Chapter 4
Mandy heard the engines roll over and smiled, looking out the massive windows that encased her master suite.
"Finally," she said, leaning over and seeing the dock as they slowly parted ways with it.
Several locals stood in the parking lot taking pictures with their phones and admiring the impressive boat as it departed, pointing and talking amongst themselves. She was sure that some of them probably recognized Jessica, Cash's current girlfriend, as she boarded. She was the current "it' girl in the modeling world, gracing the cover of several high-profile fashion magazines and always on some red carpet along with her brother.
Mandy liked her well enough, what she knew of her, having only met her a few times at social events. This was the first time they would all be together without cameras and hundreds of other people around that were always trying to impress each other. It was exhausting as far as she was concerned, not sure why anyone would want that kind of life.
She slipped a pair of sunglasses on top of her head and grabbed her book and headphones, taking a deep breath before going out, knowing she had to say hi to everyone, including Bryce.
She came down the hall past the other suites and stood at the open glass doors not seeing anyone but hearing them on the next level where the outside covered dining table and lounge chairs were.
She took the inner spiral staircase down to the next level stepping off the stairs onto the plush white rug.
"Can I make you a cocktail, Miss McKay?" Parker asked standing behind the bar with a tray of beverages already prepared. He had changed out of his blue work shirt into a starch white one with the words Fair Maiden embroidered in dark blue on the upper right side.
"Oh, hello, um yes thank you. I'll have a margarita please."
"Would you like that blended or on the rocks?"
"On the rocks is fine, thank you."
"Sounds good. I can bring it out to you with the others," he said, grabbing the bottle of tequila off the back shelf.
Mandy came out on the deck and was surprised to see more than just beautiful Jessica decorating the lounge chairs. She had friends.
"Hi," Mandy greeted them.
"Mandy!" Jessica squealed, jumping up and running over to her with her arms stretched out.
"Whoa," Mandy said startled over the unexpected tight hug and enthusiastic greeting. "Good to see you too, Jessica," she chuckled.
Jessica held her hand as she led her over to her two friends who sat up on the edges of their lounge chairs. "Girls, this is Cash's sister Mandy." She put her hands on Mandy's shoulders, "Didn't I tell you she was gorgeous."
Mandy could feel her face flush, not considering herself even half as beautiful as Jessica or the other two women who were approaching her.
"Hi," one stood up, reaching a height that had to be close to six feet tall. She had short, jet-black hair, a perfect complexion and the greenest eyes Mandy had ever seen. "I'm Vicki," she said, holding her hand out.
"Oh yes," Mandy recognized her as well from the modeling world. "Vicki Blaine, of course. Nice to meet you."
"This is Tawny," Jessica said as the other one got up to greet her. She had long, curly deep red hair and light brown freckles on her face. She was tall and slim like the other two, and just as beautiful.
"Hi Mandy, it's nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting us on board your beautiful boat."
"You're welcome. I hope you have a good time. Please make…" she stopped hearing her name from a familiar voice behind her.
"Hi Mandy," Bryce said.
She turned seeing him approaching from the living room area to the deck. He was even better looking than she had remembered. His blond hair was recently cut and he had on a red T-shirt and black shorts. He sported a fresh tan year-round making him look younger than his thirty-two years.
"Hi Bryce," she smiled politely. "How are you?"
"I'm good," he replied, kissing her cheek with a hand on her waist that was removed immediately after the embrace. "I'm sorry," he said, "for this unannounced visit." He held his hand up in a Scouts Honor gesture, " I swear, Mandy, I was under the impression that you knew I was coming and when I didn't receive a vile email from you," he chuckled uncomfortably, "I thought you were ok with it."
"Well," she rolled her eyes, "you know my father. He's so full of surprises."
"Yes, and again, I apologize." He leaned in, whispering to her. "I hope you're not too mad and that I haven't ruined your vacation? If you want me to go, I will. I understand. I blame myself for everything and if you don't want me here just say the word, no hard feelings."
