Sun Kissed Love

Liam had grown tired of the broad Texas expanse where even the wind didn’t slow down as it went through. Small town life had become mundane and boring, he had enjoyed living there after high school. The Gypsum plant had offered a good income and close friends were always at hand. But deep inside he longed for freedom of choice more than anything. Small town Texas could only offer so many choices, rodeo was not his thing and you can only enjoy sunsets by yourself for so long. Since his family did not own a ranch or farm, the only thing keeping him there was…



Comfort…Lynn was a creature of habit. Her mornings began with the same comforting pattern of sounds: the soft tick of her grandmother's antique clock, the gentle rustle of newspaper pages as her neighbor read the news, and the distant hum of cars as the world outside her apartment stirred to life. She cherished this predictability, finding solace in the mundane rhythms that dictated her days. Her living space reflected this orderliness, with each book on the shelf lined up in meticulous rows and every pillow on her couch plumped to perfection.



Her afternoon strolls to the coffee shop were equally routine. She knew the exact number of steps it took to get there, and she counted them as a way to keep her mind sharp. The barista, a young man named Tim with a charming gap in his teeth, greeted her with a knowing smile. "The usual, Lynn?" he'd ask, already reaching for the ingredients of her favorite drink. She'd nod, always appreciating his attentiveness to detail, and settle into her favorite chair by the window. There, she'd sip her frappe, watching the world pass by in a blur of colors and faces that she never quite felt a part of. It was her quiet oasis amidst the chaos of life.

She enjoyed the sunsets on the beach, even when her friend Barbara Gene drug her along against her will. She would sit in the sand her bare feet squishing the cool moist sand between her toes, The fire crackled and popped as the cool ocean breeze drifted in, casting shadows on their faces, and Barb leaned in. "You know, I can see why you're content with your routine. But sometimes, it's good to let go, let the waves wash over you." Her words were simple, but they hit her like a revelation. Lynn looked into the flickering flames, feeling the weight of the past year's solitude. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to allow a little chaos into her orderly world.

Barb regarded her friend.

“You don’t have to be so stand offish. Jason has been trying to talk to you all afternoon. I think he likes you.”

“Barb, I am not looking for a relationship right now, you know how hard the last one was.”

“But it has been nearly a year and all you do is work, and”

Lynn stopped her with one look.

“Not that that is a bad thing but come on girl lighten up have a little fun.”

Lynn smiled and stood up, walked near the fire and smiled at Jason.

“I’m sorry I have been distant, I just find it easier to not get hurt if I don’t let people get close.”

“I totally get it, I just want to see you have a little fun.” He replied, “ Besides my plane leaves for Springfield Friday.”

“Oh, what’s in Springfield?”

“Springfield isn’t my final destination, I’m headed for Army Basic Training I’ll be stationed at Fort Leonard Wood.”

“Oh OK, good luck I guess. I mean….”

Jason cut her off with a peck on the cheek.

“Thanks, I know what you meant.” He said smiling.

The rest of the evening went well, there was plenty of laughing, too much drinking, and not enough sleep.

Morning found Lynn with a pounding headache and sleeping on the couch in her apartment. The sun streaked in from the gap in the shades, at the right angle to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. Now blinded by the light and stumbling for the bathroom she felt the regret of staying out too late, Thank goodness it was her day off.

Liam sat on the edge of the bed rubbing the sleep from his eyes, pondering the week. The plant was on its final days, the shutdown protocols were in process, and the majority of the workers had been given their severance packages. He was warehouse lead and so the process held him till the line was shut down and all remaining products were shipped to either wholesale vendors or other warehouses. Then began the process of mothballing the plant and the warehouse had to begin so at least a month longer. Since he lived in the company housing he did not have to worry about selling a house or anything like that so it was nice to be able to just take off. No packing, no putting things in storage. Liam dressed and jumped in the truck, Plant wasn’t going to shut itself down.

The day drug by, lunch seemed to take an eternity to arrive, but when the break whistle blew Liam was ready. The truck sped down the roadway, Kens was always packed at lunch so he wanted to get there before time ran out. The parking lot was just starting to fill up when he walked through the door.

“Hey Liam,” said a bubbly voice.

“Hey Maria. Is Mickey and them here yet?”

“Not yet Hun.”

“Okay,” he replied sitting down at a table near the back corner.

“What can I get you Hun?”

“Just a cold Sweet tea right now.”

“Okay, anything special happening? You seem to be in a bit of a rush?”

“No, just made a few decisions about my future.”

“Well, let’s here ‘em.” She said looking a little confused.

“Well since the plant is closing I believe it is time for me to move on. Not much here in the way work unless you have a ranch or want to work the oilfield so I need to ‘Broaden my Horizons’”.

“So where is this new adventure going to take you now?”

“I am not really sure. I was thinking of getting outside my comfort zone, maybe California."

A metal spoon dinged against the side of a coffee cup, Maria spun around on her heels.

"Mutt if you ding that cup one more time I swear I will pour this whole pot of coffee in your lap."

A boisterous roar of laughter erupted from the diner.

"You laugh now, but she will do it, I got your back girl, go ahead." the other waitress smiled.

"Thanks April." Maria smiled.

"Liam if you really want to step outside of your comfort zone, your mother had mentioned that your father had some property that they had bought in Hawaii. They wanted to get back there someday. That's where I would go."
The door chimed and in stepped one of the dirtiest west Texas Roughnecks you ever saw, and two Dust cloud cowboys.

"Howdy Darlin' " one of the men said as he kissed Maria.

"Michael Gene, you better hope that comes out." Maria said smiling back.

"Please don't use my full name it sounds weird."

"I know but the name Mickey makes me giggle and i can't giggle and be mad at the same time."
Maria slapped his arm and went to grab a fresh pot of coffee.

"Hey Liam, what is it that has you in a tizzy?"

"Well Mick, you know the plant is shutting down?"

