Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,16

he drove out of the garage.

“I love your Jeep. Maybe we can take it out without the top on before it gets too cold. You do go topless, right? I mean, the Jeep. Not you. Not that I would mind seeing you topless. I imagine you look mighty fine when you’re doing your boxing thing. What do you call it? Boxing thing sounds ridiculous. I sound ridiculous. I’m going to shut up now.”

Kai reached over and threaded their fingers, setting their joined hands on the console. “I do go topless, but I didn’t want you to worry about your hair on our first date. As for the boxing thing, I’m a martial arts trainer. As a matter of fact, I recently decided to open my own training center. The building will have to be renovated, and I have to order all the equipment, so it’s a work in progress. But I’m excited. My life is getting close to perfect.” He squeezed Josie’s hand before releasing it to shift gears, then went back to holding it when he was done. “How was your day?”

Josie didn’t want to admit it sucked, so she lied. “It was fine. How was yours?”

“Nope. We’re not going to start this relationship with lies, Sunshine.” Josie turned at the sternness in his voice. How did he know she was lying? “Your body tensed when I asked about your day. Let’s get this out of the way. I like you. A lot. I want to pursue a relationship with you, and I won’t ask much from you. What I will ask is you don’t see other men, and you always, no matter what, tell me the truth. Can you handle that?”

“You want a relationship? With me?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You don’t know me.”

“I know enough. You’re beautiful, funny, sexy, smart, and you smell fucking fantastic.”

Josie didn’t know what to say. This man could have anyone.

“Sunshine, did I break you?” Kai’s voice was laced with teasing.

“No, just taking it all in.”

“Then tell my why your day wasn’t perfect.”

“I had a run-in with my sister,” she admitted.

“Does that happen often?”

“Usually I bite my tongue to keep the peace, but today she pushed the wrong button.”

“And which button was that?”

“She demanded I bring a file to her condo. I told her no, that I had a date. She asked with who, and I refused to tell her. Then she showed up at the apartment to get the file and asked again. When I wouldn’t tell her, she said she would figure it out on her own.”

“Why didn’t you want her to know about me?” Kai’s voice was strained, and Josie studied him closely.

“Because it’s none of her business. She doesn’t care about me. And when she finds out it’s you…” Josie didn’t want to admit the trouble Presley would cause, so she changed the subject. “Where are we going to eat?”

“My place. How will Presley react when she finds out we’re together?”

Josie didn’t know which to tackle first, so she went with the one she thought was safest. “Your place?”

“Yes. I’m cooking for us. Is that okay? I promise I’ll be a gentleman.”

Josie wasn’t sure she wanted Malakai to keep that promise. “Yes, that’s fine. I’d like to see your home.”

“Well, it’s not mine. I’m living in a friend’s house for the time being. I’ve only been in New Atlanta for about a year. I didn’t want to buy a place until I knew I’d be staying. Now that I’ve decided to open my own training center, I can start looking for a permanent home. Maybe you can help me pick a place.”

“Me? I…” Josie cleared her throat. Kai said he wanted a relationship with her, but there was no way he wanted her to choose a home with him. They were on their first date, for god’s sake.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Kai released her hand and rolled down the window. It was then she noticed they were sitting in front of an ornate, iron gate. Malakai turned to the security box, but instead of punching in a code, he said, “Sunshine.”

“Yes?”

Malakai grinned. “I was talking to the box, but I’m glad you know what you are to me.”

Josie could only stare at Kai’s profile as he drove the Jeep through the gate and down the long driveway. When he stopped in front of a three-car garage, she finally looked around. “Holy shit,” she whispered. The house and landscaping were something out of a magazine. Kai came around and lifted