Page 115 of Love, Rekindled

“Damn! That’s right. Now I remember. The punch.”

“Takira’s his sister.”

August releases a low whistle, eyes wide and bright with interest.

“That punch gave me my shot,” I continue, “and he resents me for every good thing that happened for me after. It’s obviously misplaced, but it makes Takira hesitant about giving me a chance. He’s been pretty vocal about his disapproval.”

“She can’t live for her brother.”

“Nah, but he’s coming off a really bad spiral.” I lower my voice even though we’re the only ones in the dimly-lit passageway. “After that SportsCo doc, he overdosed and almost died.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah, so she doesn’t want to set him off by getting involved with the guy he apparently hates more than anyone, even if it’s baseless.”

“Hey, there were times I thought being with the girl I wanted was impossible.” August tips his heard toward the door again. “But guess where she is now?”

He grins and fist-bumps me.

“You got her here. That’s half the battle. See what two weeks trapped on a ship together gets you.”

I laugh and try to shake off any apprehension about the coming meeting. August enters the cabin he shares with Iris, and I continue down the hall toward my room. Takira should be here soon, if not already. My stomach knots at the thought of seeing her again, kissing her again. Talking to her. Finally getting to know her beyond one night on a roof and what I could glean from social media posts.

“It’s not that serious,” I mutter to myself. “I’m not like in love. I just…”

The words dry up on my tongue because, no. I’m not in love with Takira after so little time and contact, but watching her enter the room beside mine—braids twisted into a crown, a dress the color of tangerines drawn onto her voluptuous body—my heart climbs up my chest and lodges in my throat.

I may not be in love with this girl, but I’m insomething.

And I’m in deep.

CHAPTER EIGHT

~TAKIRA~

I glanceup to see who is coming down the hall as I open the door to my cabin.

“Naz!” I practically screech, pressing both hands to my chest like I’m guarding my heart. Maybe I am because that traitorous organ started a riot behind my rib cage as soon as Naz strode into view. I clutch the doorknob, searching for something to anchor me. So much for my plan to play it cool and indifferent, but I thought I wouldn’t see him until dinner. He’s here before I’ve even made it inside my cabin, leaving me no time to prepare. To marshal my defenses against this man.

But there is no defense for fine as fuck, not when it comes swaggering up the hall looking like a whole-ass snack.

“Takira,” Naz says, his deep voice pouring over me like hot oil, raising my goose bumps and then singeing them. “I didn’t know you were here already. I’m glad you came.”

He looks down at me from his great height, nearly a foot above. The breadth of his shoulders blocks out everything behind him, and he’s literally the only thing I can see. His scent—clean and woodsy and masculine and uniquelyhim—floods my senses, my nostrils flaring as I breathe him in. Everything about this man screams dominance and confidence, but when his dark eyes latch on to mine, I read a line of uncertainty. We haven’t spoken since the after-party, though his wishes, his very clear intentions, are what brought me here.

“This is a pretty elaborate scheme to see me again.” I gesture to a porthole in the narrow passageway that flaunts a view of the jewel-like sea. “You could have just asked me out.”

“Pretty sure I did and you turned me down.”

“And you always get what you want?”

“Usually, yes.” A rakish grin crooks one side of his sinfully full lips. “And based on that kiss at Lotus’s party, seems like you want me back.”

Touché, my brother.

“Well, now that you have me here,” I say, allowing a hint of challenge to enter my voice, “do you even know what you want to do with me?”

My words, the taunt erases any tinge of doubt in his stare, and he invades my space, crowding me against the half-open door. Does he realize I lured him this close? That he’s exactly whereIwanthim? I’ve been around athletes, directors, actors, musicians, powerful men a lot. Men who like to chase and catch. Big, intimidating, commanding—Naz is no different, yet he’s like no man I’ve been with before. He’s not even like the Naz Iknewbefore.

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