She was surprised that he owned up to his part in the breakup. Initially she didn't want him there at all, but she also wasn't a vindictive person by any means and asking him to leave would be humiliating to him. She didn't want that either.
"No, Bryce, it's ok. I was shocked to hear that you were coming but we're all adults and I'm ok with it."
He smiled gently caressing his hand on her arm. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
"Here you are," Parker announced arriving next to them with a tray of drinks. "A margarita for you and a scotch and soda for you, Sir," he said to Mandy and Bryce, handing them their cocktails.
"Cheers," Bryce said, holding his drink next to hers. "Here's to forgive and forget."
"Hmmm," Mandy forced a small smile. "Let's just toast to nice weather and a relaxing trip." She tapped her drink against his and slid her sunglasses down over her eyes, smiling brighter as she walked away, headed for the other side of the boat, leaving Bryce with a more than disappointed and frustrated expression.
Steve looked down from the upper deck and raised an eyebrow at the end of the conversation he had just accidently walked up on, assuming that must be Bryce by Mandy's cold departure, wondering what it was that he had done to her to make her so unforgiving. By the expression on the guys face he was not all too happy about that dismissal either.
"Hey Steve," Cash shouted from the lower deck.
Bryce looked over at Cash, hearing him call out an unfamiliar name, following his line of sight as he too looked up seeing the stranger standing at the edge of the railing. It couldn't have been more than fifteen feet in height to the next deck and easily within hearing distance of a conversation going on just below.
"Come here, Steve," Cash motioned with his arm. "I'd like you to meet everyone."
"Sure," Steve replied, glancing down at the man below staring up at him, he gave Bryce a friendly grin before stepping back and heading to the stairs.
'Sonofabitch,' Bryce thought, feeling his face flush over his bruised ego, not sure who he was more pissed at, Mandy for dissing him like that, or the stranger for eavesdropping.
He looked over to the outside stairs as Steve came down. He slipped his sunglasses back on his face so the stranger couldn't see the anger in them, not that he would have anyway; Steve never looked in that direction.
"Ladies," Cash said, "this is Steve McGarrett. He's here to make sure you are all kept safe and sound."
All three of them stood up as he approached.
"Hi," Vicki said first, lowering her sunglasses down the bridge of her tiny nose, seeing if he looked just as good in the real light, and he did. "I'm Vicki," she smiled, "I'm dying to know the manner in which you will be keeping me safe and sound," her voice purred.
Jessica laughed, "You are such a flirt. He's security on the boat."
"Oh," she smiled, unaffected by his job duty, slipping her glasses back on her face. "Well let me just say Mr. McGarrett, I feel safe already."
Steve smiled feeling a little caught off guard by her forwardness, but flattered too. He knew who she was. The job he had may become boring but the scenery on the boat was going to be anything but. The women were all beautiful. It was undeniable. "It's nice to meet you, Vicki."
"This is Tawny," Cash introduced.
"Hi," Tawny said, "nice to meet you."
"Pleasure," Steve shook her hand.
Cash put a hand on Jessica's back. "Steve, this is Jessica."
He assumed this was his girlfriend, "Hi Jessica, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. Cash told me about your background. It's very impressive. I'm sure we are all in good hands."
He nodded, thanking her but still couldn't help but feel a little foolish over being paid an extraordinary amount of money for just hanging out on a yacht for two weeks.
"Security?" Bryce said as he approached them. "Do we really need security?" he chuckled, speaking as if Steve wasn't even there. "I mean seriously, what is he going to protect us from, having too much fun, or maybe pirates?" he added, pretending to be nervous and then laughed again. "I think the only thing we might need security on board for is if the canopy needs opening from the threat of a hot sun, or if the girls lose an expensive earring." He smiled curtly at Steve, "Is he good at locating lost items? Maybe we should ask if his job experience covers that?"
