by Susan Stoker
“Iced tea, please,” he said.
Carly smiled. “Of course.”
They all watched as she glanced briefly at Jag, blushed, then hurried away after making sure everyone else was still good with their drinks.
“She might be gun-shy,” Mustang said softly. “But she isn’t un-interested.”
“I can be patient,” Jag said, sipping his beer.
His friend’s interest in the waitress was intriguing, but Aleck’s attention was already caught by Kenna. She was welcoming a couple sitting on the other side of the bar, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He hadn’t been this into a woman in a long while.
When she’d taken their order and headed back toward the kitchen, her gaze met his, and she smiled.
It felt good to know the attraction wasn’t one-sided.
Aleck sat back, happy to chill for as long as Elodie and Lexie wanted to stay. Even if he couldn’t talk to Kenna, it was nice to simply be in the same place as she was.
Chapter Four
Kenna felt almost giddy. She hadn’t been this excited about a guy in…
She wasn’t sure how long it had been, just that it had definitely been a while. Marshall was funny, and clearly not afraid to admit when he’d made a mistake. She’d been disappointed at the way he’d looked down on the fact that she was a professional waitress, but he’d seemed genuine with his apology.
And she couldn’t help but remember how good it felt to hold his hand. It was silly, but his thumb brushing back and forth over her knuckles had sent goose bumps racing down her arm.
She liked how close he seemed with his friends too. She wanted any man she dated to have his own interests. She’d seen how clingy Shawn was with Carly. At first it had seemed romantic that he wanted to know where she was all the time and when she’d get home. But then it had started to get…overbearing.
“So, that went well, yeah?” Carly asked when they had two minutes between orders to talk.
Kenna couldn’t keep the huge smile off her face. “Yeah, it did.”
“Good. I like seeing you happy.”
“Now, don’t go getting all crazy. We just talked for half an hour. We weren’t planning our wedding or anything,” Kenna warned her friend.
“I know, but seriously, you’re glowing,” Carly said.
“He’s a good guy. I mean, I know I don’t know him all that well yet, but he didn’t hesitate to apologize when he said something insensitive, and I honestly think he meant it.”
Carly wrinkled her nose. “Not sure it’s a good sign he’s already put his foot in his mouth,” she said.
“I know. But I’d much rather him be honest than blow smoke up my ass. He’s real, Carly, which I like.”
“True,” her friend mused. “Shawn did everything he could to be perfect when we first started dating, and it wasn’t until a couple months had gone by that he started slipping and being an ass.”
“Exactly,” Kenna said with a nod. “I mean, I don’t want to be with a guy who’s constantly a jerk and apologizing for it, but I also don’t want to be snowed by someone who’s going out of his way to say what he thinks I want to hear.”
“So…what’d he say?” Carly asked.
Kenna sighed. “He just made me feel as if he thought waitressing wasn’t a ‘real’ job. That it should be something I’m doing while I’m looking for some corporate career.”
Carly shrugged. “Lots of people feel that way.”
“I know. It just caught me off guard.”
“You made sure he knew the error in his thinking, right?” Carly asked.
“Yeah. We talked a little about his job as a SEAL, and I think he realized pretty fast that he’d been rude. I called him a snob,” Kenna admitted.
“You didn’t!”
Kenna shrugged. “I did. But in my defense, he kinda was acting like one.”
Carly studied Kenna for a long moment.
“What?” Kenna asked.
“You came back in here all smiles and glowy, like I said. So you obviously worked it out.”
“We did,” Kenna confirmed.
“I’m happy for you,” Carly said. “I mean, the fact that you guys could have a serious conversation like that and still like each other afterward…it’s…good, Kenna. Seriously.”
“I think so too,” Kenna admitted softly.
The two friends smiled at each other but were interrupted by Justin sticking his head into the kitchen and saying, “Carly, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Me?” she asked in confusion. “What do they want?”
“Don’t know,” Justin said. “Vera just told me to tell you that someone was here for you. That’s all I know. He’s up front.”
“Okay, thanks,” Carly said.
Justin disappeared and Carly turned to Kenna. “Seriously, girl. I like him. He was polite and courteous the whole time I was serving their table. They all were. I admit that I don’t have any desire to date right now, but if I did…I might give you a run for your money.”
“You aren’t interested in Marshall,” Kenna said with a smirk. “But Jag, on the other hand…” Her voice trailed off.
Carly held up a hand. “Nope. No way. Not going there.”
Kenna laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll shut up about it. I’ll take the order to your table so you can go and see who wants to talk to you. I hope it’s an old guy with a million-dollar tip he wants to give to you for being such an awesome waitress.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Carly said with a smile. “And thanks for taking my order.”
“Anytime.” Kenna headed to where the orders were sitting under heating lamps, staying warm, and made sure she grabbed the right meals, loaded up a tray, and headed out into the restaurant.
After she’d dropped off the food to a very appreciative couple, Kenna heard a commotion from the bar area. Turning, she saw Carly talking with a man.
Her ex. Shawn Keyes.
