Raphael and thought how much they looked alike. Strange how he’d never noticed before. They were the same height, the same broad shoulders, golden hair and eyes. It all made sense now, why Gabrielle favored him. But why did she despise Lash so much?
As she placed her hands on the door, her words caught his attention. “Although I admit one thing, and this is the last time you will ever hear it from me, I have never seen such courage as I’ve seen from you these past couple of days. Whatever happens next, know that you have most definitely earned it.”
Jeremy watched as Lash blinked with surprise. He expected Lash to turn away. He didn’t. Lash gazed at him briefly. With fear flickering in his eyes, he turned and walked through the doorway. Jeremy stared after his friend in awe. Lash was afraid and still he went in.
Gabrielle was right. Despite all Lash had been through, losing his home, thinking he’d lost the love of his life, he still did the right thing, even if he thought it meant he was being banished again.
What was behind those doors was meant for Lash, not him. He wanted to make things right with his brother. But as long as Naomi’s kiss lingered on his lips and cheek, as long as his heart raced whenever she was in the room, he couldn’t fight against the jealousy that threatened to sever him from Lash. He had to do something.
“Gabrielle, may I have a word with you in private?” he asked.
“Yes, I’d like to speak with you, too. There’s an extended assignment I’d like to discuss with you.”
10
W alking along the beach , Jeremy gazed out into the horizon, watching the whitecaps of waves as they rumbled over the blue ocean. He placed one foot in front of the other, thinking about nothing, thinking about everything, feeling nothing, feeling everything. The foamy, warm water rushed over his feet, the heat of the sun shone on his bare back, and the gentle wind caressed his body.
He didn’t know how many times he’d walked up and down the beach since he’d arrived. Dozens? Hundreds? Of the many beaches in Kauai, he didn’t even know which one he was on. Days blurred into nights, and he lost count the number of times he’d seen the sun peek out of the blue waters and then descend into an orange blaze as darkness fell over the island. Up and down the beach he walked, stopping only to eat when he felt hungry and drink when he was thirsty. And when he was tired, he lay down under a palm tree and slept.
He wondered how long Gabrielle would let him stay on his so-called extended assignment. When they had stepped into the courtyard to talk in private, he hadn’t even had to make the request to leave. She had suggested he leave to get some space from all that was happening and allow time for Lash to cool off.
Lash, it’s not your fault. Jeremy closed his eyes and tilted his head up until the warmth of the sun washed over his handsome face. He was thankful to Gabrielle for allowing him to leave, but was she always going to blame his brother when he was just as guilty? Lash’s anger was understandable—his was not. Lash had felt betrayed by Raphael and his so-called best friend. Lash had thought the love of his life was dead.
And what was my excuse?
I was jealous.
For once in his life, he was jealous of Lash, and he selfishly wanted what was not his.
“Um, hey. Are you from around here?” There was a giggle, followed by a light tap on his arm.
Jeremy opened his eyes and looked down at a girl smiling up at him. Her red hair was tied up in a high ponytail. Freckles lined the bridge of her nose. She was voluptuous in her emerald swimsuit. She was the kind of girl he would have flirted with the moment he saw her. And she was obviously interested in him. Her brown eyes slid over his body, from his muscled biceps down to the cut lines of his abdomen. Her eyes widened as they trailed down his defined abs, taking in his noticeable “V” cut and following the little trail of hair into his swim
As she placed her hands on the door, her words caught his attention. “Although I admit one thing, and this is the last time you will ever hear it from me, I have never seen such courage as I’ve seen from you these past couple of days. Whatever happens next, know that you have most definitely earned it.”
Jeremy watched as Lash blinked with surprise. He expected Lash to turn away. He didn’t. Lash gazed at him briefly. With fear flickering in his eyes, he turned and walked through the doorway. Jeremy stared after his friend in awe. Lash was afraid and still he went in.
Gabrielle was right. Despite all Lash had been through, losing his home, thinking he’d lost the love of his life, he still did the right thing, even if he thought it meant he was being banished again.
What was behind those doors was meant for Lash, not him. He wanted to make things right with his brother. But as long as Naomi’s kiss lingered on his lips and cheek, as long as his heart raced whenever she was in the room, he couldn’t fight against the jealousy that threatened to sever him from Lash. He had to do something.
“Gabrielle, may I have a word with you in private?” he asked.
“Yes, I’d like to speak with you, too. There’s an extended assignment I’d like to discuss with you.”
10
W alking along the beach , Jeremy gazed out into the horizon, watching the whitecaps of waves as they rumbled over the blue ocean. He placed one foot in front of the other, thinking about nothing, thinking about everything, feeling nothing, feeling everything. The foamy, warm water rushed over his feet, the heat of the sun shone on his bare back, and the gentle wind caressed his body.
He didn’t know how many times he’d walked up and down the beach since he’d arrived. Dozens? Hundreds? Of the many beaches in Kauai, he didn’t even know which one he was on. Days blurred into nights, and he lost count the number of times he’d seen the sun peek out of the blue waters and then descend into an orange blaze as darkness fell over the island. Up and down the beach he walked, stopping only to eat when he felt hungry and drink when he was thirsty. And when he was tired, he lay down under a palm tree and slept.
He wondered how long Gabrielle would let him stay on his so-called extended assignment. When they had stepped into the courtyard to talk in private, he hadn’t even had to make the request to leave. She had suggested he leave to get some space from all that was happening and allow time for Lash to cool off.
Lash, it’s not your fault. Jeremy closed his eyes and tilted his head up until the warmth of the sun washed over his handsome face. He was thankful to Gabrielle for allowing him to leave, but was she always going to blame his brother when he was just as guilty? Lash’s anger was understandable—his was not. Lash had felt betrayed by Raphael and his so-called best friend. Lash had thought the love of his life was dead.
And what was my excuse?
I was jealous.
For once in his life, he was jealous of Lash, and he selfishly wanted what was not his.
“Um, hey. Are you from around here?” There was a giggle, followed by a light tap on his arm.
Jeremy opened his eyes and looked down at a girl smiling up at him. Her red hair was tied up in a high ponytail. Freckles lined the bridge of her nose. She was voluptuous in her emerald swimsuit. She was the kind of girl he would have flirted with the moment he saw her. And she was obviously interested in him. Her brown eyes slid over his body, from his muscled biceps down to the cut lines of his abdomen. Her eyes widened as they trailed down his defined abs, taking in his noticeable “V” cut and following the little trail of hair into his swim
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