"He's a Police Officer and an ex navy SEAL," Cash jumped in, a little perturbed over his remarks that were uncalled for. "I think he's more than qualified to take on anything that comes up."
"Really?" Bryce replied with a surprised yet unimpressed tone, "That would make him over qualified if you ask me. Sounds like your old man is paying a lot of money for a babysitter."
Steve completely understood now what Mandy was dealing with. He also knew the cheap shots were due to the fact that he had over heard her shooting him down.
"Let's hope my services aren't needed," Steve replied, looking directly at Bryce, not caring if he was fired that day or not. "But I've also never babysat before, so just for the record, if you need your ass wiped I suggest you use your own hand, but if you want my services for that job, I'll simply throw you overboard into the water for a good cleaning."
The girls covered their mouths as they tried to conceal their laughs, sparing Bryce the embarrassment, but Cash did not try to conceal or hold anything back as he roared with laughter over the unexpected but well deserved come back. "I think you better be wiping your own ass Bryce," he laughed again, slapping Steve on the shoulder. "I like you," he said.
Bryce smiled; trying his best to let it seem like it hadn't affected him. He took a drink of his scotch and soda, strolling over to where the girls were sitting. He put his hand up to the side of his mouth and whispered loudly, "Try not to piss him off. He's all work and no play, the poor guy." He slumped down into one of the lounge chairs and smiled over at Steve, holding up his drink as if sarcastically toasting him.
Both Tawny and Vicki rolled their eyes at him as they sat back down on their loungers.
"I apologize for that," Cash said as he walked with Steve.
"No need," he replied with a slight huff, completely unaffected by it. "In my line of work a day does not go by that I'm not roasted by someone."
"Yea, well it's none of his business anyway. Prick. He's only here for a couple of days."
Steve didn't say it but he had to admit the guy had a point, not sure what he was supposed to do with himself, but every time he contemplated leaving he thought of Gracie. He could stick it out for her, no matter how bad it got, hoping the two weeks went by fast.
The rest of that night he kept to himself, trying his best to stay out of everyone's way but did his duty of watching from afar as they ate well and drank a lot, but to his pleasure, they did not over indulge in the liquor. There was an occasional burst of laughter and they danced to music that played loudly on the stereo system that had both inside and outside speakers, but they were far enough off shore that the only ones who found it to be too loud were he and the fish.
He leaned against the railing on the top level looking down at the party with his arms crossed, glancing at his watch. It was eleven thirty already, hoping they didn't party all night.
"Oh, hi," Mandy said as she came around the corner of the stairs. "I didn't know you were up here." She had a glass of ice tea in one hand and her IPad in the other. She wore the same tan dress as earlier when she boarded even though the rest of the crowd had changed at dinner. "I was just going to sit over here and read before bed, but I can go to the other deck."
"No," Steve replied politely, "you stay. I can go to the next deck."
"You won't bother me," she said matter-of-factly, "I mean, if you stay here." She pointed to two chaise lounges on the other side. "I'm just going to be over here reading for a few minutes and then I'm going to bed."
He was glad for the offer; liking the spot he was in. He was close enough to watch the activities but far enough away not to be noticed by the guests or bothered too much by the music. "Are you sure?"
"Oh yes. I'm sure."
"Ok, thank you." He noticed that after dinner, she had made a quick departure, seeing her head up toward the main suites. And even now when all the 'fun' was going on below, she was there, wondering if it was the people or if was just not her thing.
She walked over and set her drink down on a small, glass side table and then sat down, looking back over at him as he resumed his watch over the party below, glancing out over the dark water every few seconds.
"They won't stay up too much longer," Mandy said to him. "Cash and I left LA pretty late last night. He'll be hitting a wall in about thirty minutes."
Steve glanced over at her, "You flew in this morning?" he asked, surprised that they would get a flight direct from LA and not have the long shuffle as he did, and then is dawned on him that they more than likely flew on a private jet.
"Yes. What about you? When did you get here?"
