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Sunshine greeted the two women as they got off the plane in Honolulu. Shelby drew a deep breath and sighed in delight as she released her pent-up breath. "Oh, this is heavenly."
Aunt Kay raised her face to the tropical sun and smiled. "See, I was right. You needed to get away from all that…that mess. Now you'll be able to relax and, if you insist, you can even study on the beach."
"Yes, you're right. After three years of law school, I needed a break." But that wasn't the only reason they'd settled on Hawaii. Her aunt Kay was there to meet the man she'd been corresponding with for fifteen years. "I bet you're excited to see your man."
"He's not mine, Shelby," she demurred. "But he is wonderful. I haven't seen him since I was a teenager, but when I told him I was coming, he offered to show us Hawaii."
"I'm sure that'll be nice," Shelby said, silently promising herself that if the man disappointed Kay, she'd make sure they only saw him once. She owed Kay that much at least.
After they reached their hotel room, Shelby suggested, "Let's get unpacked and then we can look around. And tonight we can open the lanai door and have a cool breeze sing us to sleep."
"Yes, it is so lovely here."
Not much unpacking got done before the phone rang. Her aunt snatched it up at once.
"Oh, hi, Dan. We're here."
Shelby recognized the name. Dan Jackson. Kay had told her he'd lived in her neighborhood back in Cleveland, before he'd relocated to Oahu, but the two had maintained a sweet, old-fashioned correspondence ever since. Dan's letters were the closest Kay had come to male companionship. She had seldom dated in the ten years Shelby had lived with her. Sometimes Shelby feared she was the reason. After all, she'd been only fourteen when she'd moved in with Kay, still in need of supervision.
Her mother, Cordelia, had been more interested in her own happiness than Shelby's. Even when her second husband had tried to rape Shelby, her mother had blamed Shelby for flirting with him.
Shelby had been shocked by her mother's words. She hated the man. Luckily for Shelby, her aunt had been with her mother when they discovered her fighting her stepfather. He had torn Shelby's blouse and was trying to rid her of her bra. She fought him as hard as she could, biting his hand, which earned her a slap in the face, and she screamed loudly.
Kay heard her screams and hit her brother-in-law on the head with a lamp.When Cordelia slapped Shelby, Kay insisted Cordelia leave Shelby alone. Then she told Shelby to pack her belongings. She was going home with Kay.
Shelby didn't protest. She was pleased to move to Kay's home. There she thrived, seeing a psychologist for a couple of years to be sure she recovered from the attack and her mother's rejection. Thanks to the doctor and Kay, she even learned to accept her mother as she was, as long as their visits occurred at Kay's.
After all she'd done, when Kay wanted to go to Hawaii, Shelby couldn't say no. Still, she worried about her aunt's attraction to a man she hadn't seen in a long time. Shelby was determined to protect Kay the way her aunt had once protected her.
She had always been told she was a good judge of character. She would utilize that judgment to do her best to gauge Dan Jackson's intentions toward her aunt.
From her aunt's response, she figured she'd be getting her chance tonight.
When Kay hung up the phone, Shelby asked, "So what did he say?"
"He and a friend are coming to take us out to dinner." She unpacked a couple more dresses before she looked at Shelby. "You don't mind, do you?"
Shelby was sure she'd feel like the proverbial fifth wheel, but she eagerly anticipated meeting Kay's mystery man. "No, I guess not, but I thought he'd want to have you to himself."
Kay blushed. "I told you we're just friends."
But Shelby noted her red cheeks and the way she avoided looking at Shelby. With her aunt, they were sure signs she wasn't being honest. Aunt Kay was easy to read. Shelby hoped Dan was just as obvious.
"What are you going to wear?"
Shelby's head snapped up. "Me? I would think what you're wearing is more important."
"I want you to look nice. Wear your new sundress, okay?"
Shelby had resisted the urge to buy a new wardrobe, as Kay had suggested. But she'd acquiesced on one new sundress. In fact, they'd each bought a dress that showed up their particular charms. Shelby, with her auburn hair, had a green print, and Kay, her beautiful face framed by soft blond hair, had a blue print.
"I'll wear mine if you'll wear yours," she suggested.
