"No Dad," Sarah argued. "It's not like that at all!"

"Sounds too me like it is," her older brother Timmy blurted out. "What's the saying, 'Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free.'

His older brother JC reached over and slapped the hat off his head. "Say something like that again smart-ass. I'll knock the shit out ya."

"Stop it," Sarah's mother shouted from the kitchen. "I don't want that language used in my house." She came from around the counter, pointing the wooden spoon in her hand at Timmy. "And if I hear you speaking about your sister that way again, I'll use this on your backside like I used to when you were a ten. Do you hear me young man?!"

Timmy laughed, "Yes Ma'am."

"I don't like this guy," her father started again. "He doesn't respect you Sarah. That's what I'm hearing."

She slouched back in her chair, wishing now she wouldn't have said anything at all. But with her Mother's announcement that they were coming to Hawaii to visit that summer, she had to come clean about her new living arrangements. "Steve is a great guy," she defended. "He's a really good man. He loves me very much. I know that without a doubt. He already said he wants to get married someday, but I…"

"Then why not now?" Timmy jumped in again. "He's using you Sarah."

"Shut up Timmy!" she blasted him. "God, you are so annoying! You don't even know him. None of you do! You don't even listen to me, you just assume because we aren't jumping into marriage that this whole thing is some kind of joke." She got up and pushed away from the table. "Have you thought for one second that maybe it's me that doesn't want to get married?" She stormed out of the house through the opened sliding glass door, walking toward the pool and sitting down on the diving board with her back to them. She clenched her fists, angry with them for not understanding and angry with Steve for not wanting it now.

She felt a hand on her back and looked up seeing her brother JC. "What?" she snapped.

"Hey, hey, settle down." He put his hand up, imitating a Native American. "I come in peace."

Sarah chuckled, scooting over as he sat down next to her.

"Don't let Dad get to you, Sis. You're his baby girl and you always will be. No one will ever be good enough for you. Not even some Governor Commanding ex Navy Seal guy who sounds more like he's Captain America." He gently nudged her. "Oh yea I forgot, who also looks like Captain America."

Sarah laughed over his description of Steve. "He's above all that JC. That's my description of him because I want you all to be impressed by him, but if he were to describe himself to you, he'd probably say disciplined and loyal, but above all honest. He doesn't talk about the other stuff. He wants to be known for those three things, not the hero stuff."

"Hero!" JC smiled. "That's a bold word."

"He's mine," she said sincerely.

His smile faded, seeing something in her eyes that he'd never noticed until just then. "You really do love this guy don't you?"

"Yes!"

"Be honest with me Sis, would you rather have a ring and not just a key?"

She knew of all her brother's JC was the one she could talk the most open with and trust him to have her back. "I wanted a ring, but it's ok too. He's just not ready yet. I respect that."

"Ok then," he put his arm around her. "if you're happy, then I'm happy. Besides," he chuckled, "I'm not sure I could kick this one's ass for you. I ran into Bryce at church a few weeks ago. He's transferred back from Hawaii. He told me he ran into you and some guy at a bar in Waikiki. Sounds like it was Steve."

Sarah almost burst out laughing, forgetting all about that incident. "JC, I don't know what Bryce told you…" she quickly tried to cover for Steve.

"He told me the guy was sticking up for you. He thought Bryce was drunk and putting his hands on you. He also said that once he found out the truth, he was pretty much harmless."

"He's not a bully by any means. He's the type guy that steps up between you and the bully, and faces him down."

JC smiled, "Bryce also said he was huge. Not huge, huge, but solid."

Sarah grinned, "He's pretty fit. It comes from that whole discipline thing from being a Seal. I tease him all the time, telling him once a Seal always a Seal."

"He sounds like a decent guy, but most of all I know you're a smart girl and you wouldn't let anyone walk on ya."

"I wouldn't," she assured him. "Plus, you met Danny. He's Danny's partner. And you really liked Danny."

"I didn't know that! Well that's cool. Another plus." He squeezed her with his arm that was still around her. "Just promise me one thing, Sis. Sarah comes first. OK?"

She laid her head on his shoulder. "OK."

Steve lay out on the couch, kicking his shoes off the end. He pulled up Sarah's number and called.

"Hi," she said, going out the sliding glass door to the pool, wanting to avoid any more confrontations. This trip hadn't been the best time so far.

