Page 40 of Kai
“I have no doubt whatsoever.”
Disbelief flashed in her blue-gray eyes, and a snicker escaped her pressed lips. “If you value your balls and want to keep your capacity to pass on your royal genes, don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not making fun of you, and my balls don’t like your threats, so back off, lady,” I teased, trying to make sense of her flareup. “Why are you so surprised I believe in your potential?”
“Because…” The words died on her lips.
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away right before I glimpsed the hurt in her gaze. I caught her trying to hide the shift in her mood. She went from fierce to vulnerable right before my eyes.
I’d learned enough about the damage that Richard Astor had done to his children, how hard he’d been on them, especially on his daughters. The scars he’d carved in each of his offspring were equally cruel and yet different. When I put it all together, I had an idea of the kind of wounds he’d inflicted on Cece. He’d pulverized her self-esteem.
“You’re surprised I believe in you because of your father.” Fury vibrated through me knowing that Richard Astor had demeaned, denigrated, and disparaged this brilliant woman for most of her life. “The fucker put you down and denied your value as a person and a scientist.”
Her silence was her only admission. Standing on the deck with her mouth set in a grim line and her face hidden by her long bangs, she lowered her eyes and perused the deck. For once, she looked fragile and forlorn. I hated to see her defeated by her past and haunted by an asshole who could make her feel lesser from the grave. I clenched my jaw. If I could, I’d revive Richard Astor just to kill him again myself.
“Not all men are like your father,” I said. “I’m here to protect you. I’m never gonna put you down or hold you back. If I ever accidentally get close to doing that, you’ve got mypermission to call me out and punch me in the face. I’mnotlike Richard Astor.”
“I don’t want to talk about my sperm donor.” She slumped against the gunwales and closed her eyes briefly. “He’s gone. What’s the point?”
“I understand how you feel.” I’d dealt with my own demons. “If you ever wanna talk about it, I’m here.”
She forced a snort, but it didn’t come across derisive. “So now you’re also a therapist?”
“Hell, no.” I shook my head. “Just a fucked-up guy who’s been on a long search to find inner peace.”
She raised her eyebrows. “That’s quite the noble goal.”
“It’s a journey.” I smothered her cynicism with my sincerity. “Whenever I come across wisdom and serenity, my soul feels good.”
“Is that why you named your catamaranSerenity?” she asked, and this time around, curiosity replaced the sarcasm in her tone.
“A reminder to keep me focused on the goal.” I went back to asking the key questions that remained unanswered. “How did you get permission to live on Misty Island?”
“Early on, I had a connection through the University of Hawaii, a mentor who hooked me up with the island’s owners. They allowed me to do research on Misty Island, the one place where you can findCoronatain substantial quantities.”
“What’s your work status now?”
She grimaced. “I have distilled the compound, but I can’t replicate the process reliably yet.”
“The scientific community won’t accept your findings unless you can create a process other scientists can replicate and verify.”
“Yes.” She ambled to the table, plopped down on her chair, and rubbed her forehead. “So, I need to keep working onit, instead of sitting on my ass, gorging on fresh snapper and sinful chocolate.”
“You gotta eat, lady. Sleep. Rest. Relax.” I studied her face. “You gotta take care of yourself so that your brain can work for you. I’m curious. What are you gonna do once you distill a stable compound?”
“You meanifI distill a stable compound?”
“No, I mean when. You don’t strike me as a woman who’d give up on a lifelong quest.”
“You’re not wrong.” She flashed me a crooked smile. “My plan was to go back to my mentor with my discoveries, but first, I need to ensure my sisters’ safety.”
He grinned. “Savior complex, anyone?”
“Says the guy who risks his life saving strangers for a living,” she shot back. “Don’t waste your wisdom on me, Obi-Kai Kenobi.”
“Wisdom? Me? Nah.” I blew a self-deprecating huff. “I’m more like a work in progress.”
“You, work in progress; me, wreck in progress. It doesn’t matter. I won’t give up on my research, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
