by Mika Jolie
She doubted very much she fell into that category. She smiled and allowed Jason to lead her to the group. Her sister and Claire were quick to come to her side. Jason released his hold on her as he stepped away to talk to his friends. Although she had met each one of the men the night of the engagement party, tonight felt as if they were seeing her for the first time and greeted her with a warm welcome.
“How are you, Minka? I see you’re feeling better,” Forrest said with a warm smile. His eyes twinkled with mischief just like his friend’s. Even though he was handsome, Minka found him disarming and soothing. She smiled back at the doctor. Ever since the night she’d passed out at the engagement party and woke up with him taking her pulse, she had liked him.
“Yes, much better. Thank you for coming to my rescue the other night.”
He looked over his shoulder at Jason, then smiled back at her. “Jason was quick to react. I’m glad I was able to help.”
Blake stood up to place a kiss on her cheek just as Jason placed a hand on the center of her back. Jason didn’t do it on purpose—he had no clue of her inner turmoil—yet she froze.
“You look beautiful, Minx,” Blake said with a smile before reaching for his fiancée. “All of you ladies look so beautiful. We are lucky men.”
The man with the jet-black hair cleared his throat before taking her hand in his. He focused his look on her as he brought her hand to his lips. “I’m Adam. Ciao, bella!” His chestnut-colored eyes swept over her body. “My friend is a lucky man to have you in his arms tonight.”
Her body grew warm from the compliment. Deep down, she knew he was being polite and even teasing, but the admiration still felt good and left her slightly lightheaded.
Claire pushed Adam away and shot him a warning look. “Adam, the player; one day, I hope you fall in love so hard it leaves you breathless,” she said, laughing.
Adam laughed good-naturedly, then leaned forward and placed a kiss on Claire’s cheek before pulling her into his arms. Laughter broke between them. Minka wished she could see Jason’s reaction to determine how he was reacting to the two of them together like that. As his hand slipped back into hers, she turned to face him. He smiled at her with no sign of concern regarding the banter going back and forth between Adam and Claire.
“How about a drink before dinner?”
She nodded in response. He brought her hand to his lips before approaching the waiter.
Aware her sister was watching her, Minka glanced toward her. As Jason stepped aside Keely moved from Blake to approach her.
“Come on, sis; let’s go powder our noses before dinner.”
Without a word, she followed her sister down the hall to the restroom. Once there and not quite sure what to expect, Minka reached into her purse and searched for her lipstick.
“You look beautiful.”
The words sounded sincere and genuine. “Thanks. You too,” Minka acknowledged. Her sister looked elegant in a fitted organza black dress.
“Jason is eating you alive.”
They were both facing the mirror. Her eyes darted to Keely.
“Be careful, if you don’t want to get down and dirty. I hear women have a hard time saying no to his charms.”
“It’s not like that. He’s just being polite.”
Keely placed her lipstick back in her small purse. “There are many words I can use to describe Jason Montgomery. Loyal, determined, and silly at times, but, my twin, polite is not one of them. I’ve known him for about three years now, and I’ve never seen him being polite to anyone or for anyone’s sake.”
At a loss for words, Minka looked down at her purse. Keely reached over her shoulder to readjust the strap of the dress.
“You look gorgeous,” Keely repeated with a proud smile. “You’re my younger sister,” she grinned, pointing out the seconds’ delay of Minka’s birth. Yes, even at birth Keely had come out first. “It’s my job to look out for you. Jason is fun. He’s rich, super-good-looking, and I’m sure he’s great in bed.”
Oh boy, they were going there. Minka shifted her body with discomfort. “God, Keely, I wish you would stop talking about Jason.”
Deep laughter escaped her sister’s throat. She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll stop. But, on a serious note, have fun with it. Enjoy the attention, but take it for what it is.”
