Perfect Pleasures Read online

  After his last stop, his conversation with the gym owner intense and direct, he wasn’t ready to head back to Revolution. There was too much racing through his head. Instead he headed up to the west coast, starting at Naithon Beach. Parking, he jumped out of the jeep and walked the sand, grateful for the peace and quiet that came with the seclusion. When he tired of that, he hopped back in the jeep and drove on route 4018, parallel to the beach, the ride showcasing the magnificent coastline. The trip took him south, past Bang Tao Beach, Banana Beach, and a resort whose name he didn’t know. He turned onto Layan Soi toward Layan Beach, then finally came to a stop at the north-end entrance to Laguna Phuket resort, where there was a cluster of beachfront restaurants.

  Taking a seat on the patio outside one of the little mom-and-pop shops, Zachary savored a chilled bottle of beer, a bowl of fried rice, the blue lagoon that kissed the damp sand in the distance, and the salmon sunset that filled the darkening sky. He sat in the moment, thinking about the many blessings that filled his life—his family, his friends, and his success. He wanted for nothing. He was loved, and he was respected. But even with all of that, he suddenly realized that although he had no problems being alone, this was the first time he could admit to feeling lonely.

  He blew a soft sigh. He missed his brother’s wife. And he missed his twin brother. He and Sarai had been best friends for so long that she could read his moods and motivate him without him ever saying a word. With Alexander, there was little that he couldn’t tell his twin, and he really could have used him right then to bounce his emotions off of. During moments like this, he wished they were still here, still keeping him grounded and focused. Because in that moment he couldn’t think straight—thoughts of Kenzie kept spinning through his head.

  * * *

  Frustration had turned to anger. Kenzie had been sitting in front of Zachary’s home for most of the evening. She had questions, and she was hopeful that he had the answers. But he hadn’t bothered to come back, and he wasn’t answering his cell phone. So there was nothing left for her to do but wait. And now she was angry because patience was not one of her virtues. She stood up and began to pace for the umpteenth time.

  She would have sworn on everything she held sacred that she and Zachary had made a connection the previous night. Being with him had felt like the most natural thing in the world to do. There had been little that they hadn’t talked about. And she’d been amazed at how easily the conversation had come. She thought back to him talking about his brother and the time they’d been estranged. Even in the darkness of that, he’d found something to joke about.

  “So one day, I suddenly get this pain in my leg. It was unbearable,” Zachary said as he started to tell the story. “Two doctors later, no one could tell me what was wrong with me. It really started to mess with my head. I was sure my career was over.” He took a deep breath as he continued.

  “Weeks go by, I can’t get any relief, and then one day my mother calls to check on me. I tell her the problem I’m having, and she says, ‘Isn’t that the funniest thing? Alexander broke his leg in a game a few weeks ago. His leg is hurting him too!’” Zachary mimicked his mother, adding in the head and hand gestures. The movements were exaggerated and comical. “And just like that the pain went away. It was like grade school all over again. One of us would get hurt and the other would feel it. Back then, I swore he broke his leg on purpose to get even with me for breaking his heart.”

  Kenzie had laughed. “So what happens now when you fight? Do the punches you take hurt Alexander?”

  “No, it’s like that crap only works one way!” he said with a deep chuckle. “Some kind of prophetic karma.”

  He had made her laugh and had seemed comfortable enough in her presence to tease her playfully. The time they’d spent together had felt all kinds of right, and she’d been hoping for more of him when she opened her eyes that morning. Instead, he’d been gone when she woke from the night’s rest. By the time she’d caught up with him, he had gone back to being cold and distant, completely ignoring her, and that made her even angrier.

  It had been a good long while since Kenzie had allowed her emotions to get caught up over any man. The men she usually allowed into her inner circle were never more than casual friends; some were just dick-on-command if she needed an itch scratched. They were convenient arm candy, and none were allowed to pull her into any emotional foolery. Those connections worked when she wanted them to work, and when she didn’t, letting them go was as easy as breathing. So she didn’t have a whole lot of experience with relationships because she’d never been willing to invest the time or the energy it took to maintain one. Compromise was a dirty word in her vocabulary because she was always determined to have things her way or not at all. But Zachary had her wondering what it might look like to be with a man who made her laugh the way he did. A man who appreciated her quirks and seemed to be a nice balance to her personality. She liked him, and although she fully intended to maintain that professional line with him until her story went to press, she couldn’t help but consider what might be when that was done and finished.

  And even as she contemplated the possibilities, she found herself angry all over again. How dare he ignore her? she mused. No man had ever been so dismissive toward her; most fell all over themselves for her attention. Zachary was nonchalant where she was concerned, almost to the point of disinterest. He was seemingly unmoved by her presence, and that irritated her beyond comprehension.

  Kenzie suddenly realized that being angry wouldn’t serve her well. Especially if she hoped to discover more about the relationship between Zachary and her father. She needed to maintain her composure, and that was going to be difficult to do if she was harboring a grudge because her ego was bruised. It also wasn’t going to win her any cool points if she hoped to capture his attention for longer than a few hours.

