Perfect Pleasures Read online

  Sarai cut an eye in her husband’s direction. “Zachary is very sensitive.”

  Alexander laughed heartily. “My wife is very protective of my brother. Almost to a fault.”

  “I am not!” Sarai chimed.

  The man nodded his head. “You really are, baby! Because there is nothing sensitive about my twin.”

  His wife rolled her eyes skyward.

  Kenzie laughed. “So, you and Zachary were good friends before you met Alexander. But you married Alexander? Is that right?”

  “Zachary and I were like brother and sister. He was my best friend. When I met this one here,” she nudged her husband, “. . . well . . . he was hard to resist,” she said with a sly smile.

  Alexander grabbed his wife’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Kenzie sensed he wanted to lean in and give Sarai a kiss, but he hesitated, his eyes skating around the room as he resisted the urge to press his mouth to hers. Kenzie was fully aware of the cultural attitudes about public displays of affection, and although she didn’t quite understand all the nuances, she respected those that chose to respect what she thought was an antiquated attitude.

  They changed the subject as Zachary continued to make his way around the room. “So what made you want to be a journalist?” Alexander asked.

  Kenzie took a slow sip of her Singha beer, then swallowed before answering. “I fell into it by accident. My last year of college, I had a grueling load, but I needed one more class in order to keep all of my financial aid money. So I signed up for a mass communications class that required me to work on the student newspaper. I thought it would be an easy course that I could fly right through. But it wasn’t! I actually had to work, and I absolutely loved it! Before that, I was planning on being an attorney.”

  “We were all impressed by your credentials,” Sarai noted. “You’ve had a stellar career.”

  Kenzie smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  The conversation was interrupted as Zachary finally made it to the booth where they all sat. He dropped down beside her, into the only vacant seat. As he did, his leg brushed against hers. The touch was heated, igniting the faintest hint of fireworks between them. They both shifted at the same time, the abrupt gesture almost comical for anyone who might have noticed. And Sarai and Alexander did, shooting each other a look as they held back their laughter.

  Zachary muttered under his breath. “Sorry.”

  “No problem,” Kenzie mumbled back as she shot him a quick look. She brushed a hand against the skin that had been touched, the gesture meant to stall the rise of heat but failing.

  “I thought this was a family dinner?” Zachary said. He cut an eye in Kenzie’s direction, the question meant to incite a reaction.

  Sarai shook her head. “It is. Kenzie wanted to sit down with us all together. A family dinner was the best way to make that happen.”

  Zachary grunted.

  Alexander shook his head. “Kenzie, I wish you’d had a chance to meet our parents before they flew back to Colorado last week. I’m sure they would have had a lot to tell you about the two of us!”

  Kenzie smiled. “I’m sorry I missed them, too. Hopefully when I stop in Colorado on my way back to New York, they’ll be able to make some time for me.”

  “You’re going to Colorado?” Zachary questioned, shifting in his seat to stare at her.

  She nodded. “That’s the plan.”

  There was an awkward silence as the two locked gazes and held on. The corner of Kenzie’s mouth lifted in the faintest smile, her whole face brightening. “I do believe this is the first time that you haven’t been snarling at me like some trapped animal, Mr. Barrett.”

  Zachary’s eyes widened, bristling with a hint of attitude. “Excuse me?”

  “Something wrong with your hearing? You heard me.” Bemusement skipped across her face, her eyes still dancing a two-step with his.

  Zachary smirked, his head waving slightly. There had only been one other woman in his life bold enough to call him on his crap, and she had married his brother. His eyes shifted toward Sarai, who was eying them both curiously.

  Alexander laughed, and in no time at all, the entire table was laughing together.

  “You owe me an apology,” Kenzie said as she slid a bite of chicken satay into her mouth.

  Zachary rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “Sounds like you have a personal problem to me. I’d think in your line of business you’d have tougher skin. Not everyone you’re interested in writing about is interested in telling their story.”

  “No, they’re not, but the apology you owe me has nothing to do with my interview.”

