Chapter Ten
“Tell me again why you can’t make tomorrow night’s dinner?”
While leaning against the counter of Colin’s house, Kenzie bit into an apple to give herself a moment before responding.
She felt the weight of her brother’s gaze as he chopped a head of iceberg lettuce for the salad that would go with their impromptu dinner. After making plans with Brett, she’d known she’d have to bail on her usual Wednesday night dinner with Colin and Hailey. She’d driven to their house today to drop off a DVD she’d borrowed and let them know she’d be missing dinner tomorrow.
Of course the pair had insisted she stay for dinner tonight, and who was she to say no to crab Louie? Especially since she didn’t have to be at work for several hours yet.
“I’m meeting a friend for dinner,” she murmured, not accustomed to lying to her brother but not quite ready to be forthcoming with her tentative love life either.
Which, seeing as Brett didn’t do serious, was probably a good idea. No matter that she was closing in on thirty, she would automatically be deemed as being taken advantage of if they discovered she was indulging in casual sex.
Memories of Sunday flickered through her mind and heat swept through her body. Though nothing about what they’d done that day had felt casual.
“Do I know this friend?”
“Colin, my God, let her be.” Hailey walked by her fiancé and gave him a light smack on the shoulder. “You’re not her keeper.”
“No, just her brother.”
“Hmm, well I swear you McLaughlins would keep your little sister under lock and key if you could.”
“And why not? Safety first, aye?”
Kenzie and Hailey shared an eye-rolling glance. “Safe…abstinent. I suppose they’re synonymous with my brothers.”
Colin grimaced and shook his head. “That was not an invite to discuss your…”
“Sex life? You can’t even say it,” Kenzie drawled.
“And I’ve had enough of this. I’ll just be running out to the freezer to grab some more ice.”
He hadn’t been gone a minute before Hailey swung her attention to Kenzie.
“All right. Who is he?”
Not even pretending to misunderstand the question, and knowing they only had a couple minutes tops, Kenzie spilled the beans.
“His name is Brett, he’s the Navy guy who stood me up but has made amends, and it’s not serious. So don’t say a word to my brother. Any of them, actually.”
“My lips are sealed.” Hailey made the zipping motion against her mouth. “Have you slept with him?”
“Not yet, but I think it’s about as inevitable as rain in Seattle.”
“So Kenzie and Seattle—both getting wet, got it.”
Kenzie couldn’t smother her giggle. “Dirty girl.”
“Definitely sometimes.”
Even though their friendship had only recently rekindled in the past year—after eleven years of silence—they’d slipped back into an easy relationship. Kenzie and Sarah both had welcomed Hailey back into their lives after the truth about the sordid past had come out.
Hailey had made some tough choices that had put her in a pretty bad light. With the truth had come forgiveness, and not only had Hailey and Sarah welcomed her back into friendship, but Colin and Hailey had wound up in love as well.
“So the Navy guy is back in the picture. Is he cute? Nice? Shy? Aggressive?”
Well definitely three of those. “And Southern.”
“Southern. All right, well then he’s got some manners?”
“Aye. He certainly does.” Kenzie ducked her head, and confessed, “I got him drunk on whisky at the Highland Games on Saturday.”
“You did what?” Hailey’s voice rose. “I was there—how did I miss this?”
“Miss what?” Colin returned with a bag of ice, arching a brow.
“Ah, this one Doctor Who episode,” Kenzie said quickly, knowing her brother hated the show. “I can fill—”
He lifted his hand to cut her off. “I’d rather you didn’t. Thanks.”
While he went to dispense the ice in the kitchen freezer, Hailey and Kenzie exchanged a conspiring glance.
“You’ll have to fill me in later on everything,” Hailey said innocently.
Kenzie gave a noncommittal murmur of agreement and then deftly changed the subject.
“How’s the new job, Hailey? Do you like working and living on the island again?”
“Love the job.” Hailey moved past Kenzie to open the fridge, smacking Colin’s butt lightly. “And I love being back on the island and sharing my sexy fiancé’s amazing home.”
Colin caught her around the waist and pressed a smacking kiss on her lips. “Aye, well, I was done of that long-distance shite.”
“It was an hour and a half commute, tops.”
“Too bloody long,” he grumbled and released her, turning back to pull tomatoes from the fridge.
It was still so fascinating to watch them. Kenzie couldn’t help but smile. Just last summer Colin had loathed Hailey with a passion and had no qualms in making it known. Now here they were, head over heels in love and engaged. It was wonderfully sappy and she couldn’t have been happier for them.
