“Kade checked me out.” My record is clean and no one can connect me with my father. Except for my father. I’m here because Kade needed a doctor on the island to watch over his wife. It wasn’t until I was here that I realized the reason Kade’s sweet wife Collins was hurt in the first place was because of my father. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that coincidence.
“Sometimes people miss things.”
I swallow hard but there’s no way Xander knows who I really am. I’m being overly sensitive to his comment, but how can I not be? If they found out who my father is, they’d have me off this island in two seconds. I really should start thinking of an exit strategy in case that does happen.
“Like missing that you’re an asshole?” Now he’s the one who tenses for a moment.
“Nope, I know I’m an asshole.”
“Look at that. We both agree on something,” I say dryly as I try to not stare at his ass or think about how hard he feels under me. How much does he work out? How can he be so grumpy all the time if he spends so much time in the gym working out his aggression?
We enter the main house and he goes straight for the kitchen. When he drags me over his shoulder he slides me down his body. I have to bite down on my tongue so I don’t gasp at the feel of his hard body rubbing all over mine. I never thought I had a type, but I’m starting to think maybe Xander is what I’m attracted to. I tried to date a few times in college but I was too busy. My roommate at the time told me I picked men knowing a relationship would go nowhere with them. She was right because it always fizzled out. They also weren’t smug like Xander, but I’m not sure what that means.
His arms stay wrapped around me as I’m pressed against him. I stare up into his dark gaze and my eyes flick to his mouth. His bottom lip is still busted from when he and his brother got in a fist fight. I’m just glad they hugged it out not long after. This family fights hard but loves harder. I don’t understand the chip on Xander’s shoulder and why he has so much anger. From the moment my feet touched down on the island he was pissed. Maybe I remind him of someone he used to date? Gross.
“Are you on steroids?” I ask, wanting my mind as far away from him and other women as possible.
“Are you fucking serious?”
“The anger.” I poke his giant chest. “The muscle mass.” He steps back as if my finger actually assaulted him. “You know what that does to the body?” Against my better judgment I glance at his crotch. He turns before I can get a good look and I wonder if he’s hard. “Are you turned on?” Oh my God, why do these things keep popping out of my mouth? “It’s completely normal. If you’re a heterosexual man and the way you carried a woman over your shoulder, and well—”
“Just stop.”
“I’m a doctor. These—”
“Doc. Sit. Down.” He cuts me off again. This time I manage to actually shut my mouth as I take a seat at one of the bar stools.
“Wait.”
“Oh God. She can’t help herself,” I hear him mumble. He’s still got his back to me, but I can see he’s running a hand down his face.
“I was just going to ask who’s going to cook if Vaughn isn’t here?” He’s the master chef and I can’t cook for shit. “If Berkley wasn’t so sweet I’d be mad at her for stealing him away. I guess she didn’t steal him since he’s stalking after her. I’m really going to miss him.” My stomach growls in agreement.
Xander turns around to look at me. I think he’s given me a hard look before, but this one is killer.
“What did I do now?” I roll my eyes because I can’t win for losing with him.
“Do you have a thing for my brother?” His eyebrows pull together as he glares at me.
“Which one?” He’s got two, and though I’m not into either of them, I like being precise.
“Which one?” he repeats.
“Of course I don’t have a thing for Kade. Besides, he’s married,” I remind him. I reach for a grape from the bowl on the counter. I’m guessing Xander can’t cook and he probably just drinks protein powder or eats dry chicken.
“Vaughn?”
“Yes, I have a thing for Vaughn.” I nod. I reach for another grape but the bowl is swept off the counter and crashes to the floor. It bounces and I’m shocked it doesn’t shatter. “I was eating those.” He stares at me as if I’m the one who’s lost their mind. “Roid rage?” I try and glare back at him but he’s fuming.