Order vs. Chaos

by Mary E Thompson

  “No! How the fuck do you know?”

  I shook my head, the whole thing making sense. Not only did I act like that son of a bitch, but she was hurt and couldn’t tell anyone about it. Shit.

  I wondered if she had any idea the whole crew knew they were sleeping together. Obviously her brother was clueless. Maybe Jack, too.

  “He was on the volcano. I met him. He went on and on about her. Said he couldn’t commit to just one woman so he had to end things with her.”

  I was not about to tell Kapena that the asshole practically suggested I have a go at her. Not only would he never trust me, but he might pay the dick a visit that would end with Kapena in jail.

  “I need to see her. I can’t believe she kept this from me.”

  He walked past me looking lost. He snatched keys from the table next to the door and glanced around the room. When his eyes landed on me, I could see how much it bothered him that she never told him she was in a relationship.

  She was definitely going to kill me. Or at least fire me.

  “Thanks for telling me.”

  I nodded, and he was gone.

  I stood in the middle of the living room, wondering what the hell to do. A part of me wanted to warn Kiana that her brother was on his way over, and he was pissed. Another part said to keep my fucking nose out of it.

  I chose option two.

  Of course, then my nose filled with a putrid scent that told me I was wrong. Maybe I should call her.

  I swung my head around and saw smoke rising from a pan on the stove.

  “Shit!”

  I rushed over and turned off all the burners. I dumped the pan into the sink and ran cold water over the burned food. I couldn’t even tell what it was supposed to be.

  “Guess I’m going out for dinner,” I said to no one.

  After dinner, Kapena still wasn’t home. I thought about calling him, but I knew better. I would find out how things were in the morning.

  Chapter Five

  Kapena wasn’t back when I left the next morning. If he was my brother, I would have worried like our mother, but Kapena wasn’t my brother. He was a guy I’d known for a week.

  After lunch, I was…concerned. That sounded better than worried, right? I hadn’t heard from him at all. I had to get to work so I left, wondering if everything was okay.

  I could tell it wasn’t as soon as I arrived at Opposites Attract. Kiana’s SUV was parked in her usual spot, but Kapena’s Jeep was next to it. I heard the screaming from the front door. Two voices. A blend of Hawaiian and English that made it impossible for me to understand.

  Not that I needed words to know what was going on.

  I knocked on the door to her office, if for no other reason than to make sure they were both still standing.

  “What?” she barked.

  I walked in and earned a glare from both of them.

  “How dare you? You shared my personal life with my brother!”

  “Yeah, you should have shared it with me. Not some malihini.”

  I wasn’t sure what that meant. “Did you just insult me?”

  “It means visitor,” Kiana said with a huff. “You’re not from here. And you won’t be here much longer if I have anything to say about it.”

  “Wait!” I demanded before she fired me. I could see it in her eyes. “We have a wedding this weekend. And next. I didn’t know Kapena didn’t know anything about you dating that scumbag. When he was bragging to me about sleeping with you, I wanted to toss him into the volcano. I couldn’t understand why your brother let him live. And like he said, you should have told him. You should have let him punch that asshole so he won’t talk to anyone else about you. He’s—”

  “What else did he say?” Kapena demanded, rising from where he sat on the corner of her desk. “You told me he just mentioned her.”

  I met his gaze, then swung mine to her. She shook her head, but Kapena saw it.

  “Fuck no. Don’t protect her. Tell me what he said so I can go kill him.”

  I sighed. “He just said she wanted to get married and he never did. That he thought she was hot and wanted to sleep with her, but once she was in his bed she never wanted to leave. And—”

  “Enough,” Kiana said, her voice shaky.

  I looked at her, hating that I made her cry. I was such an asshole.

  “Get out.”

  I turned to go, but Kiana had other ideas.

  “Not you. Kapena. Out.”

  “What? Why me? And why do you want him to stay?”

  Yeah, I wondered the same thing.

  Kiana didn’t explain herself, just lifted one dark eyebrow at her brother. He shoved past me, storming out of the office. Seconds later, the front door slammed shut.

  I swallowed hard when I met Kiana’s red-rimmed eyes. Shit. Vulnerable was not a word I normally thought of when it came to her, but that was the only thing I could see in that moment. The pain he’d caused, and the way she’d worked hard to get over him. And how I brought all the hurt right back to her.

  “The only reason you’re still here is because I can’t get another photographer on this short of notice. And I’m not willing to prove to Anthony that he was right about me. About us.”

  “Us? What did he say about us?”

  She glared at me. “Not you and me, us. Him and me.”

  I could see it in her eyes. She’d been fighting to prove him wrong. To prove that she didn’t need him. “What did he tell you?”

  “That the only reason I was still in business was because of him. That a good photographer can make or break a business like mine, and that he was the reason I was doing so well. And if I fire you, I’ll have to stand back and watch my company crumble to the ground around me.”

  I hated the pain in her voice. She believed him. She thought he was telling the truth about her company. About everything she worked her ass off for.

  I closed the door to her office so no one would interrupt us. She needed to listen to what I said. To hear me, not anyone else.