  Zachary sat back in his seat. “No?”

  “No. You practically bowled me down in the hallway earlier. It felt like you dislocated my shoulder, you hit me so hard. That wasn’t cool.”

  “Please!” He shot her a look. “Next time, remember you’re inside and not outside, and don’t run in the halls. When you run in the halls, accidents happen. You don’t have anyone else to blame but yourself. Besides, I think you fractured my thumb, and I make a living with these hands. But you don’t see me complaining.” He held out his left hand, his palm upright as he flicked his thumb back and forth.

  Kenzie’s expression was incredulous as she dropped her fork onto her plate, shifting her full attention in his direction. She shook her head as she cupped her hand beneath his, folding her finger around the appendage. She drew the fingers of her other hand across his palm, the gesture teasing. “Poor baby!” she cooed.

  Zachary suddenly felt himself blush. Her touch had ignited a firestorm, an erection threatening to pull full and taut in his slacks. He pulled his hand from hers and shifted forward in his seat. Reaching for his glass, he took a gulp of his Thai iced tea. The bright orange drink was a mix of sugar, coconut milk, tamarind, orange blossom water, star anise, cinnamon, and other spices. The sweet brew was one of Zachary’s favorites, but in that moment he found himself wishing for something stronger. He gestured toward the waiter and ordered a bourbon.

  “You drink? For some reason, I imagined you to be a die-hard health nut,” Kenzie said, a hint of surprise in her question. She gently spun her own drink glass between the palms of her hands.

  Zachary shrugged. “That would be my brother. I’ve never been quite so committed.”

  “Do you have any other vices that my readers would be interested in?”

  He levied a narrowed gaze at her. “Vices?”

  “You drink alcohol. Some in the sports world might consider that a vice.”

  “They would be the ones who need to stay out of my business,” he countered. He pointed at the waiter, then tapped his empty glass for a refill.

  “Are you always so pleasant to be around?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I didn’t steal your puppy, so I’m not sure why you’ve been so hostile.”

  Zachary laughed. “That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think? Just because I’m not fawning all over you, Ms. Monroe, doesn’t mean I’m being hostile.”

  “I didn’t ask you to fawn, Mr. Barrett, but it wouldn’t hurt you to simply be polite.”

  Sarai interjected. “He’s just been under a lot of stress lately, with the big fight and . . . ,” she started.

  “I can speak for myself, thank you,” Zachary snapped.

  Alexander bristled. He sat straighter in his seat. He and his brother locked gazes, the two seeming to have a silent conversation.

  The two women looked from one to the other, their eyes skating back and forth as they waited to see who would jump first. The tension was palpable, everyone suddenly feeling on edge.

  Alexander broke the uncomfortable silence that had descended over the table. “Since this is family dinner, now is as good a time as any to tell you that we’re going to be going back home at the end of the week.”

  Kenzie shot Zachary a look, eyeing him curiously to see how he reacted to the news.

  He lifted his head to stare at his brother. “You a
nd Sarai are leaving?” he said, looking from Alexander to his sister-in-law and back.

  His twin nodded. “Yeah, Z, I need to check on my own business, and it really is just time for us to go home. You know that we’ve stayed longer than we planned.”

  Zachary sighed, the weight of his growing emotion touching them all. He suddenly moved onto his feet, his eyes glazed. He reached into his pocket for his billfold, tossing money onto the table to cover the bill. He avoided catching any of their eyes. “I need to run,” he said, his tone dropping to a loud whisper. “I have some paperwork to finish.” He finally lifted his eyes to meet his brother’s stare. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  He gave Kenzie a quick glance and a nod. “Good night, Ms. Monroe,” he said, and then he turned on his heels and disappeared out the door.

  Watching him leave so suddenly had Kenzie in her own feelings. There was no missing that his brother’s news had knocked Zachary off sides. With Alexander and Sarai leaving Thailand, she imagined that getting the story she needed from Zachary was going to be difficult at best, if not completely impossible.

