‘What’s funny?’ Kai asks, a frown marring his just seconds ago smiling face.
‘She’s telling Matt Jen’s got the hots for him, that she’s a sure thing, but I think it got lost in translation.’ Forgetting his behaviour for the moment, I take his hand and move towards the cabana housing the drinks.
‘So Matt’s the martini man. I’d assumed you’d been drinking with Niamh when I’d called. I dropped you at the mall to see her, wasn’t that right?’
I nod in agreement. ‘You know what they say about assume,’ I reply lightly, handing him a bottle of Bud. ‘I had a drink with Matt in the afternoon, in between seeing Niamh and your call. I’ve told you, he’s a mate.’
Sort of. Please let’s not go there again.
He studies the bottle, the condensation building on the outside and I begin to think he’s not a beer kind of guy after all. ‘He’s been upgraded from neighbour I see.’
‘Neighbour, mate.’ I shrug. ‘Pretty much the same.’
‘He’s very male, for a friend, don’t you think?’
‘You still think men and women can’t be friends?’ My tone is more than a little exasperated. This preoccupation with Matt is becoming a bit much.
‘A stretch in my experience,’ he says, frowning at his beer. Peeling the corner of the label from the bottle, he adds evenly as he raises his head, ‘You’re sure there’s nothing going on I should know about?’
And now it’s my time to frown. I was sure once the pair had met, Kai would see Matt’s no threat. That I’m not interested.
He places the untasted drink on the table, and his tone may still be bland but his expression is not. It catches me off guard, but not as much as his next words.
‘You’re quite sure you haven’t fucked?’
‘What exactly are you trying to say? That I sleep around?’
‘That you were pretty buzzed when I called.’
‘And alone. Do you think I’ve got no self-control?’
‘I’m saying you had been drinking.’ His voice is as dark as his gaze, his hands fastening around my forearms, my stupid bangles rattling.
‘As it happens, I’m quite able to restrain myself, thanks.’ My words are caustic as a sudden thought dawns. ‘I get it. I see what this is. Because I fucked you, right? You think I went back to your hotel room—our first night—because I was drunk?’
‘I don’t take advantage of drunken girls.’ He says nothing else, releasing me as though I burn to touch.
‘No? Well, for your information, drink had nothing to do with it—any of it.’ I reach out, grasping a handful of his shirt, not caring how this looks to those looking on. ‘I went with you because I couldn’t get you out of my head. I went because no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise, I wantedyou.’ As I release the fabric, his hand covers mine, his eyes reflecting my own anger and showing no hint of anything else. ‘And as for Matt, I was never interested in being that kind of friend to you. I certainly won’t be it for him.’
‘Those martinis were meant as a precursor for screaming orgasms, but you know that, don’t you.’ Unrepentant, he grabs his beer from the table, bringing it to his mouth.
‘Then he had them alone.’ I fold my arms across my chest and the stupid bangles rattle again, so I yank them off and drop them to the table. ‘Unlike you and Sophia or the waitress; Saskia, wasn’t it? I’m beginning to ask myself how many more, Kai?’
His gaze turns cold, like shards of black ice. ‘Despite your insinuations, I have no interest in anyone else. And while we’re being candid, let me make something else perfectly clear. Fair warning, Kate. I rarely play well with others and I never share what’s mine.’
His voice is clipped, infinitely polite and definitely condescending. I just about manage to hold onto my cool.
‘Yours?’ I reply through gritted teeth. ‘Is that what you were doing with Matt just now? Marking your territory? Because you may as well have pissed up my leg. Didn’t you think it might be an idea to run it by me first?’
In an instant, I find my head in his hands, the heat back in his gaze. ‘I’ve never been so fucking transparent. Look at me, I can’t seem to stay away. Or is it the termboyfriendthat offends you now?’
‘N-no,’ I stammer, my thoughts in disorder as his hands fall away.
‘Because I was under the impression you might actually like to have this defined.’ He waves an indicative finger between us. ‘Isn’t that what women want? Boundaries they can apply? Words they understand? It’s been a while since I offered myself up as relationship material, Kate.’
Such an ugly tone from such a beautiful mouth. My heart dips but strangely, I don’t want to run. I’ve never been very good at confrontation, preferring always to roll over, but not today.
I step forward, forcing him back on his heels.