  “He’s wrong about all of it. You built Opposites Attract, not him. You’re the face of this company. You’re the one these couples come for. Who stands behind the camera is not nearly as important as who they talk to every day leading up to their event. You’re the one they put their trust in. Not him, not me. Not only that, he’s an asshole who doesn’t know what he had with you. I hope you know I didn’t believe a word he said about you.”

  “What else did he say?” she asked, her voice shaking.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It matters to me, Sawyer,” she said, meeting my eyes.

  I didn’t want her to know. I had no interest in sharing anything that asshole said. But part of me hoped it would help her get over him.

  “He said you were frigid. At the end. That the longer you were together the worse it was. I know he’s lying, though, because you’re the most sensual, beautiful, amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

  She snorted. “You’ve known me a week, Sawyer. You don’t know anything about me.”

  I stepped closer, getting in her personal space. She gasped, her eyes widening as they looked up at me. Desire flooded between us, like a wave getting ready to knock us off balance, and we couldn’t do anything about it.

  “I know that when you kissed me, I’d never wanted a woman more in my life.”

  “Yeah, right,” she scoffed. “You couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

  “Because you’re my boss, and your brother is my roommate. Trust me, if you weren’t off-limits, I’d have already gotten a taste of you.”

  She shivered, just slightly, but enough that I knew she was as turned on as I was. I couldn’t stop. I knew it was the worst idea ever to get involved with my boss, but she wasn’t my boss in that moment. She was a beautiful woman who needed to know the jackass who thought she wasn’t enough for him was really not good enough for her.

  “You’re stunning, Kiana. And that asshole couldn’t see it. I can’t imagine any
one thinking what he said about you. You put your heart into every wedding you create, everything you do. With the right man, no one would ever think you’re frigid.”

  She stiffened with the last word, but I was determined to prove her wrong. I yanked her into my arms, capturing her lips, and any protest she was considering, with my mouth. I wasn’t in the mood for slow or sweet. I needed her, and I was going to show her just how hot she was.

  I thrust my tongue into her waiting mouth, stroking mine along hers. She moaned with me, her body already pliant in my arms. My dick hardened, trying to get to her, and damn if I could keep my hands in her safe zones.

  Her arms were locked around my neck, holding me close. I wanted to lift her and press her back to the window behind her desk, to have her right there with the ocean in the background. That could wait, but my hands itched to touch her. Somewhere. Everywhere.

  She moaned when my hand dipped to her ass. Her body pressed against mine, seeking the same thing I was. Her firm tits were right there, sealed to my chest. I needed to feel them. To feel her.

  I cupped one, and she moaned again. Her nipple was hard, and I took full advantage of that, plucking it through her shirt. She gasped, her head falling back. I trailed my lips down her neck, cursing the buttons that kept her sweet flesh from me.

  “Sawyer,” she moaned.

  It was the best thing I’d ever heard. I wanted to hear my name on her tongue over and over, but I needed to kiss her again.

  My lips went back to hers, both of us greedy and demanding. I kept teasing her nipple and lifted one of her legs, giving me access to her center. I ground my hard cock against her, desperate to feel the warmth between her thighs circle me and never let go.

  I throbbed in my shorts, feeling like a teenager on his first date. I could easily come just from rubbing against her.

  And she believed for a second that she could be frigid.

  What an asshole for making her think that.

  Her hands slipped from my neck and rested on my shoulders for a second before she shoved me away. My hands were still on her, one cupping her breast, the other holding her thigh where I wanted her.

  “We can’t,” she heaved, her chest lifting and falling with each heavy breath. “I’m your boss. And I can’t do this again.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not him, Kiana. Don’t paint me with that brush.”

  She worked her way out of my arms and away from me. The loss of her ached almost as badly as my balls did. “He shredded my confidence, Sawyer. He made me believe I’m nothing. And until I can look myself in the mirror, I can’t be with someone who could do the same, or worse.”

  “But—”

  “No. I’m sorry. I can’t. I have to protect my business. This is my livelihood.”

  “I’m not trying to destroy it.”

  “Maybe not, but you’re threatening it. My clients expect things to be perfect when they come here. They don’t need my drama. In the future, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your nose out of my business.”

  “I wasn’t trying to get into your business.”

  “Really?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “So talking to my brother about my ex-boyfriend isn’t getting into my business?”

  I crossed my arms and sighed. “I was trying to figure out how the two of you got together. You don’t seem like his type.”

  Shock had her gasp, and I realized my mistake.

  “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Like what?” she asked with a smile I knew was fake.

  “Like you took it.”

  “How do you know how I took it? We barely know each other. We’ve already established that. Aside from the fact that you seem to assume everything about me, you don’t know me.”

  “I know you’re pissed off at me for something I didn’t even do,” I mumbled.

  “Something you didn’t do? Really? It was someone else who told my brother about my ex?”

  “That’s not why you’re mad,” I said with full confidence.

  “Oh, that’s right,” she snapped. “You know my mind better than I do. I’d love to know, Sawyer. Why am I mad?”

  “Because your ex is an asshole and you never should have wasted your time with him.”

