Finally! Sorry for the long delay.
Chapter 16
Mandy woke up around two in the morning and heard the rain just outside on Steve's lanai.
She reached over to the handle on the french door and swung it open, seeing it now and hearing it more clearly as it fell on the wooden planks.
She laid back down and felt the comforter being pulled up over her body as he nestled close to her.
She looked over her shoulder and smiled as he kissed her cheek.
"It reminds me of that night on the boat," she whispered to him.
"Best night ever," he replied, knowing exactly which night she was referring to, putting his arms around her.
"Even the rain smells different here," Mandy said, breathing it in. "It's so clean and fresh. I love it."
"Do you think you could live here?" he asked.
She rolled over on her back so she could see him. "Yes. I don't want to leave. I'm so deliriously happy right now I feel like it's a dream."
He ran his hand down her naked body, feeling the same way.
"It's not a dream. It's real, and what I feel for you is real too."
She could barely make out his face in the dark room, but didn't need to see his eyes to know they were fixated on her, and the tone of his voice was all she needed to know what he was saying came from the heart.
Her reply was just as genuine and just as believable.
"I love you, Steve."
She heard him let out a breath but it sounded more of a relief than anything else. His reply assured her as much.
"I love you too."
He moved his body on top of hers and kissed her.
She hungrily welcomed him again, only this time when they made love, it took on a new meaning. The heartfelt confessions from both of them set the tone.
He never knew sex could feel so different, only because he'd never been with a woman that he truly loved before. There were others that he thought he could have loved, but was assured now that it was only an affair because what he felt for Mandy was beyond what he had even come close to for another woman. He would change his life for her in a second, all she had to do was ask.
The word 'forever' was another expression that floated around him, never having reached that point of satisfaction with anyone else before to make that commitment, but he wanted her, forever.
She whimpered softly as he kissed her, moving from her lips to her neck as she cried out, unable to hold in the wonderful feelings that were engulfing her as he moved gracefully on top of her. She loved him with all her heart and now that she knew he felt the same, her world had just opened up to the possibilities that she had only dreamt of.
He was real, and what they were experiencing at that moment wasn't a dream. He was there for her, and she felt strongly that he always would be. She walked away from her life for him and had no intention of ever looking back.
When it was over Steve lay on top of her as she glided her hands up and down his back.
He moaned softly over the pleasurable feel of it. "You have about a hundred years to quit that," he joked.
She giggled and wrapped her legs around him, squeezing him tightly. "I want to stay just like this forever."
He sat up on his elbows and looked down at her. "I'm game. Who needs food, its highly overrated when you have this to nibble on."
She laughed out loud as he gently bit her earlobe.
They were happy, life was good.
….
Mandy came out of the dressing room and in front of the mirror as Steve came toward her, carrying two bags from the previous stores.
"What do you think of this one?" she asked of the coral-colored sundress she had on.
"I told you already, my opinion is irrelevant because you could be wearing a garbage sack and I would still think you look beautiful. So, the question is, do you like it?"
She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled, "You're sweet, and yes, I do like it, so I'm getting it."
"Good," he replied, "because I think you do look beautiful in it."
She blushed slightly and rolled her eyes as she went back in the room.
"Can we get something to eat after this place?" Steve called out, leaning against the wall of the dressing room.
"Yes," Mandy replied, "anywhere you want. I just need a few more things and I can do that on my own."
She came out minutes later dressed in the shorts and Hawaiian T-shirt she had bought at the airport.
"I don't mind shopping with you," Steve said, "I just need reinforcements."
"Me too." They walked together to the counter and Mandy quickly pulled out her credit card as Steve set the bags down to get his wallet. "No!" she said adamantly, grabbing his hand, "I'm paying for this. You bought the last two stores."
"I don't mind buying you some clothes, although," he smiled wickedly, leaning into her so the salesperson wouldn't hear, "you in no clothes is nice too."