"Yesterday afternoon. So I had a good night sleep, but even if they get a second wind, I'm good."
Mandy smiled, "I bet you're used to lots of late nights, being a police officer."
"I've had my share," he grinned.
"How long have you been a police officer?" she asked curiously.
"About seven years."
"Hawaii must be a nice place to work."
"It is, but we still have our share of crime the same as any other city."
"Oh yes," she quickly replied apologetically. "I wasn't insinuating that you didn't work hard or anything like that. I just mean that it's such a beautiful and peaceful place that it's hard to imagine bad things happening, but I'm not naïve' or too out of touch to know everyone has crime. I'm sure you're very good at your job too," she added, rolling her eyes at herself in the darkness. 'Just stop talking,' she thought blushing slightly; glad he couldn't see her embarrassment from where he stood.
"It is beautiful and there are places that are peaceful," he replied, feeling her uneasiness, knowing she didn't mean anything by it and wanting to assure her he didn't take it that way either. "And I agree, it is sad that such a beautiful place has to employ a police force for all the bad seeds, but they exist."
She smiled shyly, feeling less foolish now, knowing he was just appeasing her, and grateful for it. She found it rather sweet.
"I've read about Hawaii," she blurted out. "Well, I read Hawaii by James Michener, but I also read a book about the life of King Kamehameha."
"Really?" Steve replied, surprised and impressed by that. "What did you think?"
"He was an amazing man. It was almost as if he was born to be King and lead the people."
"Some say he brought them into the modern world, but some also say he did too much bringing them up to date too quickly," he commented, walking over toward her.
"But it was inevitable," Mandy replied. "I think he was smart. He did it his way and didn't let anyone step on his toes. I think he tried his best to keep his people safe and maintain tradition and at the same time preserve what he could of the islands for them from the foreigners."
"I do too." He leaned back against the railing in front of her with his arms crossed, charmed by her knowledge of his home and curious as to what she was reading now. He motioned with his head to the IPAD, "So what are you reading now, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Oh," she replied, looking down at the IPad trying to come up with a lie, too embarrassed to tell him the truth, but at that precise moment she could not come up with one single title of the hundreds of books she'd read. She looked back up at him and felt in that moment too that she didn't have to lie to him. Somehow she felt he wouldn't berate her or look at her like she was crazy.
"It's, um," she turned it around for him to see, "it's actually a textbook from a college Geology class."
"Really?" Steve smiled, shocked yet impressed. "What school are you attending?"
Mandy shifted uncomfortably, "I'm not actually taking the class, I'm just reading the textbook."
Steve tilted his head, confused. "Oh, ok. Do you plan on taking the class in the future?"
She shook her head, "No. I just like reading some of the textbooks to learn new things."
He was even more surprised over that. "Why not just take the class too?"
"It's too late for college," she admitted. "Besides, this way there's no grade, no test or no chance to fail." She regretted saying that the second it had come out. It made her sound pathetic and dumb and that was exactly what she was trying to avoid, hence reading the textbook.
"What makes you think you would fail? You obviously have interest in it, so you're halfway there."
She looked up at him and laughed nervously; just the thought of being in a classroom again terrified her. School had not been a pleasant experience for her growing up. "No, I don't think I'm the college type. High school was hard enough. I mean I got good grades, but…well you know, high school." She looked down again and rolled her eyes at herself, feeling that she was making a compete fool of herself.
Steve agreed with a huff, "Yea, I hear that. High school was kind of a blur for me."
"Me too," Mandy agreed, not wanting to go down that memory lane. She sat up on the lounger. "I would assume that you did well in school, I mean considering your credentials and all that you have accomplished. You must be very smart."
Steve chuckled slightly over that, "I learned as I went, but then again doesn't everyone?"
"I guess," Mandy replied. "But college is like a whole different level of smart."
"I don't agree with that," he said speculatively, "I mean otherwise why would people even be there to begin with?"
