Chapter 6
Jaxon felt the daggers from Sofie’s eyes and refused to look at her. He placed his hand on the small of Bindy’s back and guided her over to London and the girls.
“You finally made it.” London finished his drink and set the empty glass down on the bar behind him. “I thought I was going to have to send a search party for you.”
“Yeah, I got your text. For some reason my phone didn’t have reception,” Jaxon replied.
London pulled him in for a hard hug with a loud slap on the back.
“You haven’t changed,” London murmured near his ear.
His brother stepped back and tossed him a wink.
London offered a hand to Bindy. “Hello there. My name is London. I’m the older, more good-looking twin.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Bindi giggled, taking his hand.
Her laughter was like nails on a chalkboard. Jaxon held back a wince. He moved back to Bindy’s side and motioned to Alana.
“You may be older, but you are certainly not good-looking,” Jaxon teased.
They were identical genetically. There were small things that made them stand apart. His parents were always able to tell the difference between the two of them. Everyone else, they reigned terror on. There were many times they had switched places and no one had known.
Bindy moved back to his side.
Jaxon motioned to the girls. “This is London’s wife, Alana, and her friend, Sofie.”
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Alana smiled, taking Bindy’s hand for a quick shake. “I’m glad you can join us.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Bindy replied.
Bindy turned toward Sofie, but she brushed past them with an unladylike snort. Sofie hit him with her icy-cold stare, and if it were possible, he would be pushing up daisies. Sofie was beyond pissed.
“Welcome,” Sofie tossed out over her shoulder.
Jaxon bit back a smile and instead glared at her back. For someone who didn’t want anyone to know about the two of them, she was definitely taking him bringing a guest to dinner wrong.
“I’m sorry about my friend,” Alana rushed out. She motioned for Bindy to come with her. “Why don’t we get you a drink before we’re seated.”
Bindy went with Alana while London eyed him.
“What?” Jaxon asked.
“What have you done to Sofie now?” London asked. His brother took a hefty sip of his drink and narrowed his gaze on him.
“Why is it that I am the one doing something to her?” he asked, feigning innocence. He moved to go to the bar. He was going to need a stiff drink to get through dinner.
London grabbed his arm and leaned in. “Look, I don’t know what has gotten into the two of you, but y’all both have been acting weird since we got here.” His face was void of emotions.
Jaxon knew the look. It was the older brother threatening look. He wasn’t a child anymore and wasn’t going to be intimidated.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I thought you wanted me to get along with Sofie?” he asked. London had been busting his balls for a while about the way he and Sofie were always at each other’s throats. The few times they had all done excursions together, he and Sofie had behaved.
Now he’d done as his brother wished and London wanted to interrogate him about it?
London stared at him for a moment longer before releasing him.
“Get your drink. I’ll let the host know we’re ready for our table.”
It didn’t take long for them to be seated. Jaxon was between Sofie and Bindy. Sofie had yet to utter a word to him. Which it wouldn’t have been too out of the ordinary before they came to Bora Bora. Now, he didn’t know if he liked it.
He knew Sofie’s body like he back of his hand. He had spent the last week sinking inside her, tasting her, and listening to her scream his name.
Now her silence was deafening.
The scent of her perfume reached him. He breathed it in and felt a certain stirring beneath his waist. He had to keep his mind clear of any memories of him taking Sofie. It wouldn’t do well for him to have a raging erection while at the dinner table.
Jaxon now regretted informing his brother that he was meeting women on the island. London had been insistent that he brought one of them to dinner. Jaxon didn’t know London was going soft after getting married to Alana. All of the women they had fucked, it was rare for them to keep seeing them. The old London wouldn’t have asked such a thing, but when London said that Alana was asking Sofie to bring her man, Jaxon didn’t want to arrive alone.
Now that he saw that she had come alone, he felt like a royal ass.
He should have reached out to her earlier, but when he thought she was bringing someone, jealousy had reared its ugly head.
Jaxon Keith was never jealous. A man like him could have any woman he wanted. His eyes were drawn to Sofie. She plain ignored him. She stabbed her fork into her food harder than was necessary before bringing it to her lips.
His cock jerked again, and he turned away from her. He caught London staring at him with a raised eyebrow. Jaxon ignored the look and focused on his plate.
“So how did you and Jaxon meet?” Alana asked, breaking the short, uncomfortable silence.
“Simple story,” Bindy replied. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it back on her lap. She rested a hand on Jaxon’s forearm and giggled.
Jaxon held back another wince.
