Chapter 16

Dec

I slipped out of Kenna's bed at some point before the sun came up the next morning, needing to put some space between us before I spilled my secrets to her and ruined everything. Kenna had glowed yesterday with all of us working on her house. She'd looked nothing like the woman who'd first shown up at Sunshine Key and that hard-won transformation drew me in like a drop of blood to a shark. She was the type of person you wanted to be around. The type who instantly made you her friend even if you weren't worthy of the title. And yet somehow that's what we'd become: friends. I couldn't mistake this stupid crush for anything else.

I showered quickly at my house and came out of the steam to see a text from my father. I'd been ignoring him a bit with all this time spent with Kenna. Guilt wracked my tired muscles. I'd made that mistake once before and it had ruined Pops's life.

Pops: You still alive, superstar?

I shook my head and used the towel to wipe the fog off the mirror. Pops had never stopped using that nickname, even when the years between had expanded so much my prior life felt like another person's life entirely.

Me: I'm here! Sorry, been helping Kenna with the house and managing the boat club.

That wasn't entirely true. The excursion to the island with Kenna had been purely selfish. I'd wanted to get her alone where Harley couldn't flirt with her.

Pops: I need to meet this Kenna. I've heard so many good things.

I groaned, walking into my bedroom to get dressed in another set of work clothes.

Me: You been talking to Harley again?

Pops: Damn right. Gotta keep an eye on my son. Why don't you invite Kenna over for dinner this week so I can meet her?

Fully dressed, I sat on the bed and dropped my head. Unease added to the guilt of keeping my secret from Kenna. This attraction to her confused me. I'd sowed my wild oats years ago when I'd been on tour. Ever since coming to Sunshine Key, I'd kept to myself, only indulging in a few unemotional trysts with a couple women over the last ten years who understood that was all I could offer. Why all of a sudden did I feel this pull to Kenna? A relationship was the last thing I wanted and it would be the last thing Kenna wanted if she knew my true identity. Yet literally all of that would not stop me from going over to her house today and soaking up every second of her attention.

Me: I'll look at my calendar.

Which we both knew was code for never. I slid the phone in my pocket and headed out in my truck to pick up bagels and coffee. Kenna had her hair piled on top of her head and another old T-shirt on when she answered the door. She also traded the ugly shorts for the new cutoff jean shorts that made me weak in the knees. I groaned and she cocked her head.

"What?" She swiped at her cheeks like she thought something was on them.

I thrust the bag of bagels at her. "Here," I snapped, entering the house and shutting the door behind me. She shot me a glare, but turned to walk into the kitchen. My gaze immediately dropped to her ass and I groaned again.

"You know, you don't have to help me today," Kenna said, her hands on her hips after she put the bagels down on the hideous counter and turned toward me.

I sucked in a lungful of air and put my hands on her hips where they itched to slide around to the back and grab a handful of her flesh. How did this woman get prettier every single day? Currently, she was glaring at me, but even that made my insides heat.

"I know I don't have to. I want to. And if I want to groan about your perfect ass in those shorts, then I'll do that too." My voice wasn't much more than a desperate growl.

Her mouth opened and closed. I watched her barely sun-kissed cheeks take on a pink hue. Her hands landed on my chest, but she didn't push me away. "Try not to stare too hard."

Then she winked and walked around me, heading for the paint station we'd left in front of the fireplace, an extra swing in those hips just for my benefit. I groaned and slumped against the countertop. Kenna, with a newfound confidence bubbling to the surface, was hard to resist.

We did manage to paint the primary bedroom and the bathroom downstairs before Kenna sighed and set down her paintbrush. "I think we need a break."

My brain instantly went to how I could get Kenna into a skimpy swimsuit for a repeat of what happened on my boat, but Kenna had other ideas. "Let's get cleaned up and go to that place I saw a block away from Sunshine and Seashells."

"Dad Bod Watering Hole?" I liked the bar, don't get me wrong, but it didn't seem like the kind of place Kenna would appreciate. There were old state license plates on the wall and tiki torches to light the dim patios. They were best known for their nightly karaoke. Not that I ever participated in that.

Kenna grinned and swiped a lock of hair out of her face, leaving a light gray streak of paint across her cheek. "Yeah. Harley said they have karaoke there."

I was going to kill Harley one day. Probably soon. Of course he would suggest karaoke, knowing it would push my buttons to be around live music and not be able to sing.

Kenna dug her teeth into her bottom lip, looking sad for a moment. "You know, I never took breaks before."

"I know."

She gave me an odd look.

I thought back on those first days. "You had on a silk blouse buttoned up to your chin and black work slacks in the middle of a Florida summer. I figured you might have slept in your work clothes just so you were always ready when the boss called."

She rolled her eyes, but didn't disagree with my assessment. "And look what all that workaholism got me. A cheating husband, a cow for a boss, and never knowing my own aunt."

I came over, pushing a wayward lock of hair behind her ear and kissing her forehead. "You're not even halfway through your life yet, Kenna. You have time to figure out what you want."

She tipped her head back to look up at me, mischief and excitement making her big blue eyes twinkle. "I want to drink a margarita, shake my ass, and take an afternoon off."

I whimpered at the mental image of Kenna not only wearing those shorts to the bar, but dancing in them. She laughed and poked me in the gut. "Come on, salty. Take me to the bar!"

She looked so excited about her idea, I couldn't turn her down.