She looked at him intrigued, "What do you mean?"
"Look at it this way, all those people that are standing on that stage during college graduation, on their first day of Geology class, they didn't know any more than you would on your first day. What makes them so much smarter than you? If they were, they wouldn't even have to attend class, they could show up for the final and pass it. Truth is, first day of class everyone is exactly on the same level of smarts."
She had never heard it put that way before, it made perfect sense. She lay back on the lounger, "You're like a natural motivator, aren't you?" she smiled.
"Actually," he cringed a little, "I feel like I was lecturing you and I apologize if I over stepped. I tend to do that sometimes. At least my partner, Danny thinks so."
Her eyes grew wide from shock, mistaking the word 'partner' for his life partner. "Oh," she stammered, surprised that she was disappointed over that piece of information. "I didn't know you had a partner. Have you been together long?"
He narrowed his eyes at her question, not sure they were on the same wavelength in this conversation. "About six years or so."
"With the new laws do you two ever plan on getting married?"
'Yep,' he thought amusingly, 'not on the same page.'
"Danny's my partner at work, that's all," he explained with a teasing grin, knowing she was about to be embarrassed once again.
She bit her bottom lip as her face turned red, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I should have known that, but when you said partner…I just assumed, but I shouldn't have."
"It's ok," he replied.
"You must think I'm a complete idiot with the whole textbook, afraid of college and then assuming you were gay because you just mentioned the word partner?" She shook her head mortified with herself. 'This is why you should never talk,' she thought irritably.
"That word never crossed my mind," Steve replied.
He meant it. He found her to be a lot of things, astoundingly beautiful, delightfully shy; painfully insecure, yet easy to talk to, but an idiot was not even a factor on the list.
She smiled shyly over his response, not sure if she believed him or not. She often felt self-conscious talking with people, never knowing if she was going to let something foolish slip. Her brother was the only person she never felt that way around, knowing he loved her for who she was, even though he wanted more for her in life, it didn't change the way he felt about her.
She wished she had been born with more of his colorful personality, but then again sometimes she wondered if she had been would it really have been a blessing or another curse? The years of trying to live up to others expectations to be how or what they expected and then rejected and dismissed because she wasn't had taken a toll on that part of her personality, making her the self-conscious, introvert she was today, surrounded by a life that was flamboyant and the masses of people out there, some she knew and most she didn't, all wanting her to be outrageous and flashy, instead of uninteresting and boring.
Steve had spent years interviewing people, looking for ways to get into their heads to get the truth out of them. Mandy reminded him of victims that he'd questioned. Particularly the innocent relatives that were hiding the facts to protect someone they loved, only Mandy wasn't protecting someone else, she was protecting herself. He couldn't even fathom the life that she lived, it was all about money and pleasure and keeping up appearances, but he knew from only being around her a few short hours that she was sadly uncomfortable in the life she had. If he were in an interrogation room he would use that against her to get the truth, but to do it here in this innocent situation, would make him the criminal.
"What's on the agenda tomorrow?" Steve asked, feeling an uncomfortable silence over that last question.
Mandy shrugged, "I don't know. More of this I guess."
"Geology, ice tea and good conversation?" he grinned.
She looked up at him and smiled over that. "It's been a nice vacation so far. Oh and let's not forget Frederick's cooking."
Steve put a hand over his heart, "Oh man, that pork chop he cooked tonight, the knife just slid through it."
"He's a master," she agreed.
His hand moved to his stomach, patting it. "I'm a little fearful of eating this good."
"We have a really good gym on board," she suggested. "You can use it whenever you want." She pictured him shirtless with the mysterious tattoos exposed, running on the treadmill or pulling down on the weight bar as his biceps flexed.
"Thanks, I might go for run. I like swimming though. I try and swim everyday at home."
"In the ocean?" she asked.
"Yes, I live right…" he paused as they heard footsteps and turned seeing Bryce standing there with a drink in his hand.
