Chapter 3

Frederick waved to Steve as he pulled up to the circular driveway of the Rumors Resort, and also waved off the eager young man who wanted to valet his car.

"Good morning, Steve," he said cheerfully in his French accent. "I hope you slept well and are ready for a beautiful day aboard The Fair Maiden?"

"Good morning, Frederick. I did sleep well, thank you."

"I brought you these," he announced, holding up a small brown lunch bag. "I make today for your breakfast."

Steve smiled, taking the bag. He'd already eaten but took Danny's advice to never insult the person handling your food. "Thank you," he said sincerely, opening the bag and getting hit with the most tantalizing aroma, making his mouth water even though his stomach was full. "It smells amazing, Frederick," he replied, reaching inside and taking out one of the foreign pastries. "What is it?"

"Ahhh," Frederick sighed as if it were a secret delicacy that only he knew of.

"Kouign-Amann!" he put his fingers to his lips and made a smacking sound. "A little taste of my homeland. The outside is caramelized, but the inside is soft and delicate. You enjoy now," he said, fluttering his fingers, encouraging him to take a bite. "I use cinnamon in the sugar. You say your Momma use cinnamon on toast when you were a boy, so I make special for you."

Steve held the small rounded pastry that had a crunchy outer layer and smelled of cinnamon. When he took a bite the crisp top collapsed and sunk into the moist inner dough that was every bit as soft and delicate as Frederick had described. His taste buds were thoroughly enjoying the incredible delicacy.

"Oh my god," he said with his mouth full, "this is amazing!" He finished off the rest of it and looked over at Frederick who had a broad smile on his face, enjoying Steve's reaction.

After dropping him off at the hotel the day before, Frederick had contemplated several different recipes on the way home, wanting Steve's first experience of his culinary gift to be magnificent, using their discussion of food as his stepping stone, he finally decided on Kouign-Amann, watching him enjoy it now proved that he had made an excellent choice.

"It fills my soul when someone enjoys my creations," Frederick said with his hand over his heart, secretly wishing he could have been the one to personally feed it to him, that would have just been the cherry on top, but he knew it was a long shot and probably very improbable that Steve viewed him in such a way. It was slightly heartbreaking to him, because not only was Steve beautiful to look at in his opinion, he was a nice gentleman as well and indulged him, not like other heterosexual men he had encountered who held the same visual qualities, some could be downright rude. It only proved to him that they were unsure of their masculinity, whereas Steve was both kind and indulging but never in a way that led Frederick to believe he meant it as anything more than just being pleasant. It was crystal clear to him that Steve was every bit of a heterosexual man as he was a gay one.

"You're a genius," Steve smiled, reaching in the bag and taking out another one. "I'd offer you one, but I don't want to share."

Frederick laughed out loud over that. The reply was a genuine compliment, which pleased him immensely.

Yes, he thought happily, it was going to be a joy preparing meals for him. He may not be able to enjoy Steve in ways that he fantasized, but this was the next best thing as far as he was concerned.

…..

Ten minutes later Frederick pulled into the Avatiu Marina.

Being more awake and alert on this ride, Steve got a feel for the small island that was no bigger than Kauai and had the same vibe. The green mountains were majestic and mysterious with the low hanging clouds hovering around the tips and the water was crystal blue and inviting just as his beloved home, Hawaii. It could have easily been mistaken for the island chain if you didn't know better.

The marina contained only about twenty slips and not all of them occupied. The largest vessel in the dock took up two of them and was one that he recognized from the pictures.

The Fair Maiden was impressive and looked larger than he estimated it to be, but then again a hundred foot yacht amongst the typical thirty-five foot fishing boats that were docked along with her gave the impression of the sheer size of her.

"There she is," Frederick proclaimed as he got out.

"Impressive," Steve said, still looking it over as he got out and followed Frederick to the back of the car. "But what's even more impressive is how the Captain got it into this harbor and how he's going to get it out."

"Ha, ha," Frederick laughed, "Captain Bordeaux I hope is skilled in the maneuvering of The Fair Maiden. He has only been the Captain for a short time. Captain Hobbs has since retired."

They got out Steve's bags and he followed Frederick down a small walkway that led to the place where the boat was moored.

He saw two people on the lower deck in uniform cleaning, but as he got closer, he noticed that only one was cleaning and the other was giving orders.

'Captain Bordeaux,' Steve thought knowingly, and he was correct. The slightly older man had silver hair and a matching silver beard that was well manicured. Both men wore white shorts and a dark blue polo shirt with the words Fair Maiden embroidered on the upper right chest, assuming that would have been his uniform as well if he had agreed to it.

The other negotiated part of the contract was not taking orders from the Captain. Steve won that as well, not sure how that was going to go over with the Captain now that they were meeting for the first time.

"Captain!" Frederick called out as they approached. "Mr. McGarrett has arrived."

Steve set down his suitcase as the Captain leaned over the rail on the side of the boat several feet from the main entrance, holding his hand out. "Mr. McGarrett. I'm Captain Tony Bordeaux."

"It's a pleasure, Sir," Steve replied, shaking his hand.

The respectful greeting didn't sway the Captain, considering that this man refused to be under his thumb. This was his boat to be run as he saw fit and no one was going to come in and tell him how to run it, no one, especially not some Hawaiian cop who probably spent more days on the beach than at work.

"A Navy man I hear," the Captain said. "I am as well. Served on the Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz. Four years on the deck," he announced proudly.

"That's a scary job," Steve replied. "Not too many guys want to be out there when those jets are landing."

"Didn't scare me," he huffed. "What vessel were you assigned?" he asked.

"Actually, I worked ground crew."

