Eric shoved the rest of his slice of pepperoni in his mouth, chewing for a couple of seconds before taking a drink of his pop.
Anna shook her head at him. "I can't believe you ate all of that. It was huge!"
Jenny took a bite of her oversize hot dog and groaned, setting it back down on the plate. "I'm full Anna. I don't want no more." She pushed the plate over towards Eric. "Do you want the rest of my hot dog?"
He shrugged nonchalantly and pulled the plate over, picking up the half eaten dog and taking a bite.
"Food will never go to waste as long as you're around," Anna chuckled.
They sat at a table outside Costco having lunch before going in and doing some shopping for school that was starting again soon. She had decided to get out of the house rather than sit there all day wondering if Steve would show up or if he would hide all day in his house. Her thoughts over their encounter the night before and what would become of their friendship or so called relationship was wreaking havoc in her head, letting it get the better of her. She'd never been so torn between feeling happy and worried in her whole life. Not to mention how or when they would explain this to the kids if things did work out, or worse yet, how she would explain her distance from him if things didn't. Eric and Jenny were one of the main reasons they came together in the first place. She played the trust card again, using it to calm herself, but it was literally going to be longest time of her life until she saw him again. She would know then; he wouldn't be able to hide it.
She glanced over Jenny's shoulder across the table just then noticing the pretty view of the Hawaiian mountains in the background, wishing she knew the name of them. She needed to learn more about where she lived now and decided to make an effort to get the kids out more. She had yet to see the famous North Shore.
"Eric," she asked, pointing over Jenny's shoulder. "Do you know the name of that mountain range?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No. I don't think it's a part of the Ko'olau Mountains. I think its something different."
"Yes it is a part of the Ko'olau range," a man sitting behind Anna voiced up. "But it's a very large mountain range so to assume it's not one in the same is a common mistake," he said, not wanting to insult Eric for not knowing.
Anna and he both turned to see him. The man smiled but his focus was on Anna. He had on a white baseball cap with the University of Hawaii logo. His hair was long and stringy, the ends touching his shoulders. His smile, although badly in need of a dentist, seemed sincere and she associated him as a native of the islands, judging by his tanned skin and knowledge. He couldn't have been more than thirty years old but his weathered appearance made him look much older.
"Thank you for that piece of information," she smiled back. "They're really beautiful."
"They have some great hiking trails."
"Really?" she replied, taking into consideration her earlier point of getting the kids out to see the island. "Maybe we'll check that out." She was always amazed at the generosity of the Hawaiian people and their openness to strangers, really beginning to enjoy her new home.
"I could show you," he volunteered, "but I must disagree with your view of the island, because I don't believe anything here is a beautiful as you Miss Jordan."
And there it was, Anna sighed. He was being nice because he thought she was Alyssa. Not the first time and certainly not the last. "I'm not Alyssa Jordan," she replied.
"Your secret is safe with me, Alyssa," he leaned over a little too close for comfort and whispered to her. "Even without the makeup and dark hair I could pick you out in a second. I've seen your last movie, 'Revenge,' twenty two times. It would be my pleasure to escort you around our beautiful island." He went to reach up and touch her hair when she leaned back away.
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I told you I'm not Alyssa Jordan."
Anna turned back away from him and began to gather up their empty plates. "Let's go."
"No need to get hostile with me Alyssa," he said dryly.
"She's not Alyssa Jordan," Eric said in the same tone, sensing Anna's uneasiness in the situation. He'd encountered this type of situation while being out with her before. Most times people just stared at her while some asked for an autograph, but at least they were nice about it, even when she turned them down.
"Eric," she halted him, not wanting to engage the conversation any further with the man. "Jenny, hand me my purse." She said standing up.
"I'm just trying to be nice," he said, gripping onto her elbow, the smile fading from his face.
"So am I," Anna replied, "I'm not Alyssa Jordan." She looked down at his grip. "Let go of me."
"You look at me and think you're too good for me, don't you?" he snapped.
"Let her go!" Eric growled angrily.
"Anna," Jenny said on the verge of tears, knowing something bad was happening but not quite sure what.
Anna jerked her arm away from him. "You've made a mistake. I told you I'm not her." She'd had hostile situations before in LA when people had mistaken her for Alyssa, and then became angry over her denying it, but no one had ever grabbed her before. At the moment she wasn't thinking of herself but of Eric and Jenny. She put her arm around Eric's shoulder and turned him away from the man, "Come on Jenny," she said nervously, moving them away from the seating area and out toward the parking lot, neither one of them complaining about leaving before they had a chance to go inside and go shopping.