"I thought I might find you up here," he said knowingly. Not surprised to see her hiding away, but was surprised to see Steve, not liking the combination.
He came toward them and took a seat on the lounger next to her, stretching his legs out.
"I could sleep out here," he said taking a drink of his cocktail and laying his head back with his eyes closed.
"It's a beautiful night," Mandy replied politely, a little disappointed by his interruption.
He opened his eyes and looked at the two of them. "I'm not intruding am I?" he asked, but also not caring.
Steve was no fool, he knew this guy didn't like him for whatever reason and also knew without a doubt that his presence was no longer wanted. Not sure if it had to do with the mysterious hostility Bryce felt toward him or the fact that he and Mandy were there alone, talking.
"Nope," Steve replied. "We were just discussing college geology and swimming," he smiled at her.
"And Hawaii's crime as well as Frederick's cooking," she added with a grin, sensing Bryce was jealous over Steve's presence and liking it.
Steve's smile broadened as he pushed off the railing, "Well, I think I'll do a quick tour and earn my keep." He walked toward the stairs.
"I hope no one fell overboard while you were up here talking geology and Frederick's cooking," Bryce blurted out, getting a shocked and angry glare from Mandy.
"Me too," Steve replied just as he reached the steps, "That might put a blip on my service record. Damn, I may never be able to order from Ammo magazine again." He went down the steps hearing Mandy laugh, liking the sound of it. She had a great laugh.
She focused on Bryce, "That was uncalled for," she snapped.
"Oh please," Bryce rolled his eyes, "You can be so naïve' Mandy. It's one of the things I love about you but also one that scares me. He was up here chatting it up for no other reason than to try and finagle his way into your life."
She was even more appalled by that. "He did not engage the conversation, I did! Not everyone in the world who doesn't have a million dollars is out to steal yours Bryce, or mine," she said angrily, flipping her legs over the side to get up. "I'm not as naïve' as you might think."
He reached out and took ahold of her arm, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insinuate that you couldn't handle yourself."
"Yes you did, and it was very insulting, and so was the way you spoke to Steve."
He let go of her arm, agitated that she was sticking up for him, "If he was employed by me he wouldn't be standing around chatting it up with the guests."
"Well he's not employed by you, he's employed by me."
"And the most you're going to get for your money is an expensive conversation," he huffed.
"I think you're jealous of him," she laughed.
He looked at her like she was crazy, "What?! Why would I be jealous of the security guy?"
"I don't know but you suddenly became very rude and offensive when you came up here and found me talking to him."
He softened in his expression, "I just found it a little unsettling is all. I worry about you Mandy, even though we aren't together anymore doesn't mean I still don't care for you."
"I'm not a child Bryce and I don't need you or my father looking after me, deciding what's best for me or who I can talk to."
"I wasn't trying to interfere," he argued, "but you don't know him at all. You are a very beautiful woman Mandy and you hold power that I don't even think you know you have."
She rolled her eyes, "Money. Money is the only power I hold."
"Yes!" he said adamantly, "and don't think for one second that there aren't bad people out there who would try to manipulate you and take that power away. The world can be a very ugly place and you have been sheltered from it most of your life, that's what makes you naïve' and it's not your fault, its just the way you've been raised. I worry about that with you, and so does your father."
"You make it sound like everyone I talk to is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Steve and I were just having a nice conversation, nothing more. He was just being polite."
Bryce sat back on the lounger, "You can't deny the fact that he's a cop who makes a menial salary and spends his day trying to manipulate people in to telling him things they don't want to, and then he's thrown into this world of money and luxury. I mean look around you, it's your everyday life but for him this is a life he will never be able to obtain, unless he wins the lottery." He looked over at her. "There's just something about him that I don't trust."
"You're being ridiculous."
"Maybe I am and maybe I was a little jealous when I came up here and saw you talking with him, just don't fall into the trap of a good looking guy who knows how to manipulate people and become his lottery ticket. That's all I'm saying. I'm sorry Mandy, but I have a much greater grasp on the world than you do and if that makes you angry then so be it. I just say it to protect you."
