“You really think Ada would bitch at you all the time?”
“Are you kidding? She loves to bitch at me,” he said with a laugh. Then realization dawned. “Fuck you.”
I laughed. “I knew you wanted her. Why don’t you ask her out?”
He shook his head sadly. “I’m not what she wants. Stop pushing. Maybe it is a good idea for you to find a new place.”
I laughed and followed him to the lanai. Fat slices of salmon sat next to mini buttered spuds and a vegetable blend. My stomach growled as I sat down, sipping the beer he had on the table.
Huh… Kapena was never this nice to me.
“Are you poisoning me?”
“Huh?”
“Are you trying to kill me? Dinner on the table, beer waiting for me. I don’t have to do anything. Did you slip some poison in my food?”
Kapena snorted and shook his head. “Eat your dinner malihini.”
“When am I going to be upgraded to a local?”
“Never,” he said. “I might not call you outsider anymore though.”
“Gee, thanks.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes before Kapena spoke again.
“I heard you punched Anthony.”
“Fucker had it coming.”
He lifted his beer bottle in a toast. I clinked his and we both sipped, then set the bottles back down.
“I also heard you left upset and that she thinks she messed things up.”
“Shit. Does everyone there have a spy?”
“Heard about that, too,” he said with a grin. “Stupid fucker. Why would he tell her about Cathy and think Kiana wouldn’t pass the information along?”
“He really is a first class douchebag.”
“Agreed. So what happened with my sister?”
I sighed. He was about the last person I wanted to talk to about Kiana. But he was the only one there and asking. And he didn’t look like he was going to drown me if I told him the truth.
“Anthony got ugly with her. When she didn’t respond, he came after me. He knew exactly what to pick at to get under my skin.”
“Like what?”
“Like the fact that she hasn’t said she loves me.”
“It’s too soon for that. She’s a smart woman. She won’t rush into things.”
“She told him she loved him after a week.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“That was pretty much my response,” I admitted. “It’s fine. I know she doesn’t love me. It wouldn’t be a big deal if she didn’t still love him.”
“She loves him?”
I nodded. “It sure seemed like it. She was really bothered by him being there. He told her he’d been seeing Cathy the whole time they were together, and still was.”
“Shit.”
“Yep.”
“Did he really think Cathy wouldn’t find out if he said something?”
I shook my head. “He thinks nothing can touch him.”
“She should have threatened to tell Cathy and forced him to back out of the wedding.”
I huffed. “You know, you’re a little ruthless. I haven’t decided if it’s a good thing or a bad one.”
“I’m only ruthless when I need to be. This guy has it coming.”
“He does. But I’m not sure messing this whole thing up will be any good for Kiana. She’s been stressing about this wedding since I got here, and probably before. It has to be perfect for her sake. And that includes playing by the rules Not A Dream set in place.”
Kapena sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Damn. I don’t like saying that.”
A surprised laugh burst from me. It had been a while since Kapena and I were on the same side, especially when it came to anything to do with Kiana.
“My sister is lucky to have you,” Kapena said after a few minutes. “Don’t fuck it up.”
“Not sure there’s anything left to fuck up.”
I was nervous as fuck the next morning when I headed in to Opposites Attract. I thought I was going to throw up. It was not good.
I went to my office instead of checking in with Kiana when I got there. I knew she was in her office, but I didn’t want to interrupt whatever she was doing. I went through the list of pictures she wanted me to take, and the list of pictures Anthony was supposed to take, and tried to map out my plan in my head so I could avoid him as much as possible.
The scent of coconut preceded her into my office. I took a minute to get lost in memories of her. I missed her, even though she was right there. Handing me a cup of coffee.
“Peace offering?”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“About yesterday…”
I shook my head. “It’s no big deal. He was in your past, and I have no right to get upset with you about it. I’m sorry I was such a dick.”
A laugh bubbled from her lips. “You weren’t. I should have told Steven no when he said they’d hired Anthony.”
“No. You can’t jeopardize this. You have to go with whatever they have in place. I’ll be fine. I’m still going to get all my shots. He’s not going to ruin this.”
She sighed. “I don’t like him being here. They should have cleared this with me.”
I shrugged. “Too late for that now. We just have to get through all of it. Are you ready?”
“For the wedding, yes. To meet Joe and Rachel, yes. To see Anthony again, no.”
“Why does he rile you up so much?” I asked, always a glutton for punishment.
She let out a deep breath. “He always got to me. He’s a few years older and had so much experience when he came here that I just trusted everything he said. He did help me to grow the business. I never would have gotten this contract with Not A Dream if I hadn’t followed his advice and made Opposites Attract what it is now.”
“But it’s your company. He might have had ideas, but you were the one who executed them. You’re the one who made this place what it is. Anyone can have ideas, but not everyone can make those ideas reality.”
“I never thought of it that way,” she said, smiling. “Thank you for that.”
I nodded.
“Are you ready for today?”
I pulled in a breath and shook my head. “Not really.”