"Ground Crew?" he snickered slightly. "You mean loader?" he asked with a slight smirk, assuming he was nothing more than a grunt that worked the docks. 'He's in charge of security?' he thought bitterly, even more irked that this man refused to take orders from him.

"Not too much danger there," he chuckled. "What base were you on?"

The fact that he didn't even try to hide the arrogant and rudeness over that remark told Steve right away what type of man he was. Being in the Navy as far as he was concerned was a privilege and no matter what job you were assigned you were part of the team. He assumed this guy never got that.

"I was stationed mainly in Afghanistan, but the six of us made rounds in the Middle East when we were needed," he replied, never using his credentials in the Navy as a bragging right, but this guy pissed him off.

The Captain stood up straight, caught off guard by that reply, looking down the bridge of his nose at Steve, not wanting to assume he was special forces, but there was no other reason that a Navy man would be in the desert unless he was a SEAL The 'six' of us made it unmistakable.

"Well a genuine Navy Seal. Don't I look like the fool for mistaking you as a grunt."

"Not at all, Captain. However, being in the Navy for nine years, I don't believe I ever met a grunt. We're all Navy men and women fighting for the same cause, no matter what job we are assigned."

Bordeaux smiled curtly and nodded as if agreeing with him. 'Smug little fuck,' he thought angrily. "The McKay's will be arriving in an hour," he said. "Parker!" he bellowed out to the man on his crew cleaning the windows nearby. The young man had heard the conversation and was doing what he could to keep the grin off his face.

"Yes, Sir," he replied, appearing at his side. He glanced down, getting his first look at the man he was speaking with, giving Steve a wide smile. It was refreshing for someone to stand up to the Captain. No one ever did, even the owner Peter McKay held him with too much respect. He was just a Captain of a luxurious yacht after all, but sometimes he treated them as if they were all in the Navy.

"Take Mr. McGarrett' s things to his cabin."

"Yes, Sir."

He hustled down the outer walkway of the boat to the outside stairs that led to the lower deck and then came down the small ramp that was attached to the dock and ran up to him.

"How you doing? I'm Parker." He stuck his hand out to him with another broad smile.

"Hey, Parker, good to meet ya," he replied, shaking his hand firmly. "You can call me Steve." His eyes were drawn to the natural red hair that stuck out even more so than the hundreds of freckles on his face. He had a picture perfect smile and like Frederick, Steve took an instant liking to him.

"Let me take those." He took the suitcase and flung the garment bag over his shoulder and was on his way back to the ramp before Steve could object.

"Thanks,' he said to him, looking up to where the Captain had been standing but he was gone, nowhere to be seen.

"Ahh," Frederick said, taking a step back and looking him over from head to toe. "You were a Seal man for ten years, very impressive. In France we have the SOF, very much like your Navy SEALS, very impressive."

"Yea," Steve commented. "Special Operation Forces. I worked with some of your SOF, they are impressive."

Frederick admired once again his gentleman nature. "The French soldiers are very fierce, but the food those poor young men have to endure…" he shook his head adamantly, "scandalous!"

Steve laughed, "I can't say the US soldiers eat any better, Frederick." He put his hand on his shoulder, "Why don't you show me around my new home for the next two weeks so I can get started on my job."

"Very well, and then I will make you lunch."

"If it's anything like breakfast I can't wait."

"Better!" he declared in a robust voice.

…..

The boat was even more impressive in person. Every detail had been thought of from the state of the art electronics on the bridge all the way down to the water toys stored below deck, which could be easily obtained by the push of a button.

Each of the four suites had their own cedar-lined closet and bathroom with white marbled floors, sink and shower. The windows were the main focus of each suite, showing off the view, which could be observed while lying in bed.

His room was nothing to complain about either; it was located on the bottom level close to the kitchen and about a quarter of the size of the four master suites but contained a queen size bed, small dresser and bathroom, but the bonus in his opinion was the round hatch above the bed, bringing in natural light. He could easily be comfortable there for two weeks. There was an identical room next to his for Parker and a captain a quarters whose door was closed. Frederick also had a room off the galley that was a bit smaller than Steve's.

The beds he was told had custom mattresses and the frame they sat on was also custom manufactured to withstand rough seas and would move to the motion of the water so you would not be disturbed while you slept. Only to a point that is, Frederick quickly confessed, telling Steve a story of the previous summer in the Bahamas when they had experienced the tail end of a hurricane.

The main living area on the second floor had a seventy inch satellite television and a half circular white leather couch; to the left of that was a fully stocked bar with the same marble as the bathrooms, matching white leather barstools were neatly tucked under it. The polished teak hardwood floors were the same throughout the entire boat.

Glass windows showing off a 360-degree view of the ocean when at sea surrounded the room. The glass sliding doors that led out to one of three decks opened into each other until they disappeared all together and left nothing but a fifteen foot open walkway between the indoor and outdoor seating area.

The covered deck had an elegant teak table that sat ten comfortably and just past it were four blue and white striped cushioned lounge chairs facing the bow of the ship.

Steve stood on the far end of the bow with Frederick and looked back on the striking structure, getting the full view.

The level below them held the kitchen and smaller rooms where he and the staff slept. The third level had the luxurious master suites and another open deck with a built in seating area. The bridge was situated above that on the fourth level. There was an indoor circular staircase that ran down the middle of the ship from the master suite level to the galley level. On the outside decks there were also staircases on the front and back of the boat, which could access each floor as well.

"This is like a floating resort. I've been on some nice boats in Hawaii but not one as nice as this."