"Yeah, sad to hear, sure is gonna take a serious toll on our small town."

"Well I have decided that since I really haven't got much left here I need to make some changes."

"Now wait a minute Liam, don't be rushing into things," one of the other men spoke up.

"Cody, we all grew up here together, you guys always knew what you wanted, I was never cut out for the oilfield like Mickey is, or for the cowboy life like John. Or even the military like you Cody. I just need to find my niche in the world."

"So what, you gonna leave and just drop off the face of the earth like the rest of those we graduated with?"

"No, John, I'm not dropping off the face of the earth, Maria reminded me of some property my family has in Hawaii. Maybe a change of scenery and see what happens."

In the background a coffee cup dinged, followed by "My God girl that was hot what did you do that for?"

"Mutt, I told you not to ding that cup again."

Lynn stepped out of the shower, the water cascading down her body like a cool curtain retreating from the day's embrace. She reached for the towel hanging on the chrome rack, the soft fabric enveloping her in a warm, comforting embrace. The bathroom's steamy mirror reflected a woman whose sharp features and focused eyes were a testament to her no-nonsense attitude. A single drop of water clung to the tip of her nose, refusing to dive down her olive cheek as she took a deep, centering breath. The smell of minty shampoo and citrus body wash filled the small space, a refreshing symphony that seemed to echo her own determination. Wiping the condensation from the mirror, she studied her reflection with a critical eye. Her long brunette was a wild tangle from the shower. Lynn tamed it with practiced strokes, each one a silent promise to conquer the challenges ahead. She donned her business attire with precision, the tailored suit a stark contrast to the chaos of the day's to-do list scribbled on the foggy glass. The sound of her high heels clicking against the tiles as she left the bathroom was a metronome to the rhythm of her thoughts.

In the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of toast. JR was already dressed in his usual crisp black outfit, Barb mirrored his look and smiled, the embroidered patch on their sleeve bearing the company's logo: a lion standing guard, an emblem of the fierce protection they vowed to provide. He glanced up from his laptop, offering a rare smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "You ready to take on the world today?"

Lynn nodded, her own smile a mix of excitement and nerves.











Lynn stepped into the large foyer of The Bank of Hawaii, a young man dressed in a security guard uniform approached her.

“Are you here for an appointment?”

“Yes I have a 1030 with the loan manager Mr. Peter Kahele.” She replied trying to keep control of the paperwork in her arms.

“Very good, this way ma’am.”

The young man guided her to a multipaned glass office where an older gentleman sat going over papers and glancing at a computer occasionally.

“Mr. Kahele your 1030 is here now.”

“Great show her in.”

The guard opened the door and motioned for Lynn to step inside.

“Good morning sir, I trust I am not interrupting anything, being early that is.”

“Not at all dear, I hate dealing with these silly reports anyway. And this screen always gives me a headache. Now refresh my old memory what were we to discuss?” he asked smiling gently.

“I am heading up a new security firm with my other two partners and wanted to discuss finalizing the Working Capital Loan.”

“Oh that’s right. Let me find that paperwork.”


Mr. Kahele walked over to a filing cabinet and thumbed through several manila folders glancing at each one.

“What was the name of the company again?”

“Chief Securities.”

“Here it is, now let me take a look.” He sat down at the large teak desk and flipped through the pages.

“Now if I remember correctly we had run into some licensing issues the last time we spoke. Have those been remedied?”

“Yes sir, I have taken the tests, filed all the necessary paperwork, and so have my partners. Here you will find our Private Patrol Operators License as well as Security Guard License and Qualified Manager License, all in order. You will also find our business plan that outlines not only our one-year goal but five and ten-year as well. I have also included a copy of the Insurance. I trust that it is all to your satisfaction.?”

“Well you certainly have taken the bull by the horns young lady. How is your Credit Score? That is a key piece.”

“Not the best, I mean it is 695.” Lynn replied sheepishly.

“No dear your business credit score?”

Both of them chuckled Lynn feeling am little more than embarrassed.

“Our current score is 75, when the company was established last year we applied for two business lines of credit for uniforms and equipment and have been paying the credit line monthly.”

“Well Lynn, if all my customers were as prepared as you my life would be so easy. I am happy to approve your loan request, the funds will be deposited into your account by close of business tomorrow.”

Lynn stood up, thanked the man, and almost ran over the young security guard who had returned to the office without being heard.

“I am so sorry,” she said as he wrapped his arms around her to catch her.
“It’s quite all right let me take you to our business window, I am sure you will want to open a safety deposit box for all the important documents you have.”

Lynn smiled and agreed, and the two walked towards the cashier window, Mr. Kahele proceeded them.

“My dear, Mrs. Lynn here is going to need a safe deposit box would you be so kind.”

“Gladly sir.”

Mr. Kahele turned, thanked her for her business, and walked back towards his office. Lynn smiled as the cashier collected her information and took care of the deposit box. When everything was ready the security guard, cashier and Lynn all stepped into the vault where the safe deposit boxes were.

“So the way this works is you will have a key, and the bank will have the other. The only way to access this box is with both keys so make sure you bring it every time.” She opened the box and let Lynn put all the documents in the box closed it and removed both keys, handing one to Lynn and returning the other to her lanyard.

In the dusty outskirts of a town that time had seemingly forgotten, a man named Liam stood before a closet that had seen better days. Its wooden doors, once a rich mahogany, were now faded and chipped, revealing the cheap plywood beneath. The mirror attached to the door was smeared with fingerprints and the occasional smudge of dirt.

"Liam, you sure you're ready for this?" his own thoughts questioning his decision.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he responded, trying to sound more confident than he felt. In reality, the thought of leaving the only home he'd ever known for an island paradise had his stomach in knots. But this was his chance to escape the monotony of his life, to find something more than the endless cycle of work and despair that had trapped him there.

