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Holt drove Samantha to the airport so she could catch her flight. Joely was in the car as well, and he wasn’t sure if she was planning on using her new identification and leaving with her sister or not.
He couldn’t bring himself to ask. It was a strained and quiet ride. Pulling into short term parking, he helped Samantha with her bags to the shuttle bus station where they stood around awkwardly.
“Holt, can you give us a few minutes?” Joely asked.
“Sure.” Holt went back to his car and leaned against it. He really couldn’t blame her if she took off. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen to Timothy, but he hoped his uncle wouldn’t assassinate a United States senator. On the other hand, drownings happened every day.
He watched them talk. Now that he knew they were sisters, he could see the resemblance. And now it made perfect sense why she was talking about Timothy in front of her.
When the shuttle bus pulled up, every muscle tensed in Holt’s body. He fought the urge to run back to her and beg her to stay. After one last hug, though, Joely stepped back.
Samantha looked at him and waved. He waved back.
Joely watched the bus take off and drive toward the terminal. He started breathing again when she walked up to him and rested her head on his chest.
“I can explain the passport.”
He gave a short laugh. “You don’t have to.”
“It was my back up plan. If things went to shit and if Timothy couldn’t be stopped. I could get away.”
“I understand.”
“I decided not to use them though after talking with you in the hayloft.”
“We did more than talk, wahine.” The fear loosened in his chest. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, he leaned down and kissed her.
“Nothing’s changed for me, Holt.” She held his hand. “But I understand if you don’t want any part of me or my family.”
“I kinda know where you’re coming from on relatives that cross the legal lines. If you don’t hold it against me, I won’t hold it against you.”
“Deal,” she said, and stood up on tiptoe to give him a kiss.
There were probably better places to make out. On top of Haleakala. On Kaanapali Beach. Hell, even on a surf board waiting for a wave. But there wasn’t anywhere Holt wanted to be right now.
“What happens now?” Joely asked.
“We still got a few more days of vacation left. And you did promise the guys clam chowder.”
“I can stay at the ranch until Timothy leaves?” She grinned.
“And then it’s back to work at Palekaiko. You okay with that?”
“More than okay.”
He opened the car door for her and turned to look one last time at the shuttle bus before getting into the car himself.
“What do you think Tetsuo is going to do to Timothy?”
“I think that all depends on how willing Timothy is to make amends.”