Page 110 of Forgotten Promise

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

She met Benjamin’s gaze, and it grounded her. He was there, solid and capable. Yes, high-handed and controlling, but he was there, and with him at her side, she could do this. They would do this. They would seduce their third and fix this trinity, and…

And damn, John looked good in the tux. The slightly wary expression on his face was also attractive, the suspicion in the way he looked at her unexpectedly arousing.

This was supposed to be a restart that would lead to an honest, unhurried conversation. But as Kailani stood there, her blood heated with a visceral desire. No, not desire…need.

“This is John Wilson,” Benjamin said.

“John.” Kailani held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Kailani Iona,” Benjamin said as John took her hand. “Her family and mine have some…history.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” John took her hand in a fast, brief shake.

Shit.

Kailani looked at Benjamin. The last text she’d gotten said John was pissed, but she’d hoped he’d have softened up by this point.

“What do you mean history?” John said, the question almost accusatory.

“You need another drink,” Benjamin declared.

Kailani looked at Benjamin, who tipped his head, eyeing her meaningfully. It appeared that things weren’t going well so they were going to fall back on one of their many backup plans, the first of which was to ply John with expensive booze.

John turned away from them to look out at the sea. Benjamin shot Kailani another telling look, then flagged down a porter. Kailani turned so she too was looking at the ocean.

“It’s a beautiful view,” she said softly.

“It is.”

Conversation moved on to mundane things as Kailani asked John about his flight.

Benjamin passed her two glasses, and Kailani handed John the martini. She took a small sip of her own beverage.

The three of them literally discussed the damn weather as John finished his martini, and Benjamin ordered him another.

The conversation faded, but the silence was more comfortable than it had been.

“Would you like to play?” Benjamin asked, gesturing to the roulette table at the far end of the terrace, which was empty, a velvet rope sectioning it off.

“With pennies, sure,” John said with a slight smile.

Kailani moved down the terrace, and to her relief, John followed, Benjamin bringing up the rear. “Pennies?”

“Earlier, your…friend…Benjamin lost five thousand euro on red three.”

“A straight-up bet is no way to play roulette,” she said, stepping through one of the openings in the glass wall. The croupier spotted Benjamin and opened the velvet rope for them to pass through. This French roulette table was smaller than the ones inside, and lower, so players didn’t have to stand. Kailani sat as Benjamin held her chair. Since he was bent over her, and John was occupied ordering another drink from the server who’d appeared at their table, she twisted to look at him.

“I don’t think our plan is going to work,” she breathed.

“No,” he agreed. “He’s about to be too drunk to have a serious conversation about our relationship.”

“Sex?” she asked quietly.

“If we cut him off when necessary. Don’t want to take advantage of him.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

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