He grabbed his phone from the nightstand, double-checked his flight details, and took a deep breath. The early morning light streamed in through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the pile of clothes he'd laid out on the bed. The scent of coffee wafted in from the kitchen, reminding him of the comforts he'd soon be leaving behind. He zipped up the clothing bag and slung it over his shoulder, the weight of his decision pressing down on him.

The drive to the airport was quiet, the early morning air still cool and fresh. Mickey's old pickup truck rumbled along the deserted highway, the only sound the occasional hum of a passing car. Liam couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at leaving, but he pushed it aside, focusing instead on the promise of a new life.

“Thanks Mick, for everything. You have a blessed family take care, and if you ever decide you need a vacation, let me know.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“I’m sure you will. Take care my friend.”

Liam closed the door and waved good-bye. Mickey rolled out of sight and the noise of the airport crashed in on Liam. He realized this was the first time he had really made such a drastic change and was honestly the first time he had ever even stepped foot on a plane. The terminal was a busy place people rushing to get from one gate to another, and children tired of traveling crying loudly while parents tried unsuccessfully to appease them. Liam stepped in line and moved toward the ticket counter.

“You are allowed one carry-on, so the smaller of the three bags can stay with you, the others will be tagged and processed and ready for pick up when you reach your destination. Do you have anything to declare.”

Liam started to say something snarky but the look from the lady behind the counter made him rethink that.
“No ma’am.”

“You will be boarding at gate 17 aboard United Airlines. Have a nice flight sir.”

“Which way is gate 17?”

The lady smiled and pointed toward the opposite end of the airport.

“Better hurry boarding starts in 5 minutes.”
Liam grabbed his bag and hurriedly stepped from the counter and picked up the pace. The Gate seemed like it was a mile away and wasn’t getting any closer.

“Need a lift?” a voice said to his left.

A gentleman in a golf cart slowly rolled beside him, the cart said concierge.

“Thanks but can’t afford the service at the moment.”

“Climb on, this ones on me.”

Liam thanked the man and sat down, the cart lurched forward and sped away.

“First time?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Only slightly. Frank, Frank Golden Airport Concierge.” He said holding out his hand.

“Liam Varon glad to meet you.”

“Where you headed Liam?”

“Hawaii needed a lifestyle change and seemed like a good place to start. Besides I was reminded that my family had some property there so won’t be an empty start.”

“Sounds like you have a plan.”

“Maybe not a plan but at least a step in the right direction. Here is my stop, thanks for the lift Frank, it has been a pleasure.”

“Anytime young man, have a safe flight.”

Liam stepped from the cart and proceeded to the gate, handed his ticket to the gate attendant who smiled and welcomed him aboard. Liam made his way to his seat and sat down, a stewardess came down the aisle and smiled.

“Can I see your ticket sir?”

Liam smiled and handed her his ticket.

“It looks like economy class has double booked your seat, so we are going to upgrade you to First Class. If you wouldn’t mind following me I will show you to your new seat.”

Surprised Liam grabbed his carry on and followed the young lady through a curtain and up a set of stairs. The cabin where first class was boasted many nicer amenities such as more leg room per seat, the seats could lay out into a sleeping position and such, Liam was mildly impressed.

“Please make yourself comfortable sir, we have three stops before arriving in Honolulu. Total flight will be just under 17 hours. Once we have reached DFW Airport there will be a 2-hour layover. I would suggest the Love Shack, Chef Tim Love has the best burgers.”

“Thank you, I will have to take a chance.”

The stewardess smiled and began to address other passenger’s needs, Liam was really impressed. The cabin filled with a few more people before the captain came on the overhead.





“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard American Airlines flight 3308 to Dallas/Fort Worth International with continuing service to Honolulu, Hawaii. Thank you for your attention while important safety information is reviewed. In preparation for departure, be certain that your seat back is straight up and your tray table is stowed. Make sure that your carry-on items are placed completely under the seat in front of you. Portable telephones are not approved for use inflight, however, you may use certain other electronic devices when advised by your crew. Please direct your attention to the flight attendants in the cabin. For everyone’s safety, regulations require your compliance with all lighted signs, placards and crew member instructions. Fasten your seat belt by placing the metal fitting into the buckle, and adjust the strap so it fits low and tight around your hips. To release, lift the face plate of the buckle. Please review the ‘Safety Instructions’ card in the seat pocket in front of you. It explains the safety features of this aircraft as well as the location and operation of the exits and floatation devices. Your seat cushion serves as an approved flotation device. To remove it, pull up and take it with you to the nearest usable exit. After exiting the aircraft, place your arms through the straps and then hug the cushion to your chest. As the flight attendants are pointing out there are,two door exits in the front of the aircraft, two in the forward middle section of the aircraft, and two in the rear of the aircraft. These exits are equipped with slides, which can be used as rafts. There are two additional emergency door exits in the middle section of the aircraft that are equipped with slides.Take a moment to locate the exit nearest you keeping in mind that the closest usable exit may be located behind you. If there is a loss of this aircraft’s electrical power, low level emergency lights will illuminate. All exits are indicated by lighted exit signs. and by red floor-level lighting. Additionally, the window exits are indicated by red floor-level lighting). If needed, oxygen masks will be released overhead. To start the flow of oxygen, reach up and pull the mask toward you, fully extending the plastic tubing. Place the mask over your nose and mouth and slip the elastic band over your head. To tighten the fit, pull the tab on each side of the mask. The plastic bag does not need to inflate when oxygen is flowing. Be sure to secure your own mask before assisting others. A life vest is located under or between your seat. To wear it, tear open the plastic package, remove the life vest, and slip it over your head. Wrap the straps around your waist, snap the two ends together and tighten. Inflate the vest by pulling down on the red tabs. The vest can be manually inflated by blowing into one end of the red tubes, and is equipped with a water-activated locator light. It is important that you do not inflate your life vest until after exiting the aircraft). As a reminder, smoking is not permitted in any area of the aircraft, including the lavatories. Tampering with, disabling, or destroying a lavatory smoke detector is prohibited. On behalf of the Captain and your entire crew, it is our pleasure to have you aboard. Enjoy your flight”

The cabin speaker clicked off and the flight attendants began their pre-flight rituals to assure everyone was prepared and ready for takeoff. The plane began to make its move to the staging line, and shortly began to pick up speed. Liam could see out the window as the aircraft gained speed before finally lifting off. The ground sped away along with his past, Liam thought about what was ahead of him. Literally a blank slate, no one knew Liam Varon, what he did for a living, where he grew up or even who his friends were.
He could completely re-invent himself, a high school graduate from a small-town high school with nothing more than a good work ethic, a strong mind, and a strong body.