Her heart was pounding as she dug through her purse for the keys, releasing the alarm on the car.
"Alyssa!" she heard behind her, looking over her shoulder as the man approached them.
"Get in the car!" she said to the two of them. "Right now."
"What does he want?" Jenny asked nervously.
"Eric, take her. Get in the car!"
She turned around and went toward the man, keeping a distance between he and Jenny and Eric. She glanced over her shoulder seeing Eric close the front passenger door. She tapped the alarm, locking the doors. She stopped a couple feet from him and put her hand up. "What do you want?"
"I was just trying to be nice. I didn't mean no harm."
"Look," Anna sighed loudly. "I'm not who you think I am, ok. And even if I was, what gives you the right to grab me and to scare my kids like that?"
He looked over her shoulder to the car, seeing Eric watching them intently from the front seat. "That boy was rude."
Anna shook her head, walking back away from him. "He's a nice boy. You should learn from him."
"Why do you have to be like that?" he spat. "I'm a fan of yours. I deserve some respect! I'll never see another one of your movies ever again!"
"Ok, fine by me." Anna said, hurrying back to the car. She undid the alarm and glanced through the windows as she came around the driver's side, pleased that he wasn't following her. She quickly got in and locked the doors again.
"What did he say?" Eric asked, looking back over at him as he stood in the parking lot staring at the car.
"Nothing," Anna said, starting the engine and quickly backing up. She put it in gear and looked in the rearview mirror as the man gave her the finger as they drove off. She felt safe now and almost laughed over his gesture. "Freak," she mumbled.
"What did he want Anna?" Jenny asked next.
She looked at the child in her rear view mirror, smiling at her. "Nothing Jenny. He was just confused is all."
"We didn't go shopping," Jenny said. "We need milk and cream cheese."
She glanced over at Eric as he stared at her. She could see the concern in his eyes over what had just happened. She reached over, putting a hand on his leg. "Are you ok?"
He nodded, "I should have punched him for grabbing you like that."
"No, you shouldn't have," she said sternly, but was flattered that he had stuck up for her like that. "But thank you for standing up for me."
"He was a jerk. If Steve was there I bet he would have punched him."
Jenny sat up in her seat in the back. "Steve would have put him in jail!" she announced wholeheartedly.
Anna laughed at the two of them as she pulled into a Supermarket parking lot down the street, relived it was over.
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Steve sat up on his couch after hearing their car pull up. He stood by the window and watched as Anna got out. He first admired the long tanned legs as she swung them out the driver's seat, wearing a pair of cut off jeans. His eyes roamed up to her face as she glanced over in his direction. He knew she couldn't see him but he could feel the impact of it from where he stood. She was looking for him; the same as he'd being doing all day for her.
"Shit," he moaned with a grin, watching her intently as she opened the back hatch of the SUV. "Why does she have to look so good all the time?" He wasn't feeling the anxiety over the night before like she was. He was only feeling good. He had all day and now that she was back he felt even better.
He came out the front door and across the lawn, seeing the carload of groceries and knowing this was a good opportunity to break the ice and confront the night before. He'd been curious all morning wondering how they were gong to work it around the kids, if they should tell them or when they should tell them. He felt Anna was on board with what had happened between them and as far as he was concerned, he wanted more; more of her, inside and out.
"Need some help," he said coming up behind her as she reached in for another handful.
She turned around and smiled brightly at him, not expecting to see him but pleased she was. "Hi."
They both took in the moment, seeing each other for the first time. She tried desperately to read him and see if she could see something in him that reflected more than just sex from the night before. Now that she was standing in front of him she realized what she was looking for…a connection.
She smiled shyly at his devilish grin as he brushed her body with his, reaching inside the car and scooping up two bags in his arms. Just that slightest bit of contact set her heart racing. She watched him walk in the house as she leaned against the back of the car. It felt like the temperature had just skyrocketed as her palms began to sweat, recalling that lingering scent of him that still hovered around her. It wasn't cologne but just him. She felt that connection, but did he?
She heard her name as he came out of the house with both Eric and Jenny on his heels as they repeated the story of the man at Costco that had confronted her. His eyes were focused on her as he listened, his expression turning to concern as came around the back of the car.