She blushed and glanced over at the cashier who heard nothing as she rung up the dress. Mandy looked back at him, "That could be arranged. Maybe lunch at home?"
Steve felt his body react over the possibility of being with her again. He didn't reply but the pleased look on his face told her he was all over that idea.
"Home it is," she grinned, swiping her card through the machine.
She looked down hearing the noise that indicated it didn't go through. She swiped it again and then saw the word 'Decline' in the small window.
"What?" she said bewildered. She swiped it again and the same word appeared.
The cashier leaned forward and whispered to, "Excuse me, but do you have another type of payment, that card doesn't seem to be working?"
"It works," Mandy argued, swiping it again. "It has no limit."
The cashier looked at Steve for help. "Do you have another form of payment?"
"It's declined," Mandy said, holding the card up. "I don't understand, it's never…" she froze midsentence as her mouth hung open in shock. "Oh my god. He canceled my cards." She looked at Steve in shock. "My father canceled my credit cards." It was the only explanation. She'd had that same card since she was eighteen and it never failed her.
He took his credit card out of his wallet and swiped it in the machine as she walked past him still in shock over such a devious move.
Steve finished paying and took the bags from the woman and came up behind Mandy, "Come on, let's go."
"I can't believe my father would do that."
"I can. He doesn't want you here."
"He can't dictate my life," she snapped. "Who does he think he is?"
"The man that controls your credit card for starters. He's trying to hurt you."
"He can have them! I don't need them. I don't need his money!"
The drive home was a quiet one. She looked out the window, pondering her situation and Steve let her have the moment of silence to really absorb what was happening. She had walked out on her life and he was pretty sure she was just now coming face to face with it at that very moment.
He glanced over at her a couple of times wondering what was going through her mind, feeling a little nervous that maybe she felt she had made the wrong decision. She didn't know life without money, and the struggles that could come along with it. She didn't seem to be the type of person that had overindulged like her father and brother had, but then again, she'd never been denied anything before either, until today. It made him mindful of the ole saying, 'you never know what you have until it's gone'.
He made enough to support the both of them, but not in the way that she was accustomed to. He only hoped that she loved him enough to choose him over the money.
They both got out of the car and each carried a bag into the house.
She set hers down in the family room as he started for the stairs.
"Steve," she said to him.
He stopped on the first step, hearing something in her voice that he couldn't quite decipher, but she had something on her mind that was for sure. He could see it as she bit her bottom lip while she contemplated her next words. In the meantime, he felt his body tense up anticipating what she would say to him.
"I don't like the idea of not having any money."
He swallowed, trying to wet his throat that had gone dry and gripped tightly to the handles of the shopping bags. He didn't want to lose her again, but this was something he had no control over.
"Ok. So…what does that mean?"
She looked over at him, "I want to go back school and get a degree and get a job. I don't want to rely on you or anyone else ever again for support. Its time I stood on my own two feet."
He came down the step and set the bags down and went to her.
She smiled as he put his arms around her, giving her a tight hug.
"I think that's a great idea."
"You do?" she asked.
He leaned back so he could see her face, keeping his hands on her arms. "Yes, I do. You can go to U of H or there are some really good Tech schools, or Community College even. You'll thrive at any of them."
She blushed slightly over his encouragement, he had so much faith in her it actually rubbed off, convincing herself she could do it too. "I think I would too. I want it really bad."
"Then go for it!" he gently shook her. "The skies the limit. I told you once before, you are bound by nothing, Mandy."
She bit her bottom lip, "Well, that's not entirely true anymore. I'm bound by money now."
"No you're not. I told you I have your back and I mean that. We'll pay for what we can and the rest we'll finance."
"I can't ask you to do that, Steve, that's a lot of…"
"You're not asking me, I'm offering it to you, so just take it and get it done. Besides," he grinned, "this is like an investment in our future and your happiness, which is my number one priority."
