Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Parvati shifted her weight, leaning away from Dax as she said to me, “The island is really pretty right now. Everything is in bloom.”
“I can see that. I mean, I can imagine.” Not like Parvati was a blossoming flower now that she was away from the stresses of the city or anything. I titled my head and scratched my temples. I wished Dax would stop burrowing his gaze into me, but that was my brother, testing me at every chance he got.
“I’d love to see it with you. The island,” she added.
Dax put his hand to Parvati’s back and ran it slowly down the middle. “I think our parents have a hike planned tomorrow. It’ll be incredible, I’m sure.”
She faced him briefly, clearing her throat before she lifted her chin in my direction. Every move she made left a tiny plume of her perfume in the air between us. Now, as she spoke, moving her hands around like before, I had to hold my breath, or I’d end up closing my eyes and moaning her name. “You’ll be there, right? I’ve never been on a hike before. I’d love a lot of company.” She finished with a giggle, and I nearly melted anyway.
“The hike?” My eyes darted to Dax, who was grinning at my sudden realization of the event. “With our parents?”
“With everyone,” he added.
“It’ll be fun,” Parvati said as she nudged me in the shoulder. Where had this playful side of her been all this time?
I nodded along. “Right. Of course. It’s a family hike, after all.”
“Well, I think I should go clean up.” Parvati took a step toward the elevator, then stopped. “Thanks, Dax,” she sent a brief wave in his direction, “for everything.”
The second the elevator doors closed, I got right in his face. “What’s everything?”
Dax laughed, leaning back as he crossed his arms. “You just can’t stand that I’m winning, can you?”
“Winning what?”
“You’re the charmer, you tell me?” I stared back at him as anger fueled a wave of heat in my chest. “Can’t you see what’s happening right before your eyes?”
I gave him a quick shove, which drew the attention of some guests walking in. With my hands on his upper arms as though we were embracing, he and I both turned on a smile until the couple left. “You and Parvati might have had a moment out there, but there’s no way she’d ever pick you over me.”
Dax pushed my hands away and took a step back. His perfectly smooth hair came free, and a clump of bangs fell over his forehead. “You and she might have had your own little moment, brother, but that was back in the city. What have you done lately?”
I lifted my chin at him. “What have you done?”
Dax plopped his hands on his hips with a chuckle. “Let’s just say that I’ve upped the game.” He leaned close one last time. “And if you don’t try a little harder, you’ll be left at the bottom. And you won’t have Jackson anymore either.”
Before I could respond, Dax pushed me aside and headed to the elevator. I stood there staring at the entrance without a clue of what to do next. Dax made Parvati laugh, which was more than I could say I did. He was right. I needed to step things up or I’d get knocked right out of our little competition. But what could I do?
Daniel was the smart one, to be honest. He’d have Parvati thinking, challenging her mentally, and I was sure she’d be eating that up. An intelligent woman like her needed a good mind game. Dax, of course, had her laughing. He was like the boy next door, always a friend, kind. Me, well, I was exciting and lively. That’s what I’d do for her. I’d show her a night she’d never forget. Thrills, anticipation, action. She’d never want anyone else.
I decided I was going to go and get some things specifically for her to make her night perfect. We’d have the best dinner and the best drinks, and I’d show her one of my favorite parts of Hawaii. She’d see that choosing me over my brothers was the only way she could be truly happy, and that what I could offer would be ten times better than any intelligent conversation or funny playful joke that either of them could put together. I had a lot of work ahead of me, so there was no more standing around thinking about it.
I got to Parvati and Daniel’s hotel room at seven. “Hey, Parvati,” I said to her as she opened the door. I peeked inside to see if my brother was around, to which she smiled.
“He’s down with your dad in the lounge, I think. Something about a deal that couldn’t wait.”
“Oh, so you’re alone?”
“And you obviously have dinner in your hands.” She plopped a hand on her hip and smiled coyly back at me.