“No problem. I haven’t done anything yet. I’ll make some calls.” He’d have to find Asad’s phone number first. It was back on Kaua’i. He might have to make a trip home.
Tomi turned around in the seat and faced forward. “There’s another way to get some money if I have to have it. We’ve got an offer for the land, Annie. Three million dollars.”
She gasped. “That’s not possible.”
“A casino is coming in. We’re not going to want to live nearby anyway.”
“Father will never sell. You know that. He loves his property.”
“Isn’t he worried about the new magma chamber growing under it?” Mano asked.
Annie shook her head. “He refuses to believe Jillian’s data. When he read the article Noah published, Father approved of the way Noah downplayed the danger.”
“I’ve got to get to the bank.” Tomi opened the car door.
“I thought you were afraid of being seen.” Annie sounded worried. She got out and went to stand by her brother’s open door.
“I’ve got a disguise like you suggested. Let me go grab it, and I’ll meet you back here in half an hour.”
The hug Tomi gave her seemed perfunctory to Mano. It must have felt that way to Annie too, because when she slid into the front seat, her eyes swam with tears. Mano reached across the seat and took her hand. She glanced up at him with a question in her eyes but didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“This is going to kill our father,” she muttered. “I don’t know how to tell him.”
“Don’t. Let Tomi do it. This is his mess. You need to let him own it.”
Annie was shaking her head. “He won’t tell our father. Tomi has never been able to handle disapproval. It will be easier if I break the news, and we discuss what can be done. But to a Japanese man, honor is everything. Father will feel our name is dishonored when he hears what Tomi has done.”
“If Tomi gives back the money, he may only have to endure a dishonorable discharge for going AWOL.”
“Only?” She gave a faint smile. “Father will never be able to accept it.”
He hated to see the pain in her eyes. “I wish I could help somehow.”
She laid her other hand over his. “You’re doing all you can to help me find Leilani. I’ll never forget what you’ve done.”
“It sounds like you’re telling me good-bye.” He grinned, not sure if he was joking or not. Her expression was one of finality and resignation.
“I can’t imagine why you’d want to associate with us anymore. Not after Tomi let you believe you’d left him to die on the beach. If you want to go home and forget all about us, I’d understand.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” A clean scent of flowers, maybe gardenia, drifted to his nose from the lotion on her skin. He badly wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss away her frown. Knowing she wouldn’t welcome an embrace from him, he released her hand and settled back against his seat. “Have you had anything to eat?”
She shook her head. “I skipped lunch.”
“I had a cheese stick, but I’m still hungry. How about a jerked-chicken sandwich?” He nodded toward the small café beside the car. “The sandwiches are pretty good here.”
“I could eat a lu’au pig all by myself.”
They got out of the car and went to the small open-air stand. The aroma of jerked chicken and teri beef made his mouth water. He ordered two sandwiches, fries, and mango tea. Annie tried to pay for hers, and he wouldn’t let her. “My treat. And a fruit smoothie for dessert. There’s a great stand just down the street.”
He watched Annie as she ate. She devoured every morsel, then licked the sauce off her fingers. His fascination with her grew. He’d always heard that beauty was in the eye of the beholder, but he thought anyone should be able to see how lovely Annie was. The light in her eyes tugged at him, and he watched the curve of her lips and the slim line of her throat.
“You’re staring,” she said. A blush stained her cheeks.
“Sorry.” He collected himself and glanced away. “You’re so pretty it’s hard not to.” He glanced up in time to see a rush of red wash over her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze. She stood and went toward the car without answering. She got into the passenger side and slammed the door.
He went around to the driver’s side. So much for pursuing her. Last night’s date must not have affected her like it did him. It was obvious she had no interest in him beyond the help he could offer to find Leilani. Feeling more disappointment than he’d expected, he got in and fastened his seat belt.
Annie struggled with the guilt she felt. Last night, she’d almost become her sister. She didn’t want Mano if he saw her as an extension of Leilani. The silence between them stretched out. She saw Tomi’s familiar form loping toward the car. He carried a black satchel.