When he finished, Gio stood and gave Kane a brotherly hug. His new wife, Julia, hugged him tearfully. As soon as the microphone was handed off to a man Nick knew, Kane made his way to the side of the tent and slipped outside.
The sun was setting on the horizon and the area that had been full of chairs was already cleared. When Kane saw what looked like a small carnival being set up, he shook his head in amusement. The Andrades were an eccentric family. They had more dignitaries, royals, and CEOs of companies attending than many political summits, but they filled the lawn with entertainment for their children. He could see what his sister loved about them and had no trouble imagining her chasing her own children around these island mega mansions.
Still. Bounce houses, cupcakes, balloons? He shuddered at the scene he knew would unfold there as soon as the mass of children, who were sitting beside their parents beneath the tent, were released into the wild. Kane walked closer to the bluffs, looked out over the ocean and savored what was likely the last quiet to be found. It was then he caught a slight movement on the steps leading down to the water and instantly straightened.
It had to be. He called out softly, “Luisella.”
The woman didn’t turn at first. She stayed where she was, midway down, staring out over the crashing waves. Her hair that had been tied back in a sophisticated knot flew wildly in the air behind her. As if she suddenly became aware of someone watching her, she turned and looked up at him.
Oh, yes.
The night air sizzled with what could only be described as their animalistic attraction to each other. He wanted her, and he would have her.
Hopefully that night, repeatedly, and then again in the morning. He started down the steps, forcing himself to take them one at a time. He didn’t want to rush through one moment of what he knew would be an unforgettable night.
As he neared her, he noticed the emotional shine to her eyes and his gut twisted as his protective nature kicked in. He stood beside her on the landing. “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”
She looked at him angrily. “Please go away.”
Kane’s head snapped back. Women didn’t speak to him that way. Well, only his sister and only when she was upset. “Did something happen? Are you all right?”
“Shouldn’t you be with your wife?”
Was that it? Did she think he was married and prowling? “I’m not married.”
She turned her attention back to the waves before them and shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter either way.”
Regardless of how many times he’d imagined a better ending to the night, he would have walked away as she asked, had he not noticed she was gripping the wooden railing so hard her knuckles were white. He put his hands on the railing beside hers and ignored how his blood rushed dizzily through him when their arms brushed slightly. “Are you here with someone?”
She kept her face averted. “Didn’t you already say you didn’t care if I was?”
Unable to stop himself, he put a hand beneath her chin and turned her face toward his. Even in the waning light he could tell she had been crying. “You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
One of her hands fisted on the railing, but she didn’t pull her face away from him. Instead she said, “It doesn’t matter what should or shouldn’t be. Things are the way they are. Wishing for different only makes it hurt more.”
Her accent was delightfully English. He rubbed a thumb across her jaw lightly, fighting how much he wanted to sample her pursed lips. “What happened, Luisella? Tell me.” Fresh tears filled her eyes and Kane wanted to gather her to his chest and promise to fix it—whatever it was. Oh, yes, she was trouble, but nothing could have torn him from her side.
She looked into his eyes for a long time, and the fire he’d seen in them earlier returned. “Do you want to go somewhere? Leave here together?”
It was the last thing he expected her to say, and for a moment it left him speechless. Although her question had sent his blood rushing downward, he knew he wouldn’t act on how she made him feel, not that night. She looked younger than she had earlier and lost in a way that made him want to save her more than he wanted to fuck her.
A battle raged within him when she slid her hands up his chest, wrapped them around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He knew he shouldn’t, but he claimed her mouth gently, assured himself he could control the desire that seared through him at her touch. Her scent. The sweetness of her mouth as it opened to his. He deepened the kiss, almost against his will, and momentarily lost himself to the wildness of their attraction.
Her kiss tasted of angry abandon, and it brought him slowly back to his senses. She was hurting over something, and that wasn’t how he wanted her to come to him. He pulled his mouth from hers. Their ragged breathing was as loud as the breaking surf below them. Very softly he said, “Slow down.”
She went onto her tiptoes and kissed the side of his jaw. “I don’t want to. I want to forget everything. Help me forget.”
The innocence in her plea made Kane groan. “How old are you, Luisella?”
“Twenty-three,” she said, arching against him desperately, trying to pull his head back down for another kiss.
“How old?” He hated that he didn’t believe her.
“Twenty-two,” she admitted. “But I’ll be twenty-three soon.”
Shit. He removed her arms from around his neck, holding her there before him like an errant child. “What happened at the wedding? Did you break up with your boyfriend?”
Once again sounding young and belligerent, Luisella answered defensively, “No, I didn’t break up with anyone. What’s wrong with you? I thought this was what you wanted.”
I did. I do, he thought, but not like this. He stepped back from her. “You’ll thank me one day. You’re a beautiful young woman. Whatever is upsetting you tonight, sleeping with a complete stranger won’t make it better.”
Her face flushed beet red. “Are you lecturing me? Seriously? Fuck you.” She turned to walk away.