  Lifting her gaze, she found Alexander and Sarai both staring at her, seeming to read her mind.

  “He’s just being a little sensitive,” Alexander said. “He’ll get over it. I promise.”

  Sarai laughed, tossing up both her hands. “How come when I say he’s sensitive, you always shut me down?”

  Alexander grinned. “Because I can say it. I’m his brother. Don’t you know how weird it sounds to have my wife say my twin brother is a little sensitive?”

  They all laughed, but despite their assurances, Kenzie wasn’t sure she believed them.

  * * *

  Days later, Sarai and Kenzie sat alone in a corner of the cafeteria. It was Kenzie’s last opportunity to interview the other woman before she and her husband would leave Phuket to return to the United States. The two were staring out the window toward the open gym, their gazes following Alexander and Zachary, who were working out together in one of the fight rings.

  “They’re very close, aren’t they?” Kenzie asked.

  Sarai nodded. “Yes, they are. They’re sometimes lost without each other. I know that’s why Zachary isn’t feeling good about us leaving. They just reconnected after years of being apart, and he doesn’t want to lose that.”

  “You also have a very special relationship with Zachary. Do things ever get awkward with him and your husband because of it?”

  Sarai eyed her with a raised brow. “Why would it get awkward?”

  Kenzie shrugged. “I don’t know. I was just asking.”

  Sarai stared at her for a moment before speaking. “Zachary and I were friends, best friends, before I met his brother. He was a blessing to my father and me when we needed it most. You do know that Gamon is my father, right?”

  Kenzie nodded her head yes as Sarai continued.

  “When I met Alexander, it was love at first sight. He captured my heart. The love they have for each other and the bond they share allows me to have the two most favorite people in my life without it being an issue for either of them. So no, it doesn’t get awkward.”

  Kenzie dropped her ink pen to the table. Her eyes shifted back out the window. “He seems very sad sometimes,” she said softly. She dropped her chin into her hand, her elbow propped against the table.

  “He’s suffered a lot of loss. Maybe he’ll tell you about it and you’ll understand him better,” Sarai whispered back.

  Kenzie shot her a look, a wave of understanding seeming to waft between the two of them. Their conversation continued for another hour, the two women getting to know each other better. Without realizing it, most of her questions centered on Zachary and his accomplishments, hoping Sarai’s answers would help when she next got a chance to talk to him directly.

  Zachary Barrett fascinated her. He was somewhat of an anomaly, unlike most of the men she’d ever known. She’d watched how focused he was when training clients and running his business. She had no doubt that he was wholeheartedly dedicated to his family, friends, and employees. From everything his staff and friends and business associates had to say about him, he was well-respected and much loved. But something was missing. Something that kept his smile at bay. Something that he hid with his bravado and his swagger. His public persona was boastful and audacious, but more often than not, when it was just him and he thought no one was watching, unhappiness would settle against his shoulders and weigh down his spirit. It was then that Kenzie sensed his vulnerability, an air of insecurity that he didn’t want anyone to know.

  “He really isn’t interested in talking to me, is he?” Kenzie asked, refocusing her attention back on Sarai.

  Sarai shook her head, tossing the length of her hair over her shoulders. “I don’t know why, but he doesn’t trust the process.”

  “You mean he doesn’t trust me.”

  There was a moment of hesitation. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know why he has issues with you. I wish I did.”

  “But you agree that he has issues with me?”

  Sarai smiled, her mouth bending slowly upward. “Well, there’s something about you that has him all riled up!”

  Kenzie laughed. “I have that effect on men,” she said jokingly.

  They turned back to stare out the window, watching as the two brothers laughed heartily about something they found funny. Watching them together made the women smile. After a few minutes, Sarai rose from her seat, gathering the remnants of her lunch from the table. She hesitated for a brief moment as she carefully chose her last words.

  “Don’t hurt him,” she said as she looked Kenzie in the eyes. “He can’t handle being hurt again. If this is some kind of game for you, then you need to leave. Don’t play with his emotions. If you do, you’ll live to regret it.”