Lynn Stepped into the new office, Barbara and JR were both shuffling through stacks of applications for their new Security Personnel, JR was visibly disappointed.
“Why are good employees so hard to find?” He asked.

“Because if they are good someone else already put them to work.” Barbara smiled.

“Funny.” JR smiled back.

Lynn walked over and glanced at the reject pile, it was growing ten times as fast as the interview pile.

“How do we get more quality people?” she asked.
“Maybe we could offer paid training, at least that way the academy can weed out those that won’t make it.”
Lynn suggested.

That peaked JR’s interest.

“That could work, let the schools know that as an employer sending multiple students to them we want to select the top 10% of the those we send. The rest of them would be allowed to accept work with other companies or would be deselected if their scores were not up to par. Lynn you are a genius.”

JR set about calling the trade schools who offered training in the security business, one after the other. After several phone calls and some heavy stress, JR finally had it. The schools agreed to the deal and would let them run on a trial basis. If the results were promising then it could be extended.

“Well it looks like we are gonna have to do some of the foot work for the first few months so I hope you ladies are up for it.” JR said smiling.

“I am always up for a challenge, besides it would be good for me to know how things operate.” Lynn said.

“You both know that I was made for this, besides I make the uniform look good.” Barbara said winking at JR. He blushed and turned away quickly.

Liam, tussled by the contact of the landing, rubbed his eyes and glanced out the window. ‘Finally’ he thought ‘ I can stretch these legs’. He had fallen asleep during the last few hours of the flight in an awkward sitting position and his feet and legs were both aching. He stretched as best he could and waited for the stewardess to allow the passengers to start to disembark. When the door was opened and the first few passengers left the aircraft he stood and gathered his bag and stepped into the isle following the grey-haired gentleman in front of him. The dull hum of the airport grew as he stepped closer to the terminal gate. The crowded airport looked like a tourist post card, heavy set guys wearing brightly colored Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts, ladies of all sizes with over size sun hats and sunglasses rushed from gate to gate, in a way it was comical. Liam smiled as he reached the main area of the baggage claim, he stood watching as bags began their trip around the conveyor people stepped up grabbed theirs and joined the rush. Liam grabbed his two bags and headed for the front door. Cabs dotted the pickup area as vans full of tourists loaded and unloaded then disappeared only to be replaced by another van. Liam spotted an Enterprise car rental and stepped from the doorway in that direction. The warm tropic breeze felt good, not like the scorching Texas heat, it was soothing. He pushed the door of the rental dealership open and stepped in.
“Good morning sir, Welcome to Hawaii. Do you have a reservation?”

“Unfortunately no.”

“That’s OK, let’s see what we can do.”

Liam stepped to the counter and began to explain to the young man what he was needing.


“Well the only thing I have that might fit your needs is a 2020 RAM 1500. It is scheduled to go on the sales lot shortly but if you would like I can see about extending the rental period for a bit.”

The young man handed Liam a couple of pieces of paper, then the two walked to the lot where they went over the rental agreement and checked the vehicle for any damage. After all the paperwork was finished Liam tossed his bags into the bed of the truck, the trip to the Waikiki Beach Resort was a short one, but that was OK ,the traffic was only a little intense. He pulled under the portico, removed his bags from the truck and handed the key to the valet. Liam approached the front desk smiling at the receptionist.

“I have a reservation, Liam Varon. Preferably a single bed, upper floor with a view of the beach if possible,” he said trying not to sound demanding.

“Yes sir Mr. Varon we have your room ready, you are in tower 2, Penthouse # 9 overlooking beautiful Waikiki Beach. Looks like you will be having an extended stay, you are booked and paid up for two full months. The private elevator is located just to the left of the two public elevators, your room key will give you access to it as well as the room. If you need anything just ring the front desk. I hope you have a wonderful time staying with us.” She said in a very enthusiastic voice.

“Wait was there an upgrade I missed? I just wanted a decent room I could see the ocean from.”

“No sir the rooms are always available for a VIP such as yourself. Please let me get someone to take your bags up for you. There is an open tab in the lounge if you would like.”

“No I can take the bags, VIP you said?”

“Yes sir, The Varons were a very notable part of the island culture and as such have been kept on the VIP list.”

Liam walked away still confused and yet amazed at the bombshell that had just been dropped on him. He approached the private elevator using his card to access it, made his way to the thirty-second floor and stopped, Liam stepped from the elevator into a foyer area where there were two doors, number nine and number eight. The side of the building eight was on was a city view overlooking the entire city, nine was an ocean view overlooking Waikiki Beach. He stepped through the door of the room and was amazed. This was an entire apartment on the top of the building. The Large balcony overlooked Waikiki Beach, Liam could hear laughter and muddled conversations drifted in on the ocean breeze like ghosts vanishing into the warm summer sun. around the corner of the penthouse a large Jacuzzi could be seen bubbling nest to a private bar. A medium size pergola stood draped in light fabric, allowing shade and still providing a breeze. It was truly awe inspiring, at least to someone who never knew these types of things. He placed his bags on the bed and began to unpack them, a closet with massive amounts of room seemed like a waste, so he folded the clothes he had brought and placed them in individual drawers of the dresser. After putting everything away he stepped out of the room and stood looking out over the ocean. What to do, what to do, that was now the question. Maybe enjoy the time off, after all he never really had taken a vacation. Liam opened the dresser drawer again, found the locked bank bag, removed the key from his pocket and unzipped it. He removed a few bills, then re-locked the bag and placed it in the safe on the wall. He finished unpacking and putting his clothes away before heading back down to the lobby. The hotel had a men's clothing store and since he needed something other than jeans why not take advantage of the services.