Clearing her throat from the emotion that had thickened in it, she called out, “You’ve got dinner handled. I’ll go set the table.”
*
What did one wear if one was going to have sex?
Kenzie stared into her closet, shifting from one foot to the other.
“What did you decide on?”
Striding into the room, Delonna was all dressed up in her jeans and McLaughlin’s shirt—otherwise known as standard attire for the bartender.
“I haven’t decided on anything yet.” Kenzie shook her head. “I mean, do I dress sexy? Do I dress normal? Do I—”
“Overthink it much? Just get dressed like you’re going on a date. Focus on that much for now.”
“Aye, maybe, but even when going on a date, don’t you pick out cute knickers? On the off chance shite happens?”
“Good point. Sexy bra and panties, and then whatever the fuck you want on top.”
“You’re loads of help.” Kenzie grimaced and waved to the bed. “Undergarments are already picked out, actually.”
“Holy shit.” Delonna’s eyes went wide. “For someone who favors band shirts and ripped jeans, I never would’ve figured you to have such a hot underwear set.”
Kenzie glanced back at the bed. The set was a combo of red lace and silk. Tiny knickers and the bra nearly sheer.
“I can count on one hand the times I’ve worn them,” she admitted. “And never for a man.”
“When was the last time you’ve slept with a guy? And feel free to tell me to fuck off if that’s too personal.”
“We’re roomies,” Kenzie said lightly. “And good friends. It’s not much of a secret. It’s been years.”
“Years.” Delonna blinked. “Like, that’s an analogy of some kind, right?”
“No, it’s a fact. After…” She swallowed hard, not letting the memory come, just trying to keep the words matter-of-fact. “After Charles, I had a hard time dating. I’ve been with one guy since, and it was awful. I was still mentally fucked up.”
“Wow. One man in almost…”
“Nine years or so? Aye.”
“Wow.” Delonna sobered and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Are you up for this? You trust this guy?”
“I do.” She nodded. “And actually, some pressure is off knowing he doesn’t want serious.”
“Really? You’re not ready to consider settling down at all?”
Amusement pricked and Kenzie shook her head. “There’s still so much I want to do. I want to travel. I want to finish school. I want to get my shite together.”
“You seem pretty together to me.”
“I’m getting closer, but I’m not there.”
“Hmm. Well I need to get to the pub. Your brother will have my ass if I’m late again.”
“My brother would probably love to have your arse, Delonna.”
Delonna paused at the door to the bedroom. “You keep saying that, but I don’t think Aleck is at all interested. It’s his personality. He’d flirt with a dustpan. It would be weird anyway. He’s my boss.”
As if that had ever stopped anyone. Kenzie let her friend off the hook, though. Aleck was a complicated beast. He went through women with the ease of using a tissue—use and discard. Though he’d never admit it, she suspected it went way back to his Scotland days and the girl he’d been involved with. Her big, broody brother, however, would never admit such a romantic notion. If he had turned his interest on Delonna, Kenzie would’ve discouraged it. She didn’t wish Aleck on anyone ’til he got his heart on straight.
She changed the subject. “How is James?”
Something flickered in Delonna’s gaze, unhappiness maybe, before she looked away. “He’s good. Hasn’t been up to the island as much. Work has him busy.”
Kenzie thought quickly, trying to remember what he did. Customer service of some sort. Maybe for a cell phone company.
“Gotcha. Well have a good night at work,” she said softly.
“Will do. If you do get it on tonight, have fun and be careful okay?”
“Okay.”
“If he hurts you, I’ll get in line behind your brothers to distribute revenge.”
“You’re a bloodthirsty lot.”
Delonna grinned. “We prefer the term protective, but, ya know, whatever. See ya.”
“See ya.”
Turning back to her closet, Kenzie finally pulled down a stretchy navy dress that was a bit short, but comfortable and cute.
With her heart flipping about what would likely happen this evening, she went to grab a shower.
*
In the midst of dicing green peppers, the doorbell rang.
Brett momentarily froze. Kenzie was here.
Excitement shot through him, along with a healthy dose of nerves. What was it about her that did that to him?
Cursing his immediate juvenile reaction, he dropped the knife and pepper and went to answer the front door. He swung it open, a welcoming grin on his face. It slipped slightly at the sight of her, and he swallowed against the lump of awareness in his throat.