She chuckled with me. “It’ll be fine.”
I sighed. “I hope so. I don’t know what to do if he flips out.”
“He’s not going to flip out. What happened wasn’t your fault. It was the guy who shot him’s fault.”
I nodded. “I know. That doesn’t mean it’s easy for him to accept. Or me for that matter.”
She walked around to my side of the desk. I spun my chair to watch her. She crawled into my lap, resting her head on my shoulder.
“You’re brave for doing this, Sawyer. Not many people have the guts to face their worst memories.”
I pressed my nose to her hair and breathed her in. It was hard to hold her. I’d sit there with her in my arms forever, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that our relationship was heading toward the end. I told her I was a selfish ass, and I meant it, but I also knew that if she was still in love with another man, I’d step back.
I wouldn’t be her rebound. I couldn’t handle knowing she’d be with him if she had the chance. He was a first class dick, but that didn’t mean she didn’t still love him.
She knew how I felt about her, and she hadn’t said she felt the same. I knew it wasn’t a good sign when she didn’t say anything.
“I can do anything with you at my side,” I admitted.
She turned her face to my neck, pressing a kiss on my pulse. My heart slammed against my chest, my cock seeking her out. Her kisses worked their way up my throat to my cheek and then to my lips.
I kissed her back, our tongues tangling as we made out like teenagers. I didn’t let my hands wander, and she didn’t either. My door was open which meant anyone could walk by and see us, but I didn’t care. I missed her the night before. Not being in her bed made me crabby, and I slept like shit.
Having her back in my arms brought everything back into place. Where it should be.
Where she should be.
Voices echoed down the hallway, and Kiana eased back from me. When Jack stepped into my office, she kissed me again, quickly, then climbed off my lap to face him.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said with a smirk.
“Then you should have kept walking,” I said, glowering at him.
He blew me a kiss then focused on Kiana. “Cathy said this is the last wedding she’s going to do with us. She’s leaving.”
“Shit,” Kiana muttered. “I was afraid that was going to happen.”
Jack nodded. “Yeah, me too. She was always a little flighty, but finding out her boyfriend of two years was screwing you was a little more than she can handle. She said she’s already bought everything for the wedding so she’s going to go through with it, but she’s done after that.”
“Where is she going?”
“Back to the mainland. She’s from somewhere in the midwest, right?”
Kiana nodded. “Yeah. Chicago, I think.”
“We need to find a new caterer. Immediately.”
Kiana sighed. “Yeah. There are a few I can call on for now, but we need someone who can do everything for us.”
“Why do you need someone to work just for you?” I asked, wondering why it wasn’t easier to book freelancers for just about everything.
“Having a set staff means I know everything will be done the right way and on time. Plus, we know the quality of the food and the staff that’ll be working with us. I can’t take my chances on new caterers.”
“What if someone was new but proved themselves?”
“Do you have someone in mind?”
I shook my head. “No. But I wasn’t a wedding photographer. Most of my work doesn’t have my name tied to it. I was basically an unknown.”
Jack stepped forward. “What we saw of your work was good, though. We always have to try what we’re thinking of serving our guests. We’ll find a caterer that wants to work with us exclusively. The only requirement is they can’t work for another wedding planning company.”
“Makes sense.”
“Yeah, except now I’m on the search for a new caterer only six weeks after I hired a new photographer. Both were because of Anthony, but my clients don’t know that. They’re just going to see a higher turnover rate and think there’s something wrong with the way things are run around here.”
I chuckled until I realized she was serious.
“You really think someone’s going to skip working with you because of Anthony and Cathy leaving?”
She chewed her lip and nodded. “I do. There’s no telling what Anthony has told people. I can’t quantify how much business I may have lost because of him. And with her leaving, too… I’m worried.”
I shook my head and dragged her against me. “You’re amazing. You’ve built a fabulous company. It has nothing to do with him or her. It’s you, Kiana. All you.”
“He’s right, you know. None of our clients ask who will be shooting their photos or making their food. They gush about how amazing everything looks and how excited they are to get married here.”
She shifted to my side to look at Jack. “A bride a few weeks ago said she almost followed Anthony when he left, but she stayed because we hired Sawyer.”
“Oh, please. That’s one bride,” Jack said, waving off her concerns.
“I doubt she’s the only one. I have to find a kick-ass caterer. Someone who will wow our clients and their guests. That’s the only way to make this work.”
Kiana wanted all of us there to meet Carrington and Rachel. They were set to arrive at noon and have lunch with the team. It was supposed to be a chance for everyone to get to know each other. Steven, Miranda, and Dave were joining us, and unfortunately, Anthony was, too.
Kiana ordered food in so everyone could sit and eat and talk without worrying about not having time for lunch. When the caterers were done setting up the taco bar, the front door opened.
Voices carried down the hall to us. I picked out Carrington’s tone immediately, a sliver of fear threading up my spine. When they all walked into the conference room, I couldn’t see him, but I could feel him.
