He looked back down at Sione lying on the ground, mewling softly and crying through the pain.
"I'm gonna kill you," Sione gasped.
Jax didn’t respond at first. Reaching up with his right hand, he pulled the switchblade out of his arm. Blood coated the blade in a dirty red film as a dark patch started to grow on the sleeve of his sweater “You’re supposed to twist the blade as it goes in, that way it doesn’t bind on bone or muscle.”
He looked down at Sione as if speaking to an ignorant child.
“And never buy cheap. Not when lives are in the balance.” A flick of his wrist sent the knife flying through the air. It hit the wall, blade shattering against the concrete like cheap glass.
Jax squatted down beside him, pulling his arm out of the sleeve of the sweater. He rotated it in front of Sione's face, displaying intricate Polynesian tattoos etched into the skin of his massive bicep. Sione's eyes went wide. Jax noticed this and commented, "So you recognize 'em?"
Sione swallowed hard.
"Know what they mean, boy?"
A nod. Whatever those tattoos indicated, it was not something Sione wanted to mess with. Kehau had to agree too.
"No matter where you go, I got family on both sides of the bars." He grabbed Sione by the ear, yanking his head around to lock eyes with him once more. "So, anytime you think you're feeling lucky, go ahead and make my day."
"I'm won’t do anything," Sione stuttered through trembling lips.
"You're damned right," Jax snarled. He stepped back and Sione stayed quiet until the police arrived.
One of the gym's trainers had given Kehau a bag of ice for her swelling cheek and she held it there, slowly taking away the burn and the sting. Hopefully it could negate some of the bruise. Jax answered questions from a police officer in a voice almost too quiet for her to hear. At length, the cop seemed satisfied with what he was being told and told Jax to have a good day. The officer approached her politely.
"Ma'am, we've taken statements and pulled the surveillance footage as well. That boy’s going down for a while, if you want to press charges."
"Yes. I don't want to be hurt again."
"Good for you. We'll have detectives in touch with you later this week." He handed her a business card with his name on it.
She smiled through the pain. "Thank you. What's his name?" As she nodded toward where Jax was having his arm looked over by a paramedic. He'd told Sione “Jax”, but she was hoping to get his full name.
"Jaxson Kuznia. Your ex picked a bad man to start a fight with." He threw a thumb toward the barely-sweating man-machine on the bench. "Dealt with guys like him before. Pissing them off is stupid. Sione’s lucky he didn't get killed."
She considered mentioning the tattoos, then thought better of it. Some things stay between God and the Angels.
At length, the police and ambulance left. Kehau walked over to where Jax was flexing his arm.
"Hi."
He looked at her, then stood up languidly.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Sort of," she said absently as she checked him out.
Up close he seemed even bigger. Truthfully, he wasn't any taller than her five eleven, but his broad chest and shoulders gave an appearance that suggested otherwise. His coal-black mustache ran down past his chin in a Fu Manchu and his goatee was trimmed into a thick triangle, and he had intense black eyes that seemed to observe everything, giving away little in return. Not like a predator, but whatever hunted predators.
"Can I help you?" he asked, snapping her out of the reverie.
"I…uh, my friends and I, we were wondering if you'd like to join us for breakfast back at our place?" God, why do I sound like a kindergartner?
He smiled, politely this time. "Sure."
"The cop told me your name is Jaxson, what do you prefer to go by?"
"Jax is fine,” he assured her as he smiled, with an unusual warmth, and Kehau felt her skin flush. Why was this happening? After what had just happened, and her promise to avoid men in the near future, what the hell was wrong with her?
“I mean if you don’t want to join us, that's okay too.”
“No but—"
“It’s totally okay,” Kehau blurted out. “I mean I got you stabbed!”
Jax cocked an eyebrow. “I was about to say that if you let me grab my bag, I’ll follow you over in my truck.”
“Oh. Okay.”
He looked at her, a rueful smile on his lips. Then he reached out with one hand, pushing a tendril of her hair back behind her ear. The rough callous on the pad of his finger brushed her cheek. She shivered slightly, hoping he didn’t notice. “You’re starting to come down from the adrenaline and everything else.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a bodily response to situations where fight or flight is required. Your body puts out a bunch of different chemicals all at once. The result is that you feel hyper, your skin gets super sensitive. Stuff like that.”
A light bulb clicked on in her head. “So that’s what it is?"
Because it sure feels like I want to have sex, and I have no clue why!
“Yeah, no worries, but you’re gonna have a crash when it all ends. Everybody responds differently. I get the munchies real bad.”
Whatever you say, Kehau thought as she looked him over. The way you went through Sione was absolutely brutal.
He grabbed his duffle bag from the wall, taking a long sip from his water bottle as he walked back toward her.
