A Little Harmless Addiction (7 page)

He didn’t answer as he passed a slow compact. “What reason would I have?”

Again, she paused. “Not sure.”

He looked at her then and noticed that the smile she’d had before had dimmed.

“Listen.” He waited until he felt the weight of her gaze on him. “I am doing this for a few reasons. One, you don’t know anyone. Since I grew up here and know just about everyone on the island, I can’t even imagine what you are feeling. Two, I know what it feels like to be the third wheel.”

“Kai Aiona doesn’t have a problem getting dates.”

He shot her a quick look. “What do you mean by that? I don’t even know you.”

She laughed. “Honey, I grew up with three brothers and I work in an industry dominated by men. I know your species. I can tell you don’t have too many problems getting dates. You’re hot, you’re nice and I saw the way women reacted to you the other day on the boat. You have your pick of women.”

He could feel heat in his cheeks, but he tried to ignore it. “Oh, I thought maybe you had heard rumors.”

She laughed. “Cynthia said you do have a steady stream of women.”

Anger surged, but he tamped down on it. The truth was, he had been that way for a long time. But something had changed in the last six months. Part of it was May’s marriage, he knew that. But the other part of it had been Keisha.

“Truth is, I haven’t had a date in over a month.”

Silence greeted that comment.

“I’m telling the truth.”

“Why?” she asked quietly.

He shook his head. Today wasn’t supposed to be a day they told their sad pasts. It was supposed to be fun and relaxing. “It’s a long, sad story.”

“And you’re not going to tell me.”

“Why don’t we save both our long, sad stories for later and just enjoy the scenery.”

She chuckled and he could feel her relax. “That sounds like a plan I can get behind.”

By the time Kai pulled into a shopping center for lunch, Jocelyn was in love with Hawaii. Many people said they loved it, she knew that. More than one of her family had been here to visit Chris, but this was something different. It wasn’t the kind of admiration she’d had the first few days after she arrived. It was like she had seen a different island. Gone were the posh hotels and all the touristy stores. It was different being with a local who knew how to show you everything.

“I have to say, I don’t know if I am ever going to be able to leave.”

Kai put the car in park then looked at her. “Why would you?”

She laughed. “That’s true. I didn’t know if I would stay here that long. Chris offered, and while he is a little overbearing, it is better than having the whole family breathing down your neck.”

“I can understand that in a way. Hard though, since I still live with my family.” He glanced at the shopping center. “Ready for some Hawaiian barbeque?”

She nodded. He slipped out of the car and walked around the hood before she had her scarf off her head. He opened the door for her. She stepped out and away from the vehicle and she felt her arm brush against his. She shivered and tried to ignore the heat that flared deep in her tummy. He shut the door and it took him a second before he motioned for her to walk in front of him.

As she walked the through the door, the first thing that hit her was the scent of smoke. The next was the exotic Polynesian flavors that she was growing to love.

“What do you recommend?”

He guided her through the crowd by placing his hand on the small of her back. It was a simple gesture, but still her hormones started to do the hula.

“Well, the pork is good, very good. You can get it with or without cabbage and some rice. And there’s always musubi.”

She looked at the pictures above the counter. “What’s in that?”

“Your choice of meat with rice, wrapped in dry seaweed.”

She wrinkled her nose. “No, thanks. I am not a seaweed girl.”

“Ah, but they have it in spam.”

She made a disgusted sound. “I don’t understand the Hawaiian fascination with spam.”

He laughed. “You might also like the chicken tatsu.”

Jocelyn nodded and stepped up to the counter, but Kai stopped her by placing his hand on hers. “No, I got this.”

She opened her mouth to argue but saw his frown. “Okay. But next time, I buy.”

He smiled. “Why don’t you find us a seat?”

She glanced around and realized that it was getting more and more crowded. She found a booth in the back and headed over. She was just slipping into her seat when she saw Kai coming toward her. Again, female heads turned and admired. He was gorgeous, that was for sure. But he had something else that her brothers all possessed. A presence. Looking at him you knew he could take care of himself in a bar fight, but also take care not to hurt you. He was definitely the type of guy who used to make her go gooey.

