Epilogue

Reclining in a lounge chair on the eighth floor lanai of the Hale Koa, Admiral Nelson was presented with a sweeping view of the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Or might have had he been awake to see it.

Kate Manning tapped lightly on the door to his "deluxe ocean view" room in the Ilima Tower before extracting the key he had given her and letting herself in. She smiled warmly as she spied him on the lanai, a light offshore breeze ruffling his hair as he slept.

Passing the TV, Kate paused to hear the news as a reporter spoke of the onset of war in some remote part of the world. As the camera panned burned out villages and fleeing women and children, Kate felt a deep sense of regret. They had tried so hard to prevent something like this from happening but in the end, men just found other ways to reap devastation on one another. The story ended and another followed but Kate found the off switch before more gruesome images could populate the screen. Now wasn't the time to be depressed, she thought, gazing fondly at the dozing man. Now was the time to rejoice at just being alive.

Stepping onto the lanai, she bent slightly and brushed his forehead with a light kiss.

Blue eyes gazed dreamily into hers. "I was just thinking about you," he said with a twinkle.

"You were?"

"Uh, huh." His eyes lightened noticeably.

"Given you're current incapacitated state and the vehemence of your doctor's orders, I don't think I want to know details right now."

He admired the floral wrap draped loosely around her hips. "Some things are best left to my imagination." Cringing slightly as he sat up, he took her hand and urged her onto the lounge chair. "I don't suppose you've seen anything of my crew?"

"Well, you've got a large contingent down on the beach, girl watching. Lee and Chip are attracting a small, yet devoted following at the pool and several of the men headed up to Haleiwa to surf." She scanned the view. If she craned her neck, she could just see Diamond Head over to the left, beyond the mass of hotels that wandered toward the ocean. Before them was the panoramic view of the Pacific, sail and tourist boats dotting the horizon. "Well, at least one of us has a magnificent view."

"Rank does have its privileges," he replied offhandedly. "How's the water?" He could feel the dampness of her bathing suit against his leg.

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Wish you could have joined me."

"Doc has already threatened me within an inch of my life. I'm not going to press it."

She regarded him in earnest, his casual remark a fresh reminder as to why the unscheduled stay in Honolulu was necessitated—for the crew as well as Seaview. Kate casually leaned forward, gently laid one hand on his cheek and kissed him, slowly edging away.

"Ah, not that I'm complaining in any way but what was that for?" he asked, a sanguine grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

Her eyes twinkled coyly. "Oh, saving civilization from your basic diabolical megalomaniac," she answered with an air of facetiousness. Once again pressing forward, she kissed him, lingering just a bit longer than the first time.

The admiral sighed in amazement. "And that?"

"For pushing me off the boat."

He raised a questioning eyebrow. "After the scowl you gave me, I thought you'd be ready to kill me."

She grinned forgivingly. "I was…at first. But remembering what you said on the deck just before you pushed me made me forget my grudges. Did you mean it?"

"I did…and still do."

With a devilish look in her eyes, she framed his face with her palms and bent forward, lips meeting in an infinitely passionate kiss. Inching away slowly, she was pleased to see the slightly disjointed, extremely disconcerted look on his face. He was momentarily speechless.

In a familiar gesture, he ran his hand along the side of his head, absently smoothing the hair over his right ear. "Whatever that was for," he stammered, "I need to do it again."

"That one was just because I wanted to," she answered nonchalantly, her eyes betraying her insouciance.

"I like that reason the best."

"Want to think of other reasons?" she asked pressing closer.

"Uh, huh," he nodded, eyes flitting from her eyes to her lips then back again.

"You're sure you're up to it?" They were millimeters apart.

"Just don't 'jostle' me," he replied with a mischievous grin.

THE END