Page 25 of Faith

“Yes. I take it you talked to Nicola?”

“No, but she keeps an updated calendar we all can see. Are you sure you’re all right, Jensen?”

He hated the concern in her voice. It was the same tone she used during his intervention.

“Yes, I am. The time change is still hard to overcome here.”

“Of course. Well, is there anything we need to cover about the merger?”

“No. Nicola has it all ready for me.”

“I saw that she rented one suite for the two of you.”

“She’s staying on Oahu. She said she had some meeting set up with locals, trying to ensure we have some support there.”

“Hmm.”

Again, the tone. Even when she didn’t use full sentences or words, she could cut him to the quick with just a hum.

“I’ll be fine, Mother. Is there anything else?”

“No, nothing. But a warning. Your brother is talking about jumping over there. He’s in Los Angeles meeting with his agent and some producer right now, and he’s been keen to see Hawaii again.”

Bloody hell. “Okay. I’ll warn Nicola since Jakob has a habit of just popping in at all hours of the day and night.”

“Take care, Jensen. And call your sister in a day or two.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Goodbye.

He clicked off his phone and tossed it on the desk. This was going to be a bloody mess. He had made the Wulf’s a household name with his antics. He’d been on every damned rag in England and America. Hell, he’d made a few rags in Japan even. And now, they followed the family’s every move. This was going to be a mess.

“Was that your mother?”

“Yes,” he answered, not bothering to look over his shoulder. He used to love to talk things over with her. Now it all felt awkward. No. Not felt—it was awkward. He didn’t know what had shifted in the last couple of months, but somehow, he couldn’t be in the same vicinity as Nicola without fantasizing about her.

“Is there anything wrong?”

“Julienne cut it off.”

“Cut what off? Her hair? Surely, your mother isn’t worried about that.”

He turned to face her and felt the inevitable rush of excitement that came over him whenever he saw her. Damn. He liked the way Hawaii seemed to leave her skin dewy. Or was that his imagination? It didn’t matter. All it made him want to do was lick her flesh.

Bloody hell.

“No. Her engagement.”

Her face went blank for a moment, then her eyes widened, and she grinned. It was the grin he rarely saw, one that was filled with happiness and a carefreeness she rarely showed him—or anyone for that matter.

“Thank God for that. That’s a bloody relief.”

“You’re not upset?”

“First of all, she’s not my problem. You are. And secondly, I would hate to see her marry Gregor. Wet rags have more personality than he does.”

“True.”

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