Page 7 of Intrigued By Love

The next morning, Henna Lykaios, my direct boss and the head of Lykaios International had offered me the general manager position in Bora Bora. I was already a partner in the resort with a twenty percent stake. I’d invested when the project was a concept in Henna’s eyes. It was every penny I’d saved from the time I started working at eighteen and the winnings I’d earned at the poker tables I played at in Vegas.

The investment had paid off in ways I hadn’t imagined, thirty-fold, in fact, making me a very wealthy woman.

I’d decided it was fate telling me to cut my losses and start a new life. The move would bring me back to the island lifestyle I grew up in and felt at home with, and it would also put enough distance between Jax and me to keep constant thoughts of him at bay.

Now he was here. To remind me of all that I’d lost. All that I hoped for. All that I still wanted.

“Are you going to spend the rest of the month avoiding him?” Lina said, snapping me out of my brooding.

I lifted the mask and looked in her direction.

Damn, she was every ounce the goddess movie star. Even without a stitch of makeup on, her skin glowed. She’d say we all looked the same and she was partly right—there was no mistaking we were sisters—but I knew it was happiness that gave her the extra boost. Thad loved her in a way I’d only seen with my parents.

“I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

Lina rolled her eyes and glanced at Kiana. “Is she for real? She acts as if we don’t have eyes.”

“She thinks we don’t know that her saying she and Jax fell out of love is bullshit.” Kiana sat up and cocked a hand on her hip. “We deserve to know what really happened.”

“Leave her be.” Cora reached out and took my hand in hers. “We’re here to relax. I don’t want her to feel as if she’s in an interrogation room.”

I gave Cora an appreciative but weary smile. “This is why you’re my favorite sister.”

Cora was the only one in my family who knew the whole of what happened. She had this way about her that had people spilling their guts. A week after arriving at the LB, I’d called Cora to see how she was settling in to married life only to spend the next three hours crying my eyes out and letting Cora console me. She hadn’t tried to solve my issues or tell me I shouldn’t have run from Jax. All Cora had done was listen, and it had been the one thing I’d needed. I’d made her promise not to tell anyone the truth of why Jax and I broke up, and she’d kept her word, even with my brother Kevin.

In turn, I’d been the first person Cora told after Kevin that she was pregnant. She was as much my sister as the nutty two I grew up with.

“Fine,” Kiana huffed and lay back down.

“Well, if Jax is off the list of discussion topics, at least tell us about the reclusive billionaire who built that mansion on the cliff over there.”

I glanced in the direction of the gorgeous three-level building covered in balconies and windows. I’d watched it go up for the last two years. I’d wondered about the owner over and over. He was a mystery to the locals, always working with agents and intermediaries.

“I don’t really know anything except he has a yacht he spends most of his time on. I’ve never seen him. The only thing I do know is that he designed the house for his lost lover. But you know how people like to romanticize things. I’m of the mindset, if he wants to be left alone, then leave him the fuck alone.”

I rose from my seat and strolled to the edge of the gazebo giving the best view of the house in the distance. It almost looked like the sketch I’d made years ago on a napkin during a dinner with Jax. We’d talked about our ideal places to live and I’d come up with a house made of glass overlooking the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Back then, I’d always believed I’d return to Hawaii and Jax would be there with me.

“Maybe he’s a heartbroken billionaire in need of company. The least you can do is stop by to say hello. Maybe bring him a cup of sugar. Especially since Jax isn’t on your radar anymore.” Kiana's voice was annoyingly sweet.

“Yes,” Lina agreed. “It’s the least you can do. Maybe he can help you get over Jax.”

If only it were possible to get over Jackson Burton. Every time he was in the vicinity, my fingers itched to touch him, to stroke over his body, to relive the passion we’d once shared. Hell, he could be halfway across the world and I’d still want him.

I pressed the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. I would not break down. This was for Lina, not about me and my fucked-up relationship with my ex.

“Girls,” Cora warned. “This is supposed to be a fun day. I don’t want her upset.”

“Well then, maybe she can have a quick fling with Jax until we all leave,” Kiana suggested. “I’m sure he’ll tie you up and spank you for old times’ sake.”

I gave an exaggerated sigh, not turning to look at my annoying sister. “I have no idea what possessed me to share my sexual preferences with you two. It must have been temporary insanity.”

“Well you actually live the lifestyle people write books about. I’m fascinated. I’m not into it, but it doesn’t make it any less interesting. Plus, who knows, I may get offered a part where knowledge on the subject might come in handy.” Lina grinned.

I highly doubted Lina would ever accept a role with kink as a plot point. Her acting specialties lay within the vein of action or drama.

“It’s not my lifestyle anymore.” The thought of letting anyone other than Jax touch me with that level of trust or intimacy wasn’t something I was ready to explore yet.

“It could be. Jax is here, and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to oblige your carnal needs.”

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