"What happened?"
"What? You mean at the store?"
"Yes."
She shook her head as if it were nothing, "He just thought I was Alyssa is all."
"She said she wasn't and then he got mad," Eric said.
Steve looked back at her. "What did he say? Have you ever seen him before?"
"No, and he was just…I don't know. He was getting a little weird so we left."
"And then he grabbed her," Eric said angrily.
"What?!" Steve's face turned furious over that. "He put his hands on you? Did he hurt you? Where did he grab you?!"
She held her arm up. "He grabbed my arm, but its ok."
He put his hand on the spot she said and then with his other he gently cupped the back of her neck, his expression showing all the anger and fear over it. "Did he hurt you, Anna? Are you ok?"
She could see the genuine worry all over him. "I'm fine," she smiled wanting to ease him, but pleased over his reaction.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she put a hand on his arm, "I'm sure."
He calmed some, stepping closer to her, well aware of the kids but wanted more than anything to pull her in against him, feeling that need to protect. "You should have called me. If something like that happens again. You should call me right away, ok?"
She nodded, "It all happened in less than five minutes."
"It doesn't matter," he said, "if I can't be there in five minutes, I can have a squad car there in five minutes."
She heard what he was saying and nodded her understanding but it was the way he was looking at her that she appreciated the most. His concern for her safety was the connection that she'd been looking for. It was undeniable. She wanted to fall into his arms and feel the security wrapped around her, knowing it would be safe.
Jenny came and stood next to them, looking up at Steve. "Would you have put him in jail?"
He put a hand on her head, "You bet." He glanced back up at Anna and smiled. "I would have kicked his butt."
"I told you!" Eric blurted out.
Anna moved over and put an arm around Eric's shoulder. "You should have seen this guy," Anna gloated, "he jumped into action and told the guy to let go of me. He scared me a little he was so fierce."
Steve held his fist up to him. "Way to go Buddy. Do you want to join the Police Academy now or after college?"
Eric bumped his fist, his ego flying off the charts over their praises. "It was no big deal."
Steve put a hand on his shoulder, "Yes it was," he said with all honesty. "You did the right thing."
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Anna stood at the kitchen sink, glancing over at the clock on the stove. 'Ten more minutes,' she thought eagerly. She'd agreed to meet Steve after the kids went to bed at nine, which was in ten minutes.
He'd hung around earlier hearing about their night at Danny's house as Anna occupied herself with laundry and just about anything to keep her mind out of the gutter, because that's where it was every time she stepped inside the same room as he. The quick glances between them spoke volumes of what the other was thinking.
By the time dinner rolled around her mind was occupied on what she could possibly feed him, not wanting him necessarily to leave, but knowing her cooking might just send him off running into the night.
She stood at the refrigerator with the freezer open when she felt his presence behind her.
"Have you experienced JJ's pizza yet?" he asked her.
She glanced over her shoulder, recognizing that same sexy tone of voice from the night before. "No," she replied, surprised that she had to catch her breath, "is it like Rainbow Drive-In? A Honolulu must?"
Her hair was up in a ponytail, exposing that spot on her neck that he found quite tempting at the moment to partake, but held back. "Yes, but the best part is it's locally owned, off the strip."
She closed the freezer and turned around, facing him. The distance between them was closer than they normally would speak but not close enough to give anything away if one of the kids should walk in. Still, it had her mind elsewhere than on food at the moment, wishing either he would kiss her or she could kiss him, longing for that unbelievable sensation she got from it the night before. "Pizza…" she stammered, moving her eyes from his lips to his penetrating gaze on her, "pizza sounds good."
His hand instinctly went up to touch her and as if he just realized the attempt that felt natural he caught himself once again, reeling himself back in, but couldn't verbally hold back. "I want to kiss you so bad," he whispered to her.
She felt her head begin to swirl over that sweet and highly unexpected confession. "They go to bed at nine," she whispered back.
The devilish smile returned to his lips. "You and me at 9:05 then?"
She was trying desperately to breathe at a normal pace but was finding it difficult to even stand as her knees trembled over the idea of him in her bed once again. She reached up putting her hand on his throat and slowly slid it down his chest, never once taking her eyes off of his. "9:01," she corrected him.