She was overwhelmed by his generosity, "Thank you," she reached up and put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "I love you, and I promise I'll do really well."
"I know you will." He held her for a few seconds longer, relieved that she had chosen him and not her money. He'd do whatever necessary to get her what she needed to make her feel that independence. She deserved it.
"Do you have any ideas of what you'd like to study?"
"I think…" she paused, "education. I want to be a teacher. I really think I would like that."
He agreed wholeheartedly, "You would be an amazing teacher," he said sincerely. "You're smart, you're patient. Any kid would be lucky to have you."
She slid her hand inside of his as she looked at him adoringly. "Thank you. I can't tell you how blessed I feel having you in my life. You changed everything for the better."
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it, feeling the same way. "I can't offer you the lifestyle that you had, Mandy, but I can offer you the security of knowing that I will be here every day for you and I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe and happy."
She had been courted by millionaires who had wined and dined her at some of the most expensive venues in the world, offering her gifts of diamonds and financial security, but none of them, not one, had given her the freedom to be who she was, or to promise her happiness and love.
He might not have the bank account that the others had, but to her, Steve was the richest man she had ever met.
….
"So, how's life treating you these days?" Danny asked, as he and Steve drove down the H1 on their way back from just closing a case.
Steve stared straight ahead as he drove but the broad smile on his face said it all.
"That good, huh," Danny chuckled. "How's school going for Mandy?"
"Great! She had her first mid-term in Calculus and aced it. She's doing really well."
"She's changed a lot since she got here."
Steve looked over at him, "What do you mean? Changed how?"
Danny shrugged, "She's just different. You probably don't notice it because you live with her, but she just seems so much more confident when she's around us. Even Kono and Chin have noticed it. She engages more freely in conversations now. Before she used to be kind of quiet."
Steve nodded, noticing it too now, "Yea I guess you're right; she does speak up more with you guys. She mentioned the other night on the way home from happy hour that she had a really good time with everyone."
"I like her." Danny looked over at him with a teasing grin, "So, when are you going to pop the question?" Although he didn't get the reaction he was hoping for. Steve wasn't at all shocked or taken back by it.
"I don't know. I've been thinking about it. It's only been three months, but I know I want it."
Danny was the one that ended up being shocked.
"Wow! Seriously?! I mean, I figured you had thought about it, but I didn't know you were actually ready to do it."
"We're not getting married tomorrow," Steve claimed, "but I hope someday."
"Somedays good."
"It just feels right with her," he glanced over at him again. "You know what I mean? She just feels like the one."
"Trust your instincts," Danny agreed. "You always do and most of the time you are dead on. There's no rush to jump into anything either. You guys seem to be doing pretty good."
"We are but I don't want to drag my feet either." He glanced at him again, but the look on his face this time was somewhat anxious. "I don't want to go through what I did before. I don't want to lose her."
Danny raised an eyebrow over that, "What do mean by that? Is she pressuring you to get married?"
"No! No, not at all, I just," he fidgeted slightly in his seat, "I want her to know how serious I am."
"Ok," Danny chuckled slightly, "You know you can always just tell her, rather than running out and marrying her."
"Actions speak louder than words," Steve countered as they pulled into the station parking lot.
"Hey," Danny held his hands up, "you know what, I can't believe I'm sitting here trying to convince you NOT to marry her." He looked over at him just before they got out. "If you feel like you are in that place in your life, Steve, then go for it. Life is too short."
"Exactly," he agreed as they both got out. "And I do feel ready, I feel ready with her."
"If you can survive a hurricane then you can survive marriage." They both laughed over that as they began to walk to the entrance.
Danny stopped first as he grabbed Steve by the arm, "Holy shit, speaking of hurricanes," he said, "you are about to get hit by another one."
"What?" Steve asked confused, as he looked over in the direction Danny was looking, seeing a well-dressed man approaching them. A black limousine was in the background. "Who is that?" Steve asked, assuming it was for Danny at first and then he recognized the man from photos, never having met him in person before, but they had spoken on the phone.
