Page 49 of Forgotten Promise

“When?” Kailani demanded. “When will that be?” She was calmer than she had been but still focused on getting to New York.

Benjamin dropped his arm from John’s shoulders. “As we both know, everything, including bad weather, is the Dara family’s fault. I’ll make some calls and see if I can redirect the massive storm hammering the East Coast.”

Kailani’s skin pulled tight over her cheekbones. “You’re such an ass.”

She turned and stalked away, heading for the stairs to the upper floor of the two-story suite, where the primary bedroom was.

“Why do you do that?” John asked.

“Do what?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“I assure you, when it comes to Kailani, I’m not playing dumb.” He just always managed to say and do the wrong things when it came to her.

“Your sense of humor is maybe a little too dry,” John replied gently. “It doesn’t sound like a joke.”

Benjamin shook his head, turning away.

“We should eat something,” John said.

“I’m a member,” Benjamin said.

“Member?”

“Of the hotel.”

“You have to be a member to stay here?”

“No, you can get a room if you’re not. There are just certain amenities that are only open to members, including a private restaurant where we could have lunch.”

“As interested as I am in seeing what a private restaurant at a hotel is like,” John pointed at the dining area with seating for eight, “I think we should eat in, and then maybe get some sleep?”

John turned at the same time Benjamin stepped forward, and they bumped into one another. He grabbed John to steady him. John was shorter than he was but bulkier. Benjamin had always wanted a heavily muscled physique, but unless he sacrificed all cardio in favor of weights, the best he could do were the lean muscles a previous romantic partner had referred to as a swimmer’s build.

John felt like he had muscle, the kind of heavy muscle that would make him powerful. Would allow him to manhandle his partners.

John’s gaze met his, and Benjamin felt the impact of that connection low in his gut.

They stared at one another, and Benjamin couldn’t stop himself from feeling possessive of this man. This man who, by rights, was his. His fiancé. His future husband.

Unless Kailani was made acting Grand Master and she dissolved their trinity.

Benjamin turned away from John, his stomach tight. If that came to pass, it would be a good thing. He didn’t want to spend his life as the third wheel in his own marriage. But if it was dissolved, he’d never see these two people again. And that felt…

“I’ll order some food,” he said, shutting down that line of thought. “We’ll eat, then you two get some rest while I check in with the pilot and my travel coordinator for alternatives.” Benjamin picked up the sleek land-line phone and looked back at John. “Perhaps you could let Kailani know food is coming?”

John studied him for a moment, then nodded and headed for the stairs.

Benjamin blew out a breath and dialed the concierge.

* * *

Lunch was a hearty affair, given that they hadn’t eaten breakfast except for a few bites of cinnamon rolls in L.A., and Kailani hadn’t had even that much. The meal was full of locally sourced ingredients, served with suggested beer pairings, and Benjamin enjoyed it more than he’d expected. By the time they’d all filled at least one plate from the family-style dishes in the middle of the table, the tension had also almost dissipated.

“Not as good as Kona Brewing, but good,” Kailani said as she raised a brown glass bottle to her mouth.

The beer and the relaxed atmosphere, combined with that early bump into John, had Benjamin’s thoughts turning to sex.

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