  She licked her lips and nodded. “Thank you for that insight,” she said. Her tone was strong, but her voice was shaky. Dammit. “Please leave so I can get ready for the wedding this weekend. Close the door on your way out.”

  I opened my mouth to say something else, but she turned her back on me. I knew a signal for get the fuck out when I saw one. Shaking my head, I left, closing the door quietly behind me.

  I paused there for just a moment, wondering if I should go back in and say something, when I heard the unmistakable sound of a sob.

  Oh, fuck.

  Now what?

  I couldn’t leave her in there crying. Not when minutes earlier I had my tongue down her throat and her boob in my hand. My cock was still hard from being pressed against her hot pussy.

  The front door opened as I was debating, and Kapena walked in. His eyes were hard and determined and focused on Kiana’s office door. He wasn’t going to let her dismiss him, and I knew she’d be even more upset if he walked in there when she was crying.

  “Hey,” I said, approaching him. “She’s got shit to do for this weekend. I know you’re pissed, but you know how she is about having everything perfect for the clients. Give her a break?”

  Kapena’s shoulders dropped, his whole body visibly deflating, and nodded. He let me guide him outside, back into the bright sunshine that was way too happy when there was a crying woman inside.

  “I can’t believe she dated that guy.”

  “Did you know him well?” I asked.

  Kapena shook his head. “Not really. I met him a few times and got a real piece of shit feeling from him. I asked her why she hired him, and she always said he was one of the best. She’s big on working with the best.”

  “What are you doing here?” a female voice asked. “No waves today?”

  Kapena stood to his full height and grinned at a woman with shoulder-length dark hair and hazel, cat-like eyes that drew me in. She was beautiful in her own way, and it was clear to me that Kapena knew her well. And liked her.

  “There are always waves, ku’uipo! You should come surf with me sometime. Get some fun in you.”

  “I have plenty of fun, Kapena. Who’s your friend?”

  She looked me up and down, surprising a laugh out of me. Even better, Kapena definitely didn’t like that.

  “Sawyer,” he grumbled. “He’s the new photographer. You didn’t meet him yet?”

  The woman shook her head, keeping her eyes on me. “Ada Stone. I’m the officiant when I’m available. And Kiana’s best friend. Which means I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this lump of muscle basically my whole life.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ada. I guess we’ll be working together?”

  Ada nodded. “We will. Where’s my girl?”

  “She’s in her office. Getting ready for the weekend.”

  She nodded, pausing just long enough to make me uncomfortable with her stare, and headed that way. “Nice meeting you, Sawyer. Stay away from sharks, Kapena.”

  Kapena grumbled as Ada walked away. When I looked at him, he glared back.

  “What?”

  “Keep your hands off her, too.”

  I held my hands up in defense. I wasn’t going to push that one.

  Kapena left a few minutes later, just before Kiana and Ada walked outside. Ada shot me a look of apology and understanding, but Kiana avoided even glancing my way. I grabbed the rest of my equipment and went inside to the office Kiana gave me. I needed to get some shots downloaded onto her server so she could send them to the couple from the weekend before.

  I was lost in my work, making sure every shot was perfect, and didn’t hear Ada and Kiana walk back inside. Only when Ada stuck her head in the door did I know anyone was there.

  “I j
ust wanted to say bye. It was nice to meet you.”

  I grinned. “I imagine Kiana has a very different opinion.”

  Ada shrugged. “Kiki is hurting right now. You opened a lot of that up today.”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  Ada nodded. “I know. And she knows, too. She wishes she never met Anthony, and you’ve been reminding her of him a lot lately.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  Ada nodded again, then glanced down the hall toward Kiana’s office. “She likes you, Sawyer. I’m guessing you know that if the kiss was half as hot as it sounded. But she’s fragile right now. He broke something inside her. Something she’s not sure she can fix.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with her. She kisses me like a woman who knows exactly what to do with a man.”

  Ada smiled. “He rattled her. That’s what makes it harder for her to relax with you. You really are a lot like him.”

  “I’m nothing like that slimy piece of shit,” I spat, hating that anyone would compare me to him.

  “I believe you. But you’re both from the mainland. Both photographers. Both obsessed with the volcanoes from what I hear. Dark hair, hazel eyes, sexy as all hell.”

  I lifted an eyebrow at her.

  “I can look. Besides, I’d never shit where I eat. And I prefer men who aren’t off chasing the next great adventure. I want someone stable. Someone who will be around. Kiki does, too.”

  “She clearly picked the wrong guy in her ex. He made me look like a saint.”

  “Maybe she’ll choose better next time,” Ada said with a gleam in her eye that made me more than a little nervous.

  “Don’t get any ideas about us. She can’t stand me.”

  Ada shrugged. “We’ll see.”

  “She told me to back off. She doesn’t want me. She said she needs to get herself straight before she can think about being with anyone. And even then, I doubt it’ll be me.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Let it go, Ada. I appreciate you trying, but I won’t push her. If she wants me, I’m game. But if not, I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to force it.”

  “What if she does want you, but she needs a little push to admit it to herself.”