Page 30 of His Hawaiian Heart (Stateside Doms #26)

Chapter Twenty

Samuel

“Hey.”

“What’s up?” I asked when Kekoa came into my office.

“That’s what I’m wondering.”

That statement had me actually looking up from the report I’d been reading and focusing on him. “What does that mean?”

Kekoa wasn’t smiling which in itself was highly unusual. “Kekoa?”

“It means I can’t figure out why Katrina is currently in the living room chatting with Tutu Harriett.”

“What the fuck!”

Kekoa lifted his hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

“I should be shooting myself. I knew I needed to talk to her but have been putting it off because Sam wanted to handle it on her own.”

“Evidently, Katrina doesn’t wish to be handled.”

“I don’t give a shit what she wishes. This needs to end now.”

I dropped the report I’d forgotten I was holding as I stood. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Want me to run interference?”

I didn’t even consider it. “No, this is my job. But you might want to take Grammy into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.”

He chuckled. “Sure, I can do that, but she’s just gonna bug you until you fill her in on the details. You might as well let her hear the story firsthand.”

I arched my brow as I walked across the office. “Sure, if you want her to hear all the details because the only story Katrina and I share was at the club.”

“Isn’t she running that team your doctor is on?”

“Yes, Samantha is on it and before you ask, yes, Samantha knows about Katrina and me. And to be honest, I don’t give a flip who knows I’m a Dom and enjoy kink. But I don’t want to cause Grammy any discomfort even though I know she would accept it.”

“Can I just say one thing?”

I sighed. “Sure, give it your best shot, but please, at least try to come up with something original.”

“Fate.”

“What?”

“I’ve known you practically your whole life.

We’ve shared joy and pain and screamed at the injustice of it all.

But we’ve always been there for each other.

Tutu Harriett and Tutu Kane Harry made it their mission to make sure we knew that no matter what tragedy life doles out, as long as you have family, you can continue walking forward. ”

I knew he was right. When we’d been eight, a helicopter accident had taken the lives of my parents and his.

We’d been thrown into a world we’d never imagined existed.

Gone was the belief that we had it all, that life was nothing but golden in this paradise we called home.

If it hadn’t been for the grandparents we both loved equally, I doubt we would have made it through.

Despite their hearts being torn out of their chests with the loss of their only son and beloved daughter-in-law, Harry and Harriett had become more than grandparents to both of us.

They became parents who helped us grieve and then guided us through the pain and back into the light.

“Fate.” I looked at him and smiled as his choice of word became clear. “Grammy always says it was fate that brought them together.”

Kekoa nodded. “Exactly, and Tutu Kane Harry always said it was because fate knew that together there was nothing they couldn’t do.

Evidently, fate made the same choice for you and your Samantha.

Tutu knew it within moments of meeting Samantha.

I’ve not yet had the pleasure because you are being a selfish bastard, but hell, I’ve known it since that day in the barn.

I think Katrina knows it but won’t accept it which is why she is downstairs.

In fact, kaikua?ana, I believe the only one without a clue is you. ”

I nodded. “You’re wrong. I’ve known for weeks that Samantha is the other half of my soul.”

“Then what the fuck are you waiting for?”

“Not a damn thing. Thanks, brother.” I slapped his shoulder as I joined him in the doorway and we walked down the hallway together.

Walking into the living room, I asked, “Is Samantha okay?”

Katrina was startled by the question without any niceties being exchanged first, but I didn’t care. I had no interest in etiquette when it came to this.

“Yes, last time I saw her she was just fine.”

I paused at the side of my grandmother’s chair and bent to kiss her cheek. “Grammy, I’ll take it from here.”

Right on cue, Kekoa stepped up and kissed her other cheek. “How about we find out where Maxine hid that banana bread and have it with some coffee?”

Grammy took her time, looking from Kekoa, to Katrina who was offering a smile, and then at me where her gaze lingered. “I do believe that will hit the spot.”

She stood and Katrina said, “It was a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Blackwell.”

Grammy looked between Katrina and me a second time and said, “I hope you find what you need before you leave the island, dear,” then she took Kekoa’s offered arm and left the room.

I did wait until the sounds of their footsteps faded before turning to Katrina. “Why are you here?”

“Do I need a reason to visit a friend?”

“Cut the crap. You not only told me to shove it several months ago at the club, you reminded me why when I escorted Samantha to the camp that first night.”

“Perhaps I was a little brusque. Time seems to have changed you. You’re far more approachable and, well, softer than you were than when we scened. Seeing you away from the club allows me to see a completely different side of you.”

“I don’t seem to remember you wanting to see me as anything other than a Dom, and not even your exclusive Dom, Katrina.

I made it perfectly clear before our first scene that I wasn’t interested in taking it further than exactly that, a scene in the club and you told me that was all you wanted as well. ”

“Can’t a woman change her mind?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I have,” I said.

