His mind drifted back to the carrier, replaying his crash landing and the narrow escapes. The mental pictures of war and death were becoming impossible to obliterate from his thoughts. After a minute, his mind returned to the image of the beautiful brunette. He continued to gaze at the ocean, but his mind did not register the view.
After another round of drinks, the foursome went into the Surf Room and ordered dinner. They enjoyed a savory meal of fresh seafood and island cuisine. After Baked Alaska, freshly ground Kona coffee, and a snifter of brandy, the group had agreed that they were too tired to go out and pursue female companionship that evening. The flight had been grueling and uncomfortable, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted.
After returning to their suite, Palmer and Lunsford crashed on their beds and were asleep almost immediately. Brad walked into the living room and out to the lanai. Watching the bright moon, he sat down in a thickly padded lounge chair and replayed the scene in the Mai-Tai Bar. He could not erase the image of the stunning brunette.
Brad's last thought, before falling sound asleep, was about the young woman named Ladasau.
Chapter 16
Austin awakened to the sound of waves gently washing ashore. The clear sky was beginning to show signs of sunrise. Listening to the chirping and singing of the birds, Brad squinted at his wristwatch lying on the nightstand. It read 5:35 A. M.
He closed his eyes for a few minutes, reforming the image of the attractive girl he had seen in the cocktail lounge. Feeling restless, he prepared for an early walk on the beach.
Brad picked up a complimentary newspaper in the lobby, then leisurely walked out to the veranda. He watched the maintenance workers rake the powdery white sand smooth, and toss the debris left by the sun worshipers into three large plastic containers.
Feeling the tension flow from his body, Brad glanced at the front page of the paper, stopping occasionally to cast a look out over the tranquil ocean. He became engrossed in watching a navy cruiser that had just cleared the entrance to Pearl Harbor. A destroyer followed a minute later, increasing speed to match the larger vessel.
When the ships had sailed over the horizon, Brad started to open his paper, then froze in place. The woman of his dreams was walking up from the beach. She was wearing light green slacks and a loose-fitting green-and-white striped blouse. Carrying her white sandals, she was approaching the Royal Hawaiian from the Diamond Head end of Waikiki Beach.
Brad felt a fleeting moment of anxiety. What am I going to say? he asked himself as the girl stepped onto the sidewalk. What the hell, he thought to himself, then got up. God never loved a coward.
The pretty woman looked at Brad when he stood. She smiled as she neared him. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Miss Ladasau," Brad responded, feeling slightly foolish.
"Pardon me," the woman replied, slightly tilting her head. "Have we met?"
Brad cleared his throat. "No, unfortunately, but now is as good a time as any." A quizzical look crossed her face.
"I'm Brad Austin."
The girl extended a slim hand. "Leigh Ann Ladasau." "My pleasure," Brad replied, gently shaking her hand. "Do you prefer Leigh, or Leigh Ann?"
"Everyone calls me Leigh Ann."
"Spelled L-e-i-g-h?" Brad asked, releasing her hand. He was captivated by the soft, feminine voice.
"That's correct," she replied with just a trace of southern accent. Turning to leave, she looked over her shoulder. "Nice meeting you."
"Wait," Brad said, dropping the paper. "How about a cup of coffee, or some juice? The dining room will be open in a couple of minutes."
Leigh Ann contemplated the offer. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline. Thank you, anyway."
"We'll be in a public place," Brad appealed. "I won't attack you… I promise."
Letting out a sigh, Leigh Ann smiled. "You're a very persistent person. You must be in the military.
tary.
Brad hesitated, unsure of her reaction to the truth. "You're right."
"Which service?" she asked. "And what do you do?" "Marine Corps… fighter pilot."
"Oh, well, that explains it," Leigh Ann laughed. "Okay, Brad, let's make it breakfast. I'm famished."
She dropped her sandals and stepped into them. "Your friends — the ones you were with yesterday afternoon — are they marine pilots too?"
"No. One of them is a pilot, but he's navy. The other two are navy radar-intercept officers. We fly — the four of us — as two teams in F-4 Phantoms." Brad could see a question on Leigh Ann's face. "I'm on exchange duty with a navy fighter squadron based on board a carrier. We're on rest and relaxation while the ship is in port at Subic Bay… in the Philippines."
"That must be exciting… flying from the deck of an aircraft carrier."
"Yes," Brad replied, enthralled by Leigh Ann's blue eyes, "it's a different world, believe me."
The couple walked into the sheltered, open-air dining facility and chose a quiet table. Brad seated Leigh Ann as a waitress approached them. They both ordered a sumptuous breakfast and sipped fresh guava juice while they waited to be served.
"So," Brad said, "tell me about yourself, now that I've kidnapped you right off the beach."
She hesitated, smiling an acknowledgment before forming her response. "I'm twenty-two, a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University, with a degree in English. I'm a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, and I'm on vacation with my parents, Doctor and Mrs. Simon Ladasau."
"Interesting," Brad replied slowly. "Have you had an opportunity to sightsee — drive around the island?"
"No, I'm afraid not," Leigh Ann answered as her breakfast was placed on the table. "This is my second trip to the islands, and my father doesn't journey once we arrive. However, I have been on the Pearl Harbor cruise, which was very sobering."
Brad thanked the waitress and looked into Leigh Ann's sparkling blues eyes. "How much longer will you be here?"
She finished a bite of her eggs Benedict and dabbed her mouth with the linen napkin. "We are leaving day after tomorrow. We've been here two weeks today."
Brad felt a twinge of disappointment but decided not to be deterred. "I've spent some time here at the Kaneohe Bay Marine Air Station, so I got to know Oahu fairly well."
Brad pondered his next question. "How about a tour of the island? I know a great place to have lunch… a nice restaurant overlooking Kailua Bay."
Leigh Ann swallowed discreetly. "Brad, I do appreciate your offer — I sincerely mean that. We just met… and my parents have never met you." Leigh Ann smiled. "You understand… I'm sure."
Brad quietly placed his fork on the pink china. "Why don't you introduce me, and we'll invite them along. I'll do the driving, and you and your parents can relax — have a guided tour."
She remained quiet a moment, sipping the fresh guava juice. "You are absolutely relentless, aren't you? Did they teach you that in the Marine Corps, or is it just your nature?"
Feeling slightly sheepish, Brad leaned toward her. "Leigh Ann, I'd like to get to know you, and I'm being honest about taking your mother and father with us."
She looked out at the ocean for a few moments, then turned to face Brad, gazing into his eyes. "Why is it that I instinctively trust you?"
Caught off guard, Brad shrugged and smiled. He remembered what the CO had said about the oath the officers had taken. "My commission states that I'm a gentleman, reposing of special trust and confidence."
Smiling, Leigh Ann studied his face. "I have two questions before I go gallivanting around the island with someone I barely know."
With a degree of trepidation, Brad quickly said, "Certainly." "How did you know my last name, and how did you know I would be walking on the beach this morning?"