“Cynthia’s taking pity on me and hiring me.”
“Oh, please. Girl is considered one of the top pastry chefs in the country and she’s going to be at Cynthia’s.” The bright light of success lit Cynthia’s blue eyes. “I am going to make some big money.”
Jocelyn felt her cheeks burn. It used to be a source of a pride to be considered a top pastry chef. Heck, if she could have, she would have announced it everywhere. But now, it was a sort of embarrassment. Not for her accomplishments, those she was proud of. Now though, she had fallen so far and had barely made it through the last few months.
“I’m just taking it day by day.”
“And she’s not starting work until next week,” her brother announced.
She smiled down the table at Chris as irritation inched down her spine. Good Lord, he was doing it again. She knew he had to be protective, but dammit, she was sick of being treated as if she couldn’t handle herself. “Of course, there is always a chance Cynthia might have her hands full because of a mitigating circumstances.”
With one look, she let her brother know she would let everyone know about his little morning sickness. She knew for a fact that Micah and Evan would never let him hear the end of it. Before he could say anything else, the waiter came with their drinks. With the reprieve, she turned her attention back to Kai. When she turned to him, he was studying her.
“I think tomorrow would be great for the tour.”
He glanced at her brother then back to her. “Are you sure Chris doesn’t mind?”
She shook her head. “I’m almost thirty. I can take care of myself. Besides, I didn’t take you for such a wuss that a few dirty looks from my brother would bother you.”
He took a sip of his soda as he continued to study her. “So what about ten in the morning?”
She smiled. “You got it.”
Kai was walking to his car when he heard the sound of feet behind him. He tensed, but he calmed down when he saw Chris’s reflection in the store window to his right. He stopped and faced him. Kai had known this was coming.
“What do you think you’re doing with my sister?” Chris asked. One thing about his sister’s boss, he never beat around the bush. It was one of the things Kai had liked about Chris until recently. And it shouldn’t have hurt, but it did, more than it did the other day. Chris must have sensed it.
Chris made a disgusted sound. “I told you it isn’t that.”
Kai waved it away and tried to push the feelings down. He should be used to it. There were still people who saw him as less. One because of his Hawaiian blood and two because he never made it to college. Hell, he didn’t make it out of high school.
“I offered to take her around the island when she went on the tour. She said you haven’t showed her around, and I thought she was kind of lonely.”
Chris crossed his arms over his massive chest. He was taller than Kai and probably outweighed him. Still, both men knew that in a fair fight, Kai would probably kick his ass. Even knowing that, Chris looked ready to take him on. As an older brother, Kai had to give him some respect for that.
“And you were there ready to step in to help her with the loneliness.”
Shit. He shouldn’t be so pissed, because the truth was he had a lot of relationships like that. He was known for it. He kept everything light, dated tourists or women looking for no more than a little fun. If he did more than that it caused problems.
“It isn’t like that. Listen, she feels left out. And a little lost. I thought if I helped her get to know the island, she might venture out on her own.”
Chris sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I have been so busy with Cynthia. Dammit, I should have thought of it.”
“Listen, don’t beat yourself up about it. Sisters aren’t always forthcoming with their feelings.”
“Yeah, I know, but I convinced her to move here then dumped her on the other side of the island.”
“Believe me, if your sister was pissed I have a feeling you’d know. She just wanted to get to know the island, and since I know it like the back of my hand, I figured it wouldn’t hurt for her to see some of those places that aren’t on the touristy maps.”
Chris nodded. “I appreciate it. But like I said, she can’t handle a relationship right now, and I will be damned if anyone will push her.”
“Take it easy. Seriously, I do not have to coerce wounded women.”
“Did May tell you what happened?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to know unless Jocelyn wants to tell me. I’m just trying to be friendly.”
Chris didn’t look like he believed him, and of course, he shouldn’t. When she had been on his boat, knowing his reaction to her, he’d decided there was no use fighting it. He had wanted her from the moment she’d opened the door that first night. She might say no, and seriously, that was fine by him. He would never try and push her. But since she had been the first woman who had intrigued him like this in a few months, he knew better than to ignore it.