That's Amore! (5 page)

Coming from Kalani, that show of support was huge, and Jason didn't know what to say in return. All he really knew of Leila and Kalani's relationship was that Leila had been the one to break things off. Jason didn't know the reasons behind his fiancée's decision to end the relationship, but he suddenly found himself curious.

Kalani patted him on the back in male comradery. "Leila's a great girl, so take good care of her."

"I plan to," Jason replied without a second thought.

"See that you do, or else you'll have Paulo and Mani to answer to." Kalani's tone was light and teasing.

Unable to help himself, Jason grinned wryly. "Yeah, and I get the feeling they'd break my kneecaps if I ever did anything to hurt their baby sister."

Kalani's brisk nod confirmed that thought. "Kneecaps and a few other body parts, I'm sure."

Jason chuckled, liking the other man's humor. He could also see why Leila's mom and dad liked Kalani so much. He was a genuinely nice guy who, luckily for Jason, held no grudges.

"Congratulations, man," Kalani said solemnly, and held his hand out. "I'm happy for you both."

"Thanks," Jason said, shaking Kalani's hand in a firm grip. "I'm a lucky man."

"That you are," Kalani agreed, and clicked his bottle to Jason's in a silent toast. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to enjoy the rest of the evening's entertainment."

Jason grinned. "Have fun."

CHAPTER SIX

"I
s
it my imagination
, or are things with your future mother and father-in-law a bit on the frosty side?"

Jason slanted his best friend, Nick, a quick glance while pulling out a credit card from his wallet to take care of the restaurant's rehearsal dinner tab. He handed the plastic card to the manager standing behind the counter, and the woman began processing the billed charges.

"Ahhh, you picked up on that, did you?" Jason commented in a droll tone.

"It was kind of hard not to notice the strained vibes coming from them, especially Nyla." Nick sent him a sympathetic look, as he was well aware of the history between Jason and his future in-laws. "They were pleasant enough to everyone during the actual rehearsal, but managed to avoid talking to you. I can tell there's definitely something going on."

"Yeah, there is." Jason rubbed at his forehead, feeling the tension of the past few hours gathering at his temples in a stress-induced headache.

He was so grateful for Nick's familiar, and very welcome, presence. Nick was like a sibling to him, and since Jason's relatives back east hadn't been able to make the long, expensive trip for the wedding, Nick was his sole support for the weekend.

As for Nyla and Keneke, it wasn't difficult to figure out the source of their quiet animosity. Jason knew if he didn't do something to diffuse the tension, and soon, there was going to be a huge wedge driven between himself and Leila's family—and eventually, between him and Leila. He might be her husband, but Jason feared that in time, family ties would be a much stronger pull, and he'd end up losing Leila if he didn't do something to strike a balance.

The manager presented Jason with the credit card receipt, and he signed the slip then stepped away from the counter with Nick. "We need to talk."

"Are things okay between you and Leila?" Nick asked, obviously assuming the worst.

"No, we're fine. Great, actually," he added as he thought about the child she was carrying.
Their child,
who deserved to grow up surrounded by their grandparents and uncles' love and affection on a regular
basis
. "I need to discuss a possible business issue with you. I was hoping we could stay here after everyone leaves, have a drink in the bar, and talk."

"Sure." Nick grinned. "It's not like I have a hot date waiting for me tonight."

Jason rolled his eyes, watching as the wedding party filtered from the banquet room he'd reserved for the dinner, and out of the restaurant. "I'm sure you'd have no problem finding a willing female if I wasn't asking for your time."

"Hey, I'm here for you and your wedding, not to pick up chicks," Nick said with feigned affront. "At least until tomorrow night. Then I'll be on my own, and I'm sure I can coax some wicked
wahine
to spend the next two days showing me a good time."

Jason chuckled, because Nick was such a predictable playboy. "I have no doubt you will," he replied, just as Leila separated from the group and headed toward them.

Once she arrived, she looped her arm through his and looked up at him, a bright smile matching the happy sparkle in her eyes, which Jason loved seeing. There had been many moments this evening during the rehearsal when he'd caught Leila looking toward her parents with those troubling, uncertain emotions in her gaze. Jason suspected she had no idea where she stood with them
anymore,
and that had to be a very difficult—and different—position for Leila.

"So, have you told Nick the good news yet?" she asked, piquing his best friend's interest.

Jason had planned to reveal everything tonight during their talk, but he had a feeling Leila wasn't going to let him wait that long. "No, not yet."

"What news is that?" Nick prompted.

"Well, we're not telling everyone, just close family members for now. And since you're like a brother to Jason, you certainly qualify." She leaned close and whispered, "We're having a baby."

It took Nick a few seconds to process what she'd just said. "Wow, that's amazing." He shook Jason's hand enthusiastically, a big grin on his face. "Congratulations, to the both of you."

"Thanks." Leila accepted the light kiss Nick placed on her cheek,
then
instinctively touched a hand to her stomach. "I think we're both still in a bit of shock, trying to get used to the idea of being a mom and dad so soon."

"The two of you will be incredible parents. And now I know why you look more beautiful than ever," Nick said, and Leila blushed at his compliment. "Pregnancy obviously agrees with you."

"Uhhh, not in the mornings," Jason teased.

Leila gave him a playful jab in the ribs with her elbow. "Other than a little morning sickness, I'm doing great."

Jason grabbed Leila's hand and said to Nick, "Let me have a moment with Leila, and I'll be right back."

They walked out of the restaurant together, and he stopped just outside of the entrance. Jason glanced out at the parking lot, and saw Leila's mother and father talking to one of the bridesmaids.

"What's going on?" Leila asked, seemingly sensing something was up.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Would you mind catching a ride home with your parents? I need to take care of some business-related stuff with Nick."