"Yes," Frederick smiled, enjoying the same view. "I've cooked in some of the finer cafés from Paris to Brussels, but here," his voice becoming sincere, "here aboard the Fair Maiden I truly feel I have found my place. The kitchen is mine and I am encouraged to explore my talents. The McKay's truly appreciate that." He looked over at Steve, "They can be eccentric but they know what they like and can afford to splurge on it."

He knew that first hand. "Yea, I'm beginning to see that side of them too."

Frederick respected the McKay's, Steve thought, unlike Gordon Linfield who seemed to just tolerate them. His information on the family was really sketchy to begin with, the Internet made them seem flamboyant and always on for the camera. Gordon made them seem spoiled and self indulgent, but Frederick's insight seemed more true to life having been their employee for some time. He was the one that truly knew them and would be his greatest source. He felt he could trust him now to ask the question he'd desperately wanted to know but could never get a straight answer.

"So Frederick," Steve said, turning to the side and leaning against the railing as he crossed his arms, looking over at him. "I take my job seriously but as you might know, I was hired under what I would consider unusual circumstances. I feel as if my experience does not quite fit in with what is expected of me here aboard this beautiful yacht. Yet, they paid a great deal of money to ensure my employment."

Frederick smiled and nodded; "Ahh, yes, the eccentric side of the McKay's indeed. I can't say I know the details of your agreement with Mr. McKay but to be honest with you, Steve. This is the first time we have had paid security aboard the Fair Maiden since I have been employed. I'm assuming it has to do with a certain situation last year when the McKay children, and when I say children, I mean twenty-nine year old Cash and twenty-seven year old Mandy. Let's just say the festivities on board got a little out of hand. That was the last time they were on board alone without their father."

"Mandy?" Steve questioned, not hearing that name before. "You must mean Amanda?"

"Yes, she goes by Mandy. She doesn't care to being called Amanda, I'm not sure why. Lovely girl though."

This was the insight he was looking for. "What can you tell me about them, Frederick? Cash and Mandy?"

…..

Cash McKay picked up his credit card from the tip tray and smiled at the waitress, "You did a great job. Have you ever worked on a yacht before or been on one?"

"Cash!" Mandy quickly intervened, looking up at the young girl as she smiled at the handsome blond man. "Ignore him. Thank you for everything." She pushed her chair back as it scraped the hardwood floor of the restaurant that was old but clean and well cared for. "Let's go," she said to her brother with a threatening glare.

He stood up, continuing to give the girl his undivided attention, "Katy, it has been a pleasure." He stuck his hand out and when she took it he kissed the back of hers, which impressed her even more. "I regret that I have to say goodbye, but my sister can be a bit of a drag sometimes."

Mandy irritably rolled her eyes as she began to walk toward the exit of the small establishment. She came outside and turned as Cash came up to her with a wide grin on his lips as he lifted his Maui Jim sunglasses that were hanging from his V-neck shirt collar, placing them on his face.

"What?" he laughed, holding his hands out? "What did I do that was so bad? She was flirting with me too. She looked like she could be fun."

"She looked like she was sixteen years old," Mandy huffed.

Cash turned back looking at the girl as she stared wide-eyed at the generous tip left on the receipt. "She does not! She looks at least twenty-four."

"Are you high?" Mandy said, grabbing his arm. "You'd be in jail or facing down the barrel of her father's gun or worse yet, his lawyer, either way it's not worth the risk. Besides isn't Jessica going to be here any moment now?"

Cash ignored that as he began walking with her toward the dock that was only a few hundred yards away from the small restaurant where they'd had breakfast before boarding The Fair Maiden.

"If we get out of hand again on this trip, Dad will never let us have the boat again and you know it."

"You mean me," he corrected with a laugh. "You can take it anytime you want. I'm the bad one."

"You are not bad," she corrected, tucking her hand inside of his bicep. "You just like to have fun. There's nothing wrong with that if you can keep it maintained."

"You mean like sitting around drinking mint juleps and discussing who had the best breed of horse at the Kentucky Derby, and staring at those ridiculous fucking hats."

Mandy laughed, "It wasn't that bad."

Cash looked down at her from over the top of his expensive sunglasses sitting on his perfectly straight nose. "I considered slitting my wrists in the bathroom, Sis."

She gripped his bicep and laughed out loud. "You're so dramatic."

"And you're not dramatic enough," he added. "I wish you would cut loose just once in your life and join the party. You might enjoy yourself. You're twenty-seven going on seventy."

Mandy let go of his arm, "That's a pretty shitty thing to say. I do enjoy life, but I don't have to wake up in a pile of vomit or with some stranger next to me that I have to chew my own arm off just to slip out to say I had a good time. That's not living life to me."

"Wow, that was pretty harsh as well. But at least when I am seventy I can look back and have fun memories. You'll look back and recall watching it all from a distance with your headphones stuck in your ears and your eyes in a book."

She stopped walking staring at the back of his head as he kept on. "Why does everyone always insist I have to be like someone else? Dad wants me to be more like Julia; you want me to be more like you; Bryce wanted me to be…hell I'm not sure what he wanted me to be, but it certainly wasn't who I am! Why can't I just be Mandy McKay and everyone leave me the fuck alone!"

Cash turned and went back to her, seeing clearly the frustration that he should have been more familiar with, "Hey, Sis. I'm sorry," he said sincerely, putting his arms around her. "You're right. And I'm not saying there is anything wrong with you because there's not, if it wasn't for you being the strong one all these years, who the hell knows where I would have ended up. I guess I just feel guilty sometimes. I'm the older brother but you're the mature one."

She hugged him back, "Don't sell yourself short big brother, if the time ever came that I needed protecting, I'm pretty sure you'd take the lead."