"How's Phoenix? Have you melted yet?" he smiled, happy to hear her voice.

She sat down at the edge of the pool, dipping her feet in. "No, it's only about 103 today. Not too bad."

He sat up, "You ok?"

"Yes," she closed her eyes, shaking her head, not wanting to be angry at him, but feeling the frustration of her family on her back.

She didn't convince him. "Are you sure? You sound a little down."

She wanted to cry at this point, but swallowed it down. "I'm fine. It's just been a long day."

"Sarah," he said more firmly. "What's wrong?"

She felt tears sting her eyes, looking up trying to avoid the flood. "My Dad's pretty pissed that I'm moving in with you. I knew he wouldn't take it well, but he's not taking it well at all."

He could really hear it now. "You mean because we're not getting married?"

"Well…kind of." She didn't want to say it out right, not wanting to have this conversation with him either. She felt like she was stuck in the middle.

"Oh sweetie, listen to me," he decided to come clean for her sake. "We can get married whenever you want."

"Stop it. That's not going to help." She heard a beep and pulled her phone away from her ear as he replied to her. "Shit!" she grumbled. "My phones about to die. I forgot to charge it when I got here."

"Sarah," he said more adamantly. "Hey, did you hear me?"

"What?"

"I'm serious! We can get married. I want too."

"I know you do. You told me that before. Just not right away. I believe you." She rolled her eyes, really not wanting to have this conversation again.

"No, I mean now. ASAP!"

She looked over her shoulder, hearing her name being called. "I'm coming!" she yelled out. "I have to go, my grandparents just got here. We're going to dinner." She cupped the phone seeing her grandfather standing at the sliding glass door coming out to greet her.

"Honey," Steve said, just wait a second. Listen to me. At the airport, that whole thing wasn't true. I was just setting you up for a proposal." He could hear distant mumbling, pulling the phone away to make sure he was still connected. "Sarah!"

"Hi Grandpa," she put her arms around his neck getting a big hug.

"How's my favorite granddaughter," he said, shaking her.

Sarah laughed. "I'm fine. Hold on one second."

"Steve, I have to go. I'll call you later. I love you." She paused but heard no reply. "Steve?" She pulled the phone away seeing it had already died. "Dang it."

Steve watched the screen on his phone display the words 'call ended' and dropped his head down. "Shit, shit, shit!" He quickly brought up his text screen and texted a message for when the phone was re-charged.

'I'm ready to get married now. That whole thing at the airport was just a way to throw you off until you got home. I have a ring. I love you. I would marry you in a heartbeat. Call me as soon as you get this.'

He closed his eyes, wishing now he would have proposed at the airport. This whole plan wasn't turning out the way he had hoped. He had no idea her family, especially her father would react this way; otherwise he would have put her on that plane with a ring. He couldn't stand the thought of her being unhappy, especially when there was really no merit for it whatsoever. It was killing him. And worse yet, he couldn't even talk to her.

Sarah got in the car with her grandparents, not wanting to be alone again with her father. She could feel the disappointment from across the room after she got off the phone with Steve.

"So," her Grandmother said, turning in her seat to see her. "You're mother says you have a man in your life. It's pretty serious."

Sarah forced a smile and wanted to jump out of the car. "Yes. His name is Steve."

"So what does this Steve do?"

"He's a police officer."

"Oh," she and her husband gave each other a look.

"What?" Sarah snapped, "What's so bad about that?"

They looked at each other again. Her grandfather adjusting the mirror so he could see her in the back. "It doesn't mean anything. It's just impressive, that's all."

"I heard that your father is a little taken back by him. Is this the defensiveness that I'm hearing?"

"Dad hasn't even met him yet." she sighed, deciding to just tell them because they were going to find out eventually and she'd rather it came from her. "Steve asked me to move in with him when I get back to Hawaii."

"Wow," he grandmother said, "that is serious. Are you going to do it?"

"Yes," she said not feeling or getting the same disappointed look from either of them. "I love him and he loves me. We both want this. We'll eventually get married but for right now, this is what we want."

"Good for you."

She was a little taken back over their reaction, or better yet, the lack of a reaction. "You don't think we should get married first?" she asked them.

They both looked at each other and laughed. "Let me tell you a little secret," her grandmother said. "Before we got married, we lived together too. We were living in separate cities after your Grandfather got out of the Navy. We wanted to be together but couldn't afford two places."

