Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Anthony stalked around his tiny house thinking for the first time that maybe it was too small for him. He hadn’t been able to walk off his temper in the two hours since he’d arrived home. Aeden and Lalani were still out gallivanting around the island. He heard a car and went to look. He almost growled when he saw his cousin slipping out of the driver’s side. He and Jon had gone out doing boy things, as Alana called it. From the looks of it, they had a day of it, because Marco had to lift Jon out of the car. The toddler was dead asleep.

He stepped out and jogged down the stairs. Marco was smiling until he saw Anthony’s face.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Other than I haven’t heard from Aeden all day.”

Marco blinked, and Anthony couldn’t blame him. The comment had come out of nowhere. Even he could hear the irritation in his own voice.

“He’s in his thirties, Anthony. I am pretty sure he can handle his day with Lalani just fine.”

He grunted as he looked toward the road thinking he heard a car. He did, but it just passed by the entrance of the driveway.

“Oh, that’s the way of it.”

He settled his narrowed gaze on his cousin. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Marco said, laughter in his voice. The door to the house opened and Alana came out.

“Hey, guys. What’s going on out here?”

“Nothing.”

Jon stirred on Marco’s shoulder. “Mama.”

She took her son easily.

“Apparently, Anthony is worried about Aeden.”

She frowned. “Why would you worry about him? He’s an adult.”

“It’s not what he’s doing, but who he’s with.”

“That is not the fucking reason I am irritated. And I am not irritated. Not really.”

Marco and Alana shared a look. “Are you hungry, Jon?” Alana asked as she started back to the house.

When they were finally alone, Marco shook his head. “Anthony, I would think by the way you are acting, that you’re jealous.”

Because it pricked a little too close to what he was feeling, he growled. When he was still on active duty, the people who trained and worked for him would run and hide when they heard it. Trained Marines had cowered. It just caused his cousin to laugh.

“Look, I love Lalani. She’s been such a good friend to Alana, and on top of that, she’s sweet. So, if you really are interested, I am all for it. If you aren’t, you need to just stay away.”

There was something in his cousin’s tone that drew his attention.

“What happened?”

Marco shrugged. “Not sure, but I do know she had a relationship go really bad at one time. She doesn’t trust easily; so if you want her, go for it, just be up front.”

Before he could pester Marco for more info, Lalani pulled into the drive.

“About fucking time, he said under his breath.”

Marco laughed and Anthony frowned at him. “Sorry. It’s just funny. Remember what I said.”

He didn’t respond, but waved his hand behind him as he made his way to Lalani’s car.

“Hey, Anthony,” Aeden said with a smile.

“Hey,” Anthony said, but he didn’t take his attention away from Lalani.

The woman in question gave him a frown, then slipped out of her little red car. When he saw what she was wearing, most of the blood in his upper body headed south. Damn, the woman was going to leave him blubbering like an idiot. The blue bikini top covered all the particulars, but showed a lot of skin. She was wearing another pair of board shorts. He was sure she must have a pair in every color in the rainbow. She’d pulled her hair up into some kind of formation that looked like a tumble of curls. A few locks had escaped and danced as a gentle breeze blew by.

“Thanks for the fun today, Lalani,” Aeden said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. He whispered something in her ear and she laughed. When he turned around, Aeden was still smiling. He said nothing as he walked past Anthony whistling.

“You spent a long time out today.”

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, which drew his attention. He used all of his willpower to raise his gaze to her face.

“I didn’t know we had a curfew.”

He made his way over to her and stopped within just a few inches of her.

“I just didn’t know where you were.”

Damn, she smelled great. Like coconut and sweet, salty ocean air. And seduction. She definitely smelled of seduction.

“I think Aeden and I took care of ourselves just fine.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

She tilted her head to the side and studied him as if he were some kind of strange creature. One of her freed curls slid over her bare shoulder. The need to touch it, to wrap it around his finger and feel how soft it was almost overwhelmed his better senses. He curled his fingers into his palms.

“You have to help me here. You sound kind of upset that I entertained your guest for a day. I was just trying to be nice.”

He knew she was. It was something he saw in her, that ability to put most other people at ease. He saw it in the way she had insisted Alana let her take over some of the fundraiser duties…and how she had helped with Jon. It made him feel even lower because of that.