He stepped back looking at her. "Someday," he smiled. "Someday you're going to get yourself in a bind and I'm going to get you out."

Mandy rolled her eyes as she walked past him, "No I won't."

"Damn it, Mandy," he joked. "C'mon, just a little trouble so I can feel good about myself?"

She laughed out loud, "You don't need any help feeling good about yourself, Cash McKay."

He slung his arm over her shoulder as they walked to the dock. "You make me sound like an arrogant prick."

"A little arrogant maybe, but in a good way; a prick, hell no. Well," she added, "maybe some of your ex girlfriends might not agree with that but I understand why you love em' and leave em'."

"Ah yes," he chuckled, "our famous relationship issues. Always pushing people away. Never allowing anyone to get close for fear of rejection and loss, because of our mother. What a horribly twisted and lonely life we lead in the press."

"We?" she corrected him. "You're loved by everyone. You are the playboy and I'm the spoiled little rich girl because they have nothing else to write about me, so I must be a bitch. That's why I'm still single. Devil Wears Prada character was written based on me," she huffed.

"Fuck em'," Cash said, squeezing her tighter around the neck. "Let them say what they want, Sis. You're smart, beautiful and the best person I know. I'm lucky to have you in my life. Fuck em all, even Dad. He tried to break us and failed. Now that Mom's trust has set in, he can't control us anymore. He's the prick."

"Cash, stop. He's not that bad. He just…" she tried to find the right word to describe her father.

"Didn't try," he filled in the gap. "He didn't try. He let others diagnose us instead of trying to get to know us. That would have just been too much trouble for Peter McKay. Thank god we had mom for as long as we did otherwise we might have ended up like that sorry bastard."

She let it drop, knowing how his anger could quickly escalate when the subject of their father came up. She on the other hand was more submissive towards him. She hated confrontations, especially with her father, so she avoided them, and with everyone else too.

They stopped as the yacht came in to view.

"There she is," Cash smiled. "Isn't she a beauty?"

Mandy sighed happily as she laid her head on her brother's shoulder. "I missed you. I'm so glad we get two weeks together, even if the boat will be packed with people I don't know and most you won't either," she joked. "I'm still happy we're together."

Cash laughed, "I promise this will be our two weeks to hang out. I'll maintain, Sis. No craziness."

She looked up at him as if she knew that was the biggest lie she'd ever been told. "Seriously! You won't make it through the night without doing something crazy."

"YOLO baby!" he shouted as he began sprinting toward the boat. He turned around as he stood on the wooden dock and smiled at her. "How much damage can I do this time?" he teased, shouting something in Italian that sounded like he was going into battle.

"Cash!" Mandy shouted, chasing after him. "You better not!"

His feet hit the steel plank attached to the boat making a loud thud as he came on board. He looked up seeing Captain Bordeaux come out the door on the bridge because of the loud noise.

Cash saluted him. "Permission to come aboard, Sir? Oh wait," he joked, "I already am." He turned toward the bow, "Too late for you to turn me down," he chuckled to himself, not liking Captain Bordeaux. He was his father's choice not his, and he had the same stick up his ass that his old man had.

"Frederick!" Cash shouted as he stood on the upper level looking down at he and Steve. "Now I'm home!"

"Mr. Cash," Frederick waved. "Nice to see you again. It's been far too long. I hope you brought your appetite."

"Always, Frederick, always." He looked over at Steve and it took him a second to realize whom he was. "Oh hey, Steve right?"

"How you doing?" Steve shouted up to him, seeing from a distance the same man that had graced the red carpet pictures from the Internet.

"Hold on, I'll be right down," Cash said, turning and heading for the outside steps near the railing. Ever since the phone call in which they had negotiated terms with his father, Cash had developed a new respect for the man who they had hired for security on this trip. No one stood up to his father like Mr. McGarrett had, no one, except for himself.

Steve watched as Cash came toward him dressed in an airy light blue button down shirt, khaki shorts and plain black flip flops on his feet. His hand extended to Frederick first.

"Nice to see you, Cash," Frederick, said, taking the hand and getting a slight hug along with it.

"Always good to see you onboard Frederick," he replied. He then turned to Steve, extending his hand once again. "I'm Cash McKay, its good to finally meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Cash," Steve replied, shaking his hand firmly. "Frederick gave me a tour of the boat, it's incredible."

"Thank you. Please don't feel that any part of it is off limits to you." He turned waving his hand as if showing it off. "Mi casa es su casa."

"That's nice of you, Cash. I appreciate it," Steve began, "but you are still paying me and I have a job to do. I wanted to ask you some questions about this trip if you don't mind?"

Cash's face instantly became serious, "Oh right, of course, of course. Business first."

Mandy came on the boat with much less fanfare than her brother. Her foot gently touching the ramp and the noise was substantially less. She didn't look up searching out the Captain as Cash had, but heard her name being called out.

"Miss McKay," the Captain waved, "good to see you again. Welcome aboard."

Mandy glanced up and waved. "Hi Captain Bordeaux. How are you?"

"Very well, thank you for asking. Your luggage arrived about an hour ago and has been brought to your rooms. Would you like the steward to unpack for you?"

She smiled up at him, "Thank you but no, we can do that."

"Very well, we will be shoving off as soon as the other guests arrive."

Her face became confused, "Other guests?" she asked, knowing of Jessica but no one else, but wasn't all that shocked either.

"Yes. Your brother has invited some others to join us for a few days." He wasn't surprised by the unexpected addition to the boat capacity, knowing she wouldn't be anymore pleased than he was. He liked her more than her brother but wasn't paid to like either one of them, nor the father; he was paid to handle the boat and did so with expertise, in his opinion.