"It's a deal!" Kay agreed with enthusiasm. "We'll knock them dead!"
Such effusiveness from her normally calm and quiet aunt surprised Shelby. Concerned her, too.
Was Kay in love with this man? And why was Shelby so afraid of that? She wanted her aunt to have some happiness. She was only thirty-four, ten years older than Shelby. Certainly young enough to find love, have a family.
But with a man who'd written her for fifteen years without making an effort to see her?
Shelby's inner sensors went on alert. Something was screwy.
When they were both dressed in their new sun-dresses, makeup on and hair fixed, they descended to the lobby. Shelby had braided her long hair, even though Kay wanted her to leave it loose, on her shoulders.
"We're early. Want to go look in that shop? They have some pretty dresses," Kay said. She loved shopping.
"No, I don't think so. You go ahead, though."
"Dan is tall with dark hair. Call me if you think you see him."
"You don't have a picture of him?"
"No, I don't."
"Then maybe I can pick up more than one tall, dark-haired man, so you'll have a choice," Shelby said with a grin.
Kay looked shocked. "Oh! I…I don't think I should go look."
"I was teasing. You've got plenty of time before he arrives."
Though Kay appeared uneasy, she moved to the dress shop, but she kept her gaze fixed on Shelby.
Shelby felt bad. Her teasing had upset Kay and spoiled her shopping. She relaxed in the chair she'd chosen and watched people enter the lobby.
A few minutes later a pair of men entered. Both were tall and handsome, but one was considerably older than the other. Too old for Kay.
Shelby stiffened as she noticed the older man staring at each person in the lobby. Could this be Dan? She got up and moved toward the shop to check with Kay.
Her aunt turned when Shelby called her name. She didn't have to ask about the man because when Kay's gaze moved past Shelby, her face lit up. She ran and hugged the man Shelby had wondered about.
"Dan! I'm so happy to see you!"
Dan replied in kind, then kissed Kay on the cheek. In Shelby's judgment, Dan seemed a bit more intense than an old friend.
Then his gaze shifted to Shelby. Much to her surprise, he stepped closer, as if he was going to hug her, too. But she immediately held out her hand, stopping him in midstep.
"How do you do?" she said stiffly.
He took her hand with a rueful grin. "I'm fine. Sorry, but I knew you when you were very little. I'm pleased to say you're just as pretty today as you were a little over twenty years ago."
"I'm sorry. I don't remember you."
"Not a problem." He turned toward his dark-haired, brown-eyed companion. "Allow me to introduce Peter Campbell, a friend of mine and an officer in my company."
Shelby nodded but said nothing.
Dan continued the introductions. "Pete, this is Shelby Cook, Kay's niece. And, of course, this is Kay Cook."
Shelby knew she hadn't been gracious, but Pete barely returned her nod. He did, however, take Kay's hand and kiss it with a big smile on his face. Was Pete the one Kay was interested in? Shelby estimated his age to be around thirty, a little younger than Kay. Still, Pete would be better for Kay than Dan who, with graying at the temples, looked about fifty.
"Shall we go, ladies?" Dan asked.
Shelby wanted to say no. For some reason she wanted to hurry to the airport and get out of Hawaii in spite of the lovely sunshine and gentle breezes.
Kay, on the other hand, happily took Dan's arm and sailed out of the hotel.
"Miss Cook?"
Shelby looked at the younger man who'd called her. He was offering her his arm, as Dan had done to Kay, albeit more reluctantly. She moved forward, but she didn't take his arm.
Dan and Kay weren't walking fast, so they caught up with them quickly.
"Where are we going?" Shelby asked.
"To the hotel next door. Its restaurant is known worldwide," Dan answered. The man beside Shelby said nothing.
Shelby was wearing flats because she was five-nine, so walking to another hotel wasn't a problem. Kay, though, had on high heels. Maybe it was good that she was clinging to Dan's arm. Shelby supposed she wore heels because she knew Dan was so tall.
Pete was tall, also, which was nice for Shelby. She didn't go out with short men. Of course, she seldom went out at all, so it wasn't difficult to eliminate one segment of the male population.
Neither, she reminded herself, was she going out with Pete. He was simply tagging along with Dan, as she was with Kay.
