“It doesn’t quite work that way,” Kai helps me.
“You’re telling me if my dad kissed you, you wouldn’t be happy forever?” Aya continues.
“I mean—” Kai is stumped on this one, and my dad look toward Aya isn’t working like it should.
“Go to bed,” I tell her.
“Story first,” she argues. “Then you two can kiss.”
Kai covers her face, which is turning red beneath her hand. “Aya Rossdale. Get your butt to bed.”
She rolls her eyes at me, like she’s gotten great at doing, and stomps up the stairs. “I’m so sorry,” I tell Kai.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that with your ex, or at least that’s who I’m assuming she was. I wouldn’t think you’d be paying off someone else stay away. I hope.”
“Oh my God, yes, that was Isla,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. I wish you didn’t have to see that. I wish I didn’t have to see that.”
“I wish I weren’t even more attracted to you at this particular moment,” Kai says under her breath. “The way you handled that was incredible. Your ability to stay calm in heated situations is sexy, Denver.” His composed demeanor is like a fetish to me.
“Kai,” I mutter. “Knock it off.”
She fans herself. “I can’t help it.”
“Damn you. I need a minute to cool down before I get worked up again, and for a completely different reason.”
“I’ll go read Aya that bedtime story, and you go take a cold shower. How about that?”
“Who are you?” I ask her. The woman with daggers in her eyes who would let no one think they had an effect on her has completely transformed into this ravenous woman on the prowl for more of what she’s only had a taste of.
“A woman with a desperate thirst,” she says as she walks past me, scratching her fingernails against my stomach on the way. Why do women keep trying to torture me? What am I doing so wrong? God.
Chapter Twenty-Four
KAI
I’ve obviously known about the wedding for the last six months now, but um, the venue was a “secret” until last week. At least, Lea thought it was a secret, but if the location is a secret, it wasn’t hard to guess what she was hiding. My sister—my flesh and blood—is getting married at Man Buns. How, just how in the universe is this real? And why would Noa request his waiters be groomsmen in their “Man Bun” uniforms? What man wants this for his wedding day?
The pictures are going to look ridiculous. “Is this not the best wedding you’ve ever seen?” Lea asks me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen her have.
Be nice, Kai. Be nice. “How could it not be? My baby sister is getting married here.”
“You’re walking back down the aisle with Denver after the ceremony. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge. Maybe that’ll spark an idea for you two,” she sings.
If it sparks any idea for us, it will not take place here, and he will be wearing more than underwear, I hope.
I wasn’t aware Noa even had this many waiters working here. Nothing like being saluted by a bunch of dicks as you walk down the aisle.
“You look beautiful, Lea.” This isn’t perfect, and it’s making me crazy.
It’s not my day.I have to keep my mouth shut.
“Look,” Lea says, turning around to face me. As perfect as any woman could look on her wedding day, she fits the mark and beyond. Lea places her hands on my shoulders and releases a satisfied sigh. “Would I have preferred the bed-and-breakfast on the cliff? Yes, but then I realized how many memories were associated with it, and I didn’t want sadness associated with today. I want to be happy. I want to smile and laugh. I want silly memories attached to each and every moment of today. I want to think back and laugh, not cry, at the thought of missing sentimental traditions.”
All I can do is smile because she’s right. She’s completely right. Though I may have chosen to dress half of the wedding party more appropriately, I will always remember this day and laugh. “I can support that,” I tell her.
“Good, now walk me down the aisle,” she tells me. With one last Lea smile, she pulls her veil over her face and reaches her hand out for mine. “Let’s get me married.”
The moment Lea takes my hand, a rush of emotions pours through me, and my throat swells. Tears threaten to erupt, but I stop them because I’ve learned to make them halt on my internal command. I take a deep breath, I squeeze her hand, and selfishly wish I didn’t have to let her go. For almost eleven years now, I’ve been taking care of her, and now it feels like my job is done.