On impulse he grabbed her arm and turned her around to him. His cock hardened at the exchange, and he told himself to let her leave, but he couldn’t. Not yet. She pulled at her arm, but he didn’t release it. Her glare only turned him on more. Still, he needed her to understand that she deserved better. “Many men would have taken you up on your offer, but they wouldn’t have respected you the next day.”
“But not you? Because what? You’re a fucking saint?”
He laughed sardonically. “Hardly, and if you’re going to keep swearing at me, at least vary your vulgarity.”
“Fu—” Gigi started to say, then stopped. “I don’t care what you think of me.” She waved a finger angrily in his face. “You know why? Because when you’re in hell it doesn’t matter if someone turns up the heat. So laugh at me all you want, but you can’t ruin what was already one of the worst days of my life.”
She pushed past him, and Kane let her go. He had no right to stop her. She was upset, but she was better off without him. Being around her aroused him more than he expected, and he was close to making a huge mistake, if his throbbing cock was anything to go by. Fuck, I shouldn’t want her this badly. He leaned over the banister and groaned. She’s probably here with her family.
Shit, twenty-two. That’s younger than my sister.
I almost slept with someone who might still have a curfew.
Chapter Three
‡
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
As if coming to the wedding hadn’t been a bad enough idea, she’d rounded off the day by completely humiliating herself. Gigi berated herself all the way up the steps, across the lawn, between the mansions, and down the long driveway. She was headed back to the tiny hotel room she’d been told she was lucky had still been available. She’d collect her things and leave on the next plane or boat out. She didn’t care where to, as long as it was far from there.
The streets were dark and unlit. Although she’d walked to the wedding, navigating the str
eets was proving more difficult than she’d imagined. Still, that didn’t stop her. She considered what she was walking away from to be far worse than whatever she might run into.
She stopped and covered her face with her hands. She’d heard Kane’s laughter again and it tore through her. I’m not a joke.
I threw myself at a man, and he laughed.
Oh, my God. This is a new low, even for me.
I thought coming here would somehow make things better, but it’s worse. So much worse. She started walking again and stubbed her toe on a rock, almost falling onto the road, but righting herself at the last minute. It was then she realized she had no idea which road led back to her hotel. What else could go wrong?
A car pulled up beside her, and a male voice called out, “Do you need a ride?”
Gigi stepped back and put her arms protectively around herself. “No, just point me in the direction of the New Harbor Hotel.”
The car pulled off to the side, and the driver hopped out. A tall light-haired man dressed in jeans and a T-shirt hustled to the passenger door. He held the door to the car open. “I would not be the best cabbie on Slater Island if I left you walking in the dark. Hop in, I’ll drive you there.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine.”
The man, who looked to be about her age, held out his hand in greeting and the smile he flashed was harmlessly charming. “I’m Waffle.”
“Waffle? Like the food?” She shook his hand and relaxed. It was difficult to be afraid of anyone with a nickname like that.
“Exactly,” he said in a pleased drawl. “Who doesn’t love them? I personally have never had one that wasn’t delicious. How about you?”
Gigi shook her head, feeling the conversation was a bit unreal. “I never thought too much about it.”
Waffle nodded slowly. “Many people don’t. It’s an underappreciated food item.” He waved at the open door of the cab behind him. “So, do you want a ride?”
“Yes, I guess,” Gigi conceded and slid into the back seat. Once they were driving again, she asked, “Did I miss the last boat off the island?”
“You sure did.”
“How about the planes? Will they take me back to the mainland?”
“You won’t find anyone free right now. Everyone’s booked shuttling wedding guests back and forth.”
“So I’m trapped here until tomorrow. Great.”
Waffle looked in his rearview mirror at her then pulled into a driveway. Gigi tensed. Oh, hell no.
“What are you doing?” she asked in what she hoped was a voice that sounded more angry than scared.
“Give me two seconds. I’ll be right back.”
With duct tape? A shovel to bury me? Gigi watched the young man disappear into a house, and she jumped out of the car. She strode out of the driveway and was about to sprint down the road when she heard him calling for her.
“Hey, lady. Where are you going? I have something for you.”
Gigi stopped and braced herself. She should have walked faster. She might have to stand and fight. “Really?” she asked sarcastically as she turned.
Waffle trotted up to her with a slice of pie on a plate and a fork. “My mom makes the best blueberry pie, and she swears it makes everything better.” He held it out to her.
Gigi didn’t raise a hand to take it.
A woman’s voice called out from the house. “Waffle, are you still out there? Does she want a drink to go with it? I have milk and water.”
Waffle glanced back. “Hang on, Mom. I think I freaked her out by stopping here.”
A woman in a bathrobe appeared in the driveway. She had a bottle of water in her hand. She waved Gigi and her son back to the driveway. She looked Gigi over with a critical eye. “You here for the Andrade wedding?”
Gigi nodded.
“You don’t look too happy. Did you get fired or something?”
Gigi shrugged. “Or something.”
“You in some kind of trouble?”
“No,” Gigi said softly. She didn’t know these people, but she got the sense they would have helped her had she said she was. “I just wish I hadn’t come.”
The woman took the pie from her son and handed it Gigi. “There’s a reason why everything happens the way it does, even if we can’t see it at the time. Have some pie.”
