Loch and Key (15 page)

“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 with 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 they were 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 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 her shower.

In the midst of dicing green peppers, Brett heard the doorbell rang.

He 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 midthigh. 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.

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 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 on the table.

“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 babysat 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.

“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’s worth of sliced onions into the pan.

“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. “Ah, 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.