"And not everyone in the world is distrustful or a wolf in sheep's clothing either, Bryce. He's here to do a job and nothing more."
"What job? Stand around and get a better tan. I can protect you better than he can," he sighed. "I would too. There's nothing I want more than to protect you."
She knew where he was going with this. "Now you sound like my father. Shelter me, protect me, guard me, maybe I don't want that. Maybe I should experience a wolf in sheep's clothing." She stood up with her things gathered in her arms. "I appreciate your concern over me Bryce, but isn't the reason you broke up with me in the first place was because I was too 'boring' as you so eloquently put it, and now all of a sudden you're attracted to boring again. Maybe you're the wolf in sheep's clothing." She went past him to the stairs and turned just before she went down. "And I don't need your protection either, I have a handsome security guard on board."
She smiled at her boldness as she went down the stairs, annoyed more than ever at him and her father. It angered her even more that he attacked Steve for no reason other than to just try and weasel his way back into her life. She had been blind in that relationship, hating all the glamour and red carpet events that he insisted on attending, but now that she was free of him, she realized it was her name that got him invited to those events and his foot in the door. He had used her. She wondered if maybe now those same doors weren't opening so easily anymore now that she was gone. She didn't care either. She was crystal clear on one thing in her life and that was not going back with Bryce.
He took a drink of his scotch and soda washing down the bitter taste in his mouth over another failed conversation with Mandy. He was the naïve' one to think he could just show up and she'd fall right back into his arms. She was being stubborn he thought, realizing now that maybe he had hurt her worse than he thought. It was going to take some groveling, something he wasn't very good at. He was used to getting what he wanted, especially from women. She was playing hard to get he sighed, but felt confident in the end; perhaps before this trip was over, he'd be in her bed again. But in the meantime he thought with a slight grin, Vicki would be a good substitute. Unlike Mandy she was flirtatious and adventurous, going as far as drunkenly admitting that at one point she had considered a porn movie to pay the rent before her modeling career took off. He felt himself get hard just over the thought of her being uninhibited in bed.
He stood up to go back down and saw Steve talking with Cash below. He gave him the once over trying to size up the man that didn't look all that impressive to him, even with his so called credentials, wondering if it wasn't all bullshit just to get the job, or a ploy to impress Mandy.
His eyes narrowed and he had to forcibly admit that even though he thought nothing of him, women had other thoughts, seeing another one that he had his eye on make her way over to him.
Vicki kicked her sandals off and got up from her chair, staggering just slightly as she caught herself. She made her way over to where Steve and Cash were talking.
"Hello," she said, taking the spot on Steve's right side. She was almost as tall as him. "Can I ask you something?" she said to him.
"Sure," he replied, knowing she was drunk by not only the slight wavering of her head, but her eyes were clearly glossed over.
"Do you ever get to clock out on this job?" she looked over at Cash. "Can he clock out and have a drink with us?"
Cash laughed, knowing she had the hot's for Steve. "I don't care if you have a drink," he said to Steve.
"What do you like?" Vicki asked happily, taking a hold of his bicep. "I'll make it for you."
Steve smiled politely but shook his head, "No thanks, I'm good, but thank you for the offer," he smiled.
"Just one?" she whined, tilting her head as she looked at him with a pouty expression.
Drunk or not, she was beautiful and he was flattered by her flirting but it wasn't his style. "I need to stay sober," he said, appeasing her. "I need to make sure you get all tucked in and get your beauty sleep. Not that you need any."
"Ahh, that's so sweet," she cooed, laying her head on his shoulder. "You are so sweet."
"C'mon," Cash laughed, taking her hand that was on Steve's arm. "I think it's time we all got tucked in." He rolled his eyes as he looked at Steve.