Gigi accepted the offering with a sad chuckle. Could the night get any stranger? More out of politeness than anything else, she took a bite. It was delicious. Not quite good enough to erase years of yearning for a family who had ignored her or to make her feel less foolish about how she’d thrown herself at Kane, but it took the edge off both. She devoured the slice, took a few sips of the water the mother had brought for her, and got back into the cab with a slight smile on her face.
“Thank you,” she called out as they pulled away.
Waffle’s mother waved from the driveway. When they were back on the road, Waffle said, “I was right, wasn’t I? Don’t you feel better?”
Gigi stared out the cab window into the darkness. “A little.”
They pulled up in front of her hotel, and Waffle held the door open for her. Gigi dug through her pockets for money, but Waffle refused when she finally produced it. “Piece of advice?”
Gigi shrugged in resignation. “Sure.”
“Whenever I feel really bad about something, I ask myself what I did to feel that way, and then I just don’t do it again.”
Gigi rolled her eyes. “Wisdom by Waffle.”
He smiled, not bothered by her lack of faith. “Hey, I’m not the one who needed pie tonight.”
There was no arguing that point, so Gigi didn’t. She thanked him again and went into the small island hotel, grateful the day was finally over.
* * *
Kane returned to the dinner tent a short time later and wasn’t happy when he didn’t see Luisella there. He cursed himself for not insisting he walk her back to . . . her family? . . . her disgruntled lover? Neither had held much appeal for him, but he should have put that aside to make sure she was safe.
His sister and her new husband were in the process of going from table to table to greet guests. Rena dragged Nick over as soon as she spotted Kane. “Where did you disappear to? Mom and Dad were looking for you.”
Kane shot her a reassuring smile. “I was warm. I stepped outside to get some air.”
Rena studied Kane’s face, leaned in, and ordered softly. “Tell me you’re happy for me.”
Kane glanced over her shoulder at Nick then down again at his sister’s concerned expression. “Of course I am.”
Nick put an arm around Rena’s waist and tucked her to his side. “We’re family now.”
Kane raised his eyes from Rena’s and met his brother-in-law’s eyes. “We always have been. I admit I didn’t think you were good enough for her, Nick, but I would have felt the same about any man, I suppose. You make her happier than I’ve ever seen her, and that’s all that matters to me. Take care of my little sister, Nick.”
Nick chuckled and chided. “Or you’ll wring my neck?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Good talk,” Nick joked.
Rena rolled her eyes. “Kane, I’m perfectly capable of taking him out myself if I need to.”
This time Kane laughed. “She is. You do not want to be on her bad side.”
Nick nuzzled Rena’s neck. “My little princess?”
Rena laughed and push his head away. “On their wedding day, my mother told my father he could leave her any time he wanted, as long as it was in a casket.”
Nick threw back his head and laughed heartily. “It’s true what they say. It’s always the quiet ones. Your family looks nicer than mine, but I’ll have to remember to watch my back.”
“Be good to her, and you won’t end up in the garden with her earlier boyfriends,” Kane said with a straight face.
Rena burst out laughing when both of Nick’s eyebrows rose dramatically. “He’s kidding, Nick.”
Kane held Nick?
??s eyes, sending what he hoped was a clear message. There were no bodies in his family’s garden—yet.
Nick nodded once subtly. Good, he understood. To lighten the mood, Kane brought two fingers to his eyes then motioned with them toward Nick and mouthed, “I’m watching you.”
Rena laughed again, and Nick joined her.
Kane took a moment to scan the room again before asking, “Do either of you know a Luisella Romero?”
“I don’t,” Rena replied. “Why?”
Nick’s smile widened. “I don’t either, but it’s interesting you’re asking about her.”
Kane made a growl deep in his throat before answering. “She looked upset earlier, and I want to make sure she’s okay.”
Instantly concerned, Rena looked around. “Oh, that’s a shame. What does she look like? How old is she?”
“She’s petite, long brown hair, beautiful dark eyes and she’s—” Kane cleared his throat, “in her early twenties.”
“Good for you.” Nick whistled, then made a comical face and raised his hands in mock surrender when Kane frowned at him. “I don’t judge.”
“There is nothing to judge. As I said, she looked upset.”
Nick looked down at Rena with a boyish smile. “He must have seen all that in her beautiful dark eyes.”
Rena swatted at Nick. “Stop.” She studied Kane’s face again. “Luisella, huh? I’ll ask around about her, but really? Early twenties?”
Kane made another sound of disgust. “I’m not interested in her.”
Nick chuckled. Rena noticed Kane’s temper rising and linked her arm with her husband’s. “We didn’t say hi to the Waltons yet. Let’s head over there. I’ll talk to you later, Kane.”
“I hope you find her. I mean . . . I hope she’s okay.” Nick winked at Kane then turned to saunter off with Rena.
Kane circulated through the dining tent. He tried to forget about Luisella, but he couldn’t. He found himself asking about her again and again, but no one knew her. No one had even heard of her.
Someone must have. She had to have come with someone, but with a wedding of that size, it wasn’t as if Kane could ask every guest.