"Aloha, how can I be of service to you today?" a young Hawaiian girl asked smiling.

"Hello, well, it looks like I will be needing a new wardrobe, Texas clothing will not work here very well." Liam said smiling back.

"If I may ask, what are we dressing for, work, play, maybe romance," she said sheepishly.

"Little bit of work, some play, maybe some romance. It just depends on where things go."

"What kind of work?"

Liam thought about it, then said.

"I am a romance novelist, here for a change of scenery and maybe a little inspiration."

"Well they say if there is anything you can find on the island it's romance, but inspiration that is on you. Have you written anything I may have heard of?"

"Honestly this will be my first."

"I see. Then let's get you looking like a native of the island."

"OK, but no brightly colored flower shirts."

"Not even one?"

"Maybe one if it's tasteful."

"Let's get started then. My name is Koalani, but everyone calls me Koa."

"Pleased to meet you Koa, my name is Liam,"

The two shook hands and sat about picking out an entire wardrobe.

Lynn, looking like a true professional for once, stepped into the office, placed her briefcase on the desk and admired her surroundings. Barbara stepped in dressed in a gray security guards uniform her finely polished Captains bars glistening in the light.

"Girl you know I make this look good,"

"Barbara does everything revolve around how you look?"

"Not everything, just the important ones."

The two laughed as JR stepped into the office.

"Wow you look great," JR said nearly running into the conference table.

"Thanks babe."

"Don't the two of you have somewhere to be?"

"Yes" JR said, "The first shift is In the squad room waiting on orders and locations."

"Great let's go," Barbara said.

The two walked out Barb giggling at JR's amazed expressions, Lynn smiled, even after all the abuse of her last relationship, she still longed for the attention of a good man. One who really saw her value as a woman, and as a friend. Not just a weekend hook up or a party guy. Lynn shook her head and cleared away the thoughts. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand. Now all the employees had been vetted and assigned to a patrol the hard work for her could begin, mounds of HR paperwork stood on her desk she grabbed the first few folders and sat down.

The day moved slowly but steadily and by noon the pile had shifted, now half of it was on the opposite side of the desk, waiting for a home in the file room. Lynn stood up not realizing how much time she had spent hunching over the computer. Her back was aching from sitting in the same position for so long. She stretched, grabbed a portion of the stack and walked around the corner.

"Makayla, can you take these to the file room, they are ready," she asked the girl at the front desk.

"Yes ma’am,” she said looking up from her computer.

"Oh and by the way have you taken a lunch break yet?"

"No ma'am, was just finishing up the call request. Looks like we have a few new customers already."

"Oh is that so?"

"Yes ma'am the Varon trust is looking for a couple of patrols, seems like the son is coming to the island to start fresh or something."

"Okay, put it on my desk. What else?"

"The Waikiki Beach Marriott is looking to change Service Providers, could be a long-term contract, and a couple of other small start up companies are looking to attain some small security force."

"Okay put them on my desk and go take your lunch you've been working hard today. Thank you."

"Yes ma'am "

Makayla stepped into Lynn's office, placed the files on her desk then headed out the door for lunch. Lynn walked back into the office, sat down and actually began thinking about her own lunch plans. With all the excitement of the first official day she had not even stopped for her morning coffee, and water had been the drink of choice so far today. She leaned back in the chair, thought for a while and then decided that work could be done from a cabana near the beach as well. The only thing, her laptop had to be replaced, it was old and lacked the necessary storage to keep up. When Makayla returned she would make a visit to Best Buy and pick up a new laptop, then to the beach for a little fresh air. Maybe kill two birds with one stone and stop in at the Waikiki Beach Resort and Speak with Steve Murphy about the change of service providers. That would count as a business lunch and could be tax deductible. The day was looking up, she picked up the phone and called the Waikiki Beach Resort and set up a meeting.
Lynn stepped from the car and handed the keys to the valet.

"Where might I find Mr. Murphy's office?" She asked.

"Straight through the doors, let the receptionist know you are here and she will point you in the right direction."

"Thank you."

The young man handed her a valet ticket and drove away. Lynn stepped through the doors and approached the front desk.

"Mrs. Nesher I presume, "the young lady smiled.

"Yes, " Lynn smiled back.

"Mr. Murphy is on an emergency, he will be with you shortly. If you would like you may wait in the lounge. I will open a drink tab for you, on us."

"Thank you but the tab won't be necessary . But I will wait in the lounge."

"I apologize he should be back soon."

"That's OK, I know how busy things can get," Lynn smiled and walked towards the lounge. She sat at one of the tables in the courtyard, a waiter brought a glass of water and took her order.

Her order arrived with a message from Mr. Murphy saying he was still tied up but would love to speak with her.
Lynn advised the waiter that she would wait, thanked him and opened her new laptop.
As she sat there finishing her lunch the crowd began to clear out, and a handsome young man walked up to her.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude but where did you get your laptop."

"That is probably the worst pick up line I have heard." Lynn said as she chuckled.

"I'm sorry, " the young man said smiling and trying not to laugh.

"No honestly I need to get a good laptop I am writing a novel and just don't have one."


Lynn wanted to crawl under the floor and disappear.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to sound like a princess. I got it at Best Buy, ask for Akomu, he is really great and helped me a lot."

"Mrs. Nesher, Mr. Murphy is ready for you now."

"Okay, Thank you." She said as a wave of relief washed over her.

Lynn stood and placed the laptop in her briefcase, smiled at the man and then followed the receptionist.

