Page 4 of Intrigued By Love

“Oh yeah, they’re definitely over each other,” Kiana muttered. “Not. Tell us again that you aren’t still in love with him, Kailani.”

“Dammit, Kiana, leave her alone. I can’t wait until Ani gets here so she can kick your ass,” Cora admonished, referring to my other sister-in-law, Ani, the Kiana-tamer.

Kiana cocked a hand on her hip. “My wife will take my side. That’s what you’re supposed to do when you get married.”

Cora set a hand on my shoulder. “Ignore the comedian over there, take a deep breath, and go say hello.”

I followed Cora’s instructions, pushed the shock of seeing Jax away, and walked toward him.

I offered him my hand. “Welcome to Bora Bora, Jax.”

Good, my voice hadn’t quivered.

“Kai.” He slipped his palm over mine and pulled me gently toward him, in the way he’d done with me hundreds of times. But instead of kissing my lips, he kissed my cheek.

Goose bumps pricked down my spine, and I had to resist the instinct to nuzzle into him. My body ached for him.

This was going to be a very long four weeks.

He smelled so good, of bergamot and sandalwood. The scent of the cologne I’d given him.

“Did you miss me, Little Bird?” He pulled back without releasing my hand.

My stomach clenched, hearing him use the pet name he’d given me. The one I hadn’t heard in years, and reminded me of the last time we’d made love.

I tried to tug free but his grip tightened.

“Jax. Let me go.”

“Don’t you think I deserve answers?”

“This isn’t the time or place.”

“I agree—that was two years ago in Vegas. Before I came home to an empty house and a broken heart.”

Tears burned the backs of my eyes. It wasn’t as simple as he made it sound.

“Don’t I get a hello?” Thad came up behind Jax, smacking his back and breaking the standoff between Jax and me. “Step aside, old man. I need to hug my girl.”

Jax narrowed his gaze, telling me we’d talk, and then released my hand, moving out of Thad’s way.

Thad wrapped an arm around my shoulder, squeezing me and then guiding me toward the walkway into the airport terminal. “Good to see you again, Boss Lady.”

“Same goes,” I said, rolling my eyes and trying to act calm and unfazed by the man walking right behind us.

That’s when I realized Kevin was nowhere in sight. “Where’s Kevin?”

“Taking a work call. He’ll be down in a few minutes. Come on, let’s wait for him in the van. In the meantime, you can fill me in on all the ways you’re going to boss us around so my future wife gets the wedding of her dreams.”

Chapter Three

Jax

I stepped out onto the wraparound lanai of the Lykaios Bora Bora two days after arriving on the island and watched Kai on the beach below, directing her staff in something or another. She’d avoided me like the plague, finding something to keep her busy every time I was in the vicinity.

It had taken all my strength not to throw her petite body over my shoulder and find a spot to get the answers I’d waited over two years for. Trying to force her to do anything would have her shutting down, though. And I’d learned long ago, rushing her never worked. She would need to work through it in her head. In any other situation, watching her process, going back and forth in her mind on a problem until she came to a decision, would have been a turn-on. However, something told me I’d have to give her a nudge to get her alone or she’d stall any conversation until it was time for me to leave.

Kai gathered her hair, tying it back into a low ponytail, and caught me looking in her direction.

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