Dammit, he was jealous. He didn’t like to admit it, and he wasn’t sure he even liked her that much, but he was fucking jealous. Aeden’s attentions were directed on the cute nurse friend of Kaitlin’s. That much had been evident at the reception—and both of them disappeared about the same time.

“It’s not like you have a right to decide what I should and should not do.”

Dammit, she had to talk. The woman was always yammering, except when she was fuming at him. And just saying that was a challenge to his ego. It was stupid, juvenile even. His mother would be ashamed of the questions that danced on the tip of his tongue. In fact, there was a good chance she would smack him for just thinking that.

Even knowing all of that, knowing he was being an ass, his temper took over.

“Your idea of a good time and my idea of a good time might be a little different.”

For a second she said nothing, but he knew the moment the implied meaning of his comment hit her. Her face paled, her eyes hardened. Without a word, she turned and started to walk back to her car.

“Where are you going?”

She said nothing, but she gave him a finger gesture to let him know what she was thinking. He waited only a second before he started after her.

“Lalani.”

She still said nothing as she grabbed the handle of her car door. He caught up with her just as she pulled it open.

“Lalani, wait.”

He put his hand on hers to stop her and she stilled.

“I’m sorry.”

She looked up at him, and it was a mistake for both of them. Their mouths were within inches of one another’s, and he could scent her. That glorious mixture of Hawaiian flowers, and the unique scent of Lalani.

“You’re sorry?” she asked, her voice shaking as she said it. “Yes, you are definitely sorry.”

He was sure she wanted it to sound like more of a reprimand, but her voice was just a whisper. Against every bit of his logic, he leaned closer. He might have been able to resist if she hadn’t licked her full lower flip. With a groan, he took her mouth, tasting her, slipping his tongue between her lips. She shuddered against him as she moaned. He backed her up against the car and slanted his mouth over hers. He was slipping his hands around her waist and they were slipping down to her ass when a car from the road beeped. They both sprung apart.

It took her awhile to open her eyes. “You…just stay away. This is not good.”

“Well…”

“Okay, it was good, but you know what I mean.”

He could still taste her on his tongue. “I might be rethinking my position. Maybe we should get to know each other better.”

She shook her head and slid into the driver’s seat, slamming her door. “That is not a good idea, Anthony. Just stay away from me.”

Without another word, she started up the car and backed up out of the driveway. Before he could even form a thought, she was on her way back to Honolulu.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, hoping that no one had seen them. More than likely, Marco had gotten an eyeful, and if Alana had, he would have to apologize to her.

Anthony looked around, but it was quiet in the front yard of the house. With a frown, he walked back to his house. Aeden was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a beer.

“Hope you don’t mind. I helped myself.”

Anthony nodded and decided that was a fine idea. He grabbed one for himself, twisted off the top, and took a healthy swallow.

“If you want some advice…”

“I really don’t.”

“Well, my siblings will tell you I ignore them too. You might want to treat that woman right.”

He slanted a look at the big, blond fireman. There was a good chance Anthony could take him in a fight, but he would definitely come away with some bruises.

“Noted. Although, I think you do have enough on your hands with the pretty nurse.”

Aeden grunted. “True. Woman turns my world upside down then runs off.”

“I thought that was planned.”

“She didn’t tell anyone until right before she left.”

“Ah.”

“But back to Lalani.”

“I don’t see that it is any business of yours.”

“It is, and because she doesn’t have a big brother, I’m going to take the honor. I know your brother, and I am getting to know your family. You’re good people. Still, understand that a woman like that just doesn’t sit around. Men are drawn to her, and if you got this crazy over me and her going out, think of how you’ll feel if she really dates.”

He’d kill any bastard who thought they could ask her out.

Apparently, Aeden could read his thoughts. “Exactly. She’s beautiful, and besides that, she’s a good person. So, if I were you, I’d make sure to get my head out of my ass before some other guy snaps her up.”

He stood up and stretched. “Now, the shrimp we got this afternoon did not go far. What do you want to do about dinner?”

“We can go out. My treat.”

“Right on.”

“Let me get my wallet.” He took one last drink, and set his beer bottle down. He’d worry about Lalani after Aeden left. Maybe by then, he’d be over the brief infatuation.

Knowing it wasn’t true, but also knowing there wasn’t anything he could do about it, he headed out to at least pretend he wasn’t intrigued.