Mandy sighed heavily and rolled her eyes, wondering whom the others were. "Ok, thank you."

She heard voices and walked to the front of the ship where Cash had been standing earlier. She looked out at the view of the ocean first, seeing the crystal blue waters just off the coast of Rarotonga and smiled, feeling a peaceful mood come over her. She loved the ocean and even more so the majestic beauty of the tropics, it just instantly relaxed her, anxious to grab her headphones, a good book and get under way.

She looked down as she came to the edge and saw Frederick, Cash and another man just below talking. Her eyes focused on the stranger. He had dark hair and wore jeans with a navy blue polo shirt and tattoos peeking out beneath the sleeves; his biceps were not flexed yet they were still hearty and firm.

Just then as if her intense stare somehow alerted him of the intrusion, he looked up and caught her eye, and to her great pleasure he didn't turn away nor did he seem to mind the intrusion, returning the gesture.

'Amanda McKay,' he thought, recognizing a strikingly beautiful woman when he saw one, and he was seeing one. Her long dark hair and modest tan sundress gently blew in the wind, reminding him of an expensive painting he once saw of a mysterious woman standing on the edge of a cliff in the wind, it too had him enthralled just as she did now. He recalled standing in the gallery and admiring it for a long time, feeling he could do the same with her as well.

She felt her whole body flush as he stared at her, almost as if he knew her, but she was sure she had never met him before. She would have remembered him, remembered this feeling for sure. Her heart raced and her mouth went dry. She lifted her hands from the polished metal railing, leaving behind her sweaty palm prints, wondering who this new guest was that was studying her as much as she was he?

It dawned on her then that maybe he wasn't looking at her at all. She slowly, trying her best to be nonchalant turned her head to see what else it could be, perhaps something or someone more desirable behind her, but there was no one there. When she turned back around he was smiling, as if greatly amused by that.

She bent her head and blushed even more.

He was surprised, yet completely charmed by the fact that she doubted herself as the center of his attention.

Cash looked at Steve waiting for a reply to his question when he noticed the obvious, following his line of sight up to the second level, seeing what had his attention.

His sister was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, but she was also the shyest person he had ever met. The fact that she was standing there staring back at Steve was like a shock to him.

"My sister, Mandy," Cash said, smiling at him, seeing the effect that she had on him, looking up at her and even more pleased over the effect that he had on her. Never seeing her interact with a man like that before. It was simply music to his eyes.

"Mandy," Cash called out. "Come here."

She looked at him as if just noticing he and Frederick's presence next to the stranger for the first time. "Oh, um," she replied shyly, pointing over her shoulder, "I, I was going to go unpack."

"Forget that," Cash said. "Come here, I want you to meet Steve."

"Hello Mandy," Frederick called out. "So lovely to see you again my dear."

Mandy focused on him and smiled broadly, truly glad to see him as well. "Hello Frederick. I've been looking forward to sailing with you as well."

"Come here," Cash said again in a more demanding yet playful tone, using his arm as an added gesture.

"If you wouldn't mind for just a minute, Miss McKay," Steve said. "I just have a couple of questions."

Her eyes darted back to his as he spoke to her, wondering what in the world he would want to ask her? She didn't even know him, but she answered before she had time to rationalize her thoughts, something that was very unfamiliar to her with strangers, especially men. But there was something about this one that seemed unthreatening.

"Ok," she replied, "I'll be right there."

Cash raised an eyebrow over her willingness to follow Steve's request while dismissing his own.

She went to the steps that led to the lower deck and halfway down she suddenly got a bad feeling, assuming the stranger was one of Cash's 'guests' that the Captain had spoken of. 'Was this a set up?' she thought, not putting it past her brother. The next thought was the variety of friend's that Cash associated with. Although he was rich, arrogant and flamboyant in her opinion, he was not selfish, rude or took himself too seriously, unlike most of his friends. This man could very well be the epitome of all three of the bad traits that existed within the 'trust fund' kids that they were grouped in with. Always hating that label, yet it was very true. Bryce was one of those, and he had acquired all the bad traits that went along with it as well.

As she came around the corner to greet them, she focused on Frederick first, truly pleased to see him.

"Hello Frederick."

"The lovely Mandy," he replied, returning the warm embrace that she was offering him. "You become more beautiful my dear every time I see you."

"Thank you," she replied shyly, glancing at the ground as they separated.

Cash put a hand on his sister's back, guiding her toward Steve, knowing her well enough to clearly see that she was smitten with him. "Mandy, remember the security guy that I told you that Dad and I hired for this trip?"

She looked up and over at her brother in complete surprise, "Oh, yes. Yes I do," she said a little overly pleased by that information, but her response was hiding under the fact that this stranger was indeed not one of his arrogant friends.

"This is Steve McGarrett," he said motioning toward Steve. "Our security guy for the trip. Steve, this is my sister Mandy."

Steve stuck his hand out to her, "It's a pleasure Mandy. I appreciate you coming down to chat for a minute."

She looked at his hand and then up to the man whose voice that was neither arrogant nor boisterous, it was friendly and pleasant.

"Hi," she replied, making eye contact with him, "its nice to meet you."

'God almighty,' Steve thought in awe, referring to the appearance of the beautiful woman now standing before him. She was even more exquisite up close. Her piercing blue eyes illuminated against the dark hair. She was remarkable. He was finally getting a glimpse of the woman who wouldn't face the camera, knowing now why they all wanted her picture so badly.

He barely took her hand in his, careful not to squeeze too hard, afraid he might hurt the gentle, timid creature.

Her hand practically disappeared inside of his as he gently held it.

