Sue emerged from the bedroom, the two Kauai Police Department detectives behind her. Jack briefly met her eyes before looking beyond, seeking answers.

"Well? What's going to happen?"

"Scott Okamura will be spending some time in jail," Detective Kane relayed to the harried looking man. He exchanged an amused glance with his partner, both remembering the way the agent had pulled his badge and tried to bully his way into the interview only to be put in his place by his independent partner. "He'll go through rehab while behind bars and hopefully will see the error of his ways and turn himself around. The county of Kauai has a no tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. With the evidence from his blood test and the testimony of the eyewitnesses we interviewed as well as that of Miss Thomas, he won't have a chance of avoiding jail time. It'll be good for him," the older officer declared.

"Miss Thomas," Detective Fong said after turning to her, "Again, we're sorry you had to endure such an ordeal. We'll be in contact with you. Our goal will be to settle this without a trial, but just in case it does go to trial, we can probably arrange for you to be interviewed via satellite and save you a return trip here for such an unpleasant event. If there is anything we can do for you, please don't hesitate to let us know."

Sue nodded gratefully, at ease with the woman's confident ways and compassionate nature. "Thank you," she voiced. "I appreciate your coming to me instead of me having to come to headquarters. I'd like to keep this as low-key as possible."

The officers bade their goodbyes and with a final "Aloha," were gone. Turning, Sue found Jack waiting a few feet away. "I can't believe you pulled your badge," she said with a mild shake of her head. "What were you hoping to accomplish?"

"I didn't want you to go through that alone," he explained.

"Even if it was my choice?"

"Was it?" he challenged.

"Yes," she nodded, folding her arms across her stomach.

"Why?" he asked, unable to mask the hurt that settled at her words.

"Why?" she repeated. "Because I don't need you traipsing across the island to beat up somebody that isn't worth the effort. I know you, Jack Hudson. You have a protective streak in you a mile wide and if your sister or one of your family members had gone through the same thing, you'd be chomping at the bit to right the wrong."

Cocking his head, he regarded her carefully as he stepped closer, invading her space, causing her to lean back slightly. "I need to clear up a misconception you seem to have formed."

"What misconception?" she asked, her eyes flitting between his eyes and his mouth.

"I'm not your brother. You aren't my sister."

Rolling her eyes, she waved her hand, "Not technically, no," she supplied, trying to step around him only to be stopped when he refused to move.

"Not in any way," he reiterated, capturing her gaze and holding it for several long seconds before lowering his eyes so she'd do the same and continuing. "You're right, I do feel protective of you and I won't apologize for that. But it isn't because I think of you as a sister. My feelings for you are definitely not within the sibling realm," he informed her. "Not at all."

She didn't know how to respond, seeing something deep within his stare that stirred an anticipatory response in her. Not knowing what to do, she gazed mutely, trying hard to extinguish the hope flickering to life deep within. She'd felt attraction before with other men, but all her experiences combined paled in comparison to how she felt when she was in the same room with Jack.

Hearing a sound behind him, he remembered that Lucy and Daryl were waiting on the balcony and that this wasn't a good time to have the discussion they needed to have. Slowly, as not to scare her, he lifted his hand and gently trailed his finger down her satiny cheek, his eyes promising much. "Lucy and Daryl ordered a late dinner for us. They are waiting on the lanai. May I have the honor of escorting you, Miss Thomas? I could use the practice," he announced with a wink.

Freed from her invisible grip, she gamely slid her hand into the crook of the arm he offered and sent him a questioning look. "Practice for what?"

"Practice for being your escort," he added glibly.

She stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide. "Huh?"

Laughing at her stunned expression, he jutted his jaw and continued with his fun. "We'll need to practice before the wedding."

"We...wedding?"

He nodded. "I can't wait to see you, all decked out," his smile grew as her confusion mounted, "Walking down the aisle toward me..."

"Jack! What are you talking about?" She had withdrawn her hand from his arm and had it now firmly planted on her hip.

Reaching and taking her left hand, he let his thumb rub over her bare ring finger, while his eyes bored into hers. Giving her a slow, seductive wink, he brought her hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles tenderly before explaining. "I've been asked to take the place of the now defunct groomsman. I'll be your escort for the week so consider this a practice run." He paused for maximum effect, asking with wide, innocent eyes, "Why? What did you think I meant?"