Chapter 5
Steve was up early the next morning before everyone else, except Frederick of course who was already busy preparing breakfast.
He came in the galley, standing at the door not wanting to invade his space.
"Good morning, Frederick."
He looked up from hand whipping eggs in a metal bowl and grinned broadly at him. "Bonjour monsieur."
"I don't want to interrupt but I was wondering if I could grab a cup of coffee?" he asked, pointing at the coffee maker.
"Absolutely!" He went to put down the bowl when Steve spoke up.
"I can get it," he said coming inside.
"Very well, thank you. I need to whip the eggs to the right consistency or the recipe will be a disaster."
"I can't imagine anything you make would be a disaster, Frederick." He grabbed the biggest mug he could find and filled it from the spout on the stainless steel coffee decanter.
"You flatter me with your compliments, that will only get you an extra helping," he joked.
"My days looking better and better," Steve replied, pouring a small amount of cream from a pitcher on the tray that looked like it was ready for delivery as soon as the guests awoke.
"Good morning, Frederick," Mandy said as she came in wearing a white laced cover up that concealed the black bikini beneath it. She noticed Steve off to the side, "Oh, good morning." She wasn't expecting to see him that early but was pleasantly happy when she did.
"Good morning," they both replied.
Steve pointed toward the decanter. "Can I pour you a cup of coffee?"
"Yes please. It's the most important meal of the day."
He laughed at that as he grabbed a mug and began to fill it for her.
"Please Miss Mandy," Frederick objected, "why do you not go and sit and I will bring you coffee."
"Don't be ridiculous Frederick. I'm perfectly capable of fetching my own coffee."
He recalled from previous trips that Mandy always was the first one up, not having a hangover while the others slept in. He appreciated her even more that she came to him rather than he having to wait on her.
"Here you go," Steve said, handing her the cup.
"Mahalo," she smiled, taking it from him.
That got a grateful smile from him as well, "Cream and sugar?"
"No thank you. Frederick's coffee is perfect all on its own."
Frederick put his fingers to his lips and blew her a kiss. "Such beautiful words from such a beautiful young lady."
She smiled and playfully curtsied, "Your majesty, I'm going to go out on the deck now and patiently wait for your masterpiece for breakfast."
As she walked out she heard Frederick roar with laughter. "She is enchanting!" he said to Steve with a broad smile.
"That she is," he agreed, following a few steps behind her, leaving Frederick to his space.
He did a quick walk around of the boat first, greeting Parker the deckhand as he sprayed off the back of the boat getting it ready for the day.
Captain Bordeaux stood at the top railing barking out orders to him when he saw Steve. The two men gave each other a polite but forced smile, Steve going the extra mile.
"Good morning, Captain. Do we have an agenda for the day?"
"After breakfast we are going to head closer to Rarotonga. They would like to do some shopping today. I assume you will be joining them?"
Steve wasn't sure if that was a question or an order, considering the tone. "Yes, I will be if they go ashore."
"Very well then," he replied and then pointed to a spot that had been missed during the cleaning, directing Parker to do it again.
Steve moved on, still nursing his coffee as he did, wondering what it was about his presence on this boat that made some people so hostile. He walked along the side admiring the blue, calm water, craving a swim. He came to the front, seeing Mandy sitting on a lounge chair taking a drink of her coffee.
Here was one person; he thought, who seemed to tolerate him.
"So, I heard you wanted to go to town today to do some shopping?"
Mandy pulled her sunglasses up and set them on her head. "Well," she began, glancing around her and then whispered, "it all depends on who's going."
"Gotcha'," Steve replied with a knowing grin. He couldn't help but glance down at her long, tanned legs that were crossed. She had a black bikini on under the white knit cover up. He pictured her barefoot on a Hawaiian beach in a short, tropical colored sarong with her hair dripping wet from the ocean.
"Did you sleep well last night?" she asked him.
"Yes I did, thank you."
"So the cabin is ok, not too hot or cramped?"
"No, it was very comfortable, thanks."
She on the other hand had started out to have a restless night. She tossed and turned for the first half hour thinking about her confrontation with Bryce, becoming agitated over his accusations about Steve. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Her thoughts drifted to her conversation with Steve and she caught herself smiling. She didn't meet too many men like him. He was confident without having to prove it. It was refreshing. She fell asleep thinking of him and didn't stir the rest of the night.
She was about to ask him a question about native Hawaii that she had recalled reading once when she heard voices coming down the inner stairs from the cabins on the upper level. The others were awake.
"I'm going to go speak to the Captain about something," Steve lied, not wanting to be there when Bryce showed up. He decided to keep a low profile for the next couple of days until Bryce left the boat. No need to stir up trouble out of spite, he thought. He was an employee after all, not a guest.
She watched him go to the outside stairs thinking it was a quick departure, wondering if it had to do with Bryce, but she couldn't blame him the way that he had spoken to him the night before. She didn't want to be around Bryce either.
She got off the lounger and joined the others at the large dining table just outside the family room and bar.
"Morning, Sis," Cash said as he lazily plopped down in one of the chairs.
"Good morning. How do you feel, terrible?" she chuckled.
He practically laid across the table and grabbed her cup of coffee, sliding it over to his side.
"Hey!" Mandy objected but was too late to intercept.
"Appreciate your hospitality, Sis." He puckered his lips and kissed the air, "love you."
She rolled her eyes with a grin.
"Beautiful morning," Bryce said as he arrived next. He leaned over and gave Mandy a kiss on the cheek. "And I mean you," he added.
She smiled politely but Cash could see the irritation where no one else really could.
The girls also greeted her as they took the lounge chairs again, all of them looking perfect in their skimpy bikinis and swept up hair, all three nursing bad hangovers too but none of them physically showing it.
Frederick arrived moments later with the tray of coffee.
"Did you sleep well," Bryce asked her, taking a cup that was served to him.
"Yes," she replied, not making eye contact but looking over her ITunes on her phone.
"Everyone was talking about going to shore today to do some shopping. I was hoping maybe we could hang back and have dinner tonight in town, what do you think?"
She looked up at him then, "Why?"
He was caught off guard over that reply, glancing around them to see if anyone else heard it. He was pleased that all were preoccupied except for Cash. "I just thought it would be nice to get away, just the two of us."