She was amazed by the tenderness of the embrace, considering the strength attached to his grip, eyeing his firm biceps up close and getting a better view of the colored tattoos on his arms that were still not distinguishable under the shirt. She made her way up to his face, completely enamored over his appearance. He was freshly shaven and smelled divine, not recognizing the cologne, or maybe it was just his normal scent, either one it was delightful. His eyes were a shade bluer than hers and friendly in her opinion. His lips were perfect and spread apart to show an equally perfect smile. She felt something inside of her that she'd never had before in the presence of a man that she was this attracted too; she was completely composed and unguarded, assured she would feel the opposite.

Her whole life she'd been surrounded by men who tried to fit the part in their expensive clothes and manicured nails, never a hair out of place on their groomed heads. Their white, bleached teeth over powering what could have a been a nice smile, or their over indulging vehicles they drove to look impressive, but it was all fabricated to Mandy. Steve was the first real man that she had met in a long, long time.

"Steve just wants to ask us a few questions about the trip," Cash explained to her. "I told him that we plan to travel around the Cook Islands, maybe get off on one or two deserted ones and just hang out. But other than that we plan on just cruising around and relaxing."

"We," Mandy questioned, "and who is 'we', meaning who are the other guests you have invited on board? Captain Bordeaux spilled the beans."

Cash scratched the back of his neck uneasily; mentally cursing the Captain for letting out the secret before he had a chance to inform Mandy of their father's intrusive plan to get her and her ex back together.

"It was a last minute invite," Cash explained.

Frederick took this cue as a good time to depart, not wanting to witness a battle between the siblings. "Well," he said, "since there will be more guests aboard I need to vamp up my kitchen supplies before we depart. If you will excuse me," he shot Steve an apologetic glance for his departure, but as he had explained to him earlier, there were always surprises when it came to Cash McKay.

Steve casually took a small step back, he himself trying to get out of harms way, the situation was becoming very uncomfortable but he literally had nowhere to go and was beginning to second guess his theory of 'how bad could this job could be', feeling foolish now, knowing it was their carefree way with money that they had used to entice him and he had fallen right into the trap.

He, like Mandy was on the edge of his seat wondering who the passengers were.

Mandy ignored Frederick's quick departure too focused on her brother's state that turned nervous and anxious.

"Who else is coming onboard, Cash?" she demanded in a tone that was clear she was annoyed with him. He had a bad habit of over inviting, making the casual trip into a free for all. "Or should I ask, how many?"

"Only a small few, I swear," he quickly declared.

"Who?" she asked again, glaring at him.

He rubbed his hand over his mouth, trying to wipe away the uneasy smile over her anger that was going to ignite at any moment when he told her of the guest list. "Well Jessica of course and a couple of her friends. But," he sighed and decided to just rip the Band-Aid off, "before I left LA dad called me. He ran into an old friend of yours…" he paused, "and before I knew it the invitation to come on this trip was extended to him and I guess he excepted."

"Who?!" Mandy asked with gritted teeth, having a bad feeling about who it was, but hoping her brother nor her father would do that to her.

"Bryce Bennett," Cash replied sheepishly.

Steve watched her mouth drop open in shock and then close again, her beautiful blue eyes turned into daggers, aimed directly at her brother.

"Cash! How could you? Him of all people! You know how I feel about…" she paused and then glanced at Steve as if forgetting his presence and blushing slightly over this conversation in front of him. "I…I'm sorry Mr. McGarrett for my outburst. I'm sure this is a surprise to you as well? Or is it?!" she glared at her brother. "Maybe I'm the only one who knows of the surprise guest list."

"Truthfully," Steve replied hoping to ease the tension and divert the discussion elsewhere. "The guest list is really no concern to me. I'm trying to find my boundaries and find out what exactly you need from me so I can do my job effectively. The boat itself is pretty sound and not one that I would call a security risk, unless of course we run into some unruly pirates of the Caribbean on the high sea," he joked, pleased to get a slight chuckle from the both of them, especially Mandy, "but I find that pirates are very unlikely in these waters. So," he continued, "I'm left with the passengers. But in the contract that we agreed upon," he explained, "one of the rules was that I was to have no social interaction with either of you, or your guests, which brings me back to my role in this job and what it entails? So I guess I'm asking, why am I here?"

"Well," Mandy focused on her brother, "why don't you explain to Mr. McGarrett why Dad insisted on hiring security for the boat, Cash?"

He smiled at her, knowing exactly what she was talking about. "Ok, yes, we both know why he wouldn't let us take the boat without hiring someone." He then turned to Steve. "Look, I apologize for all of this. And I apologize for getting you caught up in it as well. IN THE PAST," he emphasized those three words as he looked directly at his sister, "I have had a tendency to go a little overboard on my partying."

"A little?" Mandy practically laughed in his face. "Let's not under exaggerate the obvious." She motioned to Steve's presence as hired security.

"Dad just wanted a little extra assurance of our safety," he lied.

Mandy looked at her brother with a raised eyebrow. "C'mon Cash, we both know why Dad insisted you hire someone on this trip. It's to protect his precious boat, not us." She looked at Steve, "No offense to you, Mr. McGarrett but if you knew my father you would understand, and once you get to know my brother," she playfully gave Cash the stink eye, "you will understand my father's concern for his precious boat."

"Hey," Cash quickly defended himself, "I told you coming back from breakfast that this trip was going to be low-key."

Cash ignored her scolding remark and turned to Steve. "Look, you're here. You have to put in the whole two weeks in order for my father to pay you. If it was up to me, I'd say you are free to go and you will still get the money, but unfortunately Captain Bordeaux is like the eyes and ears of my old man while he is away, so I can't do that."