"Peter McKay," Steve whispered, feeling his gut tighten, knowing this was not going to be a pleasant social call. Mandy had kept in touch with Cash of course. He'd even visited once since she'd moved to the island, but she had not spoken to her father since the night she had left New York.
He was also proud of her for not reaching out to him when he cut her off from her money supply. Cash had offered her $100,000 but she declined, wanting to make it on her own.
They had paid what they could for her college classes and the rest she took out on a personal loan.
"What do you think he wants?" Danny whispered to him as they neared Peter.
"My head on a silver platter I'm sure," Steve replied.
Danny chuckled, "He wouldn't be the first, won't be the last either."
Steve gave him a stern side glance, but before he could respond to his remark Danny took a couple of steps ahead of him and held his hand up as a greeting.
"Hey, good to see you again." He looked beyond Peter to the limousine, "So where is your little mini me?" he said of Bryce. "Is he off somewhere trying to dig up bad info on Mother Theresa?"
Peter and Steve both looked at him, but Peter's expression was far more annoyed than Steve's, not liking Danny before and now recalling why. He was a smart ass in his opinion.
Peter looked away from him as if his comment was already dismissed, "Mr. McGarrett, I'm Peter McKay" he said, holding his hand out to him.
"Mr. McKay," Steve replied, shaking it firmly. "Good to meet you in person."
"I'd like to speak with you." He firmly looked over at Danny, "In private."
"Oh, ok," Danny said with a wide smile, "I get the hint. I've got bad people to catch anyway, because that's what we do." He gave Peter a lazy salute before he turned and walked off toward the entrance of the station. He stopped a few feet away and turned as he continued to walk backwards, "Hey, by the way…Mandy," he nodded, "nice girl. Were she and Cash adopted? I'm just curious because they are nothing like you."
"Danny!" Steve said firmly, giving him an even sterner look than Peter was.
"I'm leaving, I'm leaving." He turned and waved over his shoulder as he walked off.
He was much more of a striking figure in person, Peter thought of Steve, only really seeing him in photos from the local paper. Perhaps it was the badge and gun on his hip that made him seem that way. He began to understand Amanda's crush that she had on him. His daughter had always been a bit of a day dreaming romantic, seeing Steve as a character in one of those ridiculous romance novels that she constantly read, getting it from her mother who also used to read them.
Amanda was lonely and Steve came along at just the right time in her life and rescued her during the storm. It all began with that shark incident, which he was sure was blown way out of proportion, but again, she was a romantic and saw him as a hero from a book not the real-life man that he was. She fell in love with that part of him and Peter was assured that once the dust settled, she would come to her senses, but in the meantime, he was most afraid of her marrying him before that happened.
They walked over to a nearby Banyan tree, using one of its many stretched out branches for shade. Steve was used to the heat, but Peter was not and the suit he had on did not help the matter. Steve wondered if the sweat beading on his forehead was actually from the heat, or from the impending conversation.
"I'd like to talk to you about my daughter," Peter began.
"I figured as much," Steve replied, trying to keep his anger at bay over the way he had treated Mandy. He hoped he was there to make amends, not finding his tactics of a father, daughter relationship very healthy, but he had to learn to forgive and forget because the reality was that this man could very well be his father-in-law someday. He would be cordial for Mandy's sake but it didn't mean he had to like him.
Peter stood perfectly erect with his hands clasped together behind his back as if he were about to give a rehearsed speech.
"Amanda has lived a very privileged life. She attended some of the most desired schools in New York City as a child and young adult. She did not however flourish socially as well as her brother had, whom I might say, flourished socially enough for the both of them," he added with a heavy sigh. "Amanda has always lived a very sheltered life. She has never had to experience the hardships of having to do without. I'm afraid to say that this situation," he said, emphasizing the word situation, "that you have with my daughter is not what you or she thinks is reality."