She wondered if he was ever going to get the hint. She kept her voice low, as she spoke, "I really don't want to miss a meal that Frederick is preparing. Besides, I want to hang out on the boat today. I'm not going to town."
"I could stay here, keep you company."
She looked him straight on, "That's not necessary. You should go to town with the others."
He leaned in to her, "Why are you making this so difficult?"
"Why are you?" she replied.
"I apologize for last night, ok? It was uncalled for. In no way do I consider you helpless. I was just pointing out a scenario with that security guy that had me concerned is all."
She didn't reply.
"Mandy," he said quietly, reaching across and putting his hand over hers, "I miss you. I miss you very much. I admire you for putting me in my place. I deserve it, but how long are you going to punish me before you finally forgive me and we can move on and start over."
She wanted to scream. Instead she moved her hand away and stood up. "I'm going to grab a floaty and listen to some music, maybe I'll come to my senses then," she said sarcastically.
She glanced over at her brother, rolling her eyes as she used her long legs to quickly depart the area.
"Hey," Cash said, sitting across the table from him, "lay off Mandy."
"Your sister is beautiful and stubborn."
Cash laughed, "She is anything but stubborn. She just doesn't want to get back together. Get a clue, you and my old man."
"I still love her," Bryce admitted. "I want to take care of her."
Cash huffed, "That's your problem." He stood up and joined Jessica and the other girls on the loungers.
Bryce sat back, shaking his head, 'Since when did she become the independent one? Her whole life has been about people looking after her. It's all she knows, and now all of a sudden I'm a dick because I'm willing to deal with all of her pathetic insecurities? Ungrateful bitch.'
Mandy thanked Parker as she took the expensive foam rubber floaty that he had supplied for her. She went to the back of the boat and down the five steps that led directly into the water or onto a small platform to the left that was used to board the dinghy.
She slipped her sunglasses down blocking the morning sun that was sparkling on the crystal blue water. The pricey Polaroid lenses allowed her a clear view down to the fifty-foot depth, seeing the large anchor as well as the beginning of a coral reef not too far out. She took a moment to admire several tropical colored fish that swam beneath the boat. It was all so beautiful and peaceful down there. She smiled at the memory of a childhood fantasy of pretending to live under the water when she would go swimming, especially in the ocean. It was so quiet and no one could scold her or make fun of her, or tell her all the things she was doing wrong instead of right.
She put an Air Pod in each ear and used the noise cancellation to mask out anything but her music. She shuffled the ITunes mixture that held a variety of songs including newer, older and some really old by her age point, pleased that the first song to play was Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway," laughing because she was doing just that. She turned it up and carefully got on the raft. It held her weight easily, letting very little water seep under her back, but she didn't care, it felt good.
She gently pushed away from the boat and closed her eyes, letting herself become absorbed by the song. It was here; right at this moment that she felt most relaxed. She could escape her life that seemed to be going nowhere, and let go of the pressure she put on herself to make it into something. She didn't have to be Amanda McKay, granddaughter of legendary Peter McKay I, or daughter of multi millionaire CEO Peter McKay II, or the shy insecure sister of trendsetter Cash McKay, when she had her music on, she could just be Mandy. Most of her songs were ones that she just enjoyed, but there were a few choice selections that had great meaning to her and some that even brought tears to her eyes. Her music was her sanctuary.
She let out a deep sigh, feeling genuinely relaxed for the first time since setting foot on the boat.
Steve stood on the top deck and looked down at her. She had removed the knit cover up and lay on the dark grey raft in the black bikini and dark sunglasses. Her long, thin legs stretched out, her toes fluttering to the sound coming from her headphones while her black hair floated on the water above her head. He could see a slight smile on her face as she listened to the music, or maybe it was a book on tape he thought; perhaps a textbook on astronomy, or one on his beloved islands, liking that one the most.
She put her hand in the water and the raft circled around so she faced the other way now. She was visually stunning, but she was also kind. Bryce, that arrogant asshole didn't deserve her, he thought, hoping she held her ground. Not that it was any of his business, but he did hope so. She deserved better.
He heard voices behind him and pulled himself away from the beautiful view below, moving on to another part of the boat that did not contain a visual of Mandy McKay.
As he turned he saw Cash coming toward him.
"Good morning," Steve said to him, meeting him halfway.
"Hey, good morning. Nice view huh?' he said, assuming he had been looking out over the water as he stood at the railing.
Steve felt like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, "Yea," he turned his head seeing what Cash could, relieved that Mandy wasn't in view, "it is a nice view." he spoke of the water and of his sister, unknowingly to him.
"I was just talking to the Captain," Cash continued," and the girls want to go to town today to do some shopping, but I guess there is a small storm brewing about fifty miles away that should hit sometime tonight so he doesn't want to move the boat any closer to shore. We're going to take the dinghy instead."
"Ok, what time?"
"You can handle that right, the dinghy?"
"Absolutely."
"Ok good. I don't want to drag the crew guy with us and since you're already going, I trust you'll get us there and back. I like being on a boat, but to be honest I've never driven one," he admitted, feeling kind of foolish over that. "I guess that sounds like owning a pool and not knowing how to swim, kind of ridiculous."
"Not at all," Steve smiled, not taking it anyway except that it gave him something to do. "Glad to help. Hell, I live on an island and half the guys I know couldn't even start a boat. That's what friends with boats are for."
Cash laughed over that, liking that he went the extra mile to assure him it wasn't ridiculous after all.
"Hey," Cash pointed over his shoulder. "Breakfast is ready if you want to join us on the deck."
He appreciated the invitation but declined. "Thanks, Cash but I think I'll eat in the galley with Frederick. I don't want to impose on you guys."
"Well you're not, but ok, whatever makes you comfortable. We'll be heading out after breakfast."
"I'll have Parker pull out the dinghy then," Steve said.
"Sounds good."
They parted in opposite directions, Steve went toward the bridge to find Parker and Cash continued to the back, looking for his sister. He came to the railing and looked down, seeing her floating in the water on the raft.
'She found her happy place,' he thought, deciding not to bother her about breakfast. He knew she could be there for a long time. He hoped that Bryce would leave her be and it was just then that he realized this is where he had found Steve. He glanced over his shoulder and then back down at his sister laying on the water. He grinned knowing now that he wasn't looking at the view, at least not of the ocean, he was looking at Mandy. It reminded him of the day before when they saw each other for the first time.