Hell, used to? Right now, just watching the way his lips curled into a smile had her body heating, her heart beating so hard against her chest she was afraid she would pass out.

He set the tray on the table and slid in opposite of her. “What?”

She shook her head and tried to get her mind back to the now, but it was hard. It took every bit of her control to do it, but finally, she did it.

“Nothing. I think I am still trying to get over the jet lag.”

He nodded. “It takes some people months to adjust to the time difference.”

“So, are you going to tell me how Hawaiians got hooked on spam?”

“During World War II. They had a warehouse here and with supply lines sometimes in danger, it became a staple.”

“I don’t think I’ll become a spam girl no matter how long I live here. I was amazed at the different varieties they had in the grocery store.” She took a bite of her pork and hummed. “That is wonderful. Chris always says no one knows pork like Hawaiians.”

When she looked up, she found him watching her in that way that made her stomach muscles tighten. His attention was on her mouth and she wanted to say something, but the look in his eyes stopped her.

After a few long moments, he seemed to shake himself out of his stupor. “We’ll have to get you to a real luau.”

“I can’t wait,” she said digging into her food again reminding herself to tread lightly with him.

Kai pulled into her driveway a few hours later and tried his best not to smile. Granted, he wasn’t truly counting this as a real date, but if he had been, it would have been one of the best he had on record. He glanced at Jocelyn. Her head was back against the headrest, a smile curving her lips, her eyes closed.

“You’re home.”

She opened her eyes slowly and he felt the punch all the way to his gut. If she had been a pain in the ass or self-centered, he could have handled it. Knowing Chris the way he did, Kai had known she would be decent. In the small time they had spent together, he had found her to be absolutely beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside.

“Would you like to come in for a drink? I don’t have much, but I do have some cookies.”

He knew it was an invitation to thank him with only cookies. No matter how much his body was begging for it to be more. Still, he wasn’t ready to let the day end.

“Sure.”

He slipped out of his seat and walked around the front of May’s car and opened the door. Slowly, in that unconscious sensuality that filled her every move, she rose. He knew it was just something that was innate in her, something that she couldn’t help. It drew him to her. He always liked a woman who had no problem with her sensuality.

He followed her up the steps, cursing himself. He should have gone home and taken a cold shower. But instead, he was following her up the steps, her full ass swaying at eye-level. God, he could just imagine bending her over in bed, slipping into her from behind.

She stopped and he almost ran into her. That wouldn’t have been a good thing, because he really didn’t want her to know he was half-aroused. Again, the heat of her hit him, then the decadently enticing scent that he now associated with her. Before meeting Jocelyn, he would have never thought sugar and vanilla would be a turn on.

She unlocked the door and held it open for him as she stepped inside.

“Make yourself at home. I need to freshen up.”

“Sure.”

He toed off his shoes in the Hawaiian custom and started to look around the living room. Cynthia hadn’t done much to change the small house since she’d moved in with Chris, but he could already see some of Jocelyn’s things here. On the shelves there were pictures of her with her family, her brothers and what looked to be a younger sister. Then there was a picture of her, white coat, hat, her arms crossed over her chest, and a whisk in her hand. The smile she offered the camera said she was ready to take on the world.

“That was when I graduated with my masters.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Masters?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to be one up on everyone else.”

He laughed and turned to face her fully. “Chris always did say you were a little competitive.”

“That’s what he says because he knows he couldn’t make it through culinary school.”

He frowned. “Really? I thought he had a college degree.”

“He does, in business though. He would have never made it in a school where you are berated and belittled every day. Chris has a slow temper, but when it lights up, someone gets a nose broken.”

He laughed. “But not you.”

She shook her head, a small smile curving her lips. Damn, it struck him right there how much he wanted her.

