Love on the Rebound (Hawaii Billionaire Romance)

by Jennifer Youngblood

  He stepped up to her and cast a sidelong glance. “I wouldn’t do it if I were you.”

  She jutted out her chin. “Do what?”

  “Jump. It’s not worth it.”

  Surprise flittered over her features, then her eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t going to jump, you imbecile. But I did consider throwing your butt over.”

  He chuckled, loving her sharp wit. He could tell from her demeanor that her defensive shell was cracking. He nudged her. “I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head, her chin set defiantly.

  “Really.”

  Her features softened. “I’m sorry too.”

  “Apology accepted,” he said promptly. He slipped an arm around her and pulled her close. She leaned her head into the curve of his shoulder. They stayed that way for a few minutes, until Jordan climbed up on the top rung of the railing.

  Everly sprang into action, getting him down. “Don’t climb up there again,” she cautioned.

  As they made their way down the trail, they passed Briggs going the opposite direction. He was mopping his damp forehead, looking absolutely miserable. Christian straightened to his full height and kept his eyes fixed on Briggs, but the coward wouldn’t even look his direction. Everly tugged on Christian’s arm. “Come on. He’s not worth it,” she said loud enough for Briggs to hear.

  Christian didn’t relax until they’d gotten a good fifty yards past him. He didn’t want to upset Everly, but this couldn’t continue. He decided then and there that the next time Briggs or any of Roland’s men set foot on his property, he was going to do a lot more than simply glare at them.

  They were standing in the deli section of Safeway, and Everly couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You had your entire Christmas dinner catered … from a grocery store?”

  Christian pulled a face. “Well, it was either that or have Mele make it. I figured she would want to spend Christmas with her family, rather than cooking for mine.”

  “How many people are coming for dinner?”

  “My mom, dad, sister, and us.”

  “So eight people total.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you expect to feed everyone with that?” She pointed to the small turkey and quart-sized plastic containers that had been packed up by the deli.

  “Well … yeah … I can add some things to it, if you don’t think it’ll be enough.”

  She giggled. “I thought Hawaiians were notorious for making big meals. Where I’m from, that small amount of food would get scarfed up before you could unwrap your silverware from your napkin. Christmas dinner should be a feast.”

  His eyes sparked with hope. “You volunteering?”

  “I suppose I could whip up a few things.” The prospect caused excitement to simmer inside her. Everly’s biggest reservation about spending Christmas in Hawaii was that she’d miss the traditional Christmas meal she and her mama made every year, consisting of turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, cranberry salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, country green beans, sweet potato casserole, and rolls. Everly almost had not come, but her mama assured her it worked out for the best because she wanted to spend Christmas at her sister’s house in Greenville. Although, Everly suspected the only reason her mama was going to Greenville was so Everly wouldn’t feel guilty and stay home. Before things unfolded with Christian, Everly had planned on finding a restaurant that served Christmas dinner. But, now, she would be able to make the food she loved … and share a bit of her culture with Christian.

  “Get whatever you need,” Christian said eagerly.

  “What are you planning to do for dessert?”

  “Dessert?” Christian rubbed his jaw. “Ooh, I hadn’t thought about that. I guess we could pick up some ice cream.”

  Everly wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think so,” she said saucily. “I’ll make a pumpkin cheesecake and a crusty cherry cake.”

  “Wow! You’re beautiful and you cook too.” He pushed her arm with his finger. “Are you real?”

  She laughed. “Better save your flattery until after you taste it.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Everly breathed a sigh of relief when Jordan finally dozed off. It had been a chore to get him to sleep. She wondered if Christian was having as much trouble with Sadie. The two kids had been bouncing off the walls, so excited about Santa coming they could hardly stand it. At Jordan’s insistence, they’d filled a heaping plate of chocolate chip cookies for Santa. And Sadie insisted that they needed to leave carrots for Rudolf. Christmas was magical through the eyes of children. Everly was so grateful that she had Jordan, but she often worried about him being lonely as an only child. Everly was the oldest of three girls, but she often felt like an only child because her siblings lived in other states—one in Texas and the other in Alabama. Still, she could call and talk to them when she needed a boost, whereas Jordan only had her and his momaw to keep him company. Roland would take him on the occasional outing, but since the divorce, he’d been MIA most of the time. Proof he didn’t care all that much about Jordan, but was using him as a means to control Everly.