She was sexy as hell. The sundress was nothing fancy, just some kind of navy-blue cotton, not cut too low, but it clung to her every curve and ended about mid-thigh. Her hair was down, falling around her shoulders and reaching the tops of her breasts.
He traced a visual path down her bare legs to where her feet were encased in some brown-heeled sandals.
“You look amazing.” The words came out ragged and low, and her eyes gleamed with pleasure.
“Thank you. You look pretty nice yourself.” She gave him a glance-over before stepping past him and into the house.
Beer, not whisky—which he was thankful for. Damn, but he really liked her. She was so laid-back. Fun and playful. Sexy.
He watched her stride confidently into the kitchen, her hips swaying, and he bit back a groan. So damn sexy.
After snapping himself out of the appreciative daze of staring at her retreating ass, he followed after her. She set the grocery bag on the table and pulled out an envelope and set it down too.
“These are the pictures of you and your sister. It was brilliantly romantic of you to send me those and the flowers. Of course I’d never throw them away.”
That, combined with the six-pack of microbrew beer and gooey brownies she pulled out, endeared her to him even more.
“I also brought beer and dessert.”
“Thank you for not tossing the pictures. And those brownies look pretty amazing. You make them yourself?”
“Not quite. I enlisted child labor. I baby-sat my niece today.”
“Fantastic.” He started to reach for one and she swatted his hand. “I was just—”
“Ruining your appetite, and I’m in the mood for jambalaya.”
Arching a brow, he stepped closer to her until their hips brushed. “Only jambalaya?”
Her breath hitched, but her gaze remained light and flirty enough to give him hope.
“Well, at this moment I admit I’m thinking about…sausage. You know, in the jambalaya.”
His heart thumped and his blood heated. It was like the dirty texting all over again, but now she was here, and he couldn’t resist touching her anymore.
“It’s damn good sausage.” He settled his hands on her small waist. “Can’t wait for you to try it.”
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. There was heat in her eyes as her hands settled against his chest.
“I’m a little anxious myself. Been thinking about it since Monday.”
“Have you now.” He lowered his head and brushed a light kiss over her soft lips.
“Aye.”
“I hope you like it hot.”
Her lashes fluttered down. “I can handle hot.”
He kissed her again, deeper this time, sweeping his tongue in to tease hers. She kissed him back, moaning softly and sucking on his tongue.
Reaching between them, he slid a hand up to cup her breast through the dress. Her bra must’ve been equally thin, because even under both layers of material, her nipple pebbled in his palm.
She whimpered and arched against him, her head falling back. He couldn’t resist planting an open-mouthed kiss on the wildly pounding pulse there.
“We should start.”
“Yes,” she whispered raggedly. Her lashes swept up and her dazed expression slowly focused. “Wait, now? What about dinner?”
“That’s what I mean, sugar. You’re going to be on pepper-cutting duty as we start preparing the food.” He stroked his thumb over her nipple and gave a slow smile. “Did you think I meant something else?”
She blinked and then thumped him in the chest. “You did that on purpose. Got me all hot and bothered and then put me on pepper-cutting duty? You wanker.”
He laughed and caught her wrist, pulling her hand up to brush a kiss across her knuckles.
“Yes, ma’am, I did. Consider it sensual retribution for giving me a hard-on while having lunch with some guys.”
Her eyes widened. “While we were texting? You weren’t alone?”
“Nope. I was out at a restaurant, sitting with a bunch of other chiefs.”
“Oh…but you didn’t stop me. You kept texting. Did they notice?”
His grin widened. “Stop you? Hell, I loved every minute of it. And of course they figured it out.”
She bit her lip and shook her head, looking adorably horrified. “All right, consider us even. Now show me where those peppers are.”
“Deal.” He moved to the fridge, pulling out the ingredients he needed. “Peppers are already half cut up over there. Go ahead and finish those if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” She dove right in, chopping anything he handed her, and then watching as he began cooking the jambalaya.
“I like to cook the veggies in the fat and juice from the cooked sausage. Adds a lot of flavor.”
“It sure smells amazing. I’m not sure I’ve ever had jambalaya,” she admitted, sliding a plate full of sliced onions into the pan.
“Well, this will be your first then, and I guarantee, pretty amazing.”
“That’s quite a guarantee.”
“Absolutely, and I don’t make it lightly. Just you wait.”
“And not the least bit humble,” she drawled and softened the teasing statement with a laugh.
