into him at once. Raw desire. Eagerness at seeing her again, and, most of all, guilt. Fuck, the guilt consumed the other two in a fiery rush.
Whatever rage she directed his way, he would take it. Hell, he deserved it.
She hadn’t seen him yet, that much was clear. He had to wonder if she’d make some kind of scene when she did. Though Kenzie hadn’t given off the drama vibe the night they’d gone out.
Being a man who met conflict head on, he didn’t even entertain the idea of trying to sneak off before she saw him. Instead he turned back in his seat, stretched his legs out under the table and stared straight across the table and kept his back to her.
Shit would hit the fan, or…fuck. They’d soon find out.
This guy had to be fuckin’ kidding. This was a first date. A bloody first date and he was going to squeeze them into a table full of random men she didn’t know?
This was beginning to feel like a plot from some bad porno. Especially the way the first man had looked her over like she was the entrée at dinner. Next she’d learn the whole lot were construction workers or Navy men or something. Any minute now she expected to hear stripper music or some shite.
Kenzie’s jaw ached from how tightly she clenched it and, for a moment, she debated turning on her completely impractical and painfully pretty heels and walking right back out the door.
Unfortunately, she’d chosen tonight to be the first time in a while that she’d allowed her date to pick her up.
Though, hmm, she could always call Aleck. Then again that wouldn’t turn out well. He’d lecture her for having the gall to try and date at nearly thirty, and threaten—again—to lock her up.
Folding her arms across her chest and lifting her chin to salvage pride, she approached the table of men with the same indifference she did when taking an order.
She slid a glance around the table of six men and bit back a groan. In fact, fuck it all, some of these men were regulars at the pub.
“Thanks for letting us crash your dinner, guys.” Carl grinned, shaking hands with the men who stood up to greet them. “This is Kenzie, by the way,” he said to the guys. “Kenzie, I used to serve with these guys in the Navy before I got out to take care of my son.”
Oh shite, they literally were Navy men.
The introductions came next. Fast and furious, and she knew she’d never remember names—especially as they were last names only. She didn’t miss the heated glances and big smiles that screamed jackpot as they checked her out.
“And then this here is Chief Craven. Probably the best guy you could pick to be your superior.”
Kenzie was so caught up in the introductions that she hadn’t paid much attention to the man sitting with his back to them.
He turned in his chair and the world around her spun.
Chapter Five
The man wasn’t just any sailor, but him. Brett. Her date from seven months ago who’d gone AWOL. Her date whom apparently was a chief in the Navy. Even as a civilian, she knew that was a big deal. Just as rapidly as the shock at seeing him set in, it faded. She was good at landing on her feet.
Drawing in a quick breath, she did the same thing she’d done to the other sailors. She thrust out her hand and shook his. Keeping her expression blank, she murmured, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Craven.”
Don’t look him in the eyes .
Despite her vow not to, she slid her gaze up from his broad chest, only to quickly make eye contact.
A mistake. There was a flash of surprise there—as if he were shocked she hadn’t smashed him over the head with a glass, before his expression became a mask of politeness.
“Nice to meet you as well, Kenzie.”
The bastard didn’t even have the balls to call her out on her pretense that they didn’t know each other. She’d expected a clever remark like “we’ve already met” or something. But then that would make him the type of man who dealt with his problems.
And that’s what she was to him. A
Whatever rage she directed his way, he would take it. Hell, he deserved it.
She hadn’t seen him yet, that much was clear. He had to wonder if she’d make some kind of scene when she did. Though Kenzie hadn’t given off the drama vibe the night they’d gone out.
Being a man who met conflict head on, he didn’t even entertain the idea of trying to sneak off before she saw him. Instead he turned back in his seat, stretched his legs out under the table and stared straight across the table and kept his back to her.
Shit would hit the fan, or…fuck. They’d soon find out.
This guy had to be fuckin’ kidding. This was a first date. A bloody first date and he was going to squeeze them into a table full of random men she didn’t know?
This was beginning to feel like a plot from some bad porno. Especially the way the first man had looked her over like she was the entrée at dinner. Next she’d learn the whole lot were construction workers or Navy men or something. Any minute now she expected to hear stripper music or some shite.
Kenzie’s jaw ached from how tightly she clenched it and, for a moment, she debated turning on her completely impractical and painfully pretty heels and walking right back out the door.
Unfortunately, she’d chosen tonight to be the first time in a while that she’d allowed her date to pick her up.
Though, hmm, she could always call Aleck. Then again that wouldn’t turn out well. He’d lecture her for having the gall to try and date at nearly thirty, and threaten—again—to lock her up.
Folding her arms across her chest and lifting her chin to salvage pride, she approached the table of men with the same indifference she did when taking an order.
She slid a glance around the table of six men and bit back a groan. In fact, fuck it all, some of these men were regulars at the pub.
“Thanks for letting us crash your dinner, guys.” Carl grinned, shaking hands with the men who stood up to greet them. “This is Kenzie, by the way,” he said to the guys. “Kenzie, I used to serve with these guys in the Navy before I got out to take care of my son.”
Oh shite, they literally were Navy men.
The introductions came next. Fast and furious, and she knew she’d never remember names—especially as they were last names only. She didn’t miss the heated glances and big smiles that screamed jackpot as they checked her out.
“And then this here is Chief Craven. Probably the best guy you could pick to be your superior.”
Kenzie was so caught up in the introductions that she hadn’t paid much attention to the man sitting with his back to them.
He turned in his chair and the world around her spun.
Chapter Five
The man wasn’t just any sailor, but him. Brett. Her date from seven months ago who’d gone AWOL. Her date whom apparently was a chief in the Navy. Even as a civilian, she knew that was a big deal. Just as rapidly as the shock at seeing him set in, it faded. She was good at landing on her feet.
Drawing in a quick breath, she did the same thing she’d done to the other sailors. She thrust out her hand and shook his. Keeping her expression blank, she murmured, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Craven.”
Don’t look him in the eyes .
Despite her vow not to, she slid her gaze up from his broad chest, only to quickly make eye contact.
A mistake. There was a flash of surprise there—as if he were shocked she hadn’t smashed him over the head with a glass, before his expression became a mask of politeness.
“Nice to meet you as well, Kenzie.”
The bastard didn’t even have the balls to call her out on her pretense that they didn’t know each other. She’d expected a clever remark like “we’ve already met” or something. But then that would make him the type of man who dealt with his problems.
And that’s what she was to him. A
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