Steve sighed heavily, feeling he had got himself in the middle of some serious family issues, knowing this fifty grand was too good to be true. "Look. You're right, I am here, and honestly from an ethic point of view, I can't just sit around and do nothing for two weeks and then just casually collect a check. For my own piece of mind I need to feel I've earned it in some way, so, this is what we're going to do. I'm going to do my job by keeping an eye on you while you are on excursions and I'll be the sober one on nights when you don't want to be, but," he looked at Cash, "I'm not going to be a babysitter. If you feel the need to party too much and puke over the side of the boat then so be it, I'll walk away, but if you fall over, I'll jump in and drag you out. Once," he said, holding up his finger, "the second time, you better be able to swim to land."

Mandy smiled brightly over his words and the authority in his voice that was neither over bearing nor angered, it was the gospel truth and she somehow believed every word of it.

Cash admired not only his code of ethics but also the straightforward attitude. He was so used to people kissing his ass that Steve's approach was refreshing and admirable in his eyes. "Ok, we got a deal," he stuck his hand out.

Steve hesitated for a second and then shook it.

"And the whole rule thing," Cash added, "that's my old man talking, not us," he motioned between he and Mandy. "We're a lot more laid back. Please don't feel that you can't approach us at any time about anything."

"I appreciate that, but I'll try to stay out of your way the best I can."

"I want to apologize Mr. McGarrett for all of this," Mandy said to him.

"No worries, I can't really complain too much. I have two weeks on a yacht and from what I've tasted so far, I think Frederick's meals might be one of the highlights of my job." He smiled at her, wondering in the end if escorting her around on land was going to a pleasurable thing, or a nuisance. She was exactly as Frederick had described her, beautiful, shy and polite, but the kind of wealth that she came from set them worlds apart.

"He is very talented," Mandy replied. "Sometimes he does kind of this interview thing on you to find out what you like to eat."

"Yes," Steve chuckled, "I was actually interviewed yesterday."

"Oh," Mandy smiled, "then you are in for a treat."

"This morning he brought me over some kind of small pastry, I can't remember what it was called. It was French…"

"Kouign-Amann?" Mandy replied in a perfect French accent.

"Yea, that's it," Steve smiled. "It was amazing."

"Those are my favorite," she sighed.

She glanced over at her brother who was leaning against the railing smile brightly at her. He could read her like a book, but this chapter had him completely baffled. She was so at ease. It was very unlike her to engage in a conversation with a man that she didn't know, especially men that looked like Steve. She was very guarded and didn't trust most of them, not blaming her really, but it caused her to appear too timid which then led to boring in their assumption of her, both of which were untrue, but when it came to his sister Mandy, you had to put in the time in order to get to the real woman. Steve was somehow getting the real woman, effortlessly, which amused Cash to no end.

He was really beginning to regret Bryce coming onboard; wishing now he would have stood up to his father over the invitation, but he had somehow convinced him it was the right choice for Mandy. He should have known better, since their mother's death their father had consistently made wrong choices for the both of them.

Mandy could read him like a book as well, seeing the amused expression on her brother's face over her conversation with Steve. She did a one-eighty, returning to her normal self.

"Um…" she stammered, "I'm going to go unpack now." She looked at Steve, "Mr. McGarrett, again I want to apologize if this has put you in any kind of an uncomfortable position. If there is anything you need from Cash or myself, please don't hesitate to ask and we will do our best to accommodate you."

"Thank you, but I think it should be the other way around and I hope that my services will be accommodating."

"Well," she smiled, "just having you on board I think will give me," she quickly corrected herself, "us, all of us, peace of mind, so…there."

Cash raised an eyebrow, swearing that he heard a flirtatious tone coming from his shy sister.

"Ok, I'm going," she turned and took a couple of steps and then spun back around, moving toward Steve with her hand out. "Nice to meet you."

Steve took her small hand again and gently shook it. "Nice to meet you too, Mandy." She was very likeable and not at all what he had envisioned.

She looked at Cash and wanted to slap the smug look on his face. He didn't have to say a word and she could still hear the mischievous words pouring out of his mouth.

She turned for the stairs, cursing him under her breath for allowing Bryce on board and for giving her that self-righteous knowing look he had while she spoke to Steve. Why couldn't he and her father just let her be and live her life? She was happy. She didn't always need people around her or a man in her life to be fulfilled.

…..

Mandy turned hearing someone at her bedroom door as she hung up a few dresses in her closet.

She saw her brother, glaring at him as she went to the bed where the suitcase was. "I can't believe you, Cash."

"I can't believe you either," he chuckled. "I've never seen you talk so much. Do you have a little crush on our security guy?" he teased.

Mandy shot him a threatening scowl as she practically ran for the door, pushing by him as she closed it.

"Will you please shut up?! I do not have a crush on the security guy," she fired back.

"Oh please!" he laughed. "I saw you on the upper deck looking at him like he was a piece of candy."

Her face contorted as if that statement was a vulgar one. "I did not!"

"Hey," Cash said, sitting down on the edge of the bed, "he was looking at you the same way."

"Like I was a piece of candy?" she asked, disgusted over that analogy.

"No," he replied thoughtfully, recalling Steve's expression as well, "like you were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen."

Mandy turned and looked at him, her voice turning to wonderment. "He was?"

"Jesus, Mandy!" he laid back on the bed with his legs dangling over the side and his hands over his face, shaking his head. "I swear to god sometimes I don't know what to do with you?"

She threw the dress in her hand at him, hitting him in the face just as he removed his hands. "Who said you have to do anything with me? Who asked you for your help in my love life, certainly not me?" her voice grew angrier, "And I really don't remember telling you or dad to invite Bryce! What the hell is that?"