“I go to the resort gym every morning and noted this handsome guy lifting weights,” Bindy said. “I lift, too, and we struck up a conversation. The last few days, Jax has made my workouts fun.”
“I’m so sure he has,” Sofie muttered. She lifted her wine glass and took a hefty sip.
“What did you say?” Bindy looked around Jaxon so she could see Sofie.
Jaxon didn’t miss the glare Alana sent Sofie.
“I said that’s so nice of him.” Sofie cleared her throat.
Bindy’s face softened. “He’s been the perfect gentleman,” she exclaimed.
London, Alana, and Sofie all pretended to choke on their food and drinks. They fell into a fit of laughter while Bindy looked at them, amused.
“Really?” Jaxon snorted. He shook his head and bit back a grin.
They thought they knew him well. He could be a gentlemen when he wanted. Bindy had been correct. They had met at the resort’s gym. He had seen a blonde with mile-long legs working on her squats while holding a twenty-pound dumbbell. He had gone over near her to grab a couple of dumbbells when he’d noticed she was crying while working out.
“Are you okay?” Jaxon asked.
“I will be, I guess,” the blonde replied. She sniffed and placed the dumbbell back in the rack with its mates. She scrubbed at her cheeks with her hands and stared at herself in the mirror. “I probably look horrible.”
“You look fine for someone who obviously is going through something,” he stated.
She didn’t look bad, but there were red splotches on her face. Jaxon didn’t do well with crying women or kids. He glanced around, but there were two other people in the gym, and they appeared to be together.
“Is there someone I can go call for you?”
She snorted and shook her head. She took her hair down from the bun and began fixing it. “To be honest, I’m supposed to be here with my husband for our honeymoon, but he ran off the night before we were to be married with his best man.” She turned to him with her red-rimmed eyes. “Am I stupid for coming here on my own?”
Jaxon immediately felt sorry for her. He could be an ass at times, but there was a good guy inside him. She was obviously hurting. One thing Jaxon respected was the sanctity of marriage. He had grown up with a wonderful example of a perfect marriage. His parents were still in love with each other after all of these years. He wanted that with his future wife.
“No, I don’t think it’s stupid for you to take a paid vacation that I’m sure you helped pay for. Why waste it?”
“He paid for everything.” She sniffed.
“Even better,” he joked.
That won him a smile.
“Hi, I’m Bindy.” She stuck her hand out to him. When she smiled, she could be considered pretty.
“Jaxon,” he said and took her hand in a firm shake. “Question for you. How did you not see what was between your ex and his friend?”
That earned him another smile. After that, they met at the gym and lifted together.
“I’m not that bad,” Jaxon muttered. Bindy needed an ear, so he’d lent her his. He would have to admit if he would have met her before coming to the tropics, he would have invited her out for a night of pleasure to keep her mind off her pain. But now all he could think about was the woman who sat next to him and had yet to speak with him.
So Jaxon did something the hadn’t done before.
Befriended a woman he hadn’t slept with
“ T hanks for having me,” Bindy said. She waved at everyone.
They were in front of the restaurant. London and Alana appeared to like Bindy. Sofie was just so damn stubborn. She had yet to speak to him. Each look he’d received held a threat to his life.
“Don’t be a stranger while still on the island,” London said.
“Goodnight,” Alana said. She gave a little wave before turning to Sofie.
The girls entwined their arms and began walking away. London tossed him a wink then jogged after the girls.
“Come. I’ll walk you to your bungalow.” Jaxon rested a hand on the small of Bindy’s back.
They left in the opposite direction. Bindy didn’t stay too far from the restaurant. He would ensure she made it home safely, then he would head over to Sofie’s to smooth things out.
He actually was looking forward to her anger and what was sure to be a fight. It was something about her fiery nature that made him want her.
“Thank you for inviting me out with your friends.” Bindy strolled alongside him.
The moon was high, giving them plenty of light. It was beautiful out, and he found himself wishing it was Sofie he was walking with.
“Not a problem. You needed it.”
“Was that her? The one who was angry?” Bindy slyly glanced at him.
He had shared with her that he was seeing someone but he was unable to tell anyone.
“Sofie?” He chuckled, sliding his hands in his pockets. He wasn’t surprised Bindy had picked upon Sofie’s animosity. At the gym the other day, he’d found himself telling Bindy about Sofie. It had felt good to speak someone. He was unable to confide in London. Since his brother had tied the knot with Alana, he was insisting it was time for Jaxon to do the same. Jaxon blew out a deep breath. Was he ready to settle down? “Yeah, it was her.”