Kenna was halfway through Dad Bod's largest margarita, determination on her squinty face as she peered down into the glass.

"Are you sure there's a flamingo at the bottom?"

I bit back a smile. Relaxed Kenna might be my favorite version of her. "There was last time I made it to the bottom. Though my eyes were crossed, so maybe there wasn't?"

Kenna spun so quickly I had to put a hand on her elbow to keep her from falling right over. "If there's not a flamingo, I'm going to be so sad." Then her head lifted. "Oh! I love this song!" And off she went to the dance floor, her arms in the air and her hips swaying to the beat. She didn't seem to mind one bit that she was the only person out there this early on a Sunday evening.

I lifted my hand to get the bartender's attention. Onyx noticed immediately and came over, her multiple earrings and nose rings flashing in the overhead lights.

"Another beer, Dec?" Her voice, soft and melodic, was in direct opposition to her tough exterior. On more than one occasion I'd seen Onyx bring a man to his knees with a single, scathing look.

"Sure. Also, any chance you have another ceramic flamingo I can put in Kenna's margarita?"

Onyx lifted a sculpted eyebrow. "I put one in her drink already, but I can put a few more in if that would make you feel better."

I nodded, embarrassed that it would make me feel better. I wanted Kenna to find her precious flamingo so she'd smile up at me. Maybe even let me kiss that happiness. Kenna spun around on the dance floor, her eyes closed while she danced to the song. Her breasts bounced in her emerald-green tank top. Several gold chains hung around her neck, dipping down below the neckline and nestling between her breasts. Her ass really was spectacular in those shorts and several other men had noticed. I glared at each of them until they felt my censure and backed off.

A hand clapped my shoulder. "Hey, bro. Did Kenna start the party without me?"

I turned to see Harley next to me, his gaze trained on Kenna. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Harley turned from Kenna and I felt a small measure of relief that he was no longer looking at her. "Ezra texted me you were here. Asked me to come down and beg you to sing for us today. What do you say, song bird?"

Ezra owned Dad Bod Watering Hole, and while he kept my identity secret, he and Harley were always goading me to spread my wings back out and sing. There was no way in hell I'd be doing that. Not now, not ever. Even if a small part of me wanted to get behind that microphone and impress those skintight shorts off Kenna.

Harley shrugged. "Your loss, asshole." And then he was gone, striding across the dance floor to spin Kenna in a circle before kissing her cheek and getting behind the microphone. Harley could work a crowd almost as well as me, a fact he liked to remind me of every chance he got.

"Happy Sunday, Sunshine Key!"

A smattering of claps and cheers was his response. "I know it's early, but it's never too early to knock back a few cold ones and croon out to your favorite singer." Harley looked right at me and winked. The fucker.

The music flowed through the speakers and Harley opened his mouth. The guy could sing, I'd give him that. He'd opened for one of my shows way back when we were barely adults. I hadn't been able to lose him since. The guy followed me everywhere, even to the little town of Sunshine Key.

"Holy shit, Harley can sing!" Kenna bumped into my elbow and I put my arm around her waist, tucking her into my side. Her wide eyes were trained on Harley owning that microphone. Even Onyx had stopped serving, holding a bar towel like she might need it to wipe her drool. I couldn't get up there and sing, but I could dance with Kenna. Maybe that would distract her from my best friend. I took her hand, leading her onto the dance floor while other couples did the same.

Kenna finally looked at me. "You're actually going to dance with me?" She'd asked me three times previously, but I'd declined, unwilling to sport an erection in front of the whole town. And I most certainly would be if I got my hands on Kenna.

All bets were off now though. Damn Harley and the jealousy he stirred up in my gut. When we'd been young and on the road, he'd pulled just as many women as I did. They loved his boyish grin as much as my hardened glower.

My arms came around Kenna and she looped her fingers together behind my neck. Her curves pressed against my torso. It took every bit of restraint I had not to stare down at the breasts peeking above the neckline of that top. Instead I dipped my mouth to her ear.

"I want to do more than dance with you, sunshine."

Kenna moved impossibly closer, her cheek lying on my chest. We swayed to the music through one song and the next. When I was able to pull my attention from Kenna and every breath she took, I noticed the bar was filling up. Word had gotten out that Harley was singing. Happened every fucking time. A redhead bobbed to the music at the far end of the bar, which meant even Char was here. My best friend was an idiot for not noticing the interest there.

The next few songs had the dance floor packed, a tight press of bodies all swaying to Harley's voice. He sang the song he and I had written together after everything had gone down, the one about life being short and taking chances on happiness. I never did get to sing that song for a live audience. Kenna pulled her head back, eyes glassy and relaxed.

"I was thinking…"

I tilted my head, wanting to pull her closer and kiss her right here in front of everyone. "Tell me."

She licked her lips and my dick pressed against the zipper of my jeans, harder than it had ever been. She was officially killing me.

"How about we go back home and see what other things you want to do with me?"

I took it back. Flirty Kenna was my favorite. I stopped swaying immediately though my heart rate took off like I'd hooked that elusive wahoo. I looked her over, checking to see if it was the alcohol talking, but she never finished her margarita and she'd quit sipping that an hour ago, flamingo forgotten.

"Are you sure?"

The smile lighting her face was like the sun coming back out after a particularly dark storm. "Yes."

I didn't drag her out of the bar like a caveman, but it was close.