Page 56 of Rough Ride

She sipped this glass. “Yeah. Well, comes with the territory.”

“How’s that?”

She settled in the chair in front of the desk. “Dad always said life in the military was better if you hoped for the best, but planned for the worst. This is certainly the worst. Or, I hope to God it is.”

He nodded. “So, you’re not leaving?”

For a second she didn’t answer. He had been worried that she would freak the hell out and head back to the mainland. He didn’t blame her. There was a moment there, as he stood staring down at the mutilated cows, that he had been ready to bolt.

“Of course not.” She took another sip. “It makes me sad that those cows suffered, and you have to be a sick person to do that.”

“They were dead before they were mutilated.”

He didn’t know that for sure, but for some reason he didn’t want her worrying about it. There was something in him that wanted to shield her from this. He didn’t want her to know about things like this.

She nodded, but she didn’t look like she believed him. Of course, he was assuming they were. The autopsies would tell them later.

“What I can’t understand is why? I mean, rustling, I kind of understand.” She took another sip of her drink. “This is sick.”

He sighed. “I know and neither of us is thinking straight. No sleep, worrying…that can’t make for good critical thinking skills. Why don’t you go to bed?”

She nodded and drank down the rest of her whisky. “I think you’re right. Are you going to bed?”

“In a bit.”

She nodded again and left him alone. Again, in the dark, with his thoughts. Now, though, he was thinking about the woman he was desperately trying not to fall in love with…and how he was going to handle being with her almost night and day for the next few months. Now that he knew how she tasted, Eli wasn’t sure he would be able to resist getting another. And that spelled all kinds of problems for him…and for her.

Joe had probably known Eli would be attracted to Crysta. She was just his type, and…Joe just wanted Eli to settle down. He’d been all about hearth and home, and he worried that Eli would die alone without family. So, he’d brought Crysta here on a dual purpose. It was true Joe had felt Crysta needed to know her roots, but Eli didn’t doubt Joe was trying to entice him. If Eli hadn’t loved the man so much, he would want to kick Joe’s ass.

And now he wanted her. He wanted her in his bed, under his Domination, and he just wanted her in his life. And that was dangerous for a man like Eli. He just didn’t know how to handle it. He’d spent years making sure to keep his relationships short. Now, he was tangled up with a woman who was too good for him. Even knowing that didn’t matter. He knew without a doubt he had to have her again.

“Damn, Joe, you really know how to leave me in a mess.”

eighteen

A few days later, they weren’t any closer to the truth than they had been the night they arrived on the island. Eli was frustrated in mind and spirit. Dillon had talked about coming over there to head up the investigation, but Eli knew that would be a mistake. It was best to allow the locals to keep control. He’d lived long enough in Hawaii to know that bringing in private people, especially a haole, was a big mistake.

“So, still nothing?” Crysta asked.

He didn’t turn around. She had been distant from him since they’d arrived back on the island. He finished washing his hands. Then took his time drying them off before he faced her again. He’d found he needed to prepare himself for the impact she had on him every time he saw her, especially when they were alone. She’d made dinner, soup and sandwiches. Every day, he would walk into the kitchen to the smell of supper cooking. It had become one of the joys of his day.

“Nope. Dillon’s got a couple more background checks to finish, but he’s found nothing. He couldn’t even find anything on Sean Kaheaku.”

“Hmm,” she said, as she slipped the grilled cheese sandwiches from the pan to the plates. “Can you get the soup?”

He nodded and did as she bid, as she grabbed a glass of water for herself. They sat at the kitchen bar. There was a light tapping of rain on the roof and the sun was setting. This was a little too comfy, but he couldn’t pull himself away from it…from her.

He knew his need to be near her had gotten worse.

“Have you talked to your father?”

She shook her head. “I called him that night. It was so late here, and, of course, it was morning there. He wasn’t happy. I’ve talked to him almost every day since. He likes to pretend there was something to talk about every day, but I know he’s checking on me.”

“I’m amazed he didn’t try and get you to come back to the mainland.”

She glanced at him. “First, he knew it wouldn’t happen. He also said he trusted you.”

She dipped her sandwich in the tomato soup and munched on it while Eli tried to figure out what she meant by that comment. A father trusted his daughter to Eli. Foster kid and SASR dropout. The man must not be a good judge of character.

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