"Good night, Steve," Vicki purred as the other girls laughed over her drunken wave as Cash and Jessica pulled her along to the inside and toward her guest cabin. "If you change your mind, just come and get me."
"Ok," he replied, in a tone that was nothing more than to pacify her. He gathered up some of the glasses as Parker came out with a tray.
"I got all this," he said, placing them on the tray.
"I'm going take a quick walk around and then go to bed," Steve said to him.
"Me too. I'm glad this didn't go any later. I'm tired."
"See you in the morning."
Steve walked around the boat and up to the bridge. The boat was anchored for the night about a mile off shore and the Captain had retired to his cabin a couple of hours before.
He came down the steps to the lower level where his cabin was. As he came around the side he ran into Bryce who was standing at the railing looking out over the dark water. He thought it odd that he was there, knowing his room was on the upper level with Mandy and Cash's.
"Oh hey, I thought everyone went to bed," he said to him.
"I'm getting there," Bryce said, bracing his hands on the railing and looking sideway at him. "Do I have a curfew officer?"
Steve held his ground staring back at him for a few seconds before responding.
"Look," he replied, annoyed with this guy, "I don't know what your beef is with me, but if it's because of what I overheard earlier today, the conversation with you and Mandy, I don't care, its none of my business. I'm just here to do a job and that's all."
Bryce turned and leaned against the railing, "And what exactly is that job?"
"The one that Cash hired me for."
"Oh yea," Bryce nodded, "security. If you agree that is your job, then maybe you should stick with it and leave the socializing to the guests."
"If you have something to say," Steve glared at him, "then spit it out."
"Ok, then I will." He pushed off the railing standing with his arms crossed. "Stay away from Mandy."
"That sounds like a threat."
"Take it as you wish, but stay away from her."
"I don't do well with threats," Steve said. "And besides, she's a grown woman. If she wants me to stay away she has the ability to tell me herself, you should know that first hand?" he smiled triumphantly, walking past him. "Good night," he said cheerfully. "See you in the morning."
Bryce clenched his fists and then his jaw, wanting to punch him.
….
Steve laid down on his bed and put a hand behind his head, staring out the round porthole window, mulling over his first day on the job.
Overall it went fairly well. He could honestly say he liked Cash. He wasn't at all the arrogant, rich over the top guy he was expecting. On the contrary, he was very laid back and didn't seem to take it all too seriously, whereas Bryce did take it seriously, too seriously, especially when it came to Mandy.
"Jesus," he mumbled, "what a tool that guy is." His threat to stay away from her only led Steve to one conclusion; he in turn threatened Bryce and his chance at reclaiming Mandy, assuming that was his motive. He found it amusing, but he still liked the idea of it too. Here he was, a middle class cop from Hawaii who had some rich asshole sweating it out over a chick.
His thoughts left Bryce and drifted to Mandy. She was beautiful, there no doubt about that and he enjoyed the conversation with her, but she was so far beyond his type that he never even considered what had Bryce all up in arms about. He did like her though, very much, but she was far too insecure for his taste. She, like her brother, didn't take her wealth too seriously, but unlike her brother she almost seemed burdened by it.
She had mentioned three reasons for not actually attending college but it was the third one that had caught his attention.
'There was no chance to fail.'
He could only assume there would be pressure in a successful family such as that one, wondering if her statement actually meant something or if it was just a play on words, but along with the 'idiot' remark he guessed more than likely there was an undertone to it. He sadly perceived her life as one giant Catch-22; she struggled for success, hence reading the college textbooks, yet she was afraid to try for success because of failure and looking foolish, or in a more harsh term and her own words, an idiot.
He began to feel sorry for her, wondering if anyone else in her life was aware of what he had discovered after only a few minutes of conversation with her, and worse yet, did they even care? Did Bryce? He doubted it.
He rolled over and switched the light off, clearing his mind of thoughts that could consume him and keep him up. Reflections of Mandy McKay had to be the first to go, or he'd be up for hours.