What an odd man, she decided right then. Very odd.
“I’m ready,” he announced.
Kehau barely took note of all this though, as she made her way to the car. A new thought had occurred to her. Why had he stood up for her? What did he expect because of it?
Chapter Two
Girls, Girls, Girls
Long legs and burgundy lips
Girls
Dancin’ down on the Sunset Strip
Girls
Red Lips, fingertips.
Mötley Crüe
For as long as Kehau had known her, Pua was a penny-pincher, the kind Scrooge could take lessons from. At twenty-four and freshly graduated from college with an MBA, she’d opened her own high-end salon spa, much to her wealthy parents’ disdain. Such plebeian things were beneath their daughter. Pua wanted it for herself though, bad enough that she sold her car and took to living out of a broom closet in the back of the salon to pay her bills. When her mother came by one morning and found her living like this, they chose to break the impasse, deciding it was long past time for Pua to have a place of her own. Not a rental either. A real house.
For once, Pua had the good sense not to refuse their generosity, mainly because they were filthy rich and it was only a ten minute easy walk from her Kailua salon. A two-story house, with five bedrooms, and a massive kitchen that opened onto a lânai with a sunken hot tub built into it facing the Ka’elepulu pond. Concrete steps led down into the water whenever she wanted to go kayaking. Even if it wasn't a mansion, it was the next best thing to it. The friends always ended their Saturday morning workouts there.
It shouldn't have been such a big deal, but Kehau's stomach was doing back flips. “What the hell is wrong with me?” she wondered aloud. “It’s just a guy coming over for breakfast.”
The knock at the door startled her, making her jump.
"I'll get it!" she yelled, hoping it was her rescuer from earlier as she opened the door. He filled the doorway, broad as he was.
"Howdy," Jax spoke in that solid, louder than-normal voice.
"Come on in. We normally like to make breakfast," Kehau told Jax as they walked through the house, "then eat in the hot tub and relax for a while."
"Sounds outstanding."
"Do you need to change at all?" Pua asked as the pair entered the kitchen.
"If that's alright."
"Of course!" she said brightly. "Bathroom's over there by the outdoor grill. Go ahead and hop in after you change. We'll join you shortl
y."
"Thanks" he said, then strode outside.
Kehau had completely forgotten about their guest, busy as she was, until Carli let out a gasp.
Jax was back. In these tiny olive green shorts that might as well have been underwear. Without the sweater on that he had worn earlier, she found herself correct in her thoughts of his physique. The thick, dense muscle that covered him reminded her of a major Samoan wrestler and actor who had been the center of her fantasies since she was a teenager.
He was heavily tattooed, his arms, back, chest, and portions of his shoulders were covered with a myriad of designs. Prominent were the designs on his forearms. From several feet away, she could clearly see the words “STRENGTH” and “HONOR” on his left forearm. When he turned, she saw the “COURAGE” and “DISCIPLINE” written into the right side.
That seems to fit him so well. I wonder where he got the idea from? The thought scampered through her mind right then: wouldn't it be fun to trace those designs on his chest with my lips? Kehau shook herself. Oh God! Where did that come from?
Looking at Carli and Pua, Kehau saw they too seemed just as distracted. Jax sank into the water without a word then leaned back and closed his eyes, utterly oblivious to all of the attention he was receiving. All three women sighed for a moment. This man was something else.
"Well you certainly know how to pick your knight in shining armor, girly,” Carli announced enviously.
The warm frothing water felt good on his sore back, causing Jax to breathe a sigh of contentment and close his eyes. Good workout, good fight, and now homemade breakfast? In a hot tub? There wasn't any way you could make this day better!
"Save any room for us?" a sweetly feminine voice declared. He opened his eyes and looked up to see all three women in swimsuits and tank tops, holding plates and drinks. Scratch that, now it's perfect. He smiled and sat up.
"Hop on in, the water's warm," he replied cheerfully.
While the three women got in, he eyed the heaping plates of food. Loco moco, rice, portagee sausage, gravy over everything, and fresh pineapple. Definitely ain't eating from a chow hall. He shook his head and snorted at that memory.
"Is something wrong?"
He looked over to see the woman he'd rescued earlier, looking back, her wide green eyes framed with long dark lashes. Must not stare. Must not stare! giving himself an inner kick.
"No, I was just thinking how nice it is to be eating with island girls instead of mainland wahines."
All three laughed at once. "So you mean you don't like a granola for breakfast every day?"
"Sister, does this body look like granola built it?"
"More like you stole the pigs from the luau," Pua said jokingly.
She had brilliant red hair, a vibrant hue, with an elfin build. Cute for a night, but not my type. I'd probably break her in half if I wasn't careful, Jax decided right then as he barked out a laugh, even if it was directed against him. Good thing Islanders appreciated wit. "Very nice." He dug into the food on his plate, devouring it with a cheerful intensity.
