He stopped smiling.
“I thought you said she was recovering.”
May rolled her eyes. “Yeah. But it doesn’t mean she’s dead. And your guys are nice.”
He snorted. “Nice? Do you mean just the ones without records?”
She shook her head. “Kai, you know most of the charges stem from bar fights.”
Sometimes May was a little too naïve, but he figured he’d let her think his men were just misunderstood. Otherwise she would start worrying.
“I guess I can make it tomorrow night.”
She smiled, bright, sunny, and dammit, she had done all of that on purpose. He’d known it from the beginning but couldn’t seem to stop himself. She did it to him every chance she could get. From the time she could talk, May was clever with a devious bent.
“I’ll probably be late.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s fine. Just as long as you get your butt there.”
He was walking to his truck when he realized just how well she played him. May knew that Jocelyn was his type, would be a woman he would take an interest in. His sister was a pain in the ass. Damn. He needed to stay far away from Jocelyn, and he knew May. She was going to try and pair them up.
Well, he would just avoid her as much as possible. It would be easy enough with that many people there. Knowing May, she’d invited a lot of people, maybe even some people from Rough ’n Ready, which made him frown. Jocelyn didn’t strike him as a person who would be interested in that. Or, if she was, someone who had been attacked probably shouldn’t be involved in anything to do with the life his sister and brother-in-law lived. He didn’t disagree with it, other than he didn’t like to think of his sister doing those types of things. That was just not right. But he knew without a doubt that it wasn’t the thing for Jocelyn.
He groaned. Shit, he was coming up with reasons she couldn’t be involved with someone from the BDSM club his brother-in-law co-owned with Micah Ross. Why? It wasn’t as if anything would happen between them. He had sworn off damaged women and she didn’t seem that interested in him.
But as he turned on Kapolani Boulevard, he knew he wasn’t being truthful with himself.
Jocelyn smiled as Mr. Aiona gave her a glass of water.
He returned the smile. “If I had known Chris had such a beautiful sister, I’d have made him bring you over here years ago.”
This she could handle. May’s father was a short, happy man. He flirted with her, but he was harmless. As was May’s grandfather who asked her if she would be interested in a bingo date.
Before she could answer, Chris slung his arm over her shoulders. “What? You thought that someone in my family wouldn’t be gorgeous? With me as her brother?”
“Ah, but you’re ugly,” Mr. Aiona said. “How would I have known such a beauty would be related you?”
Her brother laughed, the happy sound warming her heart. In the last few months, he had rarely laughed around her. It was one of the things that made her feel even guiltier for what had happened. She knew it wasn’t her fault they happened, but it didn’t make it any easier to know that she had caused her family and friends worry.
She took a long drink then said, “I have it on good authority that out of everyone, Shannon and I got all the looks. The boys are just ugly as sin.”
“How many brothers do you have?” Mr. Aiona asked.
“Three. Although Chris is the worst of the bunch. Being the oldest, he always thought he could boss us around.”
Before Mr. Aiona could ask her another question, she heard the door behind her shut. Even without looking, she knew who it was. She glanced over her shoulder, and even though she had tried to prepare herself, she couldn’t stop her body’s reaction to him.
Kai Aiona had been gorgeous a few days ago, but tonight, damn, he was mouth-wateringly delicious. He was wearing a Hawaii University T-shirt that stretched over his massive chest, leaving little to her imagination. He was built, that was for sure, his shorts were short and stopped just above his knees. It gave her an excellent view of a dragon tattoo on his right leg.
“Kai. You are late.” It wasn’t said as an accusation, but said by his father with a smile and a wealth of affection.
“Sorry, Dad. I picked up some more ice because I figured you’d be running low.”
He gave his father a hug and then turned to face her.
Mr. Aiona’s smile took on a conspiratorial slant. “Jocelyn, this is my son, Kai. He’s my oldest.”
“We met the other night,” she said, without taking her gaze from Kai.
“You did?” This came both from Mr. Aiona and her brother.