Liam sat there, smiling. He probably sounded like an utter idiot, and that was probably the worst pick up line ever. He stepped through the door and into the parking lot and opened the door to the truck. He really needed to take some time and get to know the island after all he was going to be a resident. Reaching in his pocket for his keys and only realize that he left them on bar in the lounge. He walked back towards the bar and opened the door, a man stepped through hurriedly almost dragging a young girl of about twelve. She looked at Liam, tears in her eyes, and mouthed the words, ‘HELP ME, PLEASE.’ Liam could see the terror in her eyes. It was the same fear he saw in the eyes of the Afghanistan children when the Al-Qaeda came and raided the villages. Liam grabbed his keys from the bar and dashed back out the door, the man was forcing the girl in the back of a gray van. He quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket and took a picture of the license plate, then jumped in his truck and started it waiting for the van to leave. He knew he needed to get to the girl, if he let the van get out of sight he might never find them. The van pulled out of the entrance of the parking lot, Liam pulled the truck up, paying more attention to the van rather than his own surroundings. He turned into the street clipping a red Lexus IS500. The car stopped and the driver jumped out.

“You have got to be kidding me. What were you doing? You idiot!” The driver was visibly upset.

Liam stepped from the truck, checked for damage, small scratch on the RAM, and maybe a hand size dent on the rear quarter panel of the Lexus.





“I am so sorry, I was not paying attention.”

“Great, what am I supposed to do now? Your apology is not going to fix this. I have to call the police, my insurance is going to go up, GOD.”

“Ma’am I will pay for the repair, I really need to get going.”

“No, you are not going anywhere till I have an accident report filled out.”

He knew that the van would be long gone before he could get out of this situation so resolving to settle the matter before figuring a way to get back on track with finding the girl. The police officer arrived took a statement from both Liam and the upset driver, filled out the report and then told them they were free to go.

“Ma’am again I apologize, I was distracted and should have been paying more attention,” Liam said.

“I’m sorry too, I should not have blown up the way I did, today has been a hectic day.” The driver said.

Liam thought that she looked familiar but could not place where he had seen her.
“Here is my number, let me know what the repair cost and I will take care of it.”

“It’s OK shouldn’t be to bad, but I will Let you know. My name is Lynn by the way.”

“Nice to meet you Lynn, Liam Varon.”

“Well Liam I will be in touch,” Lynn said returning to her car. Liam walked back to the truck and pulled back into the parking lot. He didn’t see any point in trying to chase a vehicle that is probably long gone.

Lynn drove to the office, parked, took another look at the dent in the car and walked inside. Makayla greeted her and asked if there was anything she needed done.

“Yes, can you call around a see if there is a body shop I can get the car into today. I was in a minor traffic accident and need to get an estimate.”




“Sure thing,” Makayla said

“Another accident,” Barbara asked from inside Lynn’s office.

“This one was not my fault. This guys pulled out of the parking lot and hit me.”

“How bad is it?”
“Not really bad, just ugly. This guy must have been looking at the bikini’s walking down the street or something cause he just pulled out and hit me.”

“You can’t assume it was bikini’s he was looking at, maybe he was distracted by something else.”

“I guess it is possible, but he looked like the type with wondering eyes.”

“Just because the last couple of guys you dated were that way doesn’t mean all guys are.”

“I know but this guy must be new to the island.”

“How would you know that?” JR asked from the other side of the office.

“He still had a tag on his slacks from the Men’s shop in the Hotel.”

The three of them laughed, it was more of a relieved laugh then anything. Lynn finished filing the papers that she stopped by the office to file, then walked slowly to the parking lot
‘Maybe this guy was a good guy, he was kinda’ cute’, She thought.
‘I should apologize, but I don’t even know where to find him, maybe the clothing store would know.’

Lynn opened the door to the Lexus IS 500, dropped her purse into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt. The Waikiki Beach Resort was not that far from the office and the Yard House was close so she could pick up a quick dinner before heading home. The drive to the hotel seemed short compared to the several times she had driven it before. The Lexus rolled up under the portico, and Lynn opened the door.
“Keys ma’am,” a young man said pleasantly.

Lynn handed him the key, took the young man’s hand and stepped from the car.

“Keep it close please, I shouldn’t be more than 20 minutes.”

“Yes ma’am,” the man said.

Lynn strolled into the clothing shop, and found an employee.

“Excuse me do you know who was working the last couple of days. I am trying to find someone?”

“Actually I have, the day shift is my usual.”

“Great, has a man come in recently to purchase any clothing?” The minute she said it she knew it was a really stupid question.

“Yes ma’am, several. After all that is why we are here.”

“I mean someone that seemed out of place, not a tourist but not a local either.”

“You mean Mr. Varon, the novelist. He is cute.” The young girl said smiling.

“Yes, the novelist. What room is he staying in?”

“I don’t know, he did not charge to the room, he paid cash.”

“Oh OK. Have you seen him today?”

“No, he was in here yesterday, he had gotten a stain on his pants, and wanted to know how to remove it.”

“OK Thank you.”

Lynn walked to the front desk to see if she could get some info on “Mr. Varon the novelist”.

“Excuse me, could let Mr. Varon, the novelist know that Lynn Nesher is here to see him. I wanted to get some information from him on the incident that took place the earlier day.”

“Yes ma’am, I will let him know when he comes back.”

“Could you tell me where he went?”

“I am not sure he just left a message saying he would be out and to hold his messages.”

“OK, thank you.”


Lynn stepped back out and motioned for the valet to bring her car around.

‘He is here for a reason that is definite, wonder what it is?’ she thought.

