Page 22 of Intrigued By Love

“It’s about time you two fixed the mess you created.”

I had no response to the statement.

“Stop staring at me as if you’re both fish with your mouths open. Your mom wants some of the ‘special punch’ she likes so much.” He air quoted. “Before we left, the chef said he stocked the fridge with it and everything for snacks and lunch. Grab the pitcher and let’s go up. What’s the point of having such beautiful weather if you’re going to hide in here?”

Kai moved toward her father and opened the refrigerator behind him. Handing him the container, she began to gather cheese and fruit. “Subtle, Papa, very subtle.”

“What?” He feigned innocence. “Oh, good idea, I’m sure Cora could use a bite to eat. That baby’s not letting her rest.” Isaiah turned his attention to me. “Son, you going to help us or do you need a few more minutes to take care of that situation?”

“Papa,” Kai exclaimed. “Seriously, you’re a menace. Mama always said Kiana gets it from you.”

“You may want to see him in that particular state, but no one else does, especially not a girl’s parents.”

With years of handling Isaiah, this whole situation was more comical than mortifying. He’d walked in on all of his daughters at one point or another. At least we’d never been caught doing anything more than kissing. I couldn’t say that was true of either of the other two sisters.

“I hear you,” I said, adjusting my shirt to cover my erection.

“Papa, I’m going to tell Mama what you did.”

“What? She’d agree with me.”

“Keep thinking that. Mama is as nosy as Lina and Kiana are.”

I ignored the continued banter between father and daughter and opened the pantry cabinets, pulling out a tray before loading it with the snacks Kai had set on the counter.

A few minutes later, we took the steps up to the main deck. There was truly nothing like the views around the islands of French Polynesia. The deep blue waters with their array of wildlife gave an almost ethereal feel to the area. As did the untamed scent in the air that soothed the spirit, a mix of the volcanic soil and the bright foliage that covered the islands.

I truly never appreciated the stories of what Kai had grown up with until I’d moved to the area.

“Where should I put this?” I asked.

The Alexanders lounged on the deck as if the opulence of the yacht was no big deal. Kai’s family had this way of enjoying any place they visited, no matter if they were having dinner in a tiny shack or spending the day on a hundred-million-dollar yacht, like today.

They weren’t a family opposed to money, but it didn’t define them. They believed only things one earned were worth having.

A complete opposite mindset to the one I’d grown up in.

Thad caught my gaze as he cradled Lina’s head on his lap and gave me a knowing smile.

“Here should be fine.” Kai pointed to a central table within reach of most everyone.

After setting the tray down, I took a seat near one side of the ship, across from Lina and Thad. Thad gestured with his chin in Kai’s direction, then raised his brows in surprise when she came to sit next to me, lifting my arm around her and tucking herself against me.

I hadn’t expected this, but I wasn’t an idiot and would count this as a small victory in convincing her we had a future.

Chapter Ten

Kailani

“Jax. Are you ready? We’re going to be late,” I said as I entered my bungalow, glancing at my watch. “You need to be at the fitting in thirty minutes.”

I’d spent the morning getting most of the wedding guests settled with a quick break for lunch at a hole-in-the-wall place I loved after picking up my sister-in-law, Ani, from the airport. Now it was my duty to make sure all the groomsmen had their last fittings for their suits. Once that final task was complete, everyone could have a free night to do as they pleased before the wedding festivities commenced.

“Where the hell is he?” I muttered to myself and took the stairs leading to the bedroom. Jax had all but moved into my place since that day two weeks ago on the yacht.

We’d fallen back into the natural ease of living together, something that should have scared me. But it was an unexpected comfort, something I needed in my life, something I’d never had with anyone else but Jax.

As I made my way onto the landing, I noticed him leaning against the railing on the far end of the balcony. A grimness was etched on his face that could only have been put there by the arrival of Christopher and Jennine Burton.

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