"So what about you," Kehau asked. "Where do you work? Bouncer? Construction?"
"Nah, I like quiet work. I'm a consultant."
Kehau's fork paused in mid-air and she looked at him studiously.
"You're messing with me."
"Nope." He grinned, looking directly at her. "Keeps me busy, but much more relaxed than my old job."
He's smart, hot, and probably makes good money. Damn it! Kehau thought. I just barely got away from Sione. I'm not even cute right now, half my face is bruised, and here comes Mr. Too-Good-To-Be-True. If I'm really unlucky, he'll be sweet and like kids!
"This food is amazing!" Jax said as he set his empty plate down.
"You're finished already?" Carli asked in amazement. She had the look of a stereotypical California peroxide blonde.
She does not look like someone I can go out for a burger and fries with. Never mind an intelligent discussion.
Jax half-smirked as he looked in her direction. "Old habit from my last job."
"What was that?" Kehau needled, "face painter at a petting zoo?"
"Nope. Urban reconstruction."
Jax stood to get himself another glass of juice. As he did so, he could feel Kehau's eyes scouring the ink that covered his body. Wait for it, wait for it, he told himself.
"Were you stationed at K-Bay?" she asked.
Yep, she saw it.
Over his heart, carved in black was the second tattoo Jax had ever gotten. An eagle-globe-and-anchor, framed by the words "Fortes Fortuna Jovat" across the top. Below was the phrase "Johnny Rocket" in blood red, and the tools of his trade: rockets flanking a heavy machine-gun.
“I was,” he said conversationally, though the pride was evident in his voice.
“My older sister used to date Marines in Orange County,” Carli said. “They always drove Mustangs and didn't take crap from anybody."
"Comes with the territory," Jax assured her.
"Johnny Rocket? Where’s that from?" Kehau asked in between bites.
"It’s my nick name. Momma was hungry for a burger and the nearest place was a Johnny Rocket's down the street. She waddled over there nine months and a day pregnant, ordered, ate, and delivered me while she was waiting for her second chocolate shake."
The three women looked aghast.
"That's crazy,” Pua said in an awestruck tone.
"My mother is Tongan,” he replied.
"And your father?"
"The only haole that could beat her brothers at arm wrestling."
"So were you raised on the Mainland?"
"Yeah, I moved here nine years ago, liked it so much I stayed. What about y'all?"
"Kehau’s a teacher at HPU," Pua informed him.
He pointed at Kehau, “Lemme guess, dance teacher?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s all in the hips, you sway from side to side like you’re doing a hula as you walk along,” he announced matter-of-factly.
He’s checking me out! A thrill ran through her. She liked having this man check her out. Maybe if I’m lucky he’ll keep it up. He’s not a drooling idiot.
Across the hot tub, Jax did his best not to stare at Kehau. Growing up in Arizona and New Mexico had left him with a penchant for dark-haired women with a dusky complexion. Exactly his height, she definitely had curves in all the right places. And hoo boy, I can stare at those eyes for hours. Wonder what she’d do if I started kissing her there and worked my way lower?
“I’m gonna get more POG juice” Pua said, standing up to leave the hot tub, empty pitcher in hand.
“Wait a sec, lemme get the plates,” Carli told her.
In a moment, both women were walking across the lânai, chatting amicably. Kehau tried not to be mad. This isn’t awkward. Not at all! I hate them both. No you don’t, another part of her mind spoke up then. You’ve been waiting all morning for this. Yeah, I'd like to blame them but who am I kidding?
Jax had learned long ago the best way to make a woman relax was getting her to talk about herself. Especially around him. “So who taught you to dance?”
“Huh? Oh, my mother. She used to perform at a Luau years ago.”
“How long have you been dancing now?”
“Since I was three. Even performed in the Merry Monarch a couple times.”
He smiled. Jax was a man with a hard fast preference for dusky women that danced. “Tell me about it, I’m all ears.”
*****
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 sp
ecimen,” 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 lânai soaking up the sun, deep in conversation. Neither seemed to notice that they were totally alone.
*****
Back inside the house, Jax checked his watch after he’d drained his glass once more, then looked seriously at Kehau.
“I know you’ve had a long morning so far, but are you busy tonight?”
Kehau had a good idea of what he was going to ask, but she needed to hear him say it.
“Not yet, no.”
“Would you like to go on a date with me?”
Her heart leaped. Got to play it cool. Hard to get. Just because he rescued me doesn’t mean I’ll throw myself at his feet.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Dunno, except that I’ll pick you up around six and we’ll go from there.”
He really doesn’t want to take no for answer.
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