My hands got clammy. My heart raced. My throat clogged up.
Shit, I was a fucking mess.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you both,” Kiana gushed, shaking their hands.
People shifted, and I finally caught a glimpse of the man I’d been running from in my dreams for years.
My eyes scanned him, from the possessive arm around Rachel’s waist to the metal leg sticking out from beneath the cuff of his shorts. I couldn’t stop staring at it. I knew it was going to be metallic, but knowing and seeing were two very different things.
I forced my eyes from his leg and took in the rest of him. The last time I saw him, he was bigger, stronger. This man was lean, still built like a Marine, but not the Marine I remembered. His hair was longer, curling around his ears. His eyes were bright and excited as he spoke to Kiana, Rachel anchored to his side. He stroked a full beard, also a new addition to his appearance.
But behind the beard was the same grin. That smile was burned into my brain. It was one I’d never forget. Even if I didn’t know who the man in front of me was, I’d know the second he smiled.
“I want to introduce you to a few members of my staff,” Kiana said, stepping back so the rest of us could move forward. “Jack is my assistant. He takes care of everything on the wedding day, so I can make sure the wedding itself goes off without any issues.”
They shook hands with Jack and said it was nice to meet him.
“Ada will be your officiant. Since you guys didn’t want a religious ceremony, she’s your girl. She’s done many of the weddings for us over the years, and she will do an amazing job for you.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said, smiling widely at Ada.
Then it was my turn. I pulled in a breath, trying to build up courage. Nothing prepared me for it, though.
“And I think you already know my photographer, Sawyer,” Kiana said with an encouraging grin.
The smile slid from Carrington’s face at my name. He held Ada’s hand, but his entire focus shifted to me.
The room changed. Every person watched the two of us. Carrington stepped away from Ada, and moved his fiancée away from me, then spun to glare at Kiana.
“I don’t want that man anywhere near my wedding. If he’s involved, we’re not getting married here.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kiana’s panicked gaze collided with mine. She was watching her dreams slip away, and instead of being able to blame Anthony, I was squarely in the guilty column.
“The company I work for has an opening this weekend,” Anthony so helpfully offered. “We could move everything to our site. I’d be happy to take all of the pictures for the wedding in addition to the extra activities I’m already going to be there for.”
Nothing would feel better than slugging that smug asshole again, but I knew it wouldn’t fix what was going on. It wouldn’t save Kiana’s business.
“I’m sure we can work something out,” Kiana suggested with a tentative smile.
“No,” Carrington said. “I don’t want him anywhere near this. If you knew we knew each other, then you knew I should have been warned about this.”
“I…um…” she trailed off, not really saying anything.
I told her to warn him, but I got why she didn’t. She didn’t want this to happen. She assumed he’d realize there wasn’t another option and get over it. I knew he’d fight harder if he was cornered.
“He’s not the man you think he is. I don’t know why he’s here, but you made a mistake hiring him,” Carrington told Kiana.
It would have hurt less if he just kicked my ass. Instead, he was trying to destroy my career. Just like I did for him.
I waited for Kiana to defend me. To fight for me to shoot the wedding. To tell him he
was wrong. To make me feel like I wasn’t a worthless loser.
But she kept quiet. She held Carrington’s eyes for a long moment, then ducked her chin and looked at the floor. To his credit, he didn’t look triumphant.
I knew what I had to do. I couldn’t let Kiana lose the wedding after everything she did. I hated that I had to do it, but I had to walk away. Hearing the venom in his voice told me he meant every word. I wasn’t going to stand there and have him shred Kiana and all her hard work. I deserved it, but she didn’t. I was the one who ruined him. I wasn’t going to ruin anything else.
For Carrington or Kiana.
“I’m not involved. I told Kiana that when I first found out about this. I’m not going to be here at all.”
“Good,” he spat at the same time Kiana said, “What?”
I barely glanced at her as I moved to the door. I focused on Rachel instead, knowing if anyone in the room would fight to stay with Kiana, it would be her. “Don’t take this out on her. She’s worked her ass off to make your wedding perfect. She has a great vision, and she wants this to be everything you dreamed it could be.”
Rachel nodded, giving me a small smile. I had no doubt she knew exactly who I was and wasn’t much happier to meet me than Carrington was to see me.
“I’d say it was nice to see you again, Carrington, but I’m sure you don’t agree.”
“Damn right. If I ever see you again, it’ll be far too soon.”
I nodded once, then left.
I heard Kiana say something to them, but I couldn’t make it out. Carrington’s voice rose above everyone else’s when he repeated, “If he’s shooting this wedding, we’re not getting married.”
I skipped my office and went straight to my bike. I needed to get as far away from them as possible. Seeing Carrington brought back too many memories, too much pain.
And having Kiana leave me high and dry didn’t feel any better.
If I thought there was a chance she loved me before, it was gone. Her company was more important. I got it, but it still fucking hurt.
I cranked up my bike and was about to leave when Kiana caught up to me.
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