"I beg your pardon," Steve said with huff.
"I'm going to be blunt with you Mr. McGarrett. Amanda is in love with a character from one of her silly books that she reads and sees you as the main character. She is not really in love with you. She's in love with the idea of you. You are a smart man and I want you to recognize that and admit that you recognize that about your relationship."
"You don't know anything about our relationship, nor do you know anything about your daughter. I've been standing here listening to you this whole time and I keep waiting for you to ask me about her. Aren't you going to ask me how she is? I'm sure you think she is withering away since you cut her off from the money. You probably think she's a pathetic mess. Or maybe you hope she is. Well, have news for you, she is neither wilting nor is she a mess. She's a college student who is getting straight A's, and we don't talk about money. We talk about much more important things. And I will not admit that she is in love with the idea of me, because it's not true. I love your daughter and I'm sorry if that somehow disgusts you, but…" he shrugged, "I don't care. I care about Mandy and honestly, I don't think you do. I think you are offended of the idea of me because I don't fit in to your pathetic world where nothing is real. If we are being honest here, I think you live in that romantic novel that you find so distasteful and Mandy lives in the real world."
Peter's eye twitched as he glared at him. He couldn't imagine spending a week on his boat with this person, or even a weekend in the Hamptons. He was right about one thing; he would never fit in and the thought of introducing him around as his son-in-law made him cringe. He would be an embarrassment. He might have been a man but he was no gentlemen.
Peter also knew now that he was not going to get anywhere with him this way, so he chose another.
"All right. Give me a number."
Steve shook his head confused, "What?"
"A number, give me a number and I'll have the money in your account by the end of the day."
Future father-in-law or not, at that moment he didn't give a shit who he was.
"You want a number?" he said, his voice low and controlled as he stared at him. "Ok, I'll give you a number, how about five?"
"Five million?" Peter said, pleased that it was easily doable, knowing that he could be bought. Everyone had a number, or so he thought. "Five million dollars it is."
"No," Steve replied, taking a step toward him, "Five seconds. You've got five seconds to get out of my sight before I drop you like the sack of shit that you are."
Peter leaned nervously back away from him, "How dare you speak to me that way!"
"Four," Steve said, his voice still calm, yet his eyes burning with anger.
"You can't threaten to me."
"Three."
Peter stepped around him, becoming fearful of the threat but Steve moved with him, continuing to stare him down.
"Two."
"You won't get away with this," Peter threatened as he quickly walked backward away from him, his finger pointing at Steve. "You won't get away with this."
"One."
Peter turned and went for his limousine that was only a few feet away. The driver got out to open the door but was too late as Peter yelled something at him and got in the back and slammed the door.
Steve stood his ground, continuing to stare at the dark tinted window. He couldn't see Peter but he knew without a doubt he was looking directly at him.
He didn't feel anger anymore, instead a wave of sadness overcame him, realizing that Mandy's father would never accept him, never. She had chosen him over her money and now the question was, would she choose him over her family? He didn't want her to have to make that choice. It was unfair to the both of them, but he hadn't put her in that position, her father had. He did love her and he did want to spend his life with her, but he also knew if given the choice, he never, not for any amount of money, would give up his family.
…..
Mandy came out of Science building on the University of Hawaii campus and headed straight to her car in the parking lot across a grassy knoll. She had her books and supplies in her backpack that was slung over her right shoulder.
She looked up at the clear sky and smiled, thinking about maybe barbequing for dinner. She and Steve could eat down by the water. They had done that a couple of times before and she loved it. Fall in Hawaii, in her opinion, was much nicer than fall in NY.
She tried to visualize what was in the freezer that she could throw on the grill. Cooking had become a new favorite thing for her, especially when cooking for Steve. He gave her suggestions when she asked but never complained about what he ate, even in the first couple of weeks when she really had no idea what she was doing. Over time she had learned to prepare his favorite foods, impressing him and even her brother Cash when he visited the month before. He was overwhelmed by how well she had adapted, never seeing his sister so happy.