They stared at each other. Her sister was looking out for her and probably had every right to do so. She was part of their circle and used to Jason’s ways. But Minka felt her sister was cutting her short. “You don’t think I’m pretty enough for him, do you?”
Keely looked momentarily lost and crushed. A look of pain swept her face. “Why would you say that?”
Minka shrugged, regretting she had chosen this time to be honest with her sister. “Never mind.”
“Jason doesn’t commit,” Keely explained. “Women are nothing but a body to him. I’ve seen him with women. He makes them feel special, beautiful. But, days later, he moves on to the next. That’s who he is.”
Okay, so they had no chance. She already knew that. It just hurt hearing it from her sister. “Well, lucky for me, I’m only here for two weeks,” she spat. The defiance in her voice carried a level of anger she didn’t know she could project.
“Minka, I just don’t want you to lose sight of the situation and make more of it.”
She gaped at Keely. In her own way, she was sure her sister meant well. But, standing there with her sister, Minka couldn’t help but feel Keely was selling her short. It was clear her sister thought she was incapable of dealing with a man like Jason.
“Do you want Jason?” Her voice was harsh and fueled by anger. The words surprised her.
The high arch of Keely’s perfectly shaped eyebrows was the only hint of astonishment. But even then she quickly recovered and let out a rich chuckle over the absurdity of the question. “I’m in love with Blake.”
“That’s not an answer,” Minka challenged.
Keely squared her shoulders and met her gaze. “I have come to love Jason and all of Blake’s friends, but I’m in love with Blake Alexander. I want him and no one else.”
Minka witnessed a flash of pain in her sister’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Keely. I just thought…”
Keely gave her a shaky laugh. “I think that’s the most honest you’ve been with me our whole lives. It hurts, but I welcome it.”
For a while neither woman spoke; the only sound that existed between them was the ticking of the large clock on the wall.
“I’m sorry,” she offered again.
Keely smiled and looked a little more relaxed. “You know, I just don’t want to see you hurt by falling in love with him. I’ve seen women fall for Jason. He has no problem walking away.”
“I’m here for two weeks. I’m not going to fall in love with him.”
Her sister laughed, not a menacing tone, more like an Oh poor Minka, what makes you think you can resist him? type of laughter. “I’ve seen women do that, you know. Fall for him within days. You’d think two weeks is too short, but he’s charming. They all are, but Jason more so.” She paused and smiled sweetly at Minka. “If he hurts you of course Claire and I will bring damage to his pretty face.”
At that, Minka had to laugh. The idea of Keely and Claire wrestling Jason to the ground and torturing him seemed impossible, but she believed her sister would at least try. “I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”
Keely nodded with understanding. “After you guys do the deed, I want to hear all the gory details.”
Minka cheeks scorched with embarrassment. She quickly tried to avert from her sister’s probing gaze. Too late, she was too slow. She stood exposed, like a wide open book for Keely to flip through. And by the big grin on her face, it was obvious the cat was out of the bag.
“Oh my! This morning…” her voice trailed, as if remembering the state Minka was in when they met for brunch. “Minka!” Her hands covered Minka’s. “Last night, you were with Jason.”
Minka lowere
d her head and focused her attention on the gray tiles. Her brain scrambled to find a logical excuse. No way could she let her sister know how Jason had made her feel. She gradually raised her head to meet her sister’s prying stare, silently confirming all of her suspicions.
“Shit, Minka!” Keely exclaimed. “Now it all makes sense. The way he looks at you. Why he came after you back at the inn. Did you guys go at it on my bed?” she asked but didn’t look one bit annoyed over the idea.
In spite of herself, Minka chuckled. “No.” There was no need to mention he wanted to or the kiss they shared. “It was just one time.”
“Just once.”
“Well, more than once,” she corrected, and Keely looked shell-shocked. “But, just last night.”
“But, you’re going home with him tonight. I can tell. The sexual tension is quite intense.”
“He asked for one more night,” she admitted.