He huffed, "And believe me, it wasn't a popular thing to do in those times. We were criticized pretty good by both of our parents, but we knew we loved each other and knew we'd get married eventually, just like you and Steve."

"Do you talk about marriage?" her grandmother asked.

"Yes. He already told me he wants to."

"Well then, when you're ready."

Sarah finally felt some sort of relief.

"Don't let your Dad get on you too much Sarah. He's a bit old fashioned, and that's coming from an old geezer like me."

Sarah laughed, "You're not an old geezer Grandpa. You'd like Steve too. He was in the Navy just like you. He was a Seal for six years," she said proudly.

"Really? Well being a Navy Man myself I have to say that's very impressive. They didn't have Seal's around when I was in but I heard those guys are like tough as nails. I can't wait to meet him."

"I wish he were here, but he couldn't get away from work. He wanted to be." She missed him more than ever at that moment. It had only been a day and she could already feel the pain over the separation from him, reaching for her purse and remembering she forgot her cell phone sitting on the counter being charged.

Steve woke up early and reached for his cell phone, checking for a message from Sarah. He'd tried calling her again the night before but got no answer. He lay back in bed and groaned. It had been a restless night, not only because of the turmoil effecting him now but because he missed her sleeping next to him. He held the phone out in front of him and did the time difference between Hawaii and Arizona, three hours. It would be almost nine o'clock there. 'Maybe,' he thought, 'maybe she doesn't want to call me too early.' But she knew he was an early riser. 'Or maybe she's just pissed off.' He growled over his mistake again and decided to take the initiative and call her instead.

Timmy reached for the vibrating phone, seeing Steve's face and name pop up on the screen. "Forget it buddy," he pushed ignore, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." He set the phone back down; deleting the evidence that he had called. "If you really love her you'd marry her."

He felt he was doing the right thing for his little sister. She seemed too gaga over this guy and by her description of him; he seemed to be one of these guys that felt he had the right to string her along. "Navy Seal," he scoffed, "Cop, good-looking." Steve seemed to good to be true in his eyes. He loved his sister but felt she was being naïve if she thought this guy was everything she had described. In his mind Steve was setting her up. He didn't feel guilty over it, knowing he was doing the right thing by making him work for it. And if he didn't, then she would finally see the light.

The phone buzzed again and Timmy laughed. "Persistent. Hate being left hanging?" he decided to really give him something to think about. He answered it.

"Hello?"

Steve sat up in bed over the strangers voice answering Sarah's phone. "Is…Sarah there?"

"Umm," Timmy stammered, "No, I don't think so. She got home pretty late last night and then took off early this morning. She must have forgot her phone."

Steve didn't think anything of that, knowing she was on vacation and probably catching up with people. "Do you know when she'll be back?"

"Hold on," he cupped the phone and sat there counting to ten before coming back on. "No, she went out with Pudo again today to hike up Camelback Mountain. They won't be back for a while."

Steve fell right into the trap. "Pudo?" he asked, wondering if that was a nickname of one her brothers.

"Gary Pudo. He grew up down the street. He and Sarah go way back. Two peas in a pod, you know."

"Ya, I know." He felt his stomach turn a bit. He knew exactly what he was talking about. He and Sarah were that once too.

"Do you want to leave her a message?" Timmy grinned over his cleverness.

"Just tell her that Steve called."

"Does she have your number?"

"It's in her phone. It should have popped up when I called."

"No, unknown caller popped up, that's why I answered it."

He really felt sick now. What the hell was going on? She deleted him from her phone! Out with other guys! "Um," his head was spinning trying to finish this call. "I guess I'll just try her again later."

"Ok, if she comes home I'll give her the message. Later," He hung up and laughed, "Good luck on that Buddy."

As he hung up he noticed the text icon and clicked on it, seeing Steve's text from the night before. He read it over twice more, and this time he was the one that felt a little nauseous over his treachery.

Sarah lifted the newspaper on the table and then shifted through the mail in the box on the counter. "Has anyone seen my phone? I left it here last night to charge?"

"No," her mother answered.

"Not me," JC replied sitting at the table.

Her mother put the mail back in the basket that Sarah had taken out. "With all of you staying here this week, things are going to get messy unless you keep your things put away."