This kind of peaked her curiosity. The car pulled up and the valet opened the door for her, she handed a tip, and closed the door. The Yard House was not too far away and Lynn was actually starting to get hungry. Lynn made the right turn and found a open parking garage, the restaurant was within walking distance, and had a great little outdoor dining area. Lynn walked in the street entrance and asked to be seated on the lanai. The waiter showed her to her table and took her drink order, she sat there and thought about work, and somehow kept drifting back to Liam Varon, ‘the novelist’. The cool afternoon breeze drifted through the palm trees, island music mixed with club music somehow seemed to combine perfectly. The waiter brought out her meal and asked if there was anything else.
“No thank you.” She said.

Lynn watched couples walk down the street holding hands, laughing, and carrying on. A young woman walked past Lynn’s table, Lynn thought she looked familiar but could not quite place where she had seen her.

“Lynn is that you?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t remember me do you?”

“I know I should, but can’t quite place you,” she admitted.

“Mackenzie, Bridges? Chaminade University, we were both in the Criminal Justice class together.”

“Oh right, Professor Beckner. He was such a stickler for following the syllabus.”

“The most annoying thing in the world.”




Mackenzie and Lynn sat and talked for several hours, the day turned to night and before long the two decided to move locations to Nanea Lounge they reminisced over class and college professors and the like for several hours.

“So Mackenzie, what are you doing now?”

“I have my own forensic science lab, the HPD labs get backed up and keep me busy but I also work for private contractors so it’s a decent gig. What about you?”

“I am partners with a friend of mine and her husband in a Security Company. Just started up a few months ago but already have developed quite the portfolio.”

“So anyone romantically involved?” Mackenzie asked.

“No, had a few undesirable interactions so decided to put relationships on hold for now,” Lynn said shyly.

“I see, well I met the sweetest guy he just enlisted in the military and is shipping out for Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. He is assigned to the 513th Military intelligence Brigade. He is going to be an Intelligence Analyst.”

“Sounds exciting,” Lynn responded distracted by Liam walking into the lounge.
“I am so sorry, Mackenzie but will please excuse me. I have to go speak with someone about an incident this morning.”

“Sure, it was nice catching up with you, if you ever need any forensics work done here is my card just give me a call.”

“Thank you it was nice seeing you again.” The two hugged and parted ways. Lynn walked out to the patio and over to Liam’s table.

“Is this seat taken?”

Liam looked up and saw Lynn smiling uncomfortably.

“No, please, have a seat. Care for a drink?”

“A mimosa if you don’t mind.”

Liam called the waitress over,
“Could we get a mimosa and a Daiquiri please.” The waitress smiled and nodded.

“So what brings you here?”

“Actually, you do.” Lynn blushed, that sounded so awkward.

“Really, and you said I had a bad pickup line.”

“I’m not here to hit on you. I am here to apologize for this morning. I realize that you were only doing what you thought was right. Clearly you didn’t have any idea about my line of work. So, I apologize for being such an angry, disrespectful person.”

“No need to apologize, I could have handled myself better as well. No harm, no foul. How about we start from the beginning?”

“I would like that.”

“Hello, I’m Liam Varon, budding novelist.”

“Hello Liam, nice to meet you. I’m Lynn Nesher, CEO and Partner of Chief Security. Honolulu’s newest up and coming security company.” Lynn said smiling.

‘Maybe the mimosa was a little too strong,’ she thought.

“So what brings you to the island Liam?”

Liam leaned back smiled and relaxed as began to tell her about his journey to the island. The two sipped drinks and talked until the lounge closed. She could feel the alcohol, her head was spinning, and she was giggling way too much, Liam noticed it too.

“I really have to get going Liam I have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I can’t let you drive in your condition. Please come to the room. I promise nothing will happen.”

Lynn felt her head start to spin and realized he was right.

“Fine, but I am sleeping on the couch, and no funny business.”







Liam escorted her to the VIP elevator, and steadied her till the doors opened, and then stepped in. The ride to the thirty-second floor seemed faster. He steadied Lynn as the elevator came to a stop, the doors opened and he grabbed Lynn just as she passed out. He hurriedly opened the door, then kicked it closed He then carried her to the bedroom, removed her shoes laid her on the bed, and pulled the sheets up. Then left and closed the bedroom door, it wasn’t the first time he had slept on a couch.


The alarm clock's incessant beeping pierced the early morning silence, a stark contrast to the tranquil scene outside the window. The curtains fluttered gently, allowing the soft light to cast shadows on the floorboards. She groaned, her body protesting the sudden intrusion into her slumber. The bed was warm and inviting, the memory of her dreams clinging to her like a comfortable blanket she didn't want to shed.

With a heavy sigh, she swung her legs over the side of the mattress and felt the cold floor against her bare feet. She took a moment to wiggle her toes, feeling the chill spread up her legs, a stark reminder of the world awaiting her. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted into the room, a promise of a new day's beginnings. She rubbed her eyes and blinked the sleep away, her vision slowly focusing on the beach.

‘THE BEACH!’ The air was thick with the quietude that comes before the world stirs to life. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see the usual mess of bedclothes tangled around her absent partner. But there was only the neatly made side of the bed, untouched and cold. It was as if the room was holding its breath, waiting for something she wasn't aware of.

"Don't worry, nothing happened," Liam's voice called out from the patio, breaking the silence. She jumped, her hand flying to her chest. He was sitting in the chair, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, looking at her with a knowing smile.

‘Oh dear God what did I do?’ she thought.

“I ordered room service, wasn’t sure if you would be hungry,” he said.

“What happened?”

“A few too many mimosa’s. I couldn’t let you drive in your condition, so you passed out just outside the elevator and I put you in bed.”

“Where did you sleep?”

“The couch, isn’t the first time.”

“I am so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if you had gotten in an accident.”

“What time is it?”

“Seven thirty.”

“Oh God I have to get to the office, Barbara and JR will be needing their assignments.”

“Don’t you have a secretary that could handle that?”

“We have a secretary but she doesn’t know the assignments yet.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“No I have my car…….Somewhere.”

“Let me take you and then you can figure out where your car is. You seem like you don’t want to be any later than you already are.”

“Okay, I just need to wash my face.”