“Not even a little bit.” He grinned and went to the cupboard to grab the spices he needed. “Well, hell.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder from where she stirred the veggies in the pan. “Everything all right? Did you trip on your ego?”
“I’m out of paprika.”
“Hmm, sounds important if I go by the sound of your voice.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna need it.” He shook his head and glanced at the pan full of simmering veggies and sausage. Shit. He’d made sure he’d had all the perishable food ingredients, but had forgotten to check the spices. “As much as I hate to say it, I’d better run to the store and grab some.”
“Let me.” She stepped away from the pan and handed him the wooden spatula. “You know what you’re doing with this far more than I do. You leave me with a pan full of cooking jambalaya, you’ll probably come back to find it burned and resembling a preschooler’s art project.”
“That sounds like it would taste kind of shitty actually.”
“Quite likely. Still better than cheap-arse burritos, though.”
He groaned. “I’m never going to live that down. Not from my sailors. Not from you.”
“Never,” she agreed.
He caught her hand as she turned away. “You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’ve actually got a craving for a chocolate bar anyway.”
He arched a brow. “A chocolate bar? You’ll spoil your appetite.”
“I’m not a child, I’m a grown woman with an embarrassing appetite, who was also turned down for sex a moment ago. So I’d very much like to stuff my face with a chocolate bar as a replacement for now.” She pointed her index finger at him. “Don’t judge.”
His mouth was still flapping as she strode out of the kitchen toward the front door. She was replacing his dick with a chocolate bar?
“Wait. I was trying to be a gentleman. I didn’t want to rush you. We can turn this food on simmer—”
“Too late. Chocolate first. Sex later. Maybe.”
“But you said we were even,” he hollered.
She paused at the door and gave him the most fake innocent smile ever. “We are.”
The idea of running after her and throwing himself around her leg had appeal, but then again so did keeping his pride.
Stupid. He’d been so stupid for not just picking her up and carrying her off to the bedroom. Manners or teasing be damned. She was clearly ready to give him the go-ahead tonight, and he’d put his jambalaya first.
Epic fail.
Paprika.
Kenzie paced the spice aisle of the local grocer and scowled at the variety of options.
Were these in alphabetical order?
She crouched down slightly, trying to keep her dress from riding up, and her high heels steady, as she snagged the spice she needed.
“You look good in that position.”
Every muscle in her body coiled with revulsion. Using every ounce of mental strength she had, she straightened and turned to face the asshole.
Why did she have to keep running into him? It was a big island, but a small town essentially. It was inevitable it’d happen now and then, but why the bloody hell did it have to be more often than not?
“Save it for the next woman you assault, jackass.”
“Ouch.” Charles grinned and blocked her as she made to step around him. “Sounds like someone’s bitter she never got her orgasm.”
Oh God, but she wanted to kick him in the nuts. The arrogance. The complete evil in him.
“Sounds like someone is a little too comfortable giving off creeper, rapist vibes and needs to get the fuck out of my way.”
His gaze narrowed, glittered with fury that was almost lazy. “Careful with the slander, McLaughlin. I was found innocent.”
“Yes, well so was O.J. Fortunately, karma caught up with his arse.” She moved to step around him again and once more he blocked her path.
“I wouldn’t mind catching up with your ass. I always enjoyed your spirit, and other things.” He leered at her breasts and said softly, “Would love to find out if my Highland hottie is a natural fire crotch. You realize it’s only a matter of time.”
Shock and fear ripped through her, draining the color from her face before it came rushing back in rage. Dimly she was aware of people farther down the aisle, discussing cake mixes, completely oblivious to the verbal assault she’d just endured.
She was tired of this. Tired of being afraid. Tired of being ashamed. Tired of this fuckin’ wanker getting in her face.
“Stay away from me,” she ground out. “Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me. Don’t even think about me. Or I swear that you will live to regret it.”
“Your brother—the cop?—makes similar threats,” Charles murmured, seeming completely unfazed. He leaned forward. “Haven’t you guys figured it out? I’m untouchable. I can do whatever the hell I want, to whomever I want. So if I were you…” He paused, as if realizing a threat might go too far; still his gaze shimmered with lust and rage. “It’s a big scary world out there, McLaughlin. I’d be careful if I were you.”
Having had enough, she raised her heel and ground it down on the top of his foot.
When he hissed in pain and stumbled back, she rushed past, leaving him and the paprika behind.