"It's a phone," Sarah said, looking over at her brother, rolling her eyes. "It was sitting right here before we left for dinner."

"Don't roll your eyes at me young lady," her mother scolded, playfully smacking her on the butt. "And don't think I'm going to clean up after you kids like I used to when you were little either." She added, picking up JC's breakfast plate. "Ken and his family and Todd and his family will be here before the end of the day and we have that BBQ tomorrow and I expect some help around here."

"Ok, ok," Sarah rolled her eyes again.

"You got it Mom," JC joined in. "By the way, what's on the lunch menu for today?"

She picked up a newspaper and smacked him over the head with it. "Bread and water," she laughed.

"Seriously," Sarah went back to her hunt. "Where is my phone?!"

JC moved some items on the kitchen table. "Are you expecting a call from your boyfriend this morning," he teased. "Are you missing him?" he said in a girly voice. "I miss him. I miss my boyfriend." He continued on, patronizing her and pretending to cry.

"Shut up," Sarah laughed.

"Use Mom and Dad's phone?" he suggested.

Sarah plopped down in one of the chairs. "I can't. I don't know his number."

"What?" her mother said from behind her. "You don't know his number?"

"It's in my phone. Who memorizes numbers anymore, or keeps address books in their purse?"

"True," JC agreed. "If I lost my phone and was stranded somewhere I couldn't call anyone."

"That's ridiculous," her mother said, searching through her purse and pulling out a small blue address book. "I could call any one of you," she smiled, holding it up. "Mother knows best."

They both looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

Steve came walking by Danny's office, stopping just long enough to berate him. "I should have never listened to you! Why do I listen to you?!" He moved on running to his own office.

"What?!" Danny came from around his desk and out the door. "What did I do?"

Steve flipped up his laptop, pulling up Alaska Airlines website.

"What?" he stood at Steve's door with his hands stretched out. "What?!" he said louder.

"That whole thing was a bad idea!" he yelled back. "Her Dad's mad because she's moving in with me and not getting married. She was practically crying on the phone."

"Why didn't you just tell her the truth?"

"I tried! I was telling her when her phone died. It was like a fricking nightmare. I texted her but she never called me back. So I called her this morning and she was out with some," he used his fingers as quotation marks "'old friend' last night and then went hiking with him today up Camel something Mountain!"

Danny laughed, "So what? She's not allowed to see old friends?"

Steve glared at him, "I was a friend before we got serious."

Danny laughed again. "Are you kidding me? Do you really think Sarah would cheat on you? Come on!"

"No! That's not what I'm afraid of."

"Then what?"

"She's there with her family who are giving her a hard time about me not marrying her and then her last impression of me is telling her again that I don't want to get married now. You should have heard her voice on the phone." He shook his head, distraught. "I knew something was wrong right away. What if she starts second guessing us and in the meantime she's there with whoever this guy is and maybe he offers her something better." He sat back in his chair, rubbing his hands through his hair. "I can't believe I fucked this up."

"Calm down," Danny said, more so with his hands. "Just relax. How do you know she's out with some guy?"

"Her brother answered her phone and told me." He sat up, gripping the arms of the chair. "And that's another thing. He said my number came up as unknown! Unknown!" The shocked look on his face over that turned to a pained one. "She took me off her phone!" He turned the chair and put his head between his legs, feeling nauseous. "Jesus Danny. If I messed this up…if I lose her."

Danny stifled his laugh not wanting to make it worse but knew there had to be an explanation for everything. He couldn't imagine Sarah leaving him, anymore than he could imagine Steve leaving her. He watched him sit back up and go to his computer. "Are you going to email her?"

Steve looked at him like he was nuts. "No! I'm getting a flight to Phoenix. I'm going there and I'm going to propose to her before she changes her mind about me all together."

Danny stared at him as his fingers worked speedily on the computer, seeing a bead of sweat begin to form on his brow. He'd never seen him like this before. If he weren't so hysterical it would have been comical. He didn't even know what to say to him anymore. It was as if he were beyond any kind of logical thinking, feeling that threat of losing the one woman that he had fallen in love with. It was actually tragically funny because Danny knew without a doubt he had blown it all out of proportion but bit his tongue, knowing it would make Sarah happy if he showed up there and the proposal would be a hundred times better and probably a hell of a lot more sincere this way; he only wished he could be there to hear Steve lay it out.