Vladimir sta
red at him for a long moment. Then he pushed his hand aside roughly.
Kasimir sucked in his breath.
His brother suddenly pulled him against his chest in a bear hug. His voice was muffled. “I’ve missed you. What do I say? Hell, yes. To all of it.”
When the hug ended, both brothers turned away.
“Sand in my eyes,” Kasimir muttered, wiping them with his hand.
“Stupid wind. Lifting sand from the beach.” Wiping his own eyes, Vladimir cleared his throat in the windless night, then looked back at him and smiled, with his eyes still red. “From now on, we’re equals. Through and through.”
Kasimir snorted. “About time you figured that out.”
“And by the way, your timing couldn’t be better. Thanks for coming to save me. Turns out I’m no good at running a hotel.” He gave a sudden grin. “This will save my wife the trouble of firing me.”
Kasimir laughed. “Although she might miss you when you start commuting to Russia on a daily basis.”
“Hmm.” He grew thoughtful. “About that…”
The brothers spoke for a few minutes, and then Kasimir sighed. “I am sorry I missed your wedding.”
“So am I.” Vladimir punched him on the shoulder. “But having you back is the best wedding present any man could ask for.” He lifted an eyebrow with a grin. “Though something tells me you didn’t just come here for wedding cake. Or even a business deal.”
“You’re right.” Kasimir took a deep breath. “Where is she, Volodya?”
At the use of his old nickname, Vladimir’s eyes glistened. “Sorry,” he said gruffly. “Sand again.” He gestured towards a nearby cliff. “There. Talking to my wife.”
Kasimir had looked past the outdoor bar to a gazebo, strung with colorful lights, on the edge of a cliff. He saw a moving shadow. Josie. At last! He’d turned to go, then stopped, facing his brother. He’d said in a low voice, “I’m glad we’re friends again.”
“Friends?” Vladimir’s smile had lifted to a grin. “We’re not friends, man. We’re brothers.”
Kasimir was glad and grateful beyond words that after ten years of estrangement, he and Vladimir were truly brothers again. But even that, as important as it was, wasn’t the reason he’d flown for almost twenty-four hours straight from St. Petersburg across the North Atlantic to Alaska, and then across the endless Pacific to Hawaii.
Now, Kasimir took a deep breath as he looked down at Josie, facing him beneath the gazebo in the moonswept night. At the bottom of the cliff, he could hear the ocean waves crashing against the shore, but it was nothing compared to the roar of his own heart.
“What—what are you doing here?” Josie stammered. The music of her sweet, warm voice traveled through his body like electricity.
“My brother invited me to the wedding.”
“You missed it,” she said tartly.
“I know.” He’d known he was too late when from the window of his plane, he’d seen the red sunset over Oahu. But the lights of Honolulu had still sparkled like diamonds in the center of the sunset’s red fire, against the black water. Like magic. Because he knew Josie was there. “But the real question is,” he whispered, “am I too late with you?”
Josie’s lips parted.
Looking between her sister and Kasimir, Bree cleared her throat. “Um. I think I hear my husband calling me.”
She hurried away from the gazebo, her wedding gown flying behind her. And for that alone, Kasimir could have forgiven her anything.
Turning, Josie started to follow. Kasimir grabbed her arm. “Please don’t go.”
“Why?” She looked at him. “What could we possibly have to talk about?”
“Vladimir and I worked through things,” he said haltingly. He gave an awkward smile. “In fact, we’ve decided to combine our companies. Be partners.”
Her jaw dropped. “You did?”