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His green eyes glow in the shadows. He’s feeling protective, too, and I love my family all the more for their support. “The ohana is free. The honeymooners who booked it for tonight ended up calling off the wedding, so…”
“We’ll take it.” I doubt Echo and Hayes will mind staying alone at my place, and Hayes will happily deal with Parker if he dares to show his face. “Just let me know how much—”
“If you’re trying to pay me, I will punch you. Stop that shit. We’re family.”
Despite this shitty evening, I smile. “Thanks. After Corinne is settled, I’ll make sure the house gets cleaned up, as promised.”
Maxon nods and scans the room. “Thanks. Since the party is breaking up and people are heading home, I’m going to capitalize on the fact my wife and I have a babysitter for another couple of hours and take advantage of Keeley.”
“I didn’t need to know that.”
He shrugs, then turns serious again. “What are you going to do with Corinne? All night? In the most romantic bedroom in Maui?”
I know what I want to do—dry her tears, strip her down, caress her everywhere until she’s panting my name, then make her forget about every hurtful, horrible thing her brother said. I can’t. Yeah, I warned that the price of my help with this scheme was her body. But I refuse to be the kind of asshole who makes tonight about himself. Parker already did that.
Turning to look out the window at the dark, tropical night, I sigh. “I don’t have a fucking clue.”
“Come with me.” I hold out my hand to Corinne two minutes later and wait for her to take it.
She looks into my eyes, biting that bee-stung lip, then places her fingers in my palm. “Where?”
“Does it matter as long as you get some peace and quiet?”
“You’ll come with me?”
Her pleading eyes tell me I didn’t misread the situation. She really wants me near her. “Yeah.”
“Then it doesn’t matter.”
Because she’ll have me and I’m all she needs? Am I reading too much into her words? “Let’s go.”
“Wait.” She digs in her heels as she scans the open kitchen and dining room that look like a hurricane hit. “I just remembered… We promised Maxon we’d clean up after the party.”
When she detours toward the kitchen sink, I pull her back. “I’ll handle it.”
“How?” She frowns.
“You don’t worry. I’ll deal with that.”
“No, I can’t leave this mess to you. You’ve already been too wonderful, and I—”
“Shh. I’m still a selfish, raving son of a bitch.” Who let her throw herself into this ugly family feud so I could have revenge. “Don’t forget it.”
Yeah, yeah. It’s not my place to save Corinne from herself. She’s an adult, and telling her what’s best for her would make me no better than Parker. But if I have to choose between protecting her from her asshole of a brother and getting my vengeance against him, tonight I’m choosing the former. Parker will only chew her up and spit her out, regardless of the fact she’s his sister. She’s not ready to fathom playing that dirty. I not only can, I’m fucking good at it.
Am I really thinking of deferring my revenge to be her white knight and savior?
I scoff. There’s no one less suited to that than me.
“That’s not true,” she insists.
“Don’t kid yourself. Come on.”
As I pull her away from the kitchen and take the key to the ohana from the little office tucked to one side, we slip out the back of the main house. All the while, I’m texting Lisa with my free hand to find someone who can do the post-party cleanup. Right now, I don’t care what it costs.
Lisa replies that she knows exactly who to contact and it will be done in the next two hours. This is why I pay her a shitload and treat her well.
After a quick thanks, I send Maxon a message, letting him know a cleaning crew is on their way and I’m leaving a door open for them.
His reply? Keeley and I are busy. Fuck off.
Typical Maxon.
“Everything okay?” Corinne asks, frowning at my furious tapping.
I tuck my phone away and lead her up the stairs to the door. “It is now.”
“What is this place?”
If I tell her Keeley has made this into the ultimate honeymoon suite in the last couple of years, will it freak her out?
“The only vacancy at the inn tonight.” I unlock the door and grope around to find the light switch, filling the airy space with golden light that bounces off the gleaming hardwood floors and soft white walls.
Beside me, Corinne lets out a surprised gasp. I’ve only seen this place in pictures, but it’s romantic as hell. A big four-poster bed draped in pristine white and engulfed by plush tone-on-tone pillows dominates the room, surrounded by gauzy mosquito netting. Gentle trade winds blow in from the open doors leading to the generous lanai, complete with a cushy chaise for two and full-frontal views of the moonlit beach beyond.