  Seeing Jordan and Sadie together made Everly acutely aware of how badly Jordan needed more interaction with kids his age. And being around Christian made Everly realize how much she’d missed having someone in her life. She sighed, checking her reflection in the mirror. She fluffed up her curls and added a touch of powder to her face. She and Christian agreed to get the kids to bed and then watch a movie. The prospect of being alone with Christian sent anticipation tingling through her. Several times today, she’d felt sparks of energy when they touched, but the attraction was kept in check by the kids. She wondered if he would kiss her. Her pulse increased. It was unwise to entertain such thoughts about Christian, because the last thing she wanted was a long-distance relationship. And she didn’t want to drag him into the sordid mess with Roland. Everly kept hoping and praying that Roland would find a steady girlfriend and lose interest in her. When they first got divorced, she assumed that with the passage of time, he would become less controlling and jealous. But it was turning out to be the opposite. Roland’s destructive behavior was escalating. She still couldn’t believe he’d sent Briggs all this way to keep tabs on her. She brushed aside the unpleasant thoughts. Regardless of what happened or didn’t happen with Christian, Everly was going to enjoy tonight. She was on vacation, after all.

  Everly stepped into the den, which flowed directly into the kitchen in an open-floor format. Soft music was playing in the background and Christian had dimmed the overhead lights so the lights on the Christmas tree would take center-stage. The doors and windows were open, allowing a pleasant breeze to flow through. There were a few presents under the tree, but they’d agreed to wait until later to put out the Santa gifts. Christian was in the kitchen. He turned when he saw Everly.

  “I’m heating up a pot of water for hot chocolate. Do you want anything to munch on?”

  “Popcorn would be good. Do you need any help?”

  “I think I can handle it.” He flashed a lopsided smile, which exposed his dimple. “You’ve been cooking all afternoon. The least I can do is make you some hot chocolate and popcorn.”

  “I would like that,” Everly replied as butterflies fluttered through her stomach. He really was gorgeous.

  After returning from the grocery store, Everly had set to work making the desserts for tomorrow. She’d also baked cornbread for the dressing and assembled the sweet potato casserole. She wanted to get most of the prep over with, so she wouldn’t be rushed tomorrow. Everything was ready to go into the oven at this point. Thankfully, Christian had ordered a pizza for dinner, and they set out store-bought cookies for Santa. Christian had thanked her a dozen times for cooking; but the truth was, she enjoyed it. Cooking was relaxing and helped bring a sense of normalcy to the situation, especially when she made items so integral a part of her heritage.

  She sat down on the plush leather sofa. A couple of minutes later, Christian came in carrying a large bowl of popcorn. He
placed it on the coffee table and sat beside her. “So, what movie do you want to watch?”

  A smile played on her lips. “How about an action movie?”

  He made a face. “Really? I figured you’d want to watch a Christmas movie. I have It’s a Wonderful Life.”

  “Nah, I prefer to watch something a little more exciting.”

  “Okay, exciting’s good.” He reached for a handful of popcorn and shoved it in his mouth. “Let’s see what I’ve got in the queue.”

  “How about Freefall?”

  He jerked around. “What?”

  “Freefall. You know, the action movie starring …” she put a finger to her forehead, feigning thinking … “Sorry, I can’t remember the guy who starred in it.”

  His face fell. “You’re not really gonna make me watch that with you, are you?”

  “Why not?” The prospect of watching his own movie made him squirm, which made it all the more fun to tease him. A curl had slipped into the middle of his forehead, giving him a boyish look that was so intensely attractive she could hardly think straight. Her fingers itched to thread through the thick tangle of curls. “You don’t like the movie?”

  “Yeah … it’s okay. I don’t like watching myself. It’s weird.”

  She gave him her best puppy-dog look, batting her eyelashes. “Please?”

  He sighed. “Okay … for you.”

  The water kettle whistled. Christian hopped up. He returned carrying two mugs of steaming hot chocolate.

  Everly took a sip. It was every bit as good as it had been the night before.

  Christian started the movie. When he appeared on screen, Everly whistled and cheered, loving how color seeped into his face. Somehow, despite the stardom, Christian retained a healthy level of humility. And Everly found that very attractive. With Christian sitting right next to her, it was hard to focus on the movie. Her pulse bumped up a notch when he slipped his arm around her. She leaned into him, liking how nicely her head fit into the curve of his shoulder.

  About a fourth of the way into the movie, Everly turned to him. “You really are a great actor. I know you said you were semi-retired, but are you planning on doing more movies in the Jase Scott series?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said evasively, his eyes going a shade darker.

  Instantly, she picked up on his hesitancy. “Why wouldn’t you? You’re a natural-born actor.”

  He removed his arm, a guarded expression coming over his face.

  Everly knew she was prying. And if her mama were here, she’d remind Everly it wasn’t ladylike to press Christian into talking, but she couldn’t help herself. It seemed like such a waste of God-given talent for Christian to give up acting. She placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude in your personal affairs.”

  He let out a long breath. “No, it’s a fair question. And the answer is … I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to that life again.” His eyes deepened, fathomless in their intensity. “Too many memories.”

  Even though she was just getting to know Christian, she couldn’t help thinking he was hiding out here on this estate, letting life pass him by. It was sad. Then again, who was she to judge? She’d spent the last 2 ½ years dodging Roland.

  His lips pressed into a tight line. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re disappointed.”

