Page 38 of Forgotten Promise

Preston’s lips twitched. “You’re not married yet?”

“No.”

“Okay, then let me explain something. I realize that it’s dangerous, and yes, I could go on my own, but if my husband and wife found out that I went into a dangerous situation without telling them, or without taking them with me…that would definitely be more dangerous for me.” He was smiling but sobered. “Worse, it would hurt them.”

Kailani thought about how John and Benjamin had insisted on coming with her, on staying with her, despite both knowing the danger.

“They’d understand,” Kailani said stubbornly. She wasn’t even sure why she was arguing this point. “You’d be following orders, doing your duty to the Trinity Masters.”

“True.” Preston studied her for a moment. “But my trinity comes first. Always.”

* * *

Before Carly could say more, Preston and Kailani joined them in the kitchen. Preston crossed the room, pressing a kiss to the top of Carly’s head before moving over to give the same to Lance.

It was hot.

He glanced over at Benjamin to try to catch his reaction to the two men. Benjamin had observed them as well, and then…turned to look at him, naked desire laid bare for John to see. Nice to know his attraction was returned.

“Impromptu vacation,” Preston said to his spouses. “Pack a bag.”

John thought it spoke to the level of trust between the trinity when Carly asked, “Snow or sand?”

“Sand,” Preston replied.

John leaned back as a wave of…not quite jealousy…but longing passed through him. He wanted the kind of relationship Preston, Carly, and Lance had.

And he wanted it with Kailani and Benjamin.

* * *

Kailani slid into the backseat so Benjamin’s long legs could take the front passenger spot.

John turned on the car. “Where to? Where’s the last keyholder?”

“For this, I’ll need to fly.”

“I’ll come with you,” John said.

“We’ll,” Benjamin corrected. “We’ll need to fly.” Benjamin’s jaw clenched. “Even if you want to go commercial, I’m coming with you.”

“Why?” John asked. Kailani could only see part of John’s face reflected in the rearview mirror, but what she could see bore an odd expression.

Benjamin turned to face him, anger and tension radiating off him. “Why am I coming? Because even if I piss her off, Kailani is one of my oldest friends and I care about her.”

Kailani knew her mouth was hanging open in shock. Benjamin’s words hit her in the chest, an almost physical blow.

The urge to push back, to say she’d take care of it, that she’d book them seats on a flight out of LAX, was riding her. A decade of seeing Benjamin as the enemy was a hard habit to break. Had he seen her as the enemy the way she’d always assumed, or as a friend, even after everything they’d been through?

Kailani touched Benjamin’s shoulder. “Can your plane fly us to New York?”

He twisted, looking back at her, and she ignored the faint surprise in his expression.

She wasn’t changing her stance on Benjamin, she assured herself. What he’d said didn’t change anything. She was just being smart and using available resources to get to the third keyholder as fast as possible.

Benjamin cleared his throat. “I’d be happy to.”

“Good thing we put the suitcases in the trunk,” John said cheerfully as he put the car in gear and started down the drive. “It’s not far from here to Van Nuys.”

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