"Sure, I can do that." Uncaring of who watched, she entwined her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, softly, warmly, then reluctantly drew back. "I guess I won't see you until the ceremony tomorrow at one, then."

"You're right. There are still a few loose ends to take care of before the ceremony." He watched her bite on her lower lip, saw a rare flash of insecurity touch her features, and sought to soothe any last-minute fears taking up residence in her. "I want you to know if you need anything at all, you can call me at anytime, anywhere. I'll have my cell phone on me at all times."

She nodded, shaking oft the uneasiness he'd glimpsed. "I'll be fine."

So why did
he
feel so nervous and uncertain deep inside? The answer to that question came easily. So much still lay ahead for him before he married Leila, and he had no idea what the outcome was going to be. Would Nick agree to his request? Would Leila's parents accept
him
into their family? Would his love for Leila and their unborn baby be enough to make this marriage survive?

Jason was determined to make it work. With the Malekalas. With Leila. For their child who had the power to divide the two families, or bring them closer than ever.

He held her hands in his, grasping her fingers tight. "I love you."

She smiled up at him, and despite all the emotional upheaval they'd both gone through the past few days, there was no denying the devotion shining in her soulful brown eyes. "I love you, too."

Jason clung to that heartfelt reply, knowing he'd need the strength of those words to get him through the next twenty-four hours.

"So,
what's on your mind
?" Nick asked ten minutes later, as they sat in a vacant booth in the restaurant's bar nursing a cold beer.

"A helluva whole lot," Jason replied, not even sure where to start. He was still trying to get used to the idea himself, and now he was springing everything unexpectedly upon his best friend.

Nick took a long drink of his beer, his gaze just as direct as his words. "Let's hear it."

A wry grin tipped the corners of Jason's mouth. "You might not like what I have to say."

Nick shrugged, unfazed by the warning. "Try me, and don't assume anything. We've been business partners for
years,
and friends much longer than that. Whatever's going on, I'll do whatever I can to help."

Jason rubbed his fingers along the condensation gathering on his bottle of beer. He stared across the table at his best friend, hoping like hell this wasn't the beginning of the end of their partnership. "You and I have worked really hard to build Website Imaging into a strong, competitive Internet design company, and you know I'd never do anything to jeopardize that."

"You want out?" Nick guessed, before Jason had a chance to finish what he'd been about to say.

That particular thought had never crossed his mind. "No." Not unless Nick wanted him out by the end of the conversation, which was always a possibility. "I was hoping you'd consider expanding the business."

Nick sat back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "In what way?"

"By having an office in
California
, and one here in
Hawaii
."

Nick's dark brows rose in surprise. "I thought Leila was set to move to
California
after the wedding. What changed your mind?"

"Leila is willing to move to
California
," Jason said, wanting to make sure that Nick understood that Leila had nothing to do with this business inquiry of his. "She has no idea you and I are having this conversation. It's a decision I came to this week, after finding out that Leila is pregnant and realizing that we really do need to live here, in Maui."

"Because of Leila's family?" Nick asked knowingly.

Jason swallowed a drink of his beer and nodded. "Yeah. For the sake of my marriage, and because I want my kids to grow up surrounded by their grandparents and uncles and cousins. It's the right choice to make." He exhaled a deep breath, and met his friend's gaze straight on. "And as much as I'd like to see this idea of mine work, I'd understand if you'd rather just buy me out and not worry about having a long-distance partner."

Nick barked out a laugh. "Are you out of your flippin' mind?"

The question startled Jason, mainly because he wasn't sure if his friend meant his comment in a good or bad way. "Maybe I am," he muttered.

"We started this Internet design business together, in the small spare room in your first apartment and we built it into the successful company it is today.
The two of us,
Jason," Nick said adamantly. "We're partners, and the fact that you're getting married and moving to
Maui
isn't going to change that."

Jason's relief was profound. "I wasn't sure how you'd feel about not having daily contact."

"That's what a phone is for, and a fax, and e-mail—"

Jason held up a hand, laughing. "I get your point."

"Good, because the beauty of our Internet business is that location isn't an issue. All we need is a computer. Besides, here in
Hawaii
, you can tap into a whole new territory we haven't even begun to cover yet."

Jason agreed the potential to grow and expand their company's net worth was huge, and it was exciting to think they'd have that chance.

Now that he'd settled business with Nick, Jason had one more thing left to do before he married Leila tomorrow, to secure his future with her and to convince her parents of his sincerity when it came to their daughter's welfare.

Unfortunately, he didn't think that Nyla and Keneke would be as easy to persuade as Nick had just been.

"Don't you know
you're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding? It's bad luck."

As soon as Leila heard her mother's biting remark to the person who'd knocked on the door of her parents' house, she knew the visitor was Jason. Her first instinct was to rush out and see him, to smooth over her mother's less than pleasant greeting to the man who was going to become her husband in a few short hours. But she was standing in the back bedroom wearing just a white, lacy slip, and her mother's comment about seeing the bride before the wedding kept her rooted to the spot.

"Don't worry, I didn't come by to see Leila," she heard Jason tell her mother. "I'm here to speak to you and Keneke. What I have to say shouldn't take long."

That certainly grabbed Leila's attention and aroused her curiosity. It also brought on a swell of apprehension that made her insides twist into a huge, gigantic knot of anxiety.

It was obvious that Jason thought she was down at the cottage getting ready for the wedding, when in fact she'd spent the past few hours with her mother up at the house. She'd needed her mother's help to style her long hair into a softly-curled top knot. But there had been an emotional price to pay for her mother's assistance, since Nyla had taken advantage of their time alone together to ask her if she was certain that marrying Jason was what she truly wanted, and to make sure Leila knew that it wasn't too late to change her mind, despite the baby.