He liked Steve. He was a nice guy, thinking that if Mandy hooked up with him it might be a nice change from the douche bags like Bryce that she had dated in the past. He couldn't really see a future with him considering their completely different lifestyles, but what the hell; they had two weeks.
He couldn't help but chuckle to himself over the outlandish thought of Mandy doing something so scandalous, that was his background, not hers.
He just wanted her to have some fun in life. She was too serious in his opinion and put too much pressure on herself to fit in with their peers, which he knew as well as she did that she didn't, and never really had. It didn't change they way he felt about her, she was his little sister and he loved her more than anyone else in the world. She was his family, really the only one he had. He just wanted her to find something or someone that would make her happy. She deserved it and so much more he thought sadly.
He glanced over his shoulder again where Steve had departed, shaking his head at the thought of the two of them. He was reaching again and interfering, hearing her voice from the day before when they walked back from breakfast, asking him to leave her be. He decided that he would step back and let her live her own life, for once.
…..
Twenty minutes after breakfast, Cash and the others walked single file along the side walkway of the yacht to the back so they could board the dinghy that was waiting off the steps that Mandy had gone down earlier to enter the water.
Jessica pointed to Mandy who was still floating in the water. "Isn't Mandy coming?" she asked.
"No," Cash replied. "I texted her, but she wants to hang out here today. She likes being in the water. I wouldn't be surprised if she's still there when we get back."
Bryce stared at her, knowing exactly why she wasn't going. It was because of him. His eyes then focused on the back of Tawny. He had one more night and then he could get out of there, why not give it a shot with the model, he thought.
Cash stopped suddenly and looked out over the water, grasping the metal railing as his blood ran cold.
"Oh my god," he whispered and then screamed out. "MANDY!" he ran along the side of the boat, his hands on the railing as he did, screaming her name over and over. The others too saw what was happening and began screaming for her as well.
Bryce stood frozen, staring at the large Grey Reef shark that was swimming dangerously close to her raft, back and forth, back and forth.
Mandy hummed along to the Jimmy Buffet tune playing in her ears, completely unaware of the shrieks coming from the boat or the danger that was beneath her.
Cash came down the stairs and jumped in the awaiting dinghy. He pulled frantically on the rope to start the motor but had no idea of the switch that needed to be flipped to allow gas into the engine.
Steve and the Captain had been discussing where he should dock the dinghy once they got to the dock when they heard the commotion.
The screams were becoming more hysterical as they both raced to the upper railing. They arrived just in time to see the shark come up from below and knock Mandy off into the water as it bit into the grey raft that looked like a plump Harbor Seal from below.
She screamed out in shock and thought at first it was Cash playing a joke on her, but then she saw her raft being whipped back and forth in the water as the shark ripped it apart.
She turned toward the boat that seemed like a million miles away and started to swim.
Steve watched in horror as the Grey Reef shark swam down, knowing enough about them to grasp that it was going to come up from below to attack its next prey, Mandy.
Cash pulled on the cord over and over and then stood up in the dinghy, screaming for her to swim. He was about to jump in when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.
Steve climbed over the railing on the fourth level and pushed himself off, curling his body into a cannonball, landing only a few feet from Mandy.
The large splash startled both she and the shark. It darted off to the side going down and away. He came up swimming backward to her with his eyes on the water tracking the movement. He'd frightened him for now hoping it did the trick.
"Swim!" he said to her, keeping his body between she and the predator.
Mandy put her face in the water and swam as fast as she could, assuming he was behind her.
"Oh fuck," Steve whispered hoarsely, feeling a cold chill run through him as it came back in his direction. He knew he could never out swim it, his only hope would be that it would be uninterested and maybe still a little skittish from the earlier commotion.
He slowly started swimming backward, lifting his right foot as it swam dangerously close to him. He was about to just make a run for it when it came at him again, swimming so close he could have reached out and grabbed the dorsal fin. It was toying with him.
He stopped swimming ignoring the screams from the deck for him to hurry. Something came over him, a memory from when he was a teenager and would go spear fishing with his best friend and his father who had ties to the islands going all the way back to before Kamehameha the first. He recalled the chant the father used to say as they entered the water from the boat.
He put his left hand under the surface imitating the song he'd heard several times, opening his palm as a way to summon the shark and then began to speak to it in the native tongue.
"Mano, aumakua, Kealiikaua, Kalani, Ke-alii-holo-i-ka-moana, Kaholiakane, Kua, akua-noho."
It was a calling of the names of all the mano gods that protected families and fishermen from dangers in the water. Kealiikaua was the great shark of war and his companions slayed other sharks who fed on human flesh. Steve called out the names of these god's, having a strong belief in the culture from where he came from.
He repeated it over and over as he kicked backward with his legs, pausing once to catch his breath as the shark passed by him dangerously close once again from behind.
On the third round of chant the shark went down deep and Steve turned making a break for the boat, swimming as fast as he could, assuming it was going down to come up from below to get a good bite out of him.
Cash reached out as Steve grabbed the ladder and hauled himself out of the water.
He was up the five steps in a flash and crawled in sitting down on the deck to catch his breath.
"Oh-My-God…"Jessica declared, "I have never seen anything like that in my whole life, and I have seen some pretty crazy shit."
"It's gone!" Tawny pointed down into the water. "It just took off! That was fricking amazing!" she declared as they all stared at Steve in shock and awe.
He bent his knees, resting his elbows on them and ran his hands over his wet hair, hearing nothing but the sound of his rapidly beating heart pounding in his ears. He'd never encountered a shark that close before and never wanted to again. He was completely at its mercy thankful that it had done nothing more than just torment him.
He finally looked up and saw a hand in his face, glancing up and seeing Cash. He grasped onto it as he pulled him up. His soaking wet clothes clinging to him.
Cash didn't let go of his hand, squeezing it tighter with his other hand on Steve's shoulder as he spoke to him.
"That was the gutsiest thing I've ever seen. As far as I'm concerned, you just earned every penny that I owe you, plus some. Thank you."