“There is an extra toothbrush in there if you need it.”

‘God how could I let this happen?’
She washed her face, pulled her hair into a ponytail grabbed the toothbrush and brushed her teeth before closing the door.

The elevator ride was quiet, neither one knowing what to say. As the doors opened Lynn felt like she was doing the walk of shame. Liam opened the door and the two waited for the valet to bring the truck around. Liam opened the door for her and then got in the truck. The only conversation between the two were simple turn here. The truck pulled up in front of the Chief Security building, Lynn stepped out fixed her dress and closed the door.

“Thank You, and again I am so sorry.”

“Nothing to worry about. I will find out where you left your car. If you want to call the hotel, I should be there most of the day.”

“If I can’t find it I will call thank you.”

Liam drove back to the resort, he had that feeling again. The closeness he felt with Jeniffer, he could not let himself get close again, but at the same time he felt connected to her. Lynn was funny, smart, she knew what she wanted and was driven enough to make it happen. But could he keep from disappointing her. Would he hurt her just to keep her safe. These were questions he did not have an answer to at this time.Pulling the truck into the Portico and tossing the keys to the valet, he hopped up the step and into the lobby.

Lynn blinked the early morning light out of her eyes as she shuffled into the office, her heels echoing against the cold marble floor. The scent of fresh coffee wafted from the break room, but she ignored it. Her mind was elsewhere, trapped in a foggy labyrinth of last night's events. The last thing she remembered was the neon glow of The Yard House. Now, she found herself in a large, overstuffed chair, nestled in the quiet corner of the office, hoping to piece together the puzzle of the hours she couldn't recall.

Makayla, spotted Lynn's distress from across behind her desk. She was known for her empathetic nature and couldn't help but approach. "Everything okay, Lynn?" she asked, her voice a gentle melody. Lynn looked up, the lines of concern etched on her face. "I... I can't remember where I parked my car last night," she confessed, feeling the weight of embarrassment. Makayla's smile didn't waver. "No worries," she said, placing a comforting hand on Lynn's shoulder. "Let's grab a coffee and talk it through."

They stumbled into the break room, the starkness of the fluorescent lights reflecting off the chrome appliances. The room was a stark contrast to the warm, muffled darkness of the night Lynn was trying to recall. Makayla poured two cups of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. She handed one to Lynn, who wrapped her hands around the mug, seeking clarity. They sat down at the round table, the plastic chairs squeaking under their weight.

Barbara strolled into the office smiling from ear to ear.

“So, let’s have it.”

“What?” Lynn said trying to play it off.

“You know what, details. Where did you go last night that kept you in yesterdays clothes? Come on out with it.”

“Nothing happened. I sat down at The Yard House and had dinner, then ran into one of my classmates from Chaminade University. We talked till it was time for Yard House to close then ended up at Nanea Lounge. I saw Liam Varon and decided to go and apologize for being a terror. We had a few drinks and the next thing I know I am waking up in his penthouse.”

“Dang girl you move fast.” Barbara said smiling.

“Nothing happened. He slept on the couch, then he took me to work. That is all.”

“Mm-hm.” Makayla chimed in from her desk.

“Don’t you have paperwork to file?” Lynn said loudly.

“So what is he like, you spent a good amount of time with him.”

“I did not.”

Barbara prodded at Lynn for the next hour or so, before giving up.

“So, where is your car?”

“It’s at the parking garage next door to the Yard House,” Lynn exclaimed, surprising her self. I am going to have to take a taxi and pick it up later.”

“You should have Liam bring it to you,” Barbara laughed.

Lynn dove into the pile of paperwork on her desk, determined to forget about the events of last night. As lunch approached she called the local cab company for a ride to the Yard House for lunch and to pick up her car. Driver pulled to the curb and Lynn stepped in.

“Where are we headed Ma’am?”

“228 Lewers St. Yard House restaurant please.”

Her stomach growled, a not-so-subtle reminder that it was well past lunchtime. She glanced at her phone; the screen showed a string of messages from her friend Barbara. Last night's events still lingered in her mind but she pushed them aside. Now was not the time to dwell on what she couldn't change. Instead, she focused on the task at hand: lunch and retrieving her car.

The cab ride was a blur of passing buildings and traffic lights, her thoughts racing faster than the taxi. Lynn knew Liam had her best interests at heart, but she felt a twinge of annoyance at the inconvenience. She reached into her purse, her hand brushing against the cold metal of her pepper spray. A small, comforting reminder of the unspoken danger that lurked in the corners of their lives.

As they pulled up to the Yard House, the scent of grilled meat and sizzling onions filled the air, making her stomach growl even louder. The vibrant patio buzzed with chatter and laughter, a stark contrast to the solemn mood inside the taxi. Lynn paid the driver and stepped out, her heels clicking on the sidewalk as she made her way to the entrance. The hostess greeted her with a warm smile, which Lynn returned with forced enthusiasm. She was escorted to a table by the window, the afternoon sun casting a gentle glow over the polished wooden surfaces.

She pulled her laptop out of the briefcase and began to work on the assignments for the next few days. Barbara and JR had finally gotten a full crew and were now in the process of making sure that they knew operating procedures, each shift had too fill out the proper paperwork and logs before and after shift. Shift change could get a little hectic to say the least.

Lynn finished her lunch and walked around the corner to the garage where her car was parked. She opened the door and drove back to the office, the rest of the day was covered with reports, shift change notes and scheduling. It would feel good to get into her own bed tonight. Makayla poked her head in Lynn’s office.

“I am going to take off now, do you need anything?”

“No, thank you. Have a goodnight Makayla.”

Lynn stared out the office window, watching the rain dance on the concrete below. Each droplet shimmered briefly in the sunset before merging into the puddles, mirroring the chaos of the day she'd just endured. The cityscape was a blur of colors, a stark contrast to the quiet sanctuary of her office. The clock ticked away, each second a gentle reminder that the world outside didn't pause for her.