Stolen to Love (Stolen 3)

He begins to pace as he talks, which is what he does when he’s trying to process information. “I can’t believe you. I brought her here to care for my wife and then you’re going to fuck her? Are you completely without self-control?” He’s not really asking me the question as he continues to pace. “There are plenty of women on the island that would be more than happy to keep you company, but no, the one woman that I absolutely need here to make sure nothing happens to Collins, you have to go and fuck her.”

“You do realize Collins is only having a baby. Millions of women do it every day.”

He stops his pacing and turns his glare on me. “Only having a baby? Do you have any idea of all the things that could possibly go wrong? Did you think about how impossible it was for me to find the best doctor out there to agree to come live here and be on call twenty-four-seven? Do you have any idea the danger you could put my wife in if Luna decides to quit because you change your mind and go back to being an asshole, or did you just think about getting your dick wet?”

I’m out of my seat and across the room before he has a chance to blink. I’ve got him pinned to the wall and I’m in his face, but I see in his eyes what he’s trying to hide. He’s afraid.

I take a deep breath and let him go as I step back and really look at Kade. His clothes are a mess, there are dark circles under his eyes, and he hasn’t shaved. He looks really fucking tired and it’s not like my brother to be so stressed.

“It’s not like that,” I admit and shake my head. “I don’t know what it is, but this isn’t casual, Kade. You know I didn’t date or take random women to my bed in the States. Like we’ve always said about this island—wives not girlfriends.” I swallow hard before I say the next words. “I think she’s the one.”

As I say it out loud I know it’s true. Somehow in all my resistance I’ve fallen in love with Lula. I don’t know how I haven’t seen it before but maybe it’s because I’ve never felt like this. I would get so angry with the way she looked and walked and talked, but deep down I knew it was because none of it was for me. I wanted her to look at me, walk with me, talk to me, and the fact that she kept on ignoring me made me grouchy as hell.

“You think?” He looks surprised as his eyebrows pull together.

“I know,” I admit. “You shouldn’t be the first person to hear this, but I want you to know how serious I am. I love her, and I don’t have any intentions of letting her leave this island.”

“Damn, brother.” He walks over to his chair and falls down in it. “I did not expect that.” He runs a hand down his face and then a smile tugs at his lips. “Well, I guess that solves that problem.”

“What problem?”

“The one where I was going to kick you off the island so she would stay.” My mouth falls open and he shrugs. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Collins. Especially now that she’s pregnant.”

I take a seat beside him and lean forward on my elbows. “You know she’s going to be okay, right?”

“I’m just really worried about her.” He puts his face in his hands and I reach out and rub his neck.

“Kade, she’s going to be fine. She’s a strong woman and she’s got the best care we can provide. Not only with Lula, but there’s a medical team on this island ready and waiting along with a boat that’s gassed up and planes fueled for any emergency.” I shake my head. “If we were in the States the control would still be out of your hands. You can’t predict what’s going to happen, but if you worry about things happening the whole time, you’re going to stress Collins and the baby out.”

He looks up as if only just now realizing that. “Damn.”

“You have to be at one hundred percent so she can lean on you. Now is your time to be her rock and you can’t do that if you’re not sleeping.”

“There’s just a lot that can go wrong.” He shrugs, but I can see I’m getting through to him.

“There is, but you’re not alone.” I think about Lula and what it will be like when she’s pregnant. I know that I’ll be just as worried as Kade, but I also know he would tell me these same things. “I’m here and Vaughn will be back soon. There’s nothing we can’t do together, right?”