to remove the stick from his ass. “It’s two minutes to five. I’m sure you don’t mind. Right, Chris?”
I ignored the bitter expression that overtook the man’s face and made my way towards Kenna’s office. I knocked twice. “Come in.”
I pushed the door open and took in Kenna behind her desk. Her beauty was a sucker punch to the gut, dark hair piled on top of her head in a meticulous bun, cheeks rosy, eyes glowing. “Hey, Brown Eyes.”
Something flashed in those eyes. “What are you doing here, Crosby?”
“Are we really going to play this game? I told you I’d be back.” It had only been a few days since I’d seen Kenna, but it felt like weeks.
She arched a brow. “You do realize that makes you sound like a serial killer, right?”
I chuckled. “It’s good to have life goals.” Kenna shook her head. “Come on, I have something I want to show you. Do you have your swimsuit here?”
A healthy dose of skepticism filled Kenna’s expression. “In my car, why?”
“Got workout gear, too?”
“Shorts and a running tank. Again, why?”
I glanced out her office window. We still had a few hours of sun left. “Go grab them and change.”
“I’m not grabbing anything. I still have reports I need to finish. Except for first thing in the morning, this is the time of day when I get the most done. Everyone else is gone, it’s quiet—”
I crossed behind the desk and threaded my fingers through Kenna’s hair, tipping her head back. “Maybe I should be the one doing the grabbing then.”
Her eyes dilated. “And maybe I should be the one kneeing you in the balls.”
I grinned. “Do you want me to kiss you?”
Her gaze traveled to my lips. “I guess I could endure it.”
My lips twitched as I lowered my mouth to hers. I almost groaned at the taste of her, mint and that hint of something else. My tongue stroked hers as I took, drinking her in. When I broke away, her eyes were just a little bit hazy.
“Did you endure it okay?” I asked.
She gave a shrug. “I’ll survive.”
I choked on a laugh. “Glad to hear it. Now, go get changed. I want to show you an alternate view of your new property.”
“I told you. I don’t have time.”
“Come on, Kenna. I need this.”
She paused, taking me in, seeing that hint of desperation on my face that I knew was there. “This view you’re so determined for me to see, it isn’t dangerous, is it? You’re not trying to make me go skydiving, are you?”
“No throwing yourself out of a plane. I promise.”
Kenna sighed but pushed to her feet. “Fine. Give me ten minutes.” She started towards the door and then stopped, turning to level her scary stare on me. “Don’t touch anything.”
I held up both hands. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
She rolled her eyes heavenward. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
17
Kenna
I wobbled slightly as I carried the paddleboard out towards the water. Muttering a curse, I straightened my stance and tightened my ab muscles so I didn’t topple over.
“I told you I would carry it for you,” Crosby said as he maneuvered his board effortlessly.
“And I said I could do it.”
“I know you can, but I’m just trying to prevent you from being pissed at me when you trip and skin a knee or sprain an ankle.”
I narrowed my eyes in his direction and then almost fell on my butt. I paused, took a deep breath, and got a better hold of the death contraption under my arm. “Where did you find me one of these last-minute, anyway?”
“I bought it for you at Island Sports.”
I stood dumbfounded and just stared at Crosby. I’d been in the shop on more than one occasion, and knew that these boards could cost as much as three thousand dollars. “Are you insane? Has the Guinness finally pickled your brain?”
Crosby stopped, turning to face me. “What?”
“The boards in that shop are ridiculously expensive. We’re going to return this right now. I haven’t used it yet. They’ll take it back.”
“I threw out the receipt.”
“I’m sure they’ll remember you, it’s not like you bought it weeks ago.”
Crosby set his board on the sand and crossed to me. “I’m not returning the paddleboard. It’s a gift. A little something to celebrate your new adventurous life.”
My lips pressed together in a firm line. “It’s too much.”
“Brown Eyes, I’m not exactly hurting for cash. It’s no big thing.”
The words, thrown out so casually, were like a series of