A Little Harmless Addiction(17)
“I better get back to Cynthia before she gets even more pissed about me interfering.”
“No problem.”
He watched his sister’s boss jog over to his car and Cynthia. The last few months had been hard since Keisha left, and every time he had been in the company of the group, he had felt left out. He never brought dates, not since Keisha had ripped his heart out and gone back to the abusive asshole. He rarely had before Keisha, truth be told. May had never been one for inviting him until he had started living like a monk. It was as if she pitied him, which he hated. He hated it even more that he didn’t seem to be able to say no. Even surrounded by all the happy couples hadn’t been as bad as being by himself.
He sighed and continued to walk to his car. A year ago, it wouldn’t have bothered him, but now it did. It didn’t mean he wanted a serious relationship. He had proven he wasn’t made for them. But the feeling that he was being left out, somehow pitied by people had gnawed at him. But with Jocelyn there tonight it had been pretty bearable.
He unlocked his car and slid into the seat. She was even more gorgeous now. She had adjusted to the time difference. Only a dead man could ignore that infectious laugh. He could tell she did it a lot. The sound of joy that filled the diner when she laughed had left him mesmerized. Even sitting here over an hour later, he could remember the men who had turned in her direction when she laughed. And just how much he had wanted to kick their asses.
Damn, he needed to remember his role here. He was to be a friend with possible benefits. It was something he’d had no trouble with before Keisha, and he was happy to fill that role again. But as he drove off, he wondered what Jocelyn would be wearing tomorrow and just how many times he could get her to laugh.
Kai turned into Jocelyn’s driveway and frowned. He knew the car parked there and knew he wasn’t in the mood to go another round with Chris. Being the oldest and a brother, he understood wanting to protect your younger sister. It was hard to let her lead her own life. He knew that whatever had left the shadows in Jocelyn’s beautiful eyes was pretty bad. But there was a point when a brother had to step back.
He drew in a deep breath as he got out of the car and headed to the porch. He knew this wasn’t going to be fun. Chris knew Kai’s reputation with women. It was all he could do not to kiss her. So, being the masochist that he was, he decided to take her out on a date. As he stepped on the lowest stair to the porch, he heard Jocelyn’s sweet, sexy, New Orleans’ voice drift out the open window.
“I didn’t exactly ask your opinion.”
“Jocelyn, you seem to be doing much better, but I don’t understand this compulsion to go out with Kai.”
For a few moments she said nothing. From his own experience, he knew that wasn’t a good sign for Chris. “You don’t think I would be attracted to him?”
“I didn’t say that. But I thought you’d sworn off men.”
“Obviously not all men because here you are,” she said. He could hear the irritation rising in her voice and part of him wanted to leave. He didn’t need any kind of big family drama. He’d had enough of that with Keisha a few months ago.
“I don’t understand why I can’t show you around.”
“First, I don’t want you to go all pukey on me while we are out.”
“I am not pukey.”
She ignored his comment and rolled right on. “And I want to go out with someone who isn’t always watching me waiting for me to fall apart.”
She had lowered her voice, and he could hear the deep pain beneath the surface of the words. But there was something else there. Determination. It was quietly infused in her voice, telling Kai that no matter how put together she seemed now, she was fighting her demons every day. That kind of inner strength was just too much to resist.
It had him walking up on the porch with as much noise as his slippers would provide, and knocking on the door.
Jocelyn opened the door with a smile. “Hey, Kai. Come on in. I’m almost ready. In fact, I would have been if Chris hadn’t bothered me this morning.”
The smile she shot him was overly bright, but he didn’t let it bother him. He had to contend with the brother who was right now giving him the stink eye.
“You said we are just going to drive around the island?”
He nodded. “You might want to make sure you wear slippers so that walking on the beach is easy.”
She frowned and he heard Chris chuckle.
“Flip-flops, Jocelyn.”
She glanced back over her shoulder at her brother, then turned, her smile now genuine. It reached her eyes and he felt the slow thrum of lust beat through his blood.