The Truth about Ohana

Chapter Eight

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. I would love to write for them though.

Author Notes: The time on the island drags out for months and Kono and Steve have to make a new life for themselves always wary that they will be discovered. Their relationship deepens, as they become the very best of friends, relying only on each other for protection and relationship. Dinner with the Nolans leads to some deeper feelings revealed.

"Phil? Phil, Honey! They're here."

A voice drifted out from somewhere in the house. He didn't sound too enthusiastic.

"Just give me a minute."

Steve and Kono stood by the table that had been set for dinner with their arms around each other's waist. Smiles were plastered across their faces and Steve couldn't take his eyes off Kono. She looked so pretty and feminine tonight.

"How about something to drink?"

Cassie moved behind their wet bar as Steve and Kono walked over to the stools and sat down.

"Just a beer for me."

"What about you Grace? Want to be a little adventurous? I make a mean Mojito."

"Okay. I'll take one."

"Phil? Phil! Don't be rude to our guests. Get yourself out here and be a proper host."

Neither Steve nor Kono had thought much about what Cassie's husband would look like, but they were definitely surprised when a man in what Kono thought might be his sixties came walking into the room wearing a garish Hawaiian shirt.

"Sorry. When an idea comes to me I just have to get it on paper. You must be Alex and Grace. It's nice to meet you. Cassie spends her time spying on you two as much as she can. My wife needs a hobby other than shopping."

He reached out and shook Steve's hand and then reached for Kono's hand, sandwiching it between both of his.

"Let's have a seat and start dinner shall we?"

Steve and Kono quickly sat down on the same side of the table before Cassie could split them up. Kono put her hand on Steve's thigh and squeezed to thank him for keeping them together.

Steve was glad too. He didn't like the way "Phil" was looking at Kono. For her part, Kono didn't like the way Cassie was looking at Steve, but then she never had. Every encounter with the woman ended up with her sliding her eyes over his body in a very predatory way.

Cassie sat straight across from Steve and stared openly at him as she passed the salad.

Steve knew Phil was just being polite when he attempted to engage him in a dialogue.

"So Steve, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a Teleradiologist."

"A what?"

Now Phil was interested.

"I'm a radiologist, but I do my work online. I view digitally transmitted patient images and confer with the primary doctor via videoconferencing. It's one of the highest paid medical specialties and I can do it anywhere. I work for a virtual radiology company, my hours are minimal and I get to stay home with the missus. It's a great life and I make a ridiculous salary."

"Really?"

"Yep, six figures and all that."

"Wow! I had no idea."

"It's like being a writer. You can do your job anywhere you want, make your own hours and live the lifestyle you want. Am I right?"

That set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Phil suddenly had a new respect for "Alex". Kono chuckled at the idea that Steve would be in the medical profession, but it fit their circumstances and she was amazed at how well he conducted the conversation. It was obvious he had done his homework on this cover. She sat beside him all evening and just watched him affectionately.

He was…well…wonderful and she loved him. Wait. What? In that moment she knew she did. She loved him in every way. She was in love with this strong, confident, masculine man that cared for her so tenderly and she knew his heart and his character would never fail her. The question was did he feel the same way. She had to know and now!

Before they knew it Cassie set dessert in front of them and asked the question Steve had been dreading all evening.

"So how did you two meet and fall in love?"

Before he could say anything Kono started talking and Steve froze. This was not the story they had planned on. It was their real story he thought. What was she trying to say? Could she possibly feel the same way he did?

"So, Alex and I worked together at the time, but we were dating other people so we were just friends. Anyway, with me it was a classic story of girl meets bad boy who she thinks wants to become a good guy for her. I fell for it hook, line and sinker, only it wasn't true. It was just a line and I got my heart broken. I was a mess in more than one way and when he found out, Alex took care of me. We became really close and then I realized my feelings for him had changed. I hoped he felt the same way, but didn't know if he did, so I was afraid to tell him."

She chanced a look at Steve's face, but he was unreadable. Did he get what she was saying?

Cassie was completely wrapped up in the story.

"But didn't he have a girlfriend?"

Steve met Kono's eyes and his softened at the corners as he began to speak.

"I had just broken up with my girlfriend. We had been dating off and on for years and I thought I was falling in love with her, but I had never truly been in love before so I wasn't sure. Anyway, she went behind my back and kept something about my family a secret from me. Then she kept something from me that ended up being life threatening for someone I cared about and that was it.

I knew if she really loved me she would have been honest with me. I was tired of her thinking it was her job to "handle me" all those years. Just then Grace needed me and I was actually glad to have someone else to focus on at the time. Like she said, we got close and before I knew it I had fallen hard. I began to see what real love looked like. I just didn't know if she saw me that way."

Kono found Steve's hand under the table and linked her fingers with his. He could feel his heart racing. Were they admitting something here? Could it be true they felt the same way?

Cassie broke the moment.

"So how did you finally tell each other and get together?"

Steve smiled softly and turned to capture Kono's eyes.

"We kind of outted ourselves at a dinner party."

Kono and Steve never broke eye contact as Steve cleared his throat to continue.

"We've been together ever since."

Steve ran his thumb along the side of Kono's hand creating goose bumps on her arm.

Cassie slapped Phil's arm.

"See how romantic they are Phil? I want that honeymoon look back in your eye. I am so jealous of you two. The man's a writer and yet he doesn't have a romantic bone in his body."

Phil just ignored her and dove into his chocolate mousse.

For the next few minutes you could hear a pin drop and Steve and Kono's hearts were literally beating out of their chests. They hurried to finish their desserts before they rose at the same moment, saying the exact same words.

"Uh…we have to go…"

"Oh! So soon? I was hoping to get to spend some more time with you."

Steve came up with a quick excuse.

"We're expecting a call from our parents. The four of them run around together all the time and they're on a cruise again. Tonight they're going on a land excursion and promised to Skype us."

Cassie's face fell and Phil never even looked up from his spoon.

"But, hey, how about we have you over for steaks one night next week?"

"Really? Oh we'd love that wouldn't we Phil?"

"Sure. Why not."

The man finally rose and shook Steve's hand.

They really did seem to be just who they said they were. Nothing suspicious had come out of the dinner and for that Kono let out a small sigh of relief.

Steve clasped Kono's hand tightly in his and waved good-bye as they descended the steps and headed towards their place. Steve was going at a pretty fast clip and Kono could see that he was a man on a mission, so she just did her best to keep up.

He pulled her by the hand up the stairs of the lanai.

Once they crossed the threshold into the house and closed the sliding door, he dropped her hand and reached for her with both arms. He spread his fingers at the small of her back, pulled her into him and buried his nose in her hair.

"Tell me you meant it Kono. Tell me you meant every word, because I know I did."

Her voice was the softest and sweetest he had ever heard her speak.

"Yes I meant it. I…I think I'm in love with you Steve…"

"God, me too, Kono. I never felt this way about anyone before you. You're like home to me. I mean here we are stuck in this place and you make it so wonderful and just…right. I could probably stay here the rest of my life and actually be okay with it as long as you were here."

"Me…me too…"

Steve pulled back and looked at her in the twilight. They hadn't even bothered to turn on the lights yet. His eyes went to her lips and then he slowly leaned forward and pressed his tenderly to hers. It was magic…

A/N: Hey Gang, there really is such a job as a teleradiologist and they can work anywhere in the world as long as they have Internet. They make upwards of $400,00 a year.