  She was surprised he’d read her so accurately. “I’m not disappointed … exactly. It’s just hard to see someone casting aside a gift. She pointed at the TV. You’re good. And, please forgive me for saying this, but you’re not doing yourself or anyone else any favors by running away.”

  He bristled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Then maybe you should explain it to me.”

  His eyes went hard. “It’s awfully easy for you to sit there and cast judgment on me, when you’re cowing to Roland.”

  The words were a slap in the face. She took in a ragged breath. “You know what? This is a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.” She stood.

  He jumped up. “Now who’s the one running away?” He caught her arm. “Tell me why you let Roland run all over you.”

  She glared at him. There was something cathartic about the intensity building between her and Christian. Most of the time, she plastered on a friendly smile to the world, while bottling up her feelings. But she truly wanted Christian to know where she was coming from, and she wanted to understand him. “Okay, but only if you’ll tell me why you stopped acting.”

  They stood there, staring at each other, until Christian relaxed his shoulders. “All right.” A ghost of a smile stole over his lips as he touched her hair. “At least you didn’t tell me to ‘stick it where the sun don’t shine’ this time.”

  Her hands went to her hips. “Well, I would, if I thought it would help,” she retorted, but all she could think about was his nearness. She wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him until her need subsided.

  He chuckled. “I don’t doubt it. Shall we sit back down?”

  She sat down and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She cut her eyes at him. “You first.”

  “Okay, here goes. I miss acting … more than you can imagine.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “Being on the set is invigorating. When I’m playing a part, it’s like I’m becoming that person. And Jase Scott is larger than life. There’s nothing he can’t do. Anyway, you get the point.” He paused. “When I got my first big break, I thought I had it made. I was walking on air and nothing bad could touch me. But then the accident happened. And when Heather died ...” The words caught in his throat, and he coughed. He sighed heavily and began again, clasping his hands together. “When Heather died, everything changed. Life turned dark, and I felt like I was caught up in a never-ending wave, rolling so fast it would consume me. One night, in particular, I felt like I couldn’t go on.” His voice broke, and Everly placed her hand over his. He swallowed. “I found myself on my knees, praying for help … begging for a sliver of light to direct my path. It was at that moment that I had the distinct impression I needed to go home.” He offered a grim smile. “And I’ve been here ever since.”

  She let that sink in. “Have you been off the island since you came back?”

  “No.”

  Her brow creased. “You know, just because you received the impression to come home doesn’t mean that you have to give up what you love.”

  He nodded, but she could tell from the pain in his eyes that he didn’t believe that. “Here on the estate, I have my privacy. You saw how those women acted at Diamond Head and how people stared at us at the grocery store. Everywhere I go, I’m in a fishbowl.” He rubbed his eyes. “It’s hard enough to deal with a tragedy, but try dealing with it while the whole world is watching. I just don’t think I can go back to that again.”

  “I understand.”

  He cocked his head. “Really?”

  “Really. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I suppose that’s why they say life is a four-letter-word.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve never heard that before?”

  “No.”

  “In the South, we call curse words four-letter-words.”

  Realization dawned as he laughed. “Ah, makes sense. Yes, I suppose life is a four-letter-word sometimes.”

  “Yep. But we have to keep living it anyway.”

  “Indeed.”

  “It’s like the poem Anyway by Mother Teresa.” She could tell from his blank look that he’d never heard it before. From the time she was a little girl, Everly’s mama had quoted the poem. “It’s kind of long, but the gist of it is this:

  What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

  Build anyway.

  If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

  Be happy anyway.

  The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
<
br />   Do good anyway.

  Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

  Give the world the best you've got anyway.

  You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

  It was never between you and them anyway.

  He grew thoughtful. “I like that. Good words to live by.”

  “Yep. As a kid I always added my own lines.

  “You may be the shyest kid in the room, but you need to act confident anyway.”

  Christian chuckled. “You? Shy? I don’t believe it.”

  “You know the saying—fake it till you make it. That’s my mantra.”

  “Well, it obviously works.”

  “Of course, my mama was the queen of adding in her two-cents to the poem. Her favorite when I was a teenager was. ‘You may not like cleaning your room, but you need to do it anyway.’”

  “Smart mom.”

  Everly felt a rush of tenderness for her resilient mama who’d survived her husband walking out on her when Everly was a baby and cancer too. “Yeah, she’s pretty great.”

  “I’d like to meet her sometime.”

  Time seemed to slow as their eyes locked. This relationship was progressing at warp speed. In many ways, it felt like she’d known Christian forever. A part of her wished she and Jordan could stay here in his world. “I would like that very much,” she uttered.

  Tenderness filled his eyes, and she saw the longing he felt for her. He probably would’ve kissed her, had she not scooted backwards.

  He looked surprised and a little hurt, but she needed to know something before this went any further. “You must’ve loved Heather very much.” The words spilled out between them like lava burning a chasm between adjoining mountains.