Steve didn't see it that way at all, he only saw Mandy in danger and reacted accordingly. He looked past Cash now, seeking her out, knowing if he was this frazzled over it then she must be too.
She stood about ten feet away staring at him as well, but not in the same shocked awe that the others were. She was much calmer and kept eye contact with him as she made her way over to where he was standing.
He had to catch his breath again, but not from the ordeal, it was from the way she was looking at him, it throttled him more than the shark had.
She put her hands on his shoulders, "I don't know what to say except thank you. Thank you," her voice broke, never in her life had someone come to her defense like that.
He took her tears as a sign of fear and not gratitude. "You're all right?" he gently assured her.
"Yes," she nodded and put her arms around his neck. "Thanks to you," she replied completely composed with not an ounce of fear in her voice.
The embrace was firm yet tender and he hugged her back, accepting what he was now assured was her gratitude.
She let go of him and stepped back as Cash put a towel around her and Jessica put one on Steve.
The chatter around them started up again but she kept her eyes on her rescuer, thanking him again, only without words this time.
He smiled in return; glad he had been in the right place at the right time for her.
"C'mon you two," Cash said, leading Mandy and Steve to the front of the boat, the shopping trip forgotten.
As they passed by Bryce's still shocked expression, Steve couldn't help but speak up over his lack of assistance to the woman he supposedly loved. "Good thing I didn't keep my distance."
Bryce said nothing. There was nothing he could say; he hadn't done anything to assist. The thought of jumping in the water with a shark to help Mandy never crossed his mind.
He stayed back while the others went to the front, knowing his chances with her were now shattered.
…..
After much unneeded praises and thanks Steve had finally convinced Cash that he was still going to work the next two weeks and not take the time off to just become a guest on the Fair Maiden rather than an employee. He broke away and went back to his cabin to shower and change.
He came out ten minutes later and Mandy was leaning back against the wall waiting for him. She too had changed from her black bikini to a dark blue sundress with spaghetti straps.
"Hi," she smiled.
"Hey you," Steve smiled back, hoping she wasn't there to thank him again. He'd already heard it twice from her and about ten times from Cash.
"The others have decided not to go to town," she said. "The girls are a little nervous about getting in the water, but I'd like to go. Would you mind taking me in the dinghy to town?"
He didn't hesitate, pleased that she wasn't afraid to go near the water after her ordeal. "Sure I will. When do you want to go?"
Mandy smiled over his acceptance, "How about now?"
He motioned for her to take the lead, "Let's go."
He was more than happy to get off the boat for a few hours but had to admit that he was even more pleased that he was able to do it with her.
…..
Mandy took Steve's hand as she stepped from the platform on the back of the boat into the dinghy.
He guided her to one of the six cushioned seats as she sat down.
"Thank you."
"You ready?" he asked, pulling on the motor cord as the small outboard engine started.
"Yes," she replied with a grin, holding her small black Donna Karen backpack in her hand.
He pushed away from the yacht and gently turned the handle of the motor as the engine gained momentum.
"Have fun." They both heard Cash's voice as they turned and looked up, seeing him on the upper deck.
Mandy waved back at him. "Bye," she shouted back. "We'll be back in a couple of hours."
"No hurry," Cash shouted back, more than pleased with the unexpected excursion. He liked Steve from the beginning, but since the shark ordeal, his respect for him went through the roof.
She waved one more time and then looked at Steve. "Let's go."
He too waved at Cash as he turned the handle full throttle as the dinghy skidded across the calm water headed in the direction of the dock about a half-mile away.
Cash watched them with a broad smile on his face, never seeing his sister so relaxed and carefree, clearly smitten over Steve. It was refreshing to him. In the beginning he had seen it as nothing more than maybe a vacation romance, like the several that he had had over the years, but after the earlier scene in the water, he began to reconsider his notion of a vacation liaison to something that maybe could last longer. There was no way, he thought, that Steve jumped in that water with the danger lurking about unless he felt something for her as well. He wanted his sister to be happy more than anything else and at the moment her happiness was speeding across the water with her in a dinghy to spend the day together.
"Where are they going?" Bryce asked as he came up behind him, his voice clearly showing his irritation.
"To town for the day," Cash replied, turning and leaning casually against the railing as he spoke to him.
"I would watch out for that one," Bryce replied. "I care for your sister very much and I don't trust that guy. He has dollar signs in his eyes."
"You care for my sister?" Cash questioned, glaring at him, fed up with his bullshit. "Where were you when she was in danger? Oh yea, you were standing on the deck with your dick in your hand while Steve jumped in and saved her. I don't see dollar signs in his eyes I see them in yours."
"Whoa," Bryce said," just take it easy. I want what's best for Mandy."
"Bullshit, you want what's best for Bryce. I don't know what kind of scheme you and my old man have cooked up, but whatever it is, she's not buying it and neither and I. As a matter of fact, I don't want you around my sister anymore at all. I don't trust you! I think you should leave, today." He stood face to face with him, glaring at him as he did, "I'll talk to the Captain about arranging for your departure."
Bryce grabbed his arm as he walked by him, "I didn't see you jump in the water either."
Cash pulled away from his grip and shoved him against the railing, "You're right, I should have jumped in, but the difference between you and me is that I'll spend the rest of my life regretting that moment, but you, you don't regret not jumping in at all, not one tiny bit." He took a step closer to him, the tone in his voice threatening, "Go pack your shit. I want you gone by the time Mandy gets back."
Bryce watched him enter the bridge where the Captain was, presumably to arrange for his departure.
'Fucking McKay's,' he thought bitterly, glancing out over the water where Mandy and Steve were, barely able to see them now as they neared the dock. He had failed to rekindle the relationship between he and Mandy, assured he could have if it wasn't for that guy. He was nothing more than white trash looking for a meal ticket, and Mandy and Cash were too stupid and naïve' to see it. Of course he jumped in the water, he thought angrily, there was over sixty millions dollars floating in it. It wasn't so much the idea of Steve swindling her for money that bothered him, as it was the fact that he lost out to her from someone of his stature. It was humiliating and worse yet, her father would see it that way as well, and that angered him.
Mandy laid her hand over her thighs, holding down her dress as the wind picked up from the speed of the small boat. Her hair was in a ponytail and she pulled it around the front and held onto to it, looking into the wind as she closed her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze, feeling perfectly safe with Steve at the helm.