  She took a deep inhale of air and then a second, practicing one of the many breathing exercises that she’d learned in a mandatory anger-management course that she’d been made to take a few years back. The technique was the only good thing that had come from her punching a blind date in the face in a public place when he’d rubbed her the wrong way, trying to force his tongue down her throat and his hand up her skirt. He’d called for police backup; both had been arrested, and she’d gotten off lightly, that six-week course her only consequence for flying off the handle. Her date had suffered a broken nose and a fractured jaw, and had received a conviction for sexual battery. She blew that breath slowly past her full lips and took another until she felt her nerves begin to calm. She stole a glance down at her wristwatch. It was almost midnight, and Kenzie realized that Zachary was probably gone for the night.

  She made a slow stroll back to her own unit, closing and locking the door behind herself. As she stripped out of her clothes and settled down for the night, Kenzie couldn’t begin to imagine where Zachary might be. Then suddenly she found herself pondering just who he might be with. Was there a woman in his personal life that he was committed to? Had he evaded her questions about his relationship status because there was something he didn’t want her to know? Was he with that woman at that very moment, making her laugh, holding her hand, loving her with the best of himself? And if he was, then what about her and them and the couple she imagined the two of them being? But they weren’t a couple, and Zachary had never given her any reason to think that such a thing was a possibility. As all her thoughts spun like a bad storm in her head, Kenzie suddenly realized she had gotten caught up emotionally and was feeling out of control. As she reflected on that disaster, she realized she was raging all over again, angry that Zachary Barrett had her feeling some kind of way.

  Chapter Five

  The way his staff was acting, Zachary would have thought he’d been gone for two years and not two days. But he had desperately needed time to himself to work through the feelings that had galvanized him. Now that he was back and feeling more like himself, he felt better able to handle whatever might be thro
wn at him.

  He had just finished reviewing the mountain of paperwork on his desk, signing the last check to pay the bills, when his cell phone rang. His brother’s face popped up on the digital screen. Zachary was grinning broadly as he answered the call.

  “Hey, A!” he exclaimed, calling his brother by their favored nickname. “What’s up, family?”

  “Just calling to check on you, Z. How’s it going?”

  “It’s all good. I was just here in the office trying to get some business done. But I have no complaints.”

  “Glad to hear it. So how’s it going with Kenzie?”

  Zachary hesitated for a quick minute. “Why are you asking me about Kenzie?”

  “She called Sarai to postpone her trip to Colorado. Kenzie said she needed to stay in Thailand a while longer. I thought maybe you two . . . well . . . you know . . .”

  Zachary laughed. “No, bro! There is nothing like that going on between me and that woman. I can’t tell you why she’s delaying her trip. I haven’t talked to her.”

  “So you still aren’t talking to Kenzie?”

  “I mean . . . well . . . we . . . I . . .” Zachary was suddenly stammering. He paused as he gathered his thoughts. He extended his legs and lifted them to rest on top of the desk. “Man, let me tell you . . . ,” he started.

  Minutes later he’d filled his brother in on everything that had happened since Alexander and Sarai had gone back to the United States. He told his brother about Kenzie peeping through his fence and the evening they’d shared together. Then he opened up about how he’d been feeling. “So, I’ve been gone the last two days,” he concluded. “I needed some time to think. I haven’t seen her since I got back, so I’m not sure why she changed her plans.”

  Alexander laughed. “Sounds like you dropped into some drama,” he said.

  “You know damn well that is not my style. I’m not playing games with that woman,” he said with a deep chuckle.

  “I don’t think she’s interested in playing games with you either.”

  “Maybe not, but all I’m interested in doing is finishing this interview and getting back to business. I’m already getting fight requests, so it’s just a matter of time before I’m going to have to defend my belt again. I need to stay focused.”

  “Why are you afraid to care about this woman?” Alexander asked, the question feeling like it had come out of left field. “Any woman for that matter? You can’t spend the rest of your life mastering those one-night stands. That’s just not cool, Z!”

  Zachary took a deep breath and held it as he reflected on the question. His ex-wife had left him bruised and battered to a point where he hardly recognized himself. She had come into their lives and had devastated Alexander first, before turning her wrath on him. Zachary had owned up to his part in the hurt that had ravaged his twin—his decision to marry the woman breaking his brother’s heart. Alexander coming back from that had taken years, and it was only when Sarai had broken down his barriers to get to his heart that he and his brother had been able to turn things around between them. Until he’d experienced that exact pain himself, Zachary had thought such a hurt unimaginable. But now he was standing in his twin’s size thirteen shoes, still whirling from the storm. He didn’t know if was ready to tear his walls away. He was still holding tight to the bricks that fortified his heart.

  His twin seemed to read his thoughts, understanding wafting between them. Alexander answered his own question. “I get it. I really do, and you know it. Trust me when I tell you that it doesn’t always have to be this way. But you have to be willing to let yourself love again. She’s special, Zachary. Kenzie is a beautiful woman. She’s smart and has a great sense of humor and a beautiful spirit. She seems very genuine. And you like her. I know you do. Being afraid that you’ll get hurt again isn’t going to serve you well, and I speak from experience. If I hadn’t taken a chance with Sarai, I would have missed out on the most incredible woman God put on this earth.”

