Page 36 of Trust

It would be easy to confirm his suspicions. Just let him think that she wasn’t interested in him. Yes, he was saying all the right things or at least admitting to an attraction. He was a living, breathing, broken heart waiting to happen. But Lani couldn’t lie to anyone. Not to their face. And she didn’t want to.

“I didn’t grow out of it.” He seemed to jolt at that and stepped forward. She held her hand up because she didn’t want him to touch her. She was sure he would singe her flesh. “I need a little time to think.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

Jakob looked unhappy, but she knew he would give her that time.

“Are you going to kick me out of here?”

She shook her head. There was a small cowardly part of her that wanted to. She tried to pretend they never had this conversation. Her brain still wasn’t computing his revelations. But she felt an insane need to be near him. In the last few months, nothing had been right in her world. That was until Jakob had shown up. And he had been the one thing she hadbeen dreading. Another duty she didn’t want to deal with. Now, he was a lifeline.

She shook her head. “I…listen, it’s been tough with everything going on, and believe it or not, you make me feel sane.”

His mouth curved, his dimples popping out, then his eyes lit with happiness. “Then, I’ll stay. Let’s finish lunch, then I’ll help you with stuff.”

“Why would you do that?”

His smile vanished. “You have been involved with idiots. I also don’t think you should shoulder the burden of this wedding. It isn’t yours.”

Something settled in her belly, a warm happiness that spread through her entire body. “Well, thank you.”

He waited for her to sit down, then joined her. And there, with the light trade wind dancing over her skin, she sat in the Hawaiian afternoon and enjoyed lunch with Jakob.

Eight

Jakob sat in the back of the family limo and readied himself for the wedding festivities and seeing Lani.

“Thanks for the drive, John,” he said,

“No worries. Are you sure you don’t want me to hang out to get you home?”

“No. I don’t know when it will end, and I would hate for you to be stuck here all day. I’ll get a ride home from one of my friends.”

Truth was, he was lying a little bit. Jakob had one real friend at this wedding, the groom, who had morphed into someone he didn’t recognize. The rest of the wedding party was Kingston cousins and the Stepford Instagirlies looking for a rich man. He wasn’t being presumptuous. One of the bridesmaids said he was rich enough to afford her lifestyle. Brazenly…right out in the open last night.

Jakob stepped out of the car and drew in a huge breath. Sweet Hawaiian air drifted over him. He had loved the place since his first visit to Hawaii. Not just the beauty but also the culture. He had always been fascinated by how the Hawaiian people had protected their culture from every invader whosought to take over. You had to admire a people who kept to their traditions even as other countries tried to squash them.

He took his time as he made his way to the check-in desk. His entire body buzzed with anticipation. He’d spent the whole afternoon yesterday with Lani. They had spent very little time together at the rehearsal dinner, which had been boring and long. All the toasts had gotten on his nerves. Years ago, Ben would have mocked something like that, but now, he seemed to thrive on people kissing his ass. Jakob was starting to realize he might not know his friend. At least, not anymore.

He was on his way into the hotel to check in and get ready for the wedding. He couldn’t wait to see Lani. Maybe it was because he had waited years for this, or perhaps it was because, for the first time in a long time, he was going after a woman with whom he wanted to build a relationship.

Before he reached the desk, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out. His sister’s face was on the screen, so he took it immediately.

“Is everything okay?”

She sighed. “Yes.”

“But?”

“Nothing. I just… I’m bored. How do people sit in bed all day and not go mad?”

He smiled. They all had good work ethics that sometimes bordered on the unhealthy side. But out of the three siblings, Jules had the most energy. She was always moving, always thinking. He figured it was her creative mind. She couldn’t seem to ever settle down.

“Read a book.”

“I’ve read them all.”

He snorted. “All the books in the world?”

---