He smiled at her carefree nature at the moment, wondering at first if he were going to fast, that perhaps she was concerned about her hair getting messed up but then saw that she was actually enjoying it. He looked down at her legs as her dress flapped in the wind. She quite possibly had the most beautiful legs he'd ever seen, and being from Hawaii where most females had theirs on display 24-7 that was a huge compliment to her.
He looked away, focusing on the water ahead, but couldn't help but take a sneak peak every once in a while, they were just too perfect not to.
He slowed down as they approached the dock, pulling in to a vacant spot on the pier.
He tied them down and got out first, grabbing the ladder on the side and climbing up the three steps.
He turned to help Mandy and was surprised that she was right behind him with her backpack securely on her back.
She looked up as he took a hold of her arm on the last step up.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," he looked down the pier towards town, "Where to first?" he asked.
"If we walk down that street over there," she pointed to the main road, "then we'll run into a variety of shops." She looked at him sheepishly, "I promise not to be too long and bore you to death. I just really wanted to get off the boat for a while."
"I won't be bored," he assured her, considering spending the day with her a perk not a chore.
She didn't believe him, knowing he was just doing his job. "That's sweet of you to say," she said as they began walking down the pier, "but I can't imagine shopping is a high priority on your list of fun things to do."
"By myself, no"," he replied, "but I have great company so I can't imagine it'll be boring. And to be quite honest, I wanted off the boat for a while too, so I should be thanking you."
She glanced over at him with a wide grin, "Ok then. Let's shop."
They entered a few local shops here and there along Punanga Nui Street, known for some of its high-end merchandise. Nothing stood out to either one as they browsed the touristy knick-knacks, tropical candles and t-shirts. It was basically the same stock that was sold in an ABC store back in Hawaii, just a different location name scribbled across the front.
They came out and moved on down toward the clothing boutiques.
"If you see a dress that stands out, let me know. I like wearing dresses on the boat. It can get so hot and they're more comfortable than shorts."
"Are you sure you want my advice?" Steve replied with a slight chuckle. "I'm not very good when it comes to ladies fashion."
"If you see something that catches your eye, point it out." She smiled over at him, speaking of the earlier events of the day. "I trust your judgment,"
He got her meaning, "Yea well, we'll see about that," he joked. "You might end up in a camouflage dress."
Mandy laid her head back and laughed over that, loving how he could make that happen so easily.
"I've never worn anything camouflage before, but you never know, it might end up being my new signature color."
They walked a little further when she turned to him, "I want to apologize for last night," she blurted out.
"What happened last night?" he asked puzzled, not catching her meaning.
"The way that Bryce spoke to you. It was rude and I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? You didn't say it, he did."
"But he's my guest on the boat and it was uncalled for."
"Your guest?" Steve questioned. "I find that hard to believe."
She looked over at him, a little startled over his assumption but in truth he was right. "Well, no, I guess I didn't invite him but once he's on board he becomes my guest."
"So…" Steve began, "I'm confused, just because he's a guess on your yacht that instantly makes you responsible for his actions?"
"Well kind of, I guess."
"In what book did you read that, or has it just become the norm for you to make apologies for him?"
She was startled again. "We're not together anymore," she assured him.
"Then don't apologize for him being an asshole. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the effort for what you're saying, but it just rubs me the wrong way to hear you say it."
She was beginning to become irritated with him until that last statement. She understood now his reasoning behind it.
"You pretty much say whatever is on your mind don't you?"
A smile slid across his face, "I think it a curse." He glanced over at her as they walked. "Did I offend you? I didn't mean to, and I apologize if I did."
She thought about it for a second and shook her head, "No, you didn't. I just hate to have to admit that you're right. I was apologizing for him, that's a curse of mine."
"How about if I just keep my curse to myself from now on," he said, not knowing what it was about her that just made him speak up in her defense, even when it wasn't his call to make. That was twice now in the past twenty-four hours that he'd felt he'd overstepped himself.
"No," she said adamantly, "I like your curse of speaking your mind. I think it's honest and direct but not at all malicious or meant to be hurtful. You can keep your curse around me. In fact, I insist on it."
Steve chuckled over that, "Ok then, in that case, feel free to use your curse of apologizing to the salesperson for me when I point out a hideous dress that I might think is suitable, but is truly hideous."
Mandy laughed, "Deal."
….
They walked in and out of a few shops but mainly the focus was on the conversation between them which ranged from childhood antics to world travel, comparing different parts of the world they had both been too, however Steve's military version always seemed more exciting than Mandy's four star resorts and boring lavish events that she attended with her father or brother.
The small talk somehow had moved to ice cream and a playful argument emerged over which flavors went best together.
They walked by a small shop and Steve stopped, taking a step back. He pointed in the window and then looked sheepishly over at Mandy.
"Don't be afraid to tell me I'm completely insane, but I like that."
She looked in the window and was pleasantly surprised by what she saw.
"I don't think you are insane at all, because I like it too."
They both admired the dress that had an elegant white stitched crochet top. The bottom half was sewn into the top just below the breasts, leaving small gaps to show off the skin. The silk like material was dark blue and then slowly grew to lighter shades of blue all the way down to the floor length. A long slit ran up the right side.
"I want to try that on," Mandy declared, walking past him into the small boutique.
He followed behind her with a wide grin, not sure if she was just being nice or if she genuinely liked it, either way he didn't really care, he was looking forward to seeing it on her.
He made his way over to a display of expensive sunglasses, trying on a couple of different pair to pass the time while she tried the dress on. He found one pair of Polaroid aviator style in particular that he liked. He'd never heard of the brand Mykita before and looked up at the lady behind the counter, not seeing a price.
"How much are these?" he asked her.
"Those are Mykita Caleb with the high definition color, excellent choice." She motioned for him to put them on. "Let me see."
He thought it a typical sales request but obliged her.
"Ahh," she smiled, "very nice looking. They fit you like they were custom made for you."
Steve smiled and glanced in the mirror next to the display. "How much?"
"Eight hundred and seventy five," she replied.
Steve blew out a breath and took them off. "They are nice, but just a little too spendy for what I'm looking for." he handed them back to her. "Thank you."