Her sister’s lips curved into a smile. “You screwed his brains out.”
“God, Keely, must you be so crass?”
“Jason doesn’t chase women. Usually it’s the women begging for more.” She chuckled. “Believe me, I’ve seen it.”
Minka shrugged the idea away. Jason wasn’t chasing her. He had made a request and she had obliged. Not out of necessity, but because she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. “I appreciate you worrying about me, but I can handle Jason.”
“I believe you. Come on, let’s go back. I’m sure he’s stirring in his pants right now.”
Minka rolled her eyes, embarrassed at Keely’s outrageous comments. “Why do you always talk like that?”
Her sister wrinkled her nose. “Don’t you love it? Let’s go back to our men.”
Minka opened her mouth to remind her sister she didn’t have a man. Jason belonged to no one, especially her, and then thought better of it. She followed her sister out of the restroom and found Jason at the bar. He was talking to a pretty blonde with his arms crossed over his chest, confirming her sister’s words of his ways with women. Upon noticing her, he excused himself and walked to them.
Keely touched her shoulder and stared right at Jason. “My sister is in your hands. If you make her fall in love with you and she gets hurt, I will personally cut your pretty huevos off.”
A little whimper escaped Minka’s throat. Worse, Jason looked like he was enjoying the situation.
“What makes you think my balls are pretty?” he challenged. The smile tugging his lips broke into a grin, completely enveloping his face.
Keely glared at him, her hazel eyes blazing almost amber with determination. “Save the charms for her.” She glanced at Minka who could only stand there in silence. “Just remember what I said.” With that, she sashayed away into the dining room.
With weak arms and legs, Minka didn’t have the power to move away from Jason. He leaned a little closer.
“Your sister is like a bulldog,” he said with good humor.
“I’m sorry. She figured it out.”
He shrugged. “We’re adults. Would you rather I take you back to your hotel tonight?”
That was her chance to close the door, to walk away from this insanity. He would understand and leave her alone for the rest of her stay here. Something she realized she didn’t want. “No,” she answered, her voice holding certain firmness. “I want to be with you.”
He pulled her into his arms and pressed her close to him, making her feel the evidence of his hardness. “I can’t wait to rip that dress off you later.” He tilted her face to his and brushed his lips against hers. “Just don’t fall in love with me. I don’t want my huevos cut off. I like my balls.” He grinned.
Once again, her shyness fell away; Minka wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes and smiled at him. “I promise I won’t.”
Chapter Eleven
“Don't let the number on the scale tell you how beautiful you are.”
Steve Maraboli
“Minka, please tell me you don’t have a boyfriend at home.”
Adam, as Jason warned, flirted with her at every opportunity presented, but Minka noticed it was harmless and he was doing it to get a rise out of his friend. And since he was easy on the eyes, she played along.
“Nothing serious.”
Adam gave her a satisfied smile. “Great, after you dump him,” he said, signaling to Jason, “I will gladly show you how to truly have fun. Jason can be a bit of a stiff.”
“That’s not what your mother said.” Jason grinned.
Adam didn’t look bothered by the comment. “He thinks my mom is hot.”
“She is hot.” Both Forrest and Blake agreed.
Adam shook his head. “I’ve been dealing with this since childhood,” he explained, unfazed. “My mother is a former Miss America.”
Well, that explained his good looks.
Stories of their childhood were told throughout the night. Minka learned the original foursome consisted of Blake, Jason, Forrest and Claire. They grew up on the island while Adam grew up in Italy and spent his summer vacations on The Vineyard. Claire was the youngest out of the crew by three years and, according to Jason, the snot nose who always felt the need to tag along with the boys.
After high school, they went their separate ways for college, but returned home after graduation except for Blake. He chose to make the trendy area of Philadelphia his home. Claire was now mostly on the road, but apparently always made it back to The Vineyard. Minka remembered the pictures of Claire and Jason on the internet paddle boarding or dining together. It dawned on her the two were photographed here on the island.