The reaction she got was exactly what she had hoped. He let out a breath as if he'd been holding it, his chest rising as he took in another deep one. "Anna," he whispered as he let it out, his voice throaty. "Do you know what you're doing to me?" Her teasing had put him over the edge and just as he leaned in to taste her lips that were just too enticing, Jenny walked in.
"I'm hungry," she announced, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. "Can I have a bagel?"
Anna smiled at his painful expression as she came around him. "How about pizza," she replied happily.
Jenny did a small leap over that idea. "Yes! I want pizza!"
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Anna came down the stairs just after nine, turning the upper hall lights off and stood there for a minute, listening to the silence, hoping and praying it would remain intact. She backed away from the stairs with a pleased grin and turned to the front door, quietly opening it. She stepped across the threshold and before she even had a chance to close it she felt his arm come around her waist and pin her against the doorframe.
She greeted his kiss with equal enthusiasm, wrapping her leg around his and her arms around his neck.
Her mind was torn between the feel of him and the best-laid plan to get him upstairs without being seen or heard.
As if he were reading her mind he broke from her, "What's the plan?" he asked, kissing that place on her neck that had been driving him mad all night, finally able to indulge in the splendor of it.
"Upstairs," she said between moans. "Quietly."
"We need to make it quick," he said searching out her lips, kissing her once, "or we're going to get arrested for indecent exposure on your front porch." He glided his fingers over her cheek, hoping she knew he was dead serious.
She took his hand and backed inside the house, carefully closing the door behind him. He went to kiss her again and she grinned, backing away and holding her finger up to her lips as if telling him to wait and be quiet. While his hand still in hers she walked softly up the stairs.
He followed behind her feeling that same urgency as the night before. She had on a skirt that rode up her thigh just ever so slightly with every step, enticing him even more with those beautiful legs. He wanted to start at her ankle and slowly run his hand up them until he was between them.
She felt a squeeze on her hand and glanced over her shoulder at him. His eyes were focused on her legs until he looked up at her in a way that expressed his desire so blatantly obvious it made her smile over it.
Once through the door to her room she closed it quietly and locked it, turning to him, picking up where they left off on the porch. She felt his hands slide up the outside of her thighs and under her skirt, caressing her over her backside, it was the most sensual thing she had ever experienced and the want for him became desperate as she lifted her leg around him and at the same time he lifted her, wrapping both of her legs around his waist while he walked toward the bed.
Her perfect body straddled tightly around him sent every nerve in his body on alert. She slipped down just enough to rub over his pelvis and he almost stumbled over the feel of it, laying her back on the bed.
They were both ready for it, aching for it, not thinking of anything but how damn good the other person felt, until they landed on the bed.
Steve rose above her and froze over the sound of the wood boards below that creaked ever so slightly, neither one noticing the sound the night before, nor caring, they were alone then.
Anna put her hands on his chest and looked up at him sheepishly, whispering to him, "I think its ok?" she said with a questioning tone.
With his hands still on either side of her head he gently shook the bed, simulating the actual event. They both started giggling over the creaking sound that was even more apparent.
She reached up and put a hand over his mouth and did the same to her own as they laughed over their unfortunate situation.
He let out a slow painful moan as he lay down on top of her, sliding an arm under her head, knowing it wasn't going to happen. "Cuddling is always nice too," he lied.
"Cuddling is way overrated when there is someone as gorgeous as you lying in bed with me," Anna whispered back, pushing him off of her.
He had to laugh over that and rolled off of her as she carefully got up, reaching her hand out for him. She motioned with her fingers for him to take it, "Get up," she mouthed.
He took her hand as she pulled him up and then went over to the other side and yanked on the two-inch memory foam mattress that was on top of the bed, pulling it and the covers onto the floor on the side that was hidden from the door.
He came around as she stood on top of it, wrapping both arms around her waist, "I love that I never know what you're going to do next," he whispered.
She didn't reply but kissed him, pleased with herself for taking yet another initiative and even more so that she had pleased him. She let out a soft moan as they began to make their way down to the floor when that newly appointed parental voice in her head spoke up, asking her if this was ok with the kids right next door.
She pulled away from him and looked over at the bedroom door.
He followed her eyes, glancing over his shoulder, wondering if she heard something. "What is it? Did you hear the kids?"
She shook her head and looked up at him, the uneasiness of what she was feeling was all over her face. "Do you think it's all right what we're doing, I mean with them right across the hall?"
