Jeremy
What was it with this damn group of friends? They were all in each other’s business. Where one went, the rest followed. I was tempted to ask Ryder if we could talk privately, but from the look he was giving me for touching his sister, I didn’t think it would be a good idea. Getting into a brawl was probably not the best way to start a business relationship with the guy. I should have released my grip on Kenzie’s shoulder too, but I didn’t. My fingers liked touching her skin, and from the way she leaned back slightly into my hand, she liked it too.
Dammit.
I was given one rule. Stay away from Harper’s friends. The rest? Fine. I couldn’t see myself spending much time with any of them. But Kenzie? She was what wet dreams were made of. One kiss, and I was addicted. The fact she called me Casanova in front of everyone had my lips twisting into a smirk, but I was strong enough to refrain from calling her babe.
“What about the roadhouse?” The girl, the other one, not Ryder’s hippie looking girlfriend, the one engaged to Linc, asked.
“Ace…” Linc warned. What was her name? Izzy? No, that wasn’t right.
“I want to take over the management of the roadhouse from Johnny and Julie,” I said simply.
Cue the collective gasps and mouths dropping open in shock from everyone but Kenzie.
“What?” Harper jumped out of her seat and turned to face me. I stepped to the side, dropping my other hand onto Kenzie’s shoulder.
“You heard me.” I pressed my thumbs into Kenzie’s muscles.
“Yeah, I heard. But why?” Harper glanced at my hands and chewed on the side of her lip but didn’t say a word.
“Look at them, Har. They’re exhausted. They’re running themselves ragged trying to keep this place going.” I gave Kenzie’s shoulders a gentle squeeze.
Harper took a deep breath and nodded once. “I’ve noticed that too. They barely have any time for themselves. One or both of them are always down here, and if they’re not, they pass out on the sofa watching TV, trying to unwind.”
I looked at Ryder. “Kenzie said you studied business management. Thought maybe you could help out.”
“Do you know anything about running a roadhouse?” he asked.
“No. But I wanted to open up the garage again and figured with your help and Harper’s knowledge of the diner, we could take a load off their shoulders. Give them a break.”
Ryder tapped his fingers on the tabletop. “Could work.”
“So, you’ll help?”
“Of course. I owe Johnny everything. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Well, you know I’ll help,” Harper said, nudging me with her shoulder.
“Me and Indie can help too, right?” Bailey offered.
Ah-ha. Indie. That was her name.
Indie groaned. “I’m not wearing a hairnet.”
“How about an apron?” Bailey rolled her eyes.
“If I have to. Yes, I’d love to help.”
“Count me in too.” This from Linc.
“And me. Don’t know how much help we’ll all be. But we can figure it out,” Nate said.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise and looked at them. They were all willing to help, just like that, no questions asked.
“Ah, thanks,” I said stupidly, not knowing what else to say. I was pretty sure they all had busy lives, full-time jobs, responsibilities or whatever, but I was grateful for the help.
“See? Told you it would be fine.” Kenzie rested her fingers over my hand and looked up at me and smiled.
“You did.”
Ryder cleared his throat and glared. Kenzie dropped her hand and flipped him off, causing me to laugh, which I quickly covered with a cough.
“There’s a lot to discuss, but first…have you run it by Johnny and Julie yet?” Ryder asked.
“Not yet. Wanted to see if it was possible first, before checking with them. Didn’t want to give them false hope of retiring early or anything.”
“Okay, well, speak to them. If they’re happy to hand over the reins, we’ll work it all out.”
“Cheers, man.”
It was that easy.
I decided to wait until everyone had left and Johnny had closed up for the night before speaking to him, so I leaned down and spoke in Kenzie’s ear, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I wasn’t sure if her brother had filled her on the events of the other night, but I thought I should tell her anyway.
“Sure.” She stood and announced to everyone that she’d be back in a minute before going to the next booth and saying, “Mumma’s just going for a walk. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
It was only then that I noticed the kid sitting there with a pencil in his hand, blond curls in his eyes. “Okay, Mumma.”
How did I not see Cole earlier? Maybe because I seemed to be entirely focused on his mother.
Kenzie walked toward the front door, and I followed. If it was at all possible to feel someone’s eyes burning a hole in your back, I felt it. Seven sets of eyes watching as I walked outside behind Kenzie.
“What’s up?”
“Did Ryder tell you I called the other night?” I asked, falling in step beside her as we wandered around the perimeter of the roadhouse.