  Kenzie’s brow lifted in surprise. “I’m not . . . I . . .”

  “I know, you’re just here to do a story. But I see how you look at him, and I see how he looks at you. Neither one of you is ready to admit that there is something going on with you, and since I’m not sure that whatever that is will be good for Zachary, I’m giving you fair warning.”

  “So are you threatening me?”

  Sarai shook her head. “Not at all. Just warning you that my husband won’t take kindly to anyone who attacks his brother or hurts his heart. And neither will I.” And with that, Sarai headed for the door and out of the building.

  Kenzie blew a soft sigh past her full lips. She didn’t say it out loud, the words feeling foreign to her, but she instinctively knew exactly what Sarai had been thinking. And she found herself suddenly feeling the same way, wanting to protect Zachary from pain of any kind.

  Chapter Three

  The ride back from the airport had been bittersweet. Zachary had hated to see his brother and his best friend leave him, but he was excited for them and the future he imagined them having. As he’d watched their plane taxi down the runway, he’d whispered a quiet Thai prayer that Sarai had taught him, wishing for protection and guidance to lead them on their journey.

  He turned onto the property and drove his jeep down to the main building. Sarai’s father, Gamon, spoke for the first time since kissing his daughter and new son-in-law good-bye. “That reporter woman would like to ask you questions today. Sarai told her you are free this afternoon.”

  “Tell her I’m not available, please. Today’s not a good day.”

  Gamon gave him a stern look, the man’s expression scolding. “She is a nice girl. And she will be good for the business. You must talk to her.”

  Zachary cut an eye at his old friend. “Please, don’t do that. I know Alexander and Sarai put you up to it. Don’t do it!”

  “Don’t do what? I’m not doing anything.”

  Zachary rolled his eyes skyward, just imagining the conversation the trio had had about him. He’d gotten a lecture from his brother, advice from Sarai, and now Gamon was wanting to tell him what a nice girl Kenzie was. How the woman had manag
ed to hoodwink the three of them into thinking she was somehow God’s gift to their establishment was beyond his comprehension. But somehow, some way, Kenzie had bewitched the entire compound.

  It had taken her no time at all to befriend most of the staff and at least half of his clients. She’d been quite the social butterfly, flitting from point A to point B, making conversation as she asked questions about him and his brother. He understood she was doing her job, and she was doing it well, but her presence was more of a thorn in his side than he wanted to admit.

  Kenzie Monroe had gotten under his skin, and it surprised him. She was extraordinarily beautiful, and under different circumstances he would have been tripping over himself to know her better. He would have wined and dined her and used every bad pickup line that he could think of to get her attention. Once he’d bedded her, he would have let go and moved on to his next conquest.

  Too often since her arrival, he’d gotten himself lost in daydreaming about her, imagining what it might be like to kiss her sumptuous lips, to taste her, his mouth exploring every inch of her luscious body. He thought about his palms against her curves, trailing his thick fingers into places his hands had no business being. After dreaming about taking her in every position imaginable, he’d allowed himself to go a step further and envision the impossible, wondering if it were even conceivable to see a relationship between them grow and bloom into something wondrous.

  He couldn’t help but wonder about a relationship with any woman that didn’t end after a single night of passion! Speculating what it might be like to open his heart again and find love that didn’t feel dark and depressing. What if he could have that and more with her? What if she were the one? No one had ever accused him of not dreaming big, he suddenly thought. But Kenzie wasn’t a luxury he could afford to allow himself, and he needed to let his musings about the woman go. It didn’t serve him, or her, well at all.

  He shook his head as he kicked himself back into reality. “Whatever. I’m not available. Not today. Maybe tomorrow.”

  Gamon sat staring at him, and the pain his deep gaze stirred in Zachary was excruciating. Gamon was like a second father to him, and he held the man in high regard. Ignoring his request only served to increase Zachary’s angst because there was nothing he wouldn’t have done for the old man. But he wasn’t ready to sit down across a table with Kenzie Monroe.