Island Warriors Book One
By Kris Keldaran
Several feet away in the kitchen, Pua looked over at Kehau and Jax talking and smiled.
“They’re trying too hard.”
“At what?” Carli asked, filling the sink with hot water and soap.
“Acting like they’re not interested in each other?”
“Oh?”
“He’s only had eyes for her since he got here. Yeah, he looked us over. But he wants Kehau. And she can’t stop checking him out either.”
“He is an impressive specimen,” Carli said appreciatively.
“I won’t argue that. But Kehau sees him as a protector. She was getting hurt, and he saved her.”
“So you think that’s all this is? An infatuation with a rescuer?”
Pua shook her head. “No. But it’s up to him to ask her.” She looked outside once more. “Kehau’s got a clashing personality. She likes being submissive to men with authority and power, but it has to be on her terms. That’s part of why she and Sione broke up, he wouldn’t let her be herself.”
“You think Jax will?”
“Don’t know. He’s hard to read. Except when he’s mad. Then it’s obvious. He wants you to know he’s mad. He wants to put the fear of God in you. Remember when Sione stabbed him at the gym?”
“Yeah, and he kept fighting. I didn’t get it. Paper cut and I’m done.”
“He was so mad he didn’t feel the knife. He was still mad when he pulled it out. Didn't slow him down at all.”
“That's kinda scary,” Carli admitted.
“But he’s not insane either. Look at him. Totally in control.”
“So what is he?”
“Not somebody I want pissed at me. And we’re not letting him play poker with us.”
Eventually, Pua and Carli left to take care of errands, leaving Jax and Kehau sitting on the soaking up the sun, deep in conversation. Neither seemed to notice that they were totally alone.