The conversation remained colorful with stories until Adam dropped the ball. “I stopped at Vapor today.”
A chill ran down Minka’s back.
“Good. You’re a lazy partner.”
“Maxie told me you were there last night.”
Minka watched as Jason nodded. He sat back and placed one arm over the back of her chair. His face gave nothing away. From across the table, Keely smiled at her as she took a bite of her scallop.
Minka avoided looking at Adam.
“As a matter of fact, I was,” Jason confirmed. “You know both of us can’t be slackers.”
Adam smiled and nodded. “That’s a good point. I had a date. I doubt I was slacking. But, more importantly, Maxie said you left with someone. You know how everyone gossips here.”
As Minka sat there listening, it suddenly made sense to her why some people often say they felt like they wanted to crawl into a small box and hide from it all.
It was one thing for her sister to know she slept with Jason last night, but apparently Adam also had knowledge of it too. Reluctantly she met the twinkle in his eyes. He winked at her.
Yup, he knew.
Minka tried to focus on the plate of food in front of her, surprised to see she had eaten most of it.
“If you must know, I was with your mom,” Jason said with a smirk. “I had her begging in Italian.”
Laughter went around the table, and even Adam chuckled. “My mother is American.”
“I made her speak Italian,” Jason said with a laugh.
Adam feigned being hurt and looked around the table for support, but everyone shrugged and reminded him he had started it. “You’re an asshole.”
“I’m my father’s son.”
“Hey, your father is not an asshole,” Claire chimed in. “Let’s play nice, boys, and keep the vulgarity off the table for now. We have ladies here.”
“You’re not a lady,” Adam and Jason quipped together.
Claire rolled her eyes. “So then, Jason, who did you bang last night?”
“I didn’t bang anyone,” Jason clarified. “That sounds so impersonal.”
Her sister coughed loud at his words, clearly choking on her food.
Massaging his fiancée’s back, Blake leaned forward with a smile. “So why the secrecy?”
“There’s no secrecy. You’re all too nosy.”
For
rest shrugged. “Hey, you forget we are in Martha’s Vineyard.”
Jason smiled. “Gossiping goes into remission during peak season.”
Blake acknowledged his friend’s brilliant response with a chuckle. “Good rebuttal. A lawyer till the end.”
“I choose not to tell you losers. Besides, I am technically on a date tonight and I choose not to divulge any information about whom I spent the night with in front of her.”
To her relief, Adam didn’t press the issue. He sat back and seemed satisfied. Desserts and more drinks were ordered. Minka gave in to Jason’s coaxing and took a bite of his key lime pie, and when the bill was placed on the table, Jason reached into his wallet, ignoring his friends’ objections.
“My treat,” he insisted. “It’s nice having the family back together and I hope to keep my balls.” He winked at Keely, who shot him the death look.
“What are we missing here?” Forrest asked with a smile. “Who wants your balls?”
“I may have to cut them off,” Keely volunteered, “but, it will all be done with love.”
Jason chuckled and reached for Minka’s hands as he came to his feet. The restaurant manager approached the table for a brief conversation. He placed a kiss on Claire’s cheek and reminded her she owed him a date. Claire smiled and promised they would get together while she was on the island. Forrest came to stand behind Claire and placed a hand on her lower back. Minka noticed the other woman had straightened herself and Forrest slowly let his hand fall to his side.
It had happened so fast she was sure no one else noticed it. Claire turned to look at Forrest and flashed him a polite but distant smile before walking past him out of the dining area to the bar. A troubled look settled on his handsome features, and after a slight hesitation he walked away from the table. The others seemed unaware of the tension between the two and made their way to the lounge.
As they walked across the room, Minka spotted Claire and Forrest standing at the bar engaged in what appeared to be a heated conversation. She slowed her steps, not because she wanted to overhear the conversation but something about them pulled the strings in her heart.
