Josie cocked her head to the side and studied him. There was something familiar about him. Something that told her she knew him from somewhere. His smile never faded while he waited for her to decide. She didn’t know how long it would take for the repair service to arrive, and who was she to deny the stranger his good deed of the day?
“I’d appreciate that.”
Chapter Three
“It’s no problem.” The man held out his hand. “I’m Malakai Palamo, but you can call me Kai if you wish.”
Josie took his hand and shook it. “Josie Pierson, and I really appreciate—” Holy shit on a shingle. Malakai. Kai. The hottie from the gym, Kai. Oh, no. No, no, no. Josie jerked her hand away, turned around, and started to walk off, but Malakai grabbed her bicep. His grip was strong and gentle at the same time.
“Josie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Not a thing. I…” Josie shook her head. The hottest man she’d ever met was offering to help her, and she was a bumbling idiot. No time like the present to prove otherwise. “Let’s get this done, shall we, Malakai?” Oh, she loved his name. Presley had only ever called him Kai when she and Elise were talking about him.
Josie popped the trunk, and while Kai bent over to retrieve the spare, she most certainly did not look at his tight ass because Josie Pierson was better than that. What the fuck ever. She ogled and drooled and — “Eep.” — squeaked when caught ogling.
Malakai was smirking. “Everything okay?” He lifted the tire like it weighed nothing and placed it on the ground next to the flat. While he was retrieving the jack, he bent back over, but he turned and looked at her, once again catching her looking at his ass.
Josie was glad it was darkish out because her cheeks had to be scarlet. “Kill me now,” she muttered to herself.
“Why would I do that? If I killed you, I wouldn’t be able to take you to dinner.”
Josie laughed at the ridiculousness of his comment. If this was the same man from the gym, there was no way he was serious when he wouldn’t give Presley the time of day. “Where do you work, Malakai?”
“Hartley’s Gym and Dojo. Do you know it?”
“Yes, but not intimately. Not that I’m intimate with places. Or people for that matter. Not that you care about my lack of love life. But you know, I mean, no. I’ve never been there, but my sister takes a kickboxing class from a guy named Kai, and I’m assuming that’s you, unless there’s more than one hottie named Kai who works there.”
“Who’s your sister?”
“Presley. Tall, blonde, well put together?”
“She’s in one of my classes. I must say, you don’t look alike.”
“Yeah, she takes after our father’s side of the family, where I look just like my mom.”
“Your personalities are as different as your looks. Do you take after your mom that way too?”
“I do. My mom’s great. Not that I’m saying I’m great because we’re alike, but we’re more laid-back than my dad or sister.”
“I’m glad you’re nothing like Presley.”
“Why’s that? She’s gorgeous and successful.”
“She is that, but I prefer someone a little less intense. More bubbly.”
Bubbly? Was he talking about Josie? Impossible.
“Do you like your job?” Kai asked, and that was a strange topic change.
Josie wasn’t sure how to respond. Did she tell him the truth? Because she didn’t know him. Didn’t know if he’d turn around and tell her sister about this conversation. “I’m good at my job.” There. That was sort of the truth. And it was weird, having this conversation on the side of the road with this man. Why was he so interested in her?
“I’m sure you are after eight years of doing the same thing, but that’s not what I asked. Did you always want to be a paralegal?”
Wait. Had she mentioned how long she’d been a paralegal? She didn’t think so, but her mind was a little preoccupied. “No, but I didn’t want to be swimming in debt from student loans, so I did what my father wanted, and he paid my tuition. That probably sounds spoiled or selfish.”
“It sounds realistic. If money hadn’t been an object, what would you have studied?”
“Music. The cello specifically. Not that I can play one, but I saw this movie, August Rush, and I fell in love with Keri Russell. Not that I’m a lesbian because I’m not. I love men. I meant I loved her character and how the cello filled something in her life she was missing. Her child. I like kids. Love them. And I love music, but it doesn’t pay the bills, so…” Oh god. She should really shut up.
“Do you want kids?”
“Do you?” Josie wanted at least two, but if she had two girls, she would keep trying for a boy because being a girl with an older sister sucked. At least in her life.
“Yes. I want at least seven.” Kai winked, and Josie’s heart flipped. He had to be a good man to want so many kids, right? Seven little Samoan-god babies? That thought had her biological clock tick, tick, ticking.
“Little Samoan-god babies?” Kai smirked. Again.
Shit! She’d said that out loud. “Are you sure you won’t kill me now? Put me out of my misery?” Josie was mortified. Why couldn’t she be like those people who clammed up when they were nervous? But no. She had to be one who rambled incessantly without a fucking filter!
“No, Sunshine.
