But she couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be fair.
“No. Your gender has nothing to do with this. He’s an officer. He’s supposed to be a leader on this ship. To lead by example. And being a coward isn’t being a leader. I’m not saying he should’ve been happy to get shot, but he should’ve done what you did…attempted to get help for his crew and fellow officers.”
Elodie stared up at Scott. “What are you still doing here? I thought you’d leave right after you found all the bad guys.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to talk to you before we left,” Scott said.
Elodie’s eyes widened. “You stayed because of me?”
“Yeah, Rach, I did.”
She couldn’t help but wince at hearing a shortened version of a name that wasn’t hers.
Scott reached out and took her hand in his and walked her back toward the crew dining area.
He’d taken off his gloves, and his hand was warm and comforting around her smaller one. He pulled out one of the chairs around the table and urged her to sit. She did, keeping her eyes on his as he crouched down in front of her, still holding her hand.
“I know we don’t really know each other, but you can trust me,” Scott said.
Elodie nodded. But he didn’t say anything else, as if waiting for her to respond.
“Um…okay.”
Scott sighed. Then he reached into a pocket of his pants and pulled out a small notepad. He dropped her hand and got out a pen and scribbled something on the paper. He ripped it from the notebook and held it out to her.
Elodie looked down at the paper and took it without thinking. He’d written his name and a phone number on it.
“That’s my personal cell number,” he told her. “You need help with anything—anything at all—you give me a call or text.”
Elodie was dumbfounded. And confused. She looked at the man still crouched in front of her. “Why?”
“Because I admire you. Because you saved my life, and I owe you. Because I know something’s up with you, and you’re too scared to admit it. I know your name isn’t Rachel, and the only reason someone uses a fake name is because something’s wrong. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t really care.”
“What if I’m wanted? Like, I killed someone?” Elodie whispered.
Scott laughed. He flat-out threw his head back and laughed as if she’d told him something extremely funny. When he had himself under control, he took her free hand in his once more. “You haven’t killed anyone,” he said firmly. “You were shaking so hard after you killed that pirate hell bent on shooting me and Midas, you couldn’t even walk very well. No, whatever it is you’re running from, it isn’t the law.”
Elodie swallowed hard. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had done something so…generous?
“Whatever it is you’re hiding from, I can help you,” Scott said softly. “I’m guessing you thought taking this job would keep you far from your demons and allow you to disappear. I have no idea how widespread the press is going to be on this incident, but considering the Maersk Alabama had a movie made about what happened, I’d say the reporters are probably going to meet the ship at Port Sudan in droves.”
Elodie bit her lip.
“Yeah. And being the only woman onboard…it’s going to be tough to keep your name and face out of the spotlight. Your name might not be an issue, since it’s obviously not your real one, but…”
His voice trailed off. He was right. If even one picture got out of her, Paul would definitely be able to track her down. She’d kept her job as a chef because she enjoyed it, but when he discovered that was what she’d been doing on the Asaka Express, it would give him another avenue to try to find her.
“My team and I are in Honolulu,” he reminded her. “If you need a place to go, you can come to us. We’ll keep you safe.”
Elodie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It had been so long since anyone had gone out on a limb for her, and this man didn’t know her at all. He was offering his support without even knowing what she was running from.
It was unbelievable, and she wanted to latch onto his offer with both hands. But would that be fair to him? The Columbus family was one of the largest and most powerful mob families in New York, and she’d learned the hard way that their reach was mighty and vast. Could Paul do something to get Scott in trouble with the Navy? Make him lose his job? She wasn’t naïve enough to think that Paul would let anyone who helped her get off scot-free.
No, she’d defied him—and no one went against Paul Columbus.
“Thank you,” she said quietly after a long moment.
“I mean it,” Scott said. “We can help you. We’ve got connections, lots of them. When you get off the ship and are trying to decide what to do next and where to go…Hawaii is open to you as a place to regroup. I…I’d like to get to know you better. I already know you’re brave and resilient, and I’m guessing you have to be halfway decent as a chef, since you were hired to make all the meals onboard.” He smiled, letting her know he was teasing.
“I know you’re determined and smart enough to understand instinctively where you’re safest, if the grip you had on my belt loop was any indication.” Scott brought a hand up and cupped her cheek. “You intrigue me, Rachel, or whatever your name is. And that hasn’t happened to me…ever.”
Elodie desperately wanted to tell him her real name and her situation, but she pressed her lips together until the urge passed.
“Will you at least think about it? About coming to Hawaii?” he asked.
Elodie was nodding before she even realized what she was doing.
“Good. I’m gonna worry about you,” he told her. “So even if you don’t want anything more to do with me or my team, and if you don’t end up coming to Honolulu, will you consider still dropping me a line to let me know you’re out there somewhere, alive and well?”
Gah. He was killing her. “Yeah. I can do that.”
“Thank you.” He hadn’t moved his hand from her face, and now his thumb was gently caressing her cheek, as if he wasn’t conscious of doing it. “You know, there have only ever been five people who I’d consider giving my life for. My team. They’ve saved my sorry hide, and I’ve saved theirs. Now there’s six.”
Elodie couldn’t have spoken if her life depended on it.
“Use that,” he ordered, using his head to nod to the paper she was still clutching in her hand.
“I will,” she told him shakily.
She could’ve swore Scott leaned closer, and Elodie held her breath, wondering if he was actually going to kiss her—until the door behind them slammed open.
Scott moved immediately, standing and blocking her from whoever had entered.
“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to startle you!” Manuel said. “I’m here to help Rachel clean up. Everyone’s starving, and I figured if I cleaned, she could get something started so people didn’t start gnawing on their arms.”
Elodie quickly put the paper with Scott’s number in her back pocket as she stood. She put one hand on Scott’s back and felt nothing but hard muscles shifting under her touch. “I was just about to get started,” she said softly, bending the truth a bit.