He heard the swish of the hanging curtain that Mandy had been changing behind as it opened. She stepped out and turned toward a full-length mirror between the two dressing rooms.
Steve came over and saw the reflection of her, amazed that it looked even better on her than it did on the mannequin in the window.
She caught a glimpse of him in the mirror and turned around.
"Well? What do you think?" she asked, but didn't need a verbal reply, seeing it all over his face, blushing slightly over the pleased look.
"That looks really pretty on you," he said as he came toward her, but had several more choice words that were well-matched for the vision before him, such as; beautiful, stunning or exquisite, but he held his tongue, keeping in mind his position as employee.
She turned back toward the mirror, completely satisfied with his response and smiled at her reflection. "I like it too." She glanced over her shoulder at him. "You have great taste."
"Lucky find," he smiled, noticing the slit up the side, admiring what he considered one of her best features, but not thee best, nothing could surpass that gorgeous face, turning heads wherever they went.
The sales lady came around Steve and up to Mandy, "You look stunning in that! Absolutely stunning." She slid her fingers along the crocheted top, knowing the price of the dress and after hearing Steve deny the eight hundred dollar sunglasses she felt she needed to work a little to make this sale which would be a very nice commission. "This is 100% Cashmere, crocheted by hand." She motioned to the joining of the top to the silk. "Look at the fine needle work. You can't even see a stitch, the two delicate materials just flow together as one." She looked over at Steve. "Doesn't she look beautiful?"
"Yes she does," he smiled, glancing over at Mandy, who smiled shyly as she bent her head looking down at the dress. She didn't need any more convincing to buy it, especially knowing that he liked it too.
"I'll take it," she said to her. "Do you mind if I just wear it out?"
The woman's eyes lit up, "No, of course not. I'll wrap up your clothes for you."
Steve felt his phone in his pocket vibrate and took it out, seeing the name, 'Captain'; appear, knowing it was Captain Bordeaux. "Hey, it's Bordeaux," he said to her. "I'll wait for you outside."
"Ok," she agreed. She gathered up her dress she'd worn in and followed the woman to the register.
"That really does look beautiful on you," the woman said as she snipped off the tag for her.
"Thank you," she replied. "He saw it as we passed by the window."
"Oh, very nice. A man with good taste." She came around the other side of the counter and pointed at the sunglasses. "He was admiring a pair of Mykita sunglasses as well while you were trying on the dress. He does have good taste, and they looked very nice on him as well, but he decided against them." she leaned in closer to her, " Maybe he would rather you have the dress than he the sunglasses. That's a good man."
Mandy looked at the display of designer sunglasses, not correcting her on she and Steve's relationship. She kind of liked the idea that she thought they were a couple. "Which pair was he looking at?"
"The Caleb Aviator ones right there." She took them out of the display case, feeling that perhaps another decent commission was coming her way.
Mandy looked the glasses over, knowing the brand and also knowing the expense. "He liked these huh?" she asked. "He tried them on and liked them?"
Oh yes, and he looked very handsome in them, but they were more than what he was looking to spend he mentioned."
She glanced out the front store window seeing him talking on the phone. Just a few hours earlier he had jumped in the water and potentially saved her life from a very painful and gruesome death. She had thanked him several times, but felt he deserved more than just a thank you, and by the price of the sunglasses she knew it wasn't a luxury that he probably granted himself often, so she would do it for him.
She set the sunglasses on the counter. "I'll take these too."
The woman tried her best to conceal her excitement over the big sale. "Very well then, what a nice surprise for him."
Mandy took out her credit card and slid it across to her, not even looking at the total as she glanced out the window again, seeing Steve hang up the call and slide his phone back in his pocket. She quickly snatched the sunglasses off the counter.
"I'm going to put these in my bag and give them to him later," she said.
"Good thinking," the woman responded, sliding the receipt over to her to sign as he came back in the store.
"There is a small squall developing a little north of here," Steve said as he approached her. "He thinks we should get back to the boat ASAP."
"All right," Mandy replied, "I was just finishing up."
She thanked the saleslady and took the bag that contained the clothes she'd worn in with her.
As they made their way back to the dinghy it started to sprinkle.
Steve looked up, examining the skies, "I think we are about to get drenched," he said.
Mandy looked around and pointed at a restaurant. "We could grab something to eat and wait it out?" she suggested.
Steve looked over in that direction as the skies seemed to open up and the rain began to fall harder.
He didn't respond and she didn't wait for one, both knowing it was the right idea.
They walked briskly at first but as the raindrops became bigger and more frequent they picked up their pace into a jog and then a full out run as they laughed over the sudden downpour.
Steve reached over and took her hand, bracing his forearm to give her some stability from the sandals she wore that could be slippery, and hoping the rain didn't ruin her new dress
They both came under the cover of the grass awning of the restaurant laughing as Steve wiped a hand over his wet hair.
"Oh my god," Mandy shrieked, "that came out of nowhere!"
"Are you ok?" he laughed, using his hands to wipe away the moisture from her arms. "Are you cold?" The air was warm but the new dress barely covered the upper part of her body.
She was a little chilled but when he touched her with his warm, gentle hands, a blizzard could have come through and her body still would have felt the heat that his touch had generated.
"I'm ok," she replied shyly, looking down at her feet, unable to face him at that moment as she swooned over the aftermath of his hands on her. It was a new sensation that had her startled and giddy all at the same time, loving how it made her feel.
"Lets see if we can get a table," he said, feeling a little uneasy over his touching of her, even though it was an innocent move he felt maybe he had over stepped his boundaries, reminding himself again that they came from two completely different worlds. He came from one that was open and affection between people, even strangers, was not something that was forbidden, on the contrary the Hawaiian people based their lives on it, and after being home for so many years he embraced it as well. He felt her world was a little more cold and standoffish, touching someone in such a way could be considered intrusive and rude.
He held the door for her as they went inside.
The hostess sat them at a table by the window and both she and Steve pulled out their phones right away. He alerted the Captain that they were going to wait it out and she alerted her brother of her whereabouts, he replied that he had 'no worries, she was in good hands.' He ended the conversation with an emoji wink, making her roll her eyes but as she looked across the table at Steve, she couldn't help but agree 100% with her brother, feeling that warm tingling on her arms again where he had touched her.