He realized that it wasn't the money after all that had been holding her down, she just needed to find someone that would let her breathe and live the life that she wanted. Steve was the perfect person for that.
Cash once again tried to give her money and even offered to pay off her college loans. Mandy smiled, but declined. She was doing pretty good on her own, with Steve's help of course, but once she graduated, they would have a second income and she could then repay him for all he'd done for her, but in the meantime, she wanted for nothing. She had everything she needed to make her happy, which was exactly what Cash wanted to hear.
She didn't miss one single thing in her old life. She was sure someday she would but for now, her love for Steve outweighed anything else.
The love between them grew steadily as well as the friendship. She was comfortable with him on every level and it showed. She voiced her opinion in conversations and in decisions that they had to make together, pleased that he listened and often took her advice. But it was in bed where they most flourished as a couple. He adored her and she him, it was clearly displayed in their lovemaking and the intimate conversations afterward. She would do anything for him, her love had no boundaries and she felt certain it was mutual for him as well.
She came off the grass and onto the sidewalk that led to the parking lot, seeing her car that Steve had helped her purchase for the drive back and forth to school. It was not the one he wanted to get for her, but one she felt was good enough, not wanting to spend the extra money on a luxury she didn't really feel necessary. In the end she won and the fifteen-year-old Toyota Corolla was now hers. It was dark blue with a slight dent on the passenger side door but overall was in pretty good shape and she loved it.
She reached behind into a slot on her backpack for her keys when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Amanda." Peter called out, approaching her from the next isle over.
She turned and saw him coming toward her, stopping in her tracks, stunned to see him, but also relieved. It had been almost four months since that day she had left New York. She had forgiven him for cutting off her cards, considering it the best thing he had ever done for her, although she was pretty sure he did it to hurt her, not encourage her. She had been angry, but now it had settled and she was happy in her new life, hoping he was there to reconcile. He was after all her father.
"Dad! Hi." She met him halfway giving him a hug. "What are you doing here? Did you call and I missed it?"
"No," he replied, glad to see her as well, but he however had not overcome the ill will just yet. He was a little guarded at first, prepared for the worst, fearing that maybe she had spoken to Steve about their heated conversation a couple of hours earlier, but was relieved that it seemed she knew nothing about it. He still had a chance with Amanda.
Peter was determined to break up this relationship, assured he was doing the right thing. She was naïve' and he had convinced himself, along with Bryce's encouragement, that Steve was simply manipulating her to get to her money. He would marry her and then take it and run, leaving her brokenhearted, but the part that motivated him the most was the idea of Steve getting any of his money.
He controlled the McKay fortune, or better yet, it controlled him and had become like a third child, the most important one in most aspects. It meant power, opportunity, strength and above all social acceptance. The idea of himself or one of his children being swindled out of a penny of it would be humiliating beyond words.
"I'm glad to see you," Mandy said, missing him more than she thought she had.
"I'm glad to see you as well," he replied. "Can we go somewhere and talk, Amanda? Have you eaten lunch?"
She smiled over his invitation, "No actually, I was just on my way home. We could go there and…"
"I was thinking more of a restaurant," he suggested, not wanting to step foot in McGarrett's home, especially now after their meeting earlier.
"But I really want you to see where I live."
"I will," he lied, "but for right now, please, I'd just like to take my daughter to lunch."
She smiled and nodded, giving in to his request. She could never remember a time that her father had ever wanted to dine with just her. There were always others with them. It was an encouraging move.
She followed him back to his limo.
Fifteen minutes later they were seated at a table in the Royal Hawaiian restaurant overlooking Waikiki beach.
"Don't you just love it here," Mandy said, looking out at the view.
