Page 10 of Beneath the Surface

Angling slightly in her chair, Brooke answered her cell.

“So Kannon, is this your first time to the island?” Nisha asked.

The waiter put down a glass of water in front of Kannon. He picked it up and took a quick sip, his mouth suddenly dry. “I vacationed here a long time ago. I haven’t been back until now, and the only reason I’m here now is Brett’s wedding.”

“Oh? Are you one of those who prefer cold weather vacation destinations? Or do you have something against sun, sand, and sea?”

Kannon took another sip of his water and put the glass down the table. “Actually, neither. This is the first vacation I’ve taken in years. In fact I’m not really sure you could call this a vacation.”

“Everybody deserves a little time off, don’t you think?”

“Maybe. But the reason I took this time was because my father passed away not long ago, and I had a few things to finish up concerning his estate.” Kannon unwrapped his silverware and started playing with the napkin. “Then Brett called, and I headed down here.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your father.”

“Thank you.” Kannon caught himself slowly shredding the napkin so he threw it on top of the table. Stupid nerves.

He jumped when Nisha clasped his hand. That tingle ran up his arm again, and he gasped, his eyes widening. Subconsciously he licked his lips, and it thrilled him when Nisha’s eyes dropped down to his mouth.

Then Nisha’s gorgeous, oddly blue eyes meandered up his face until they were staring at each other. For a moment Kannon thought the other man was going to do something insane—like reach across the table and trail his thumb across his bottom lip. Or maybe pull him across the table and kiss him. What was even more insane was how much he wanted that.

His breathing increased, and arousal curled in his belly. Nisha’s eyes held him captive. They were such a gorgeous, deep dark blue that reminded him of… something. He just wasn’t sure what, but it sat on the tip of his tongue. Those eyes weresoblue. They couldn’t be real. They had to be contacts because human eyes weren’t naturally that color.

Human eyes?

“Brett’s on his way. He should be here shortly.”

Kannon jerked, and pulled his hand away from Nisha’s now that Brooke had broken the spell. Why had he thought Nisha’s eyes weren’t human? Where hadthatcome from?

“Good. That’s good.” Kannon grabbed his glass of water and took a big gulp.

“Yes, good,” Nisha said.

That was sarcasm if he’d ever heard it. The waiter picked that time to return and drop off their menus. Kannon grabbed the closest one and flipped it open, grateful to have something to do with his hands. What was it about this guy? He made him nervous and edgy. There was just something about him that wasn’t quite right.

“So,” Brooke said, breaking the silence. “The wedding is going to be held next Saturday evening, right before the sun sets. We’re going to have it on the beach. Some of the resort’s employees are helping set things up, but we aren’t doing much.”

“What about a tux?” Kannon asked. “Am I supposed to be wearing something like that? If so, we have a problem because I didn’t bring mine. Can I rent one on such short notice?”

“Oh no, we’re not doing tuxes,” said Brooke. “Much too hot for the beach. What Brett and I decided was to have you wear simple white pants with the cuffs rolled up above your ankle with a teal short-sleeved dress shirt. I’m thinking we’ll leave the shirt untucked too. We’re going for a casual look.”

Nisha rolled his eyes.

“Hush, you,” Brooke said.

Nisha tilted his head as he looked at Brooke. “Didn’t say a word.”

“Not with your mouth, no.” Brooke sniffed. “That eye roll of yours says volumes, though. Anyway, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted—”

Nisha turned to Kannon. “By an eye roll, mind you—”

“My maid of honor will be wearing a simple teal dress that comes down to the knee. We’re all going to be barefoot.”

If there was any doubt they were brother and sister, that little exchange just ended it. “I have the pants, but not a shirt that color. I guess I need to go shopping, huh?”

“No worries,” Brooke said. “The place I bought the other clothes and the dress has shirts that color and in all sizes. What do you wear? A large?”

“Yes,” Kannon said.

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