  The two brothers continued to talk for another hour. Their conversation was intense as they shared their feelings about the women who had come into their lives and left, and the women still there holding on. Zachary found himself wishing he had called his brother days earlier, and he said so.

  Alexander grinned into the receiver. “Hey, that’s what family is for, right?”

  Zachary nodded his head as if his twin could see him. Before he could respond, Gamon suddenly poked his head into the room, waving a hand in his friend’s direction. Zachary gestured for him to come inside and take a seat.

  “A, it’s been good talking to you, but I’ve got to run. Your father-in-law needs me to get back to work!”

  “Tell Gamon I said hello,” Alexander directed. “And think about what I said, please.”

  “I will. I love you, man! Kiss my girl for me, and give her a hug from her old man.”

  “I love you, too, Z! We’ll talk again soon!”

  Disconnecting the call, Zachary felt so much better as he met Gamon’s stare.

  “Mr. Montri, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

  “You have sparring class in a few minutes.”

  Zachary nodded. “I didn’t forget. I was just about to head in that direction.”

  Gamon nodded. He stared intently, his stoic expression suddenly making Zachary nervous.

  “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  Gamon responded in Thai, narrowing his gaze. His tone was curt, bristling with indignation as he chastised Zachary for his behavior.

  Zachary cringed. “I know. I know,” he hissed between clenched teeth.

  Gamon shook a finger at him. “You must do better. You cannot be an example for the young men here when you are behaving badly.”

  The young man nodded. “I agree, and I promise I’ll do better.”

  Gamon tilted his head at him. “Did you know she is Kai Tamura’s daughter?”

  Zachary met the older man’s deep stare, their gazes locking. They sat like they were about to go head to head, the air in the room becoming thick and stagnant. Zachary’s good mood was like a balloon losing air, deflating quickly as it slapped back and forth around the room. He snatched his eyes away, turning to stare out the window at the beachfront outside. He blew out the breath he’d been holding, suddenly realizing that he hadn’t inhaled since Gamon’s question. “Did she tell you that?”

  Gamon nodded his head. “Yes, and she says she is looking for her father. She had questions that I couldn’t answer for her.”

  Zachary blew out another breath. “Well, we can’t help her.”

  Gamon shrugged. “If it were me, I would want to know my daughter. And curse the man who kept her from me.”

  “That’s you. But I made a promise that I have to keep. Kai trusted me, and I will not betray his trust. I owe him that and much more, and you know it.”

  “Well, I made no such promises,” Gamon snapped.

  Zachary’s gaze narrowed, and his jaw tightened, but he didn’t bother to acknowledge the comment, knowing that Gamon would never betray his trust.

  “You need to do what’s right,” Gamon said matter-of-factly.

  Zachary moved onto his feet. Tears misted his gaze, the emotion not missed by the old man “I’m trying, Gamon. I really am.”

  The older man nodded his head as the two stood staring at each other a moment longer. “It’s time to work,” he finally said softly, and then he turned, leading the way out the door.

  * * *

  Zachary enjoyed sparring. Students would spend time with his team of trainers, getting help with their techniques and then be afforded an opportunity to practice those techniques with him. The clients who came to Revolution to be trained ranged from aspiring MMA fighters to bored housewives wanting to try something new. Some had been as young as seventeen. And his favorite client, who was also one of the oldest, had been pushing ninety-two years of age. There had been students, doctors, an astronaut, and a pastry chef. But what they all ha
d in common was a love for the sport and enthusiasm to see how far they could push their own bodies. And then there was Kenzie.

  Zachary couldn’t begin to imagine what her motivations were as she climbed into the fight ring with him. He struggled to keep from smiling, surprise and joy shining in his gray eyes.

  She wore a sports bra beneath a loose tank top, oversized running shorts cinched at the waist, and the mandatory safety equipment. Her thick curls hung from the bottom edge of the cushioned helmet. Her hands had been wrapped, and she clapped the leather boxing gloves together harshly. Her feet were bare, her toes painted a pale shade of pink, and she had declined the mouthpiece.

  Zachary couldn’t stop the grin from pulling full and wide across his face. He made the mistake of dropping his hands. “What are you doing?” he asked.

  Kenzie threw a punch that nailed him hard in the chest. “Sparring,” she snapped as he bent forward, sucking in air as he fought to catch his breath. “What are you doing?”

  Zachary took two steps back. “So it’s like that?” he gasped as he lifted his hands to block the second punch she threw. He stood defensively.

  “Like what?” She connected with a left, right, left hook combo, then ducked as he threw his own round of punches back.

  “This is ridiculous!” Zachary exclaimed as he danced back and forth on his toes to avoid her connecting.

  “I don’t think so. What I think is that you’re an asshole,” she said as she suddenly slapped him with a roundhouse kick that actually stung.

  “Stop cussing,” Zachary scolded, still dodging back and forth. “You cuss like a sailor.”