"Is it too early to have a drink?" Mandy asked, looking over her menu at him.
Steve glanced at his watch. It was just past one thirty. "It's not five yet," he said, "but it's five o'clock somewhere," he smiled, reciting the song.
Mandy chuckled over that. "And I'm on vacation," she declared. "I'm having a drink. Are you going to join me?" she asked him.
"I'm technically on duty," he replied.
"Well technically quitting time is five o'clock, and you said it's five o'clock somewhere."
"Ok, ok," he quickly caved, "stop twisting my arm, I give in."
She smiled over at him, "Good. Do you like wine?"
"Wine," he smirked, "I thought we were doing shots."
Mandy let out a laugh over that, knowing he was joking, but she called him on it. "I'll do a shot if you will?"
He tilted his head seeing that she was serious, "Is that a challenge, because I never back down from a challenge. It's another curse of mine."
"Well then yes, it is a challenge. What's your poison, Mr. 'Shark Whisperer'?" she added with a grin.
Her long dark hair was slightly damp and her perfectly tanned complexion showed small beads of water and sweat from the rain and humid air, along with the playful tone of her voice and the sight of her in that dress that he had picked out, he couldn't help but think at that moment, his poison was her. She was without a doubt the most beautiful woman he had ever met and the more time he spent with her, the more beautiful she became to him. He felt this attraction he was developing towards her was going to be another curse in his life. Intellectually they had a lot in common but compared to their day-to-day lives, neither one could comprehend the others.
"Does it have to be a straight shot?" he asked. "How about a kamikaze? Have you ever had one of those?"
"I've heard of it, but I've never had one, I don't think. What's in it?"
"Vodka, triple sec and lime juice. Simple, and it goes down easy and if you drink enough of them, you're doing a dive bomb by the end of the night," he joked.
"Hence the name Kamikaze?" she chuckled.
"Yep."
The waitress appeared just then and Mandy looked up at her, "We'll have two kamikazes please. Straight up."
Steve let out a playful breath of concern as he looked back down at his menu, "I have a feeling this lunch may turn into dinner too."
"I'm having fun," Mandy declared, picking her menu back up, hiding her face behind it. "Are you?" she asked, hoping he said yes.
He looked over at her, not able to see her biting her bottom lip in anticipation of his response.
"I am," he replied, going one further. "Best job I've ever had."
He couldn't see it, but her face was beaming.
'Yep,' he thought, 'I'm cursed.'
…..
Mandy accepted a bite of Steve's lunch off his plate as he held it up for her.
"Mmm," she moaned over the delightful taste and then used her napkin to cover her mouth as she giggled. "I can't believe you ordered shark."
"I respect them in the water," he replied, "but they are far less scary on my plate, and tastier too," he grinned while taking another bite.
She wiped her mouth off and sat back in her chair, forgoing the rest of her Chicken Marsala. She was feeling very relaxed after the kamikaze shot and the good company.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," he took a drink of his water and sat back as well, feeling the same relaxed state as she.
"What were the Hawaiian words you were speaking in the water today? It was as if you were talking to the shark directly. I remember reading about how sharks in the Hawaiian culture are revered as a type of God?" she questioned not knowing if that was the right terminology. "I know you didn't want to talk about it right after on the boat, but can I ask you now?"
She was right, he didn't want to talk about it, and avoided the question a couple of times afterward when everyone was still reeling over the shark incident, including himself. But he felt different telling Mandy, she had read about the Hawaiian culture and he felt she would understand and appreciate it whereas the others would not.
"It would have been kind of hard to explain to the others," he said, "but not to you. You won't look at me like I'm crazy." That got a smile from her. "Sharks" he began, "were not gods so to speak, they were considered more like aumakua, family guardians. The ancient Hawaiians, and even many today," he corrected, "believed that when family members died, some came back in the form of a shark to protect the family in the water."
"Of course," Mandy replied, "that makes sense since their lives revolved around the water. They lived off the ocean for food and traveled back and forth between the islands and even played in the ocean, like surfing."
"Exactly," he smiled, loving that she knew that fact about surfing. "Most people don't realize that Hawaiians have been surfing for fun for hundreds of years, not just over the past few years since Duke made it popular."
"And they did it naked," she added, blushing slightly after she said it, picturing him that way.
"Yes they did," he chuckled. "Up until when the missionaries came and told them it was un-god like," he huffed.
"Prudes," Mandy grinned.
"They ruined all the fun," Steve grinned.
She leaned forward, resting her arms on the table pushing her plate away, "So tell me what you said then."
He leaned forward as well looking directly across at her as he told her the story of his friend and his father that taught him the chant, he then spoke the magical words that he now more than ever believed held great meaning.
"Mano, aumakua, Kealiikaua, Kalani, Ke-alii-holo-i-ka-moana, Kaholiakane, Kua, akua-noho."
His tone was sincere and they weren't spoken as just words being recited, he gave them life. "Say it again," Mandy implored, closing her eyes to get the true effect this time.
His voice was low this time, speaking in the same authentic tone as he did in the water while facing the danger. "Mano, aumakua, Kealiikaua, Kalani, Ke-alii-holo-i-ka-moana, Kaholiakane, Kua, akua-noho."
They were both mesmerized by the moment; she by his words that were truly hypnotic, feeling calmed by his tone, and he by the beauty that was sitting across from him. He would repeat that ancient chant over and over and into the night if he could just sit there and look at her freely as he did now with her eyes closed.
"Mmmm," she moaned softly, opening her eyes and looking directly across at him as they both leaned on the table, reducing the space between them. Suddenly, without her even realizing it, gone was the shy nature that she had been burdened by her whole life. She felt none of it as she held his gaze, not seeing anything lurking in his eyes that held an underlying motive or made her feel weary in any way. It was almost as if she had met the one person in her life who accepted her the way she was and truly wanted nothing from her, except her company.
"You tamed that shark," she said to him.
Steve chuckled and shrugged, wanting to disregard the moment to her but in actuality he was still reeling over the fear that overtook him as he watched from above, seeing her in the water as the shark tore apart her raft and was maneuvering in the water for a kill, not able to truly pin point the exact thought that went through his head on why he decided to jump in. There was no thought process and that's what had him most puzzled, because there was always a thought process with him, always.
