Then Hiro glanced at me. “Did you enjoy your private time with my brother today?”
Heat crawled up my neck. “It was. . .amazing. Very romantic.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I heard you both took the helicopter.”
Of course he did. I was beginning to understand that nothing on this island stayed quiet for long. Everybody gossiped.
“Yeah,” I tried not to think about the way Kenji had me soaking wet on the beach from just his very skilled fingers. “He, um. . .took me to his island a little bit away from here.”
Hiro angled his body slightly toward me. “He tookyouto the private island?”
“Yes.” I frowned. “Is that. . .weird?”
His brows drew together, something like disbelief—and maybe a little awe—crossing his features. “Ihave not even seen it yet. He’s so protective of the place.”
I blinked. “Seriously?”
“He has been obsessed with designing it. Talking about it. Adjusting plans. For the last year, it is all I hear in meetings. But he never invites anyone. Just says, ‘you’ll see it, when it is perfect.’”
A small, stunned breath slipped out of me, while warmth bloomed in my chest. I’d already known I was important to him—he’d basically declared war over me. But somehow, this quiet confirmation, dropped in an elevator between floors, hit differently.
Hiro watched my face for a second, reading me the way his brother did, but without the same sharp hunger.
This was gentler.
Protective.
Evaluating.
“I’m. . .honored.” My voice grew softer. “It’s a breathtakingly beautiful island.”
“Good,” Hiro said simply. “Heshouldbe taking you to beautiful places. You deserve that and more with the warmth you’ve brought to us.”
What?
The twins nodded in agreement.
My throat tightened.
“Uh. . .anyway.” I looked at his reflection. “You appear well-rested. I’m glad you got some sleep.”
Hiro’s eyes warmed. “Because of you, I slept.”
The twins stayed very still.
He moved his gaze to the front of him. “Your presence while we cooked. The breakfast. The hug. It made it harder to stay in. . .dark places.”
I swallowed.
He let out a long breath. “Because of that. . .I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you my appreciation.”
“Then I guess I’m obligated to keep making you breakfast while we’re here.”
“You are,” His voice went lighter. “That’s our deal.”
A chuckle slipped out of me, shaky but real. “Fine. I’ll keep feeding you until you’re emotionally stable. Might take a few years.”
“It may.”