The smile she’d been attempting to keep on her lips disappeared as she pressed them together. “It’s still all about what you want isn’t it? Do you ever stop to consider what your partner wants? Of course not. That would require climbing down off your high horse.”

“I believe we’re done here, Katrina.”

“Just know that when Samantha decides that all your money isn’t worth your indifference, don’t come crawling back expecting me to welcome you with open arms.”

“Understood.”

She looked hesitant, as if not sure of her next move.

“This is below you, Kat. You’re a better woman than this.

I will never be the man for you, but I sincerely hope you find someone to make you as happy as Samantha has made me.

I’ll not apologize for loving her. You can be as pissed at me as you want, but know this, if you take this out on Samantha, you’ll be answering to me. ”

“Are you threatening me?”

I sighed. “No, Kat, I’m just telling you the truth.”

A long moment passed but I’d said all I had to say. Finally, she nodded and stood. “I feel like a fool.”

“You’re not a fool, Kat. We aren’t meant to be, but some man is going to be damned lucky to find you.”

“Like you found Samantha.”

I smiled for the first time since entering the room. “Yes, and she found me.”

She nodded. “God, I wish I hadn’t been so blind. Sam was right. I never bothered to look beyond what I saw right in front of me. Never took the time to discover who you are, but I think she knew from the beginning.”

“I think we both did.”

She finally gave a tentative smile. “I know you won’t believe me, not after this, but I wish you both the best.”

“I believe you. You just need to believe me when I say there is someone out there for you.”

“Thank you. I hope so.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

When we’d reached the front door, she said, “Please offer your grandmother my apologies and thank her for not turning me away at the gate. I had no right to intrude on your family or your home. I hate for her to think I had any claim to you or that you ever treated me with anything but care.”

That answered my question on how she’d gotten onto the ranch, and also told me that Grammy was assuring I dealt with whatever doubts I had before taking another step with Samantha.

“I’m sure she knows that. She’s a pretty intuitive woman.”

Katrina laughed and nodded. “I agree. Can I say one thing?”

“Sure, that seems to be the theme of today.”

She looked puzzled but when I didn’t offer more, she said, “Don’t lose her, Sam. Samantha is an incredible woman. Don’t wait too long to make sure she knows that you not only care for her, but that you are in love with her.” Smiling, she added, “I guess that was two things.”

I watched as she drove away and knew that she was right. Seemed everyone knew I loved Samantha. But, did she know I did?

Entering my office with the purposed of grabbing the report I’d dropped onto my desk, I shook my head. It was gone. I circled the desk to look on the floor.

“Ohhhh, be still my heart. Now I know why your Sam is enamored with you. You’ve got a really great ass, kaikua?ana.”

I couldn’t help it. Instead of straightening from where I’d bent to look under the desk, I wiggled my ass.

“Jealous?” I retorted, as I turned to find him seated on the couch against the wall.

“I’ve always known you were an ass man, brother, but well, I thought you preferred spanking those of the female variety.

Not that I would ever judge your kink, mind you, so feel free to get your jollies with whomever can put up with your smart ass. ”

“Boys.”

The single word had both of our gazes snapping toward the door to find Grammy Harriett standing on the threshold.

“Sorry,” we both mumbled.

She smiled. “No need to apologize.” She waved her hand as she came further into the room.

“You young people think everyone older than you has no clue. If you’ll recall, when you boys moved from childhood and discovered that girls didn’t have cooties after all, it was your grandfather who sat you down and had the talk.

He told you that your needs weren’t the only ones involved in adult play and you’d be fine as long as you made sure to remember that.

Neither of us ever worried that you’d forget to keep it safe, sane, and consensual.

” If she noticed that both of our jaws were presently on the floor, she pretended not to.

“But I digress. I didn’t come in here to discuss kink.

I came in to apologize for ambushing you, Sam. It was?—”

“The exact right thing to do,” I said, cutting her off. Since I’d seen the missing report in Kekoa’s hand, I knew he’d pick up and handle it and we could discuss options later. “I love you, Grammy, and you too, brother, but I’ve gotta go.”

Before I left, I stopped to kiss Grammy’s cheek. “Thank you.”

She reached out to take my hand. I thought she was going to just squeeze my fingers, but instead, she pressed something into my palm. When I just stared at her, she smiled. “It’s time, son.”

Closing my fingers around the small box, I then wrapped my arms around her. “I hope you know how much I love you.”

“I do, now go make sure Samantha knows the same.”

“I’m the best man!” Kekoa shouted as I strode out into the hall.

“That’s debatable, but I’ll let you play one at the wedding,” I called back. I just prayed I wouldn’t have to eat my words if Samantha didn’t believe in the very force that had brought us together.

Fate.

My pulse slowed as I repeated the word playing in my head. “Fate.” It not only sounded right, it felt right. With a huge smile, I tucked the box into my pocket and drove out the gates to discover what fate had in store for my future.