“Oh, I got pissed, that’s for sure. But for me, I wanted to prove that they didn’t get to me, and I would succeed, despite what they do to you. It was a matter of pride and proving every one of the bastards wrong.”

“Is it like Hell’s Kitchen?”

She rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms beneath her chest. Luscious flesh rose above the neckline of her sundress. “Pfft, that’s a cake walk.”

He laughed at her dismissal.

“Why don’t you have a seat at the bar here and I’ll get us some cookies. What would you like to drink?”

He slipped into a seat and watched her move about the kitchen. He liked it. He wasn’t some Neanderthal who thought women should be tied to the stove. In his family, if anyone thought that would happen, May made sure they understood she wasn’t their maid or cook. He had been handling the kitchen duties even before his mother had been killed.

This was more. This was hers. She was in her element. She wasn’t even doing anything big like decorating a cake, but it was the way she moved around that told him that no matter what, this was where she belonged.

“I’ll just take some milk.”

She smiled as she reached up to get a cup. The shirt she was wearing moved up, revealing her slender back. There was a dip in the small of her back that told him her full ass would be gorgeous in the flesh. He bit back a sigh. The woman was a work of art.

After filling up two cups, she joined him at the bar.

“There is nothing like milk and cookies,” she said. “Mama always had some waiting for us when we got home. I know that most people go on and on about obesity today, but I think that comes more from sitting in front of the computer or TV. One or two treats a day won’t kill you if you stay active.”

He watched her dip the cookie in the milk then lean forward to take a bite. He drew in a deep breath and started to concentrate on his own treat and not the one sitting beside him.

“So have you decided what you wanted to do?”

She swallowed a bit of milk. “I think I’ll work for Cynthia then decide. She’s going to need some extra help because of the baby.”

“Wait, she’s pregnant?”

She smiled. “Yeah. I thought everyone knew about it.”

He shook his head. “Nope.” At least he didn’t think so. Truth was, he had been so busy thinking about Jocelyn every day, he had avoided Dupree’s. May had a full schedule this week, so she hadn’t been by the family home much.

She gave him an evil grin. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Yeah.”

“Chris is having sympathy morning sickness.”

He laughed. “Oh, this is going to be good.”

“You have no idea. I’ve been holding it over his head for days now. He doesn’t want Malachai or Sean to know about it, let alone his friends here. Not sure he will be able to hide it much longer.”

“May must not know.”

She took another bite of cookie. “I doubt that. She is pretty sharp. And knowing her, she would use it the same way I am.”

Kai nodded. “Blackmail. You sisters are all alike.”

She smiled. “You know it.”

An hour later, Jocelyn followed Kai as he walked to the door, oddly deflated that he was leaving. The day had been wonderful, the company better, and everything in her wanted to invite the man back to her bedroom. She knew better, knew it was a bad idea. But even now, her body yearned to touch, to taste to—

“I’m glad you had a good time. Anytime you want another trip around the island, on or off my boat, just let me know.”

“I will. I really had a great time today. Thanks.”

He nodded and turned toward the door, but then paused. He turned around to face her.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t do this.”

He stepped closer, cupped her face and gently brushed his mouth over hers. For a second, she couldn’t think. Not out of fear but out of bone-deep surprise. She had thought he wasn’t that interested in her, but now his mouth was moving over hers and she couldn’t seem to think. So instead, she opened her mouth and returned the kiss. He groaned, the sound of it vibrating against her lips. She slipped her hands up his arms and over his shoulders. He stepped closer now, his entire body against hers. His heat enveloped her, pulled at her. She could feel the ridge of his erection against her belly and she wanted. Oh, God, how she wanted. His tongue stole inside, and she pressed closer. The taste of him entranced her as he slipped his hands down her body to cup her rear. Her nipples were hard, her body hotter than Louisiana asphalt, and she could feel the low hum of lust pulsing through her blood.

Then he was pulling away. She moaned in irritation and he chuckled.

“Jocelyn.”

She slowly opened her eyes.