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“Oh, please. It had nothing to do with you. That was just two men trying to outdo each other, just like those two dragons who were fighting. As soon as they started yelling at each other like lunatics, I was out of there. I couldn’t find you, obviously.”
Kaia sighed. There was a time when Rachel would have believed Kaia that itwassweet, but not anymore. The end of her marriage had made Rachel completely incapable of cheering for love. Not that Kaia was in love with Grey. It just sucked that she wanted to tell her sister she had made out with him so they could both rage at him for walking away. That wouldn’t happen, though. Instead, Rachel would be annoyed that Kaia had taken that chance in the first place, and the next thing she knew, it would all beherfault.
“Sure,” Kaia finally said to placate her sister.
“I don’t know,” Ian commented. “It sure looked like he was trying to teach the demon some manners.”
“There are better ways to teach,” Rachel grumbled.
“Well, sure, but can we all agree that the dragon isfine?” Ian waited for Rachel to join in on his laughter, but she didn’t. He was her best friend, and even he was having a hard time reaching her. It was hard to watch Ian struggling to make a connection with her after decades of friendship.
“He’s not my type,” Rachel stood and went into the cabana.
“She’s snarky,” Ian sighed. “I thought your plan to get her here was genius! Why isn’t it working?”
“We need to get her away from this cabana and out there with other people. We need to bring that woman back to life.”
“We are so on it,” they all agreed.
“I’ve got the best idea. Let her sulk tonight, but tomorrow, we are going to start the day off right. I’m thinking brunch by the beach and then some snorkeling.” Kaia stood. “I’ll talk to Una at the reception desk and set everything up. You just make sure Rachel is ready and out of the door at ten.”
“You got it,” Ian assured her.
Maybe on her way to the reception desk, she would run into Grey and totally ignore him. He deserved it after so rudely dismissing those kisses. Maybe she had been too harsh in judging his kisses in the top ten and then in the top three. The truth was that even that first kiss had blown every other one away. She only egged him on because she wanted more.
Now, he was off dealing with his company drama, as he should be. She only wished he hadn’t been a dick about his holiday and the time they were spending together.
Maybe Rachel was right, and she needed to cool off a bit. Maybe love wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be if even Hellscape Holiday Resort couldn’t help heal her sister.
* * *
The beach-side restaurantwas stunning in the morning sun. The linens were white and almost matched the sand. Small waves lapped at the dry beach only a few feet away from the back of the patio, where the hostess brought Kaia and her friends.
“It’s so early,” Rachel moaned. “Why do we have to be here for ten? Brunch is later. Much later.”
“You’re on holiday. That doesn’t mean sleeping the day away. Not in bed, anyway. You do that on the beach after a nice swim. Now, stop your whining and read your menu. Look! They have waffles. Your favorite. Let’s get some waffles for sure.”
Rachel sighed. “Fine. But might as well get two orders because once I start, I won’t be able to stop.”
They ordered enough food to feed the entire restaurant, but the feast was worth it. The waffles were out of this world and just what Rachel needed. She ate one after the other, relishing each bite with a quiet, “This was a good idea, Kai.”
It was all she needed to know; she was helping her sister. That’s all she wanted … for her sister to be okay. Not happy quite yet. That was asking too much. But if Rachel could be okay, then at least the long way back to herself would be easier.
Ian winked at Kaia from across the table. He mouthed, “Thank you.”
She waved him off and tucked into her omelet.
“Kaia, good morning.”
She looked up from her plate to see none other than Greyson Verlice standing beside her table, looking fresh and rested in a pair of tan shorts and a gray tee. Damn him for looking this good after yesterday.
“Morning,” she replied, not even bothering to act like a lady and meet his gaze.
“I was hoping to run into you. Would you like to join me for drinks this afternoon?” Grey added a smile to his question. His eyes were almost the same color as the water, and Kaia wanted to pass out from the way her body was going insane.
Had he just asked her out, or had her ears stopped functioning?
“Sorry?” she asked.
