It wasn’t often that someone surprised him. As a member of the law enforcement community, Ely encountered things almost daily that would shock most people.
However, when her hand enveloped his just now, it was as if a cooling balm washed over his heart, the gaping hole in his chest that he’d done his best to close without much success, even after all this time.
He couldn’t imagine why this woman had suddenly become his therapist. He paid the one in Lahaina enough to keep her practice open for the next several years. Post-traumatic stress disorder was a real thing. He’d learned that the hard way, but no one had suffered more than Jacqueline.
“I apologize,” he began with a frown, as he set the truck back into motion. “I’m not sure why I thought to unburden myself to you. Rest assured, it’s not in the manual anywhere that if I assist a stranded tourist, that they have to listen to your life story.”
She gave a slight laugh, and he enjoyed the sound of it. “No harm done. Sometimes it’s good to air our troubles to a neutral party. I’ve found you can speak more frankly than to your own family.”
“Personal experience?” he asked.
“Something like that,” she hedged.
Ely was starting to think that they had quite a bit in common. He wondered if it was possible for the islands to do a bit of matchmaking. The way she spoke earlier, her parents had certainly found romance among the palm trees and ferns that turned Maui into a tropical oasis. Who was to say that perhaps the menehunes decided that one of their own needed a bit of additional persuasion to get past a broken heart?
Dear God. He was starting to sound crazy. He knew that the forest creatures weren’t real, and yet, he was already thanking them for sending this woman into his path.
He glanced over at her and he enjoyed the way her dark hair brushed past her shoulders. She’d had it put up earlier, but she’d found the need to take it down now. She threaded her fingers through the locks as a makeshift comb and he found himself fascinating by the action.
It was all he could do to tear his gaze away and return his attention to the road, or else find them crashing down another embankment. If that happened, he wasn’t sure how he might explain the incident to his supervisor.
The thunder that abruptly rumbled overhead was another reminder that he needed to keep his head in the game and press forward and stop daydreaming about the woman next to him.
The first, fat drops of rain started to hit the windshield just as they reached the edge of the forest and headed for the historic town. He had grown up here, got married here, and intended to die right in this same village. He was proud to know that it was the original capital city, and the area was steeped in so much history. One of which was the massive one hundred-and fifty-year-old banyan tree that sat right off the shore, like a beacon of hope for travelers coming in from the ocean.
There wasn’t a single thing about his hometown that he didn’t love with all of his heart. It was perhaps another reason he’d suggested taking Miss Evans there. In his opinion, anyone that visited the islands needed to pay a visit to Lahaina.
As the rain started to come down harder, he glanced at her. “Are you hungry? I know a great restaurant where we can wait and pass the time.”
She smiled. “That sounds wonderful, actually. I had a light lunch earlier, but after all the excitement, I could definitely use something more substantial to eat.” She lifted a brow. “So long as you won’t get in trouble for slacking in your duties.”
“Nope. My shift was almost over anyway. Follow me.”
Ely tried not to grin like some high school jock that had just gained the courage to ask out the head cheerleader. But his step was lighter than it had been for some time as he led Miss Evans into the popular establishment.
After they were seated and the waitress had taken their order, the rain started to hammer the building. “Oh, my. Just in time.” She glanced at him with a sigh of relief.
“These storms blow up fast, but they generally leave just as quickly. By the time we’re done here, we should be good to head back up and check out that rental.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “I can’t wait. You have been quite the ordeal to take on.”
When she laughed, he couldn’t help but feel his lips twitch as he joined in on the merriment. “In that case, I suppose you haven’t been much of a picnic either.”
Another round of laughter escaped her, and when the waitress brought over their drinks, she eyed them in a knowing fashion, one that would have made Ely embarrassed if he wasn’t having such a good time. In truth, it felt like a date, and for the first time in years, his mind wasn’t consumed with thoughts of Jacqueline.
As their food arrived, they chatted about different topics. It started with how she was enjoying her trip thus far, other than the bad luck she’d had. Then it turned to a broader spectrum of the islands. Had she gone to the Pearl Harbor memorial?
After that, they chatted about some of their past experiences, but made sure to steer clear of anything too deep. She spoke of her parents and siblings while Ely regaled her with some of his more entertaining experiences that he’d encountered on the job.
By the time the waitress arrived to leave the check, their food was long gone and the sun was starting to dip lower in the sky.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize it had gotten so late,” he murmured.
She shrugged. “I didn’t mind. I enjoyed our conversation.”
He looked at her. “Yeah. Me too.”
When she opened her backpack and started to take out her wallet, he shook his head. “Your money is no good here.” He slapped down some bills on the counter and stood.
Her mouth fell open. “You aren’t buying me dinner!”
“I just did.” Her lips parted as if she might say something else, but he just held out his hand. “We can either argue about it all night, or get you back to that car before it gets dark.”
With a mutinous glare in her dark gaze, she tossed her wallet back into her pack and threw it over her shoulder as she accepted his offering. “Fine, Mr. Hale, but you know what they say about paybacks…”
“I’m thoroughly warned,” he teased.
As they climbed back into his SUV, he started the engine and after she explained where her car had been, he headed that direction.