bone china, etched crystal wine glasses, the finest sterling silverware, and soft cream colored napkins slipped inside beautiful napkin rings.

The waiter Mr. Airedale had been talking to reappeared and handed each person a leather-bound menu. No prices Nancy noticed. This place was indeed expensive.

"Please," Mr. Airedale said, "order whatever you like. This dinner's on me. It's my way of saying thank you for all your hard work. That goes for you too, Bess." He fixed her with a grateful smile and the candle light reflected the warmth in his eyes. "Without your help the fashion show might not have happened at all and I know for a fact it wouldn't have run as smoothly as it did. Thank you."

The dinner proved to be much more pleasant and relaxing than Nancy had expected.

When dinner was over Mr. Airedale thanked everyone again. He gave each person a firm handshake that conveyed heartfelt gratitude then said, "I hate to eat and run, but Melinda and I have a midnight flight to Chicago tonight. There's a few things to take care of before we head to the airport. The police released Gwen's body yesterday and .." a flash of pain clouded his face, "and the service is Wednesday. There's still a few details I need to iron out. Melinda has checks for you so I'll leave you in her capable hands." He paused as another thought came to his mind. "Oh, and if you ever need a reference, you can count on me. I owe you my life. If you hadn't discovered the truth I have no doubt I'd be sitting in a police cell right now proclaiming my innocence. So, again I thank you."

Melinda passed out the checks as soon as Mr. Airedale left.

The minute Melinda was gone Joe ripped open his envelope. "Wow! Not bad."

Frank opened his, too. "Not bad at all."

"Try not to spend it all in one place," Bess said with a grin. A second later she was seized by a yawn that shook her whole body. "Oh my goodness, I'm tired. A day in the sun and sea has completely worn me out."

"I'm tired, too," Nancy said. "And I still have some packing to do. Our flight leaves at eleven tomorrow morning, doesn't it?"

"Yep, it does." Bess wearily pushed herself out of her chair. It took Herculean effort. "I'm so tired I don't know if I'll make it to my room."

Joe got to his feet. "I'll help you." He wrapped a strong arm around Bess. "Here we go."

Bess leaned her head on Joe's shoulder and let herself be led away.

Nancy and Frank eased out of their chairs and made their way out of the restaurant.

As they walked down the hallway toward the elevators Nancy glanced at Frank. His jaw was swollen again and his brow was furrowed. "You're in pain aren't you?"

"Yeah." He tried not to move his jaw too much.

"You need to rest. Is there anything you need before we call it a night? A bucket of ice?" She pushed the up button on the elevator.

He leaned in close. "A kiss would be nice."

The kiss on the beach instantly sprang to Nancy's mind and she arched an eyebrow. "I don't know, Frank. With the way you kiss that could be dangerous." Her tone was teasing and a provocative smile played upon her lips.

Frank smiled then winced. "Oww." He put a hand to his jaw. "Okay, that hurts. A lot. Good thing I kissed you when I did. I can barely move my mouth now."

"It's okay." Nancy took him by the hand and pulled him into the empty elevator. "Just relax and let me do all the work."

Before Frank could get his brain wrapped around what she'd said and what she meant, she had him pressed against the elevator's metal wall. Her hands slid up his chest and to his neck.

He was stunned to say the least, but pleasantly so. The next thing he knew her lips brushed his neck – light and delicate – like the flutter of a butterfly's wings. Her warm breath sent a shiver racing down his spine and a moan of pure pleasure escaped his lips. She kissed the hollow of his neck – a lingering kiss that she finished off with a quick stroke of her tongue.

Frank moaned again.

Deliberately, carefully, she worked her way to his chin, depositing feather-light kisses along the way. Frank kneaded Nancy's back as she worked magic with her tender kisses. His brain had reached critical mass by this point and he thought he now knew what the phrase 'she blew my mind' meant because his mind was gone – shattered, blown to bits – but in an oh-so good way.

Finally, Nancy tenderly kissed him full on the lips.

Some part of Frank's brain, a part that somehow still functioned, registered the ping of the elevator. He opened his eyes and saw the doors slide apart. That still functioning part of his brain told him he was supposed to walk through the doors, but he didn't budge. He couldn't, his body was in sensory overload.

It took a gentle tug from Nancy to get him moving. She was smiling – a wicked smile full of delicious satisfaction.

Probably delighted with her ability to reduce him to a mindless puddle of goo he thought. But he wasn't complaining. She could do that to him anytime she liked.

"Well," Nancy said leading him down the hall toward his room, "that'll have to hold you for tonight." She looked up at him. "Oh, and Frank."

"Huh?"

"I just want you to know that this is all your fault. You started this you know."

"Huh?" He was confused. What had he started? Whatever it was, if this was the result, he needed to start it more often.

"With that kiss on the beach." She flashed a sultry smile. "I figure turn-about is fair play. Don't you?"

They were at his room.

He leaned against the wall and pulled her close. "Oh, I'd say it's very fair."

Moments later he entered his room, shut the door and collapsed against it. He sucked in a ragged breath, pushed off the door, and headed straight for bathroom. One cold shower coming up.


A/N: A big thank you to those who have taken a few minutes and left a review. One more chapter to go.