“How come you never took me here?” Cheyn waved his sandwich at the waterfall. Dante snorted.

“I didn’t think you’d be interested.” Dante bit into his lunch without even looking up.

“Who doesn’t like waterfalls? Do you know anyone who doesn’t like waterfalls?” Cheyn leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees.

“Yeah.” Dante flicked his eyes up at Cheyn and back to his lunch.

“You’re lying, boss, you’re lying.” Cheyn shook his sandwich at him.

“Sorry—I didn’t realize it would upset you.” Dante smiled.

“Yeah, well it does. It hurts me man, right here.” Cheyn tapped his heart.

Laurie chuckled at him.

“Have you not seen any other waterfalls, Cheyn?” Laurie smirked up at him.

“No, I have. I’ve seen lots of them, just not this one. Have you been up to Rainbow Falls?” Cheyn asked her.

“Yeah, we used to go every summer when I was a kid.” Laurie’s gaze returned to her peanut butter and jelly.

“You don’t go anymore?” Cheyn quirked his eyebrow at her.

“No.” Laurie shook her head.

“How come?” Cheyn chewed on his lunch, missing Dante’s glare of annoyance.

Laurie paused for a little while, staring at the grass beneath her feet.

Dante wanted to reach over and squeeze Cheyn’s neck. He’d ruined it. She’d been happy a moment ago.

“I don’t have anyone to go with anymore.” Laurie looked up at the waterfall and sighed.

“Parents can’t hike anymore?” Cheyn shoved the rest of his sandwich in his mouth.

“Cheyn, stop pestering her and let her eat her lunch.” Dante leaned a bit in Laurie’s direction.

“It’s okay.” Laurie put down her half-eaten sandwich. “My parents and my brother died, in a car accident when I was fourteen.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Cheyn looked down at her, regret flickering across his features.

“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” Laurie shrugged.

“Were you in the car with them?” Cheyn leaned forward on his perch.

“No. I was…well, I was where I shouldn’t have been.” Laurie’s face flushed. She shoved the rest of her sandwich into the plastic bag with her snacks. She pretended to be fascinated by the bags contents. When she looked up, her eyes flicked between Cheyn and Dante’s.

“Where were you not supposed to be?” Cheyn asked.

Laurie sighed. She met Dante’s steady gaze briefly, then looked away.

“Kissing Ricky Pearson by the soccer field.”

They nearly choked on their laughter.

Laurie rolled her eyes.

“I hope it was a good kiss.” Cheyn gave a mischievous smile.

“Well, it was my first kiss, and he was my big high school crush at the time. I went home thinking it was the best day of my life. Then I sat at home, waiting for my parents to get back from picking up my little brother, and this police officer shows up at my door. Well, that was that.”

“What happened then?” Dante moved closer to her.

“My uncle in Seattle couldn’t take care of me. They have too many kids of their own. I went into foster care until I was eighteen. They helped me get the job at the resort, and that’s where I’ve been ever since.”

Dante sat close enough to Laurie to see her eyes mist over. He should have left Cheyn at the house and taken her hiking by himself. Dante wanted to cheer her up with this trip. Now she was sad again. He wanted to reach for her hand, to offer some comfort, but he wouldn’t dare, even if they were alone.

“I’m sorry you lost your family, Laurie.” He shifted forward until his knee pressed against hers just a hair. He would settle for that brief contact. “It’s a tough life growing up in foster care. It’s probably what makes you so brave now.”

Laurie smiled. She hugged her knees into her chest, taking away the brief contact Dante had with her.

“I’m not brave.” She turned her face away to stare at the waterfall

“Now that’s not true, Miz Laurie. You attacked the guy at the resort, and you’re in the Witness Protection Program instead of just running off to your uncle in Seattle.” Cheyn’s expression sobered.

“Well, it’s the right thing to do isn’t it? Serve the greater good?” Laurie pulled up a few pieces of grass and twirled them around her fingers.

“Do you mean the greater good for you or for everyone else? Because most people will just choose the greater good for them. A lot of people won’t agree to go into Witsec because they’re too scared. You are brave.” Dante locked eyes with her.

“Yes, you’re a super woman.” Cheyn flexed a bicep. “You attack bad guys and fight crime. Most of all, you eat what Dante cooks for you—now that shows a lot of bravery.”

Dante turned on him with a look designed to melt metal.

“I don’t see you pulling out the frying pan in the morning.” Dante shoved his snacks back in his pack.

“Of course not. They invented cereal so you don’t have to.”

Laurie laughed at both of them. She laughed so hard, she fell back onto the grass clasping her mid-section. She stared up at the sky peeking through the dense foliage above. Then she turned her face toward Dante.

He smiled at her, and he felt the ground shift beneath him when she smiled back. He was in trouble. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to be in big trouble. Giving in to this electric, delicious attraction would be foolish. She wasn’t going to be in Hawaii much longer. He would eventually lose her and maybe his job too. He broke the connection and looked back at the waterfall.

They sat for a while in silence, watching the water pour down from the sky. The sun dipped behind the waterfall’s horizon, and several rainbows appeared. They hovered in mid-air above the waterfall’s mist.

“That is so beautiful,” Laurie breathed. She turned to Dante. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Dante’s breath caught in his chest. All he could do was nod in response. The sun illuminated Laurie’s face, bathing it in a rosy gold. Her hair caught the light, glowing around her face like a halo. Gratitude shone in her eyes as she smiled at him. It was the most striking picture of beauty Dante had ever seen, and he would remember that vision of her for the rest of his life.

CHAPTER SIX

Laurie

Laurie was in the car. Her parents were in the front seat. Her brother sat with her in the back. They were going out to get ice cream. Her brother played with a new etch-a-sketch. He broke one every couple of months, but he would create the most elaborate scenes on them. Laurie was positive he would be an amazing artist someday. In honor of their trip out for ice cream, which did not happen often, he sketched out the ice cream sundae he wanted to get.

Right as he poured on the chocolate syrup, Laurie looked up to see a tractor-trailer heading straight for their vehicle.

“No, stop! Look out!” She braced herself. But it was too late.

The car careened into the tractor-trailer. Laurie was pinned in the backseat. She could sense that her parents and her brother were dead. They weren’t moving, but Laurie was still alive. The tractor-trailer backed up and rammed the car again.

“No! Stop! Please!”

She screamed as the tractor-trailer backed up again.

“Help!”

“Laurie! Wake up!” Dante’s voice sliced through the nightmare.

Laurie opened her eyes.

Dante pressed her against his chest.

She moaned.

“I’m so sorry, Dante. I’m so sorry.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. That was an old nightmare.”

“Have you always had nightmares this often?” Dante wrapped both arms around her.

Laurie’s hand combed through her disheveled hair as Dante continued to clutch her to his chest. He was warm and solid beneath her cheek. He smelled of spicy aftershave, soap, and the slightest hint of coffee. Laurie couldn’t stop herself from nuzzling his shoulder as he pressed his hand to her hair.