"Yes," Peter said, turning in his chair, admiring the expensive décor of the restaurant. "I'm sure the food here is going to be very good."
"No," Mandy chuckled, "I mean Hawaii, Dad. Isn't it beautiful?"
"It's a little too touristy for me. All these people living on this one small island and then being inhabited by all these tourists."
Mandy rolled her eyes as she picked up her menu, "You just described Manhattan. At least in Hawaii you can step outside and smell flowers and not the East River."
"Manhattan is home," he said, setting his menu to the side. "So, when do you plan on returning home?"
Mandy looked over the top of her menu at him, "I'm not. I'm staying here. I still have winter semester to finish up and I already registered for spring. You picked me up at the university. I told you this on the ride over here."
"You can go to school in New York. I can get you registered at any university you choose."
Mandy set her menu down, "Maybe I could go to school anywhere, but this is where Steve is and this is where I'm staying."
"So, you are here for him then and not school?" he asked just a little too direct.
It took her all of about two seconds to think that question over. "Yes. I am here for him, but I'm going to school for myself."
"You don't have to bother with school if you are looking for a job. You can come and work for me. I'll create a position for you, and I can guarantee that you will make more money working for me than any job you find here. And if things work out, promotions will be in order."
Mandy shook her head, "You're not hearing me, Dad. I don't want to work in your business. I'm studying to be a schoolteacher," she smiled proudly, assured he would find that impressive, but she was wrong.
"A schoolteacher? Nonsense, you are my daughter, that job and this place is beneath you. You deserve so much more than this," he waved his hand toward the beach. "You can marry anyone you want. You can live a lavish life and travel the world. Instead, this man has filled your head with dreams of a simple life. You think you will be happy in this simple life, but I can promise you young lady that you will not be!"
"I already am happy," she said, realizing then that this was not a visit to reconcile. It was nothing more than a ploy from her father to get her to come back to New York. "I love, Steve."
Those were the words he did not want to hear come out of her mouth. "If you marry this man you will get nothing from me, no support whatsoever. I'll block your Mother's trust too. I have the authority."
The trust wasn't the kind of money that her father had, but could support she and Steve on things they couldn't afford.
She stared across at him, fighting back the tears, refusing to show the emotional sadness that she was feeling. "I'm not asking you for anything, nor did I complain when you cut off that support four months ago."
"You may not feel it yet, but you will. And don't think you can go to your brother either. I'll cut him off just as quick."
"Why?" she asked sadly. "Why are you doing this?"
Peter straightened in his chair. "You know why? And soon enough when this man realizes the money really is out of reach, you will see that I'm right."
She didn't say anything as she pushed her chair back and stood up, there was simply nothing else to say.
"Go ahead and run off," he said, slapping his napkin on the table. "You're a child being swindled by an adult."
Mandy walked through the restaurant, bumping into a chair as she caught her balance, blinded by the tears that were blurring her vision.
She came out into the sunshine on Kalakaua avenue and saw his limousine parked in the valet area. She wiped her eyes and went over to it, pulling out her backpack and slamming the door.
She looked back toward the restaurant, staring at the entrance waiting for him to come out and tell her how sorry he was, but he never came.
He meant every word he said.
She started walking down the busy street toward Diamond Head, passing tourists who carried beach bags and floaties on their way to or back from the beach that was just to her right. Others came in and out of the many stores and hotels that lined the street, they chatted happily but she heard nothing, still in shock over the harsh words from her father.
He never understood her, never. How could he ask her, no demand her, to just walk away from Steve? Did he not hear her when she said that she loved him?
He didn't care. He didn't care about anything but his money and how people perceived him and his family that he tried to pass off as perfect. She was nothing but a disappointment to him for as long as she could remember. And now she had done the vilest thing in his eyes; she had fallen in love with someone who didn't fit the mold. Steve was his worst nightmare, but he was her angel and if her father was going to make her choose between her family and Steve, the decision was going to be easy.
