Lucky Break by Kelley Vitollo

before they walked over to the counter in question. His tools were strewn about all over the place. He picked up a large sledge-hammer. Jace grabbed the other one.
    “This is the fun part.” He tossed Jace a pair of goggles before putting some on himself. Seconds later they were both swinging like hell at the wood.
    The thing was so old, it busted apart easily, but it was still satisfying to hit something. Kade needed it with the way his muscles were wound up so tight. It was ridiculous for him to wonder if he’d see Sidney today or how things would go now that they’d put the past behind them—but yet, here he was.
    The muscles in his arms actually started to ache because of the strength he used to slam the sledge-hammer into the wood over and over again, but he kept going. Kept pushing himself. Trying to silence thoughts of her the way she used to silence his father’s words for him.
    Much too soon, the long counter was nothing but a pile of old wood, but the tightness in his body hadn’t loosened at all. “Jesus, man.” Jace slapped him on the back. “You beat the crap out of that. Got a lot of pent-up anger in there or what? Must be a woman.”
    It was always a woman, wasn’t it? First he was upset she was there and now he was stressed like a sixteen-year-old kid about when he’d see her again. Kade grunted and Jace laughed. “I hear ya. They’re a whole hell of a lot of trouble, aren’t they?”
    All he could do was nod at his friend. Yeah, they were.
    Just then, a soft female voice cleared her throat. Both he and Jace turned around to see three women standing about twenty feet behind them: Rowan; a woman he didn’t know, who seemed to find the ground pretty damn interesting; and Sidney.
    Kade took a moment to study her: the short shorts (thank God for those), a tank top, sandals, and a huge smile. It was then he realized he was smiling, too. Funny how women could be so much trouble, but with one look, it was forgotten.
    “Betsy? What are you doing here?” Jace asked. The third woman pushed her brown hair behind her ear and looked over at him.
    “I came with Rowan.” Her cheeks flushed a sweet pink.
    Jace shrugged, but Kade noticed his eyes didn’t leave her when he said, “This is Betsy, my legal assistant. Betsy, this is Kade.”
    “I figured you could use as many hands as I could find,” Rowan said. “Sidney and Betsy both said they’d love to help.” She smiled and he shook his head at her. The way she bit her cheek told him she had something sneaky going on. He’d deal with that later.
    “Thanks for helping. I appreciate it.” His eyes found Rowan’s again. “If you and Betsy want to go in the diner, there’s paint. You can get started there, if that works for you.”
    He eyed Sidney next. She had her arms crossed over her perky breasts. They looked bigger than the small handful he remembered, and his heart started racing. She actually tapped her foot as she returned his stare, and he bit back his grin. Did she think she was going to win this one? She had another think coming.
    “How am I supposed to paint if I’m not in the diner with them?” More foot tapping.
    “You’re not painting. That’s the point.”
    “Oh yes I am,” she countered.
    He heard Jace chuckle in the background. Betsy watched with fascination and Rowan wore a smirk that matched Sidney’s.
    Kade crossed his arms. He was only half kidding with her. “Not going to happen.” He knew everyone around them had to be confused, but he’d deal with this before he let them in on their conversation.
    “You need help and I’m here to give it to you. Don’t be so stubborn. I’m going to find a paint brush.”
    She tried to walk around him, but Kade held his ground, moving in front of her each time she tried to get past him. It almost felt like an electric buzz going through him—messing with her like this again went straight to his heart.
    “Move!” If she was trying to sound mad, it wasn’t working.
    “I