“No.”
Of course not.
“But Harper mentioned something.”
“I don’t want to freak you out, but Chace showed up at your apartment a few nights ago.”
“What?” She stopped and leaned against the wall, right beside the garage door that would hopefully become my workshop one day.
“He was causing all sorts of racket, banging on your door and wanting to see you. But I told him to get lost.”
“You did?”
“Of course. I said I’d watch out for you, and I meant it.” I reached my hand across and placed it on her arm, taking a step closer. I couldn’t help it. There was a gravitational pull that lured me to her.
“Thank you. Did he say anything?”
“Yeah. I think he’s stalking you.”
Kenzie’s eyes widened. “By stalking, you mean he knew about the pizza?”
What? How did she know that?
I tilted my head and waited for an explanation.
“He stopped me the other morning as I was leaving for work and said something about us having pizza. I assumed he’d seen me throw out the pizza boxes or something on my way out.”
I clenched my jaw. I couldn’t believe he was there in the morning as well.
“Shit. Babe, no. I’m pretty sure he’s watching you.” I stepped closer again, my other hand coming to rest on her hip. “He knew about us eating pizza, and he knew other things.”
I didn’t want to tell her what he called her. Even though the guy was a jerk, hearing someone call you that couldn’t be a good feeling.
“What things?”
“The way we were sitting on the sofa.”
“Side by side eating pizza?” Her expression was hopeful, but I could see the doubt in her eyes.
“The way you were sitting on me.”
Kenzie gasped and ran her hands through her hair, tugging on the ends. “Oh, my god. How? Why can’t he just leave me alone?”
“I don’t know. But the guy’s a fucking psycho. He didn’t even flinch when I threatened him.”
“You threatened him?” She smiled up at me.
“Choked him a little and told him next time he came around, he’d wish it was your brother kicking his ass.”
“Why is that so hot?” she blurted before biting her lip.
“Because you think I’m hot?” I teased.
“Calm your ego.” Her hands came to rest on my stomach, soft and warm. I wanted to feel them everywhere. I wanted to lean in further. Kiss her. Wrap her legs around me. Bite her lip. But I couldn’t. Too many chances to get busted.
“But, in all seriousness, I’m worried about the guy. I’m worried he’s going to do something.”
“Me too. I was going to bring Cole home tonight, but I don’t think I will.”
“You shouldn’t go home either.”
“I’m not letting him run me out of my home. I don’t think he’d hurt—” She stopped and squeezed her eyes shut, deep in thought.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. Just something that happened a couple of years ago, I guess.”
“What happened?” I frowned. I didn’t like the sound of that.
“Ryder got arrested for almost beating Chace to death. Said he wanted to cause him as much pain as he caused…someone else.”
“Who? What happened?” My fingers gripped her hips tighter. I was liking her brother more and more.
“I don’t know. Ryder refuses to talk about it. But what if Chace really is dangerous?”
“You need to speak to your brother. Find out what he knows. Until then, stay somewhere else.” There was no telling what he was capable of. If whatever he did was bad enough that Ryder nearly beat him to death, then Kenzie needed to know. It was putting her and Cole at risk.
“No.” Kenzie shook her head.
“Why the hell not? Kenzie, this is crazy.” I cupped her face and made her look at me, and her body leaned into mine.
She smiled at me.
“What?”
“You called me Kenzie.”
“And?”
“I think I prefer ‘babe’ better.”
My mouth dropped open in shock.
“Is that so?” I lowered my head and pressed a kiss to her jaw.
She nodded.
“Noted,” I said softly as my lips grazed her ear. “And, babe?”
Her fingers dug into my sides. “Yes?” Her voice was soft and breathy.
“Talk to Ryder.” I took half a step back and straightened before I slammed her into the wall and kissed the hell out of her. If I did that, I wouldn’t stop.
Kenzie groaned.
“I’ll talk to Ryder, but I am not staying somewhere else. It’s my home. I’ll keep my door locked. You’re right next door. My only concern is keeping my son away and safe. I’ll go to the police again. Tonight. After I leave here, I’ll see if they can do anything else. Okay?”
“I still don’t like it, but okay.” I was just going to have to be extra vigilant. I wasn’t letting him anywhere near her or her son. “And I’m going with you to the police station.”
I grabbed her hand and pulled her back toward the diner, reluctantly dropping it when we were in sight of the windows.