Cash pulled the dress down, holding it in hands as he sat up. "I know, I'm sorry Mandy."

She sat down on the bed, "What were you two thinking, that I was just going to roll over and let him back in my life?"

"I don't know. Dad called me the other day and said he ran into him while he was out to dinner in New York, they had a drink together and he said that Bryce was asking about you and said how deeply sorry he was over the way things ended. He took all of the blame and you know how much Dad liked him."

"Dad likes him because he's exactly like dad, they both think they know what's best for me, but they don't! They don't know me at all."

"I know."

"I can't believe Dad invited him onboard and he didn't even have the decency to tell me, like I'm a child. And you," she glared at him, "why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to, but I was afraid you'd cancel the trip and I really wanted you to come."

She crossed her arms stubbornly, shaking her head. "Why would he want me to be with someone who treated me like that?" she turned to her brother, "why would you?"

"I don't!" he quickly replied. "I wasn't thrilled about it either and I'm regretting it more and more, but maybe he's changed."

"He hasn't changed, you know that. He was your friend! You introduced us."

"I know and I haven't talked to him since you guys broke up."

"I hope he's not coming here thinking we're getting back together."

"I don't know, maybe. Dad said he was asking a lot about you. How you were, if you were seeing anyone."

"And of course, being the ever-protective father that he is, he said 'stay away from my daughter, didn't you already do enough damage to her'. But no," she spoke sarcastically, "instead he invites him on board."

"He said he seemed genuine, and he did confess how sorry he was that he hurt you."

"Then maybe Bryce should have said that to me, instead they are both trying to ambush me. How long is he staying, not the whole two weeks I hope?"

"No, just a few days. Just hear him out and if you are still dead set against getting back together with him then just let him grovel for a few days and then kick him to the curve, revenge served up sweet."

"And what is the point of that, Cash? I don't play those ridiculous games."

"Do you want me to go down to the dock and turn him away? I will, I'll tell him change of plans. Get the fuck out," he chuckled.

Mandy glanced over at him, trying to conceal her grin over that. "If he resists will you throw him overboard"

"Maybe I'll get Steve to throw him over."

Mandy rolled her eyes, "I feel bad for Steve. I feel like he's a nice guy that got caught up in this weird situation. It's embarrassing, Cash, don't you think?"

He shrugged, having given up a long time ago caring what people thought of him. It was too exhausting. "He's getting paid a shit load of money for really doing nothing, so I don't feel that sorry for him."

She sighed heavily, "Its embarrassing to me."

"He's not married you know," Cash added, changing the subject. "And you should see his resume', holy shit the guy's like a ninja."

Mandy turned to him, "What do you mean?"

"He was a Navy Seal and now he's a cop in Hawaii. He and his team work exclusively for the Governor of Hawaii."

"Really?!" Mandy said shocked and impressed. "I thought he was from some security company that you found?"

"Nope. I read an article about him in some Hawaiian magazine or paper or something while I was there. It was around that time that I asked Dad for the boat and of course he turned me down. So, I brought up the article and sent it to him. He laughed at me and said if you can get that guy on board then the yacht was ours for two weeks, thinking that was impossible. He even offered to pay half of his wages. So…" Cash grinned, "I made Steve an offer he couldn't refuse."

"You bought him off is what you did," she said appalled.

"Hey, the guy is making fifty-grand to hang out for two weeks on a fifty-million-dollar yacht, boo hoo."

"Fifty-thousand dollars!" Mandy gasped. "Holly crap. I can't believe dad fell for that," thinking that highly unusual for her father, especially since the last time Cash was on the Fair Maiden their father vowed never again to give him the boat. That she did not find unusual.

"Wait a minute," she said, thinking about the earlier conversation. "When did dad tell you that he had dinner with Bryce?"

Cash shrugged, "I don't know, last week sometime."

"In New York?"

"Yes, why?"

"Bryce wasn't in New York last week. He was in London. So how could Dad have had dinner with him?"

"I don't know. What are you getting at?"

She shook her head as if confused by his ignorance. "Don't you get it? This was not just some random thing; I think he set this whole thing up, letting you have the boat."

"How do you know Bryce was in London last week?"

"Because I still have him on my Instagram and he just posted a picture of he and his mom horseback riding. He's been there for a couple of weeks. So Dad is exaggerating or flat out lying about handing out that invitation as a last minute thing."

"But I'm the one that brought up borrowing the yacht."

"Maybe so, but I can just see him using this trip to get Bryce and I back together. I just know it."

"I think you might be a little paranoid."

"Really?" she replied with a raised eyebrow. "What about the time we met Dad for dinner and just so happened to be sitting right next to the Dean of Students from Yale University, where Dad had been trying to persuade you to go to college? Coincidence? I think not."

"Did I go to Yale?" he replied with a smug grin. "No, and are you going to get back together with Bryce? Doesn't sound like it, so if this was a arrangement for that reason, I say kids 1 dad 0." He pushed off the bed, "Lets just have a good two weeks, Sis. Stomach Bryce for a few days and if he becomes too much, then I'll tell him to leave. I promise."

Mandy rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, "Ok, you're right. It's a big boat. I can find places to avoid him."

"I got an idea," Cash smiled, standing at her bedroom door. "You can go shopping on shore every day, take Steve and make him feel he has earned that money."

She surprised him by replying something that was completely unlike her. "Maybe I will and maybe I'll whittle away that officer and a gentleman persona he's got going on."

Cash laughed out loud over that. "I would love to see that."

Mandy laughed too over her silliness of that statement as she turned and waved him off. ''Go meet your guests. I'm ready to shove off and get out on the ocean and relax."