"I think he was just scared off by the splash," he countered.
She didn't believe that for a second, "He was going to attack me," she whispered, thinking back and recalling the moment when she was most afraid and then saw him pop out of the water between she and the shark. "And then you were there. You risked your life for me, why?"
It was the million dollar question and he blurted out the easiest answer, "It's what I was paid to do," he lied.
"Oh, right," she said trying to hide her disappointment in that reply. She sat back, forgetting for a moment that he was in actuality her security employee.
He regretted that reply, mainly because it wasn't true and he hated lying. He sat back in his chair and confessed to her the true reason, staring at his empty plate and not at her, a little ashamed of his deceitfulness to her.
"That's not entirely true," he sighed. "It wasn't because I was being paid, that thought never entered my mind. To be quite honest, I don't remember what went through my head in those seconds. I saw you in danger and then the next thing I knew I was jumping. It didn't have to do with the job or my responsibility; I guess it just had to do with, you." He left it at that because it was the simple truth.
He finally looked back across at her, hoping he hadn't ruined it by lying but felt his heart skip a beat by the way she was looking back at him.
"Thank you," she said sincerely, "for jumping in, and for the truth."
Of all the millions of decisions he'd made in his life, he somehow felt jumping in that water earlier and telling her the truth just now were two that he was most pleased with.
She had decided to give him the sunglasses over lunch, but now it seemed wrong. She had bought them as a form of a bonus for what he had done, but after his confession the meaning behind the purchase had changed for her. She didn't want to give them to him for a job well done; she wanted to give them to him as a present. They were becoming fast friends and the gesture just seemed more genuine if it was a gift given from a friend and not an employer.
He felt a shift, yet not an uncomfortable one between them. He was attracted to her in more ways than one and felt pretty sure that the feelings were mutual on her end. If she were anyone else he would have jumped into a relationship with her as quickly as he had jumped into the water to save her, but she wasn't just anyone. She was Amanda McKay, millionaire socialite that lived an extravagant lifestyle that was so far above his pay grade that he was nothing more than a peasant to her in his eyes. Which left him with the realty check that he could offer her nothing that she couldn't buy herself. He thought of his little house by the ocean. He, and many of his friends considered it a treasure, but the thought of bringing her there was almost embarrassing. If she lived in Hawaii, a house at the base of Diamond Head where the million dollar mansions and views were would be her address, not a fifteen hundred square foot house on a so, so beach.
He liked her, he liked her very much, maybe a little too much, but considering the incredible difference in their lives, anything beyond that he put a stop to right then and there. He respected her too much to just have a fling to fund his sexual attraction and saved himself from the humiliation of trying to live up to a lifestyle that was impossible for him to achieve. He wished the circumstances were different. He felt they would be good together, in another life.
He may not be able to buy her an extravagant dinner in New York or Paris, but he could certainly buy her a nice lunch on Rarotonga.
…
Bryce signed the digital display before him as the front desk clerk slid his credit card back over.
"We look forward to your visit with us Mr. Bennett." He motioned to a room that had a carved wood door and glass wall, "The concierge would be happy to assist you with your flight arrangements as you requested. She is at lunch right now, but will be back within the hour."
"Fine," Bryce replied with no emotion. "Is there a place around here you can suggest for lunch?" he asked with a heavy sigh, "Nothing local. I want a good steak and good glass of wine," he added.
"Of course, Mr. Bennett. Our resort restaurant is right past the lobby and to your right. I'm sure you will find the menu very satisfying."
He glanced over in that direction, "Ok, fine. Have my luggage sent to my room."
"Very well," he looked toward one of the Bellman standing off to the side and waved, getting his attention. The young man came over immediately. "Take Mr. Bennett's things to his room while he goes to lunch. Suite 452."
"Yes Sir," he replied, looking at Bryce for a hopeful tip since he wouldn't be joining him to the room. "Welcome to Crown Beach Resort Mr. Bennett. I hope you enjoy your stay. I'll make sure your luggage is safely brought to your room."
Bryce mumbled something incoherent that may or may not have been a thank you as he left them standing there while he strolled off toward the restaurant.
The man behind the desk gave the young bellman a disappointed smile for no tip and motioned with his head for him to continue his duty. Most people that stayed at the upscale resort were happy to be there and most were also very generous, but they did however once in a while come across someone like Bryce that looked upon them as nothing more than servants that should be grateful he was even giving them his business.
He finished off his lunch that he considered edible but nothing like a steak he would find in the restaurants he frequented in New York City. He just wanted off this island and back to civilization.
After lunch he spoke with the concierge, getting his plane reservations in order, which depressingly would not be until the next day. He had initially purchased a one-way ticket to Rarotonga, assured he would be flying home on the McKay company jet with Mandy.
He had no desire to go sit up in his room and stare at the four walls or the view which he was told was fabulous, but to him it would never out do the view he had from the multi million dollar yacht that also could have been at his beck and call if Mandy would have just played right. The concierge pointed him to Punanga Nui Market where he could be assured to find shops that would suit his standards.
He walked down the street not really entering any shops but did stop at a couple of windows and admire things on display, one in particular was a long blue and white crocheted dress that he pictured not Mandy wearing but Tawny. He was already planning on reaching out to her once they were all back in New York. He wanted to explore that wild side of her, a nice change from the boring Mandy.
As he walked past a local restaurant he peered inside. It looked suitable for maybe dinner until saw whom was sitting a table across the way with their arms resting on it, looking directly at each other in a way that seemed far too intimate in his opinion.
He took a step back behind an open shutter as if trying to hide his presence, but he didn't think it was possible for them to see anyone other than each other by the sight of what looked to be a cozily engaged conversation.
Just then he recognized the dress she was wearing as she sat back in her chair, shocked that it was the same one in the window of the shop he had passed earlier, wondering if she had picked it out, or if he had, knowing full well that he hadn't paid for it if he had, nor was he paying for lunch either he thought bitterly.
Of the two of them in his sight it wasn't Mandy that he stared at with resentment, it was Steve.
All of his suspicions he felt were being brought to life before his eyes and she and her brother were fools to think otherwise. There was nothing he could do about it here and now, but he could certainly inform her father of the charade that was being played upon his family.
Peter McKay he was assured would put a stop to it, one way or another.