He smiled at first, assured it was fine, but then as he really took the question in and the apprehension that showed on Anna, he really began to question their morality over the situation. He'd never been with anyone before that had kids so it was never a factor in his thoughts, until she brought it up. His smile slowly faded as he contemplated the dilemma. "I don't know," he whispered sincerely. "I want to say yes," he grinned guiltily, "but I don't know."
She sat down on the bed as he took the spot next to her. Neither said a word, nor did they touch, afraid it would set them off again and the idea they were now agonizing over would be null in void.
She turned to him, "Please don't think I brought it up because I don't want too. I mean, I hope you don't think I'm playing games, or teasing you in any way."
"I don't think that Anna," he confessed wholeheartedly, "it never even crossed my mind. I know you're just trying to do the right thing by them."
She wrapped her hands around his arm and laid her head on his shoulder. "I think the fact of the kids even coming up gives us our answer whether we should or not."
"Damn," Steve playfully moaned, "I was thinking the same thing, but was hoping you weren't."
She chuckled over that, looking up at him sweetly, yet highly disappointed. "Do you want to go down and watch TV?"
"Might as well, because there's no way anything is going to happen up here. That ship had sailed, at least for me," he sighed and then kissed her on the forehead, letting her know it was all good. He stood up, holding his hand out to her, "Can we watch a dirty movie?" he joked.
She smiled, glad he was on board with her, amazed over his willingness to see beyond his own wants and needs. "I think Jenny has Tarzan," she replied with a raised eyebrow, "Jane wears skimpy clothes."
He gently pounded on his chest, speaking in a deep voice. "Me Tarzan, you Jane?"
Anna put an arm around his neck, "Tarzan will you please help me put the mattress back on the bed since we won't be swinging from any vines tonight?"
He gave her a quick kiss. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm glad you put a stop to it."
"Thank you for understanding. Most men wouldn't."
"Sure they would."
She shook her head, reaching up and hugging him, "No, they wouldn't."
He caught on as if she were speaking from experience. The men that she knew back home must be complete pricks, he thought.
Steve sat down on the couch and laid his arm across the back of it.
"Is that space for me?" she smiled.
He patted the vacant area next to him. "Just don't try any funny stuff," he warned. "I'm not that kind of guy."
She moved in next to him as his arm went around her. She reached over on the seat next to her and picked up the remote, handing it to him. "For you, for being such a nice guy."
"Aww shucks," he said, kissing her cheek. "That's not an even trade off from upstairs, but pretty damn close."
She settled in next to him as he flipped through the channels, feeling content. He shifted, laying down as she did the same scooting back against him with her head resting on his bicep.
He stood on the edge of the grass looking in the front window. He didn't know who that man was that was in there, but he did know that he didn't belong. Alyssa was destined to be his. The incident at Costco was just an unfortunate situation, but when he drove by the Foodland grocery store and saw her car there just a few minutes later, he knew it was fate that was bringing them together. Of all the places in the world Alyssa Jordan could be living between her movie break, she came to his island. She came to his neighborhood and she took the seat right behind him. He knew without a doubt the Akua's were working in his favor.
He had watched her walk up and down the isles of the grocery store, careful not to be seen, completely oblivious of the children, amazed at her natural beauty and the incredible sensation and good fortune he felt from seeing her in the flesh. He was thrilled that even though she was a movie star that she acted like just a normal person buying milk and bread; it made his desire for her seem so much more attainable. She was just like everyone else even though physically she was like no one else in the whole world, he thought.
The man in her house was all wrong for her. He could tell by the way he hung around outside her door like a begging dog, groping her when she came out. It was a disgusting sight, which infuriated him, having to stop himself from running over and tearing them apart. He would never do something so vile. He would be meticulous in his ways to get to know her better. He would bide his time until he understood her needs and wants and then he would make his move, convinced she would only see the good intentions that he wished for her. How could she deny someone who would love her in the way she deserved, and who would protect her from harm and from wolves like the man in there now.
He backed away walking to his car down the street, his heart aching for her, trying not to picture her with the man that was in there. Convinced more than ever that he was just a manipulative con that wanted nothing more than to just take what he wanted from her. Alyssa was sweet and innocent and would never see his evil intent, he needed to protect her from that. He had no choice, and in the end she would thank him, perhaps even with a kiss.
He felt his heart soar over the idea of that, picturing the two of them walking down those red carpet events hand in hand, and in love.