….
Steve pulled his truck into the Diamond Head lookout and saw her sitting on the wall, facing the ocean.
He took the first spot next to a convertible white Mustang who belonged to the only other people there. They stood at the wall on the far side from Mandy, taking pictures of the beautiful view.
He got out and went to her, his heart feeling heavy and burdened by what she was going through. He loved her so much and seeing her in any kind of pain was torture for him.
"Mandy," he said softly as he approached.
She turned seeing him and when she did, she felt every emotion she'd been holding in just explode.
He hurried to her as she tried to get her legs over the wall, practically falling off the other side as he reached out and put both arms around her and lifted her up.
She held onto him as if he were her lifeline, and in a way, he was.
He pulled her in, holding her tightly as she cried in his arms, feeling his own emotions getting the better of him, feeling her pain.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"How could he…" she began but only cried harder.
"I'm sorry."
"He just cut me out of his life, like I was no one," she sobbed. "He just wrote me off. Left me alone."
Steve pulled back, hearing fear in her voice. "Hey, you are not alone. You will never be alone."
She looked up at him with tear-stained cheeks, "I'm happy here with you. Are you happy?"
"You make me very happy and you never have to worry about being alone. I promise you that." He got a small smile from her but felt it wasn't enough to convince her that what he meant was real. He felt there was only way to truly assure her of his intentions.
"I love you, Mandy. I want to marry you. I want to be there for you the rest of my life. I want to marry you. Do you want to marry me?" he asked and then quickly replaced the question with the more traditional one. "Will you marry me?"
She was stunned, but unlike her father, she believed and trusted him, knowing he meant every word, even the proposal.
"You want to marry me?" she replied, the tears vanishing from her eyes.
"Yes, I do. Will you marry me?" her reaction at first was shock which he could understand, he hadn't planned on doing it this way, but felt the moment was right and he didn't have a single regret. Her expression softened and he saw the word 'yes' in her eyes before she even spoke it.
She was filled with a joy that replaced the sadness.
"Yes. Yes, I will marry you."
Her eyes filled with tears again but they were tears of joy this time, standing on her toes so she could kiss him.
…..
Peter stood on the lanai of his hotel and spoke on the phone to Bryce.
"She's being completely unreasonable."
"It's not her talking you know," Bryce responded, "it's him, filling her head with some kind of romantic dream that doesn't exist. He had her pegged the second he boarded the boat. He saw dollar signs in her eyes. If you just wait this thing out, he'll move on."
"What if they marry?"
"So what, you took the one thing away that he wants, her money. It'll never last and she'll come home."
"I can't take all of her money away. The trust from her mother is hers and Cash's. I can put a hold on it, but if she wants to fight me for it, I won't win."
"How much is it?"
"Not much, a little over two million for each of them." He gripped the railing of the lanai, "But the thought of McGarrett getting a dime of that money," he let out a low growl.
Bryce felt the same type of spiteful anger that Peter was. That trust money should have been his, and would have been he was assured, if Steve hadn't entered the picture.
"Two million dollars to a guy like him is a pretty good nest egg. You know she won't sign a prenup, he'll get half of it if not all."
"Not if I can help it," Peter responded. "He won't get a dime. He's trying to make my life hell, well then I'll just have to make his even worse."
"And how do you plan to do that, Peter? He's got everyone fooled as an upstanding citizen and a police officer for christsake. It won't be easy to pin something on him if that's what you are getting at."
"I have no intention of breaking the law," Peter said, "but everyone has their breaking point. I intend to expose Mr. McGarrett's."
"Sounds intriguing," Bryce smiled. "Care to fill me in?"
"Of course," Peter replied, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Bryce should have been his son-in-law, he fit the mold perfectly. "I might even need your help. How soon can you get to Honolulu?"
"I'm packing now," Bryce smiled, looking forward to killing off this relationship once and for all.
