Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it's been over a month since I last updated. Things have been crazy with work! (The life of a teacher!)
Anywho, thank you for the AMAZING comments and for sticking with this story! I promise I won't go that long again without updating!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters from the show.
Enjoy!
"So," Danny began after a lengthy silence in the car on their way into the station. "Who's Emma?"
"She's an old friend's little sister," Steve answered while keeping his gaze focused on the road.
"And why is she here?" Danny asked. Steve did not answer at first as he thought about what to tell his partner. In the end, he opted for the truth.
"Emma has a stalker back home in Richmond, Virgina. Her brother, Riley, thought it would be best if she left for a while. He and several of our SEAL buddies are helping the police look for this guy right now," Steve replied.
"Did this guy hurt her?" Danny asked as his protective side kicked in. If this woman was important enough for Steve to take into his home, then she would be important to Danny too.
"No, not according to what she's told me so far," Steve said quietly.
"But you don't believe that?" Danny questioned.
"It's not that I don't believe it. It's just that I know Emma is still keeping things from me. I know she's not doing it to be secretive, but this guy scared the hell out of her. I had to wake her up from a nightmare last night," Steve said with anger lacing his voice.
"Damn," Danny muttered. "Look you let me know if you need anything. We can help out with the investigation as well if you can get Emma to open up more."
"That's my plan, Dan," Steve said with a smirk while pulling into the parking lot of Five-0 headquarters. Once inside, Steve pulled Kono and Chin into his office along with Danny. He explained the situation to them as well. Steve McGarrett was not the kind of man to keep secrets from his team. Especially something as big as this.
"Poor Emma," Kono said sympathetically. "Steve, let me know if there is anything I can to help."
"Thanks, Kono," Steve replied with a smile at the young woman he now thought of as a little sister.
"Same here, bro," Chin said.
"Thanks," Steve repeated. "I'm going to run out and grab a phone for Emma. I'll be back in about an hour."
The team nodded their agreement before getting busy on paperwork for their most recent case.
Emma slowly made her way down the stairs of the McGarrett house about an hour later. She'd just showered and thrown on a pair of white shorts and a purple tank top. She opted to let her blonde hair go curly instead of straightening it like usual. She'd applied a minimal amount of make-up—powder, light purple eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss.
She made her way into the kitchen and began taking inventory of the food in the refrigerator and pantry. From the looks of it, Steve was a T.V. dinner kind of guy. Shaking her head, Emma decided that that would have to change while she was here. She grabbed a pen and pad of paper from the drawer nearest the phone.
Just as she was beginning to make grocery list, the front door opened.
"Emma?" Steve's voice rang out.
"Kitchen," she replied while continuing her list. Steve followed her voice and couldn't help but smile at the picture she painted standing barefoot in his kitchen. Her blonde curls and waves framed her angelic face that had the cutest spattering of freckles across the nose and cheeks.
"What are you doing?" he asked walking closer to her. Emma glanced up from her list to smile at him.
"Making a grocery list," she answered as he hopped up onto the counter next to where she was standing.
"Good," Steve said. "I can grab whatever you need on the way home."
"Well, I was planning to go once you got back with the phone," Emma said with a grin.
"That works too," Steve replied. "Here's your phone by the way."
Emma dropped the pen she was using to take the iPhone out of his outstretched hand. She made her way to the contacts page and smiled when she saw that he'd already put his number there.
"I also added Danny's number as well as my two other partners' numbers," Steve explained.
"Kono and Chin, right?" Emma asked remembering him talking about them at dinner the night before.
"Right," Steve said with a smile before his face turned serious. "I know this is going to be hard, but I think it would be best if you didn't make any contact with anyone on the mainland, Emma."
"Yeah, Riley said the same thing," Emma said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "I don't think I've ever gone this long without talking to my mom."
"I know, Em," Steve said hopping down of the counter and pulling her into his arms. "But, it's so important that this guy does not find out where you are before Riley and the guys can find him."
"I know," Emma murmured as she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. The sound of his strong heartbeat instantly calmed her.
"I hate to go, but I've got to get back to work," Steve said a few minutes later as he slowly pulled away from her. It took everything he had not to kiss those gorgeous pink lips of hers, but somehow he managed to stop himself.
"Ok, be careful," Emma replied as she followed him to the front door. "I'll be leaving in just a few minutes to go head to the store."
"Ok," Steve said as he walked through the door and turned to look at her. The sight her standing in his doorway saying goodbye to him felt entirely too right for Steve's taste. "Do you know where you're going?"
"I was planning to go to the grocery store we passed last night on the way here," Emma said.
"Good," Steve returned. "Just text me when you get back home."
"I will," Emma promised before watching him retreat to the silver Camaro. Once he was inside, he waved at her before pulling out of the driveway. Emma went back inside and slipped on a pair of white sandals. She grabbed her purse, new cell phone, and Steve's keys to his truck before locking up the house on her way out.
As Steve made his way into his house several hours later, the scent of Italian food immediately caught his attention. Heading directly for the kitchen, he found it empty. He opened the door to the stove only to find the best looking lasagna he'd ever seen or smelled. After closing the door, he noticed a large bowl filled with lettuce, tomatoes, carrot slices, onions, and cucumbers sitting on the counter next to the refrigerator.
"There you are," Emma's voice drifted to him from the back door. "I thought we could eat outside so I was setting the table."
"That sounds good to me," Steve replied. "Emma, that lasagna smells incredible."
"Thank you," Emma blushed. "It's actually my mom's recipe, and one of my favorites. I think I remember it being one of yours too."
"Well, you know I love anything your mom cooks, but her lasagna was definitely my favorite," Steve said with a smile. "How'd you remember that?
"You Navy SEALS aren't the only ones who pay close attention to details," Emma answered with a smirk before grabbing a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. "I bought red too if you'd rather have that."
"White's good with me," Steve said as he grabbed two wine glasses from the top shelf. He sat them on the counter and took the bottle from Emma's hand. While he poured, she pulled the tantalizing lasagna and a tray of warm garlic bread from the oven. Steve turned to watch her as she began making two plates.
"I could get use to this," he said softly.
"What'd you say?" Emma asked a minute later as she turned to hand him a plate with a smile on her face.
"Just that this smells delicious and I'm starving," Steve replied before taking his plate and following her outside. The sway of her hips in those white shorts definitely had more than his stomach thinking that he could get use to having her around.
He was in deep trouble.