Kenna had heard more than enough stories about how horrible he was to Carly. When they’d first started dating, Carly had been flattered that an older man was interested in her. Everything had been all sunshine and roses for a couple months, until Shawn’s crazy started coming out. Carly had tried to explain away his abusive and aggressive behavior, but eventually it became too much. And when she’d come to work with a huge bruise on her upper arm, Kenna and the other waitstaff had convinced her to leave the asshole.
That should’ve been the end of it. But Shawn decided he didn’t want to break up with Carly, and he’d been emailing, calling, and texting her nonstop, apologizing and trying to get her to come back.
Carly had held strong, doing everything in her power to try to make him understand that they were over…but for some reason, Shawn wasn’t getting the hint.
And now it seemed as if he was escalating his campaign to get Carly back. Kenna couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he stood too close to her friend. At six feet tall, he was looming over Carly’s five and a half feet, obviously trying to intimidate her.
Kenna didn’t even hesitate. She was pissed on her friend’s behalf and determined to make Shawn understand once and for all that his relationship with Carly was over and done with. She headed straight for the pair.
When she neared them, she overheard Shawn say, “You’re acting like a spoiled brat.”
Kenna saw red. “No, she’s acting like a grown-ass woman who doesn’t want to be talked down to as if she’s a little kid,” she bit out.
Shawn turned to glare at her, and Kenna refused to back away, even if the hate in his hazel eyes made her want to. He’d cut his dark hair short since the last time she’d seen him, almost a buzz cut. He had on a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, making him blend in with the crowd of locals and tourists without any problem. Kenna had to admit at first glance, the man seemed harmless. Even though he was in his forties, he’d kept himself in shape, didn’t drink or smoke—according to Carly—and had a steady, well-paying job doing something wit
h the local government.
But the crazy in his eyes, the way his hands clenched into fists, and the snarl on his face all showed his true colors.
“No one’s talking to you,” Shawn sneered. “Butt out.”
“I’m sorry, but no,” Kenna said, trying to sound braver than she felt. They were in a public restaurant with people all around them. Shawn wouldn’t do anything to her, she was almost certain of it. “Carly’s told you she doesn’t want to see you anymore. You need to move on.”
“Our relationship is none of your business,” Shawn retorted, then turned his back to her and reached out, grabbing Carly’s bicep. “I just want to talk,” he said. “You owe me that.”
Kenna ground her teeth together in frustration. She was taller than Carly, but not strong enough to take this guy on. She was also well aware that she was at work. Alani was a great boss, but Kenna didn’t think she’d approve of her hauling off and hitting this asshole. Not to mention, she was one hundred percent certain Shawn would call the cops and get her arrested for assault or something.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Carly said. “We’re through.”
“We aren’t,” Shawn insisted. “After all I’ve done for you, I can’t believe you won’t just talk to me. When we started dating, you were a naïve little girl. I turned you into a woman. You can’t just throw me away.”
Kenna wanted to scream. Shawn had always belittled her friend. Tried to come off so worldly because of his age. He’d mocked Carly’s much younger age since almost the beginning. Yes, she was twenty years his junior, but in Kenna’s eyes, Carly was the mature one. His behavior tonight proved it.
“Give me a break. We didn’t date that long, and you didn’t turn me into anything. So I can and I am throwing you away,” Carly retorted bravely, lifting her chin. She tried to jerk her arm out of his grasp, but Shawn tightened his grip, pulling her closer so he could grab her other arm as well.
He physically shook her as he said, “You stupid bitch! No one breaks up with me!”
Kenna was done. She reached for Shawn and tried to push him away from Carly, but his grip on her friend was too tight. He stumbled and ran into a chair, making it tip over with a loud crash. “Let go of her,” Kenna ordered.
“Fuck you,” Shawn hissed, turning to Carly once more. He shook her again, harder this time. Kenna watched as her friend’s head bounced back and forth, even as she struggled in his grasp.
Desperate to help, she took a step toward them, but suddenly an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her backward, away from Shawn and Carly.
She fought for a second, then heard a low voice at her ear. “Aleck and Jag have this.”
Turning her head, she saw it was Mustang who’d pulled her away from what was going on. Midas was standing on her other side, posture tense, as if ready to make sure Shawn didn’t turn on her.
Glancing back, she saw that in the few seconds she’d taken her attention off her friend, Marshall and Jag had gotten Shawn to let go. Jag’s arm was around Carly’s shoulders and he was escorting her away from the bar area.
“We aren’t done!” Shawn yelled at Carly as she hurried away.
“You’re done all right,” Marshall told him. He spun Shawn around, twisting his arm behind his back, wrenching it upward in what looked like a very uncomfortable position.
“Let go of me, asshole!” Shawn yelled.
“No,” Marshall said calmly. “Not until the cops get here.”
“Cops? That’s bullshit!” Shawn said, trying to get out of Marshall’s hold, but he held him secure. “I didn’t do nothin’. I was just having a talk with my girlfriend.”
“She’s not your girlfriend,” Kenna couldn’t help but growl.
“Yes, she is,” Shawn insisted.
“It’s a moot point,” Marshall interjected. “You don’t put your hands on a woman. Ever.”
“I wasn’t hurting her,” Shawn said.
“Oh, so those bruises on her arms that were already forming weren’t from you?” Mustang asked. “And you were shaking her—hard.”
“Fuck you!” Shawn retorted.
“That’s mature,” Kenna muttered.
“The cops are on the way,” Paulo said from behind the bar.
Kenna nodded. She knew there was an emergency button behind the bar for situations like this, when people got out of control. She was so glad there was a Honolulu Police Depot not far from Duke’s. In the past when the police had been contacted, they’d been there within minutes.
“Let go of me, you asshole!” Shawn shouted, managing to wrench his arm out of Marshall’s hold.
Mustang grabbed Kenna’s elbow and pulled her farther out of the way.
Midas joined Marshall in subduing the pissed-off man and within seconds, they had him on the floor. Marshall had a knee on his back and held both of his arms, while Midas secured his legs. It didn’t look like they were exerting much energy to control Shawn either. Kenna couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Relax, man,” Midas told him.
“Get off me!” Shawn yelled.
“How’s it feel to have someone bigger and stronger manhandle you?” Marshall asked. “Sucks, doesn’t it? How do you think Carly felt?”
“Fuck you!”
“Seems to me things between you and her are done. Move on, man. Doing shit like this just makes you look pathetic, not macho or manly.”
“I said, fuck you!” Shawn repeated as he continued to struggle under the two SEALs.
Kenna wanted to roll her eyes.
By this time, she noticed several patrons had their cell phones out and were filming the altercation. She winced. Alani probably wouldn’t care too much, since there hadn’t been any damage to the restaurant. Midas and Marshall had easily taken control of Shawn and prevented him from hurting Carly any further, but it still wasn’t exactly great publicity to have something like this happen on the premises.
Shawn continued to fight their hold, to no avail, and within five minutes, three police officers were there. They nodded at Marshall and Midas and took control of the swearing and out-of-control Shawn.
They tried to talk to him, but he just continued raging at everyone around him.
“Fuck all of you! I didn’t do nothin’ wrong! I was talking to my girlfriend and these two assholes jumped me for no reason. You should be arresting them, not me! Do you know who I am? I know the governor! If you don’t let me go, I’ll have your fucking badges!”
Two of the cops led Shawn out of the bar and through the restaurant. Then, and only then, did Kenna let out a sigh of relief.
The second Shawn was out of sight, Marshall was there. He put his hands on her shoulders and moved close. “Are you all right?”
“Of course. Are you?”
His lips twitched. “Yeah.”
“There’s nothing funny,” Kenna scolded.
He immediately sobered. “You’re right. Sorry. But for the record…subduing that shithead wasn’t exactly hard.”
Kenna shook her head. Of course it wasn’t. Not for the big bad SEAL. She was suddenly very glad he and his friends had been there. “I need to go check on Carly,” she said.
“Jag’s got her. But if she’s not all that keen on pressing charges, I hope you can convince her otherwise.”
“Oh, she’ll press charges,” Kenna said with confidence.
“If she doesn’t, I will,” Alani said, coming up next to them. “I saw him shaking her. It’s unacceptable. Thank you for your assistance,” she told Marshall.
“You’re welcome.”
“Sir? We’re going to need your info and your statement,” the police officer said. “If you can please stick around for a while.”
Marshall nodded.
The officer turned to Kenna. “You too, ma’am.”
“I’ll be here. I need to get back to work though, will that be a problem?”
“Not at all. We’ll let you know when we’re ready for you.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you really all right? That was pretty intense,” he said in response.
“I’m fine. Shawn didn’t touch me.”
“Even so,” Marshall insisted.
Kenna couldn’t help but melt a little inside at his concern. “I’m really okay,” she told him. “I’m very glad you and your friends were here though. I wasn’t sure what else I could do to get him to let go of Carly.”
“Me too,” Marshall said. “The thought of that asshole turning on you is gonna give me nightmares. Can I…Never mind.”
“What?” Kenna asked.
“I was just going to ask if I could give you a hug,” Marshall said a little self-consciously.
Without thought, Kenna moved forward. She stepped into his personal space and within seconds, his arms were around her, and she had her nose buried in the crook of his neck. She sighed, realizing for the first time how tense she’d become during the altercation.
She heard Marshall inhale deeply as he nuzzled her hair.
Smiling, she pulled back, but didn’t step out of his arms. “Did you just smell me?” she asked.
“Yup,” he said without embarrassment. “You smell like coconut and fried food.”
Kenna burst out laughing. She never would’ve thought she could be laughing so soon, after something so intense, but she was beginning to think that with this man, anything was possible. “That’s what happens when you work at a restaurant,” she told him. “Although the coconut is my shampoo.”
“I like it,” Marshall said simply.
They stared at each other for a long moment before Kenna heard Elodie talking to her husband.
“What an asshole. Too bad you didn’t get any licks in.”
Kenna chuckled. She wholeheartedly approved of how bloodthirsty the other woman was. She kinda wished Shawn had struggled more, just so the guys would’ve had to use more force to subdue him.
“I really do need to go check on Carly,” Kenna said. “And take care of my tables.”
Marshall nodded, but didn’t immediately let go of her.