Loch and Key (2 page)

Simmons was drinking it in. His ears went pink at whatever she said and his arm tightened around her waist.

All the guys at this table tonight were looking for a girl. Some for just a night or two, others for something more serious.

“Let me buy you a shot, Chief.”

Swinging his gaze to another of his sailors, he gave a short shake of his head.

“Thanks, Johnson, but I’m good with this.”

“Ah come on, are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

His lips twitched as the sailor worked his way past the group and to the bar. The few times he came out with his sailors it wasn’t uncommon for them to try to get him drunk. It was a challenge. One they had yet to meet.

No, he wasn’t here to drink tonight. He’d been hoping for a different source of entertainment. Irritation and disappointment mingled. It was just his luck, really. He wasn’t much into the bar scene, and the one night he did go out, hoping to find the one woman who’d sparked his interest in a while, she wasn’t working.

When he’d seen her the night before he’d left it had been a Saturday night. She’d been working, so he’d assumed she’d be on again tonight. Maybe she didn’t even work here anymore?

Biting back a sigh, Brett glanced at the bartenders behind the counter. One of the guys looked familiar. Maybe he could ask him?

Scooting back his chair, Brett made his way to the counter and waited for a break in the crowd of people ordering. Finally the guy he wanted to speak to turned his attention to Brett.

“What can I get you?” the tall, friendly looking man asked with what sounded like a Scottish accent. “Care for another brandy?”

“No, thanks, I’m good.” He stepped closer to the counter. “I just wanted to ask if Kenzie still works here? When she works again?”

And just like that any friendliness vanished from the man’s gaze.

“Kenzie, you say? Are you a friend of hers?”

Now how was he supposed to answer that? He couldn’t really qualify them as friends.

“No, sir, not exactly.”

“Then you’ll understand if I don’t exactly hand out that kind of information.”

What the hell? That was a little extreme. Just what kind of relationship did this guy have with her? Were they a couple? The idea disappointed.

“Just what is your business with her?” the man asked, his gaze narrowed.

“Forget about it. Doesn’t matter anyway.” He tossed back the rest of his brandy and set the empty glass on the counter. “Thanks for your time.”

Ignoring the answering grunt, Brett turned away and headed toward the door. It swung open a moment later. He barely noticed the first woman who strode in, but the flash behind her of hair that was more red than blonde had him pausing.

The first woman moved inside, straight to the counter, leaving the other woman exposed and standing alone in the doorway. His pulse slowed and then staggered into a slow gallop. Hmm, maybe his luck was about to change for the evening.

The other times he’d seen her she’d had her hair in a ponytail but tonight it fell in a long, loose curtain down her shoulders and back.

Her outfit, which could’ve easily been spotted on any guy in the room, was a U2 T-shirt and pair of skinny jeans, yet the combination was anything but masculine. The T-shirt was tight, clinging to large breasts and a narrowed waist. Her hips and ass were all rounded goodness and screamed blatant femininity in her dark jeans.

Brett blinked and had to unglue his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

Jesus, he hadn’t remembered just how sexy she was. He’d known she was pretty, but this… Kenzie was a bombshell.

And he wasn’t the only one noticing. One of his sailors appeared at her side, a stupid grin on his face as he said something to her. She gave a slight smile and shook her head before striding into the bar and walking behind the counter.

The man who Brett had just spoken to spotted her and grinned hugely, striding down to pull her into his arms and lift her off the ground. She laughed and kissed his cheek, slapping at his shoulders until he lowered her back to her feet.

Disappointment flared wide in his belly, and a brief flicker of jealousy that he hated to acknowledge. Well shit. Maybe they
were
a couple and that was why the guy had overreacted.

Kenzie pulled away from the man and poured herself a dark beer from the tap. Clearly she must still work here to have such liberties. With a wink at the men working behind the bar, all who watched her, she moved back out and onto the floor.

Brett hadn’t meant to stick around like some skeevy gawker, but realized he hadn’t moved when Kenzie nearly ran straight into him.

“Oof.” She placed her hand out against his chest to stop the collision and offered him an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that, I didn’t quite see you there.”

Her gaze, just as vivid of a green as he remembered, connected with his. The surprising wariness in her eyes slipped away to reveal confusion. With narrowed eyes, she tilted her head and studied him. Something about the way she did that was familiar.

“I know you,” she said softly. “Don’t I? Or do you just come here a lot?”

Amusement had a slow smile tugging at his lips. “Is that a line? Because if it is, it’s not very original.”

“A line? What?” Her confusion visibly increased and her scowl deepened. “No. It’s not a line, I’m a waitress here.”

“Hmm. Gotta say I’m a little disappointed it’s not a line,” he drawled slowly.

She folded her arms across her chest and stared at him, clearly trying to place exactly who he was. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to. It had been six months and they really hadn’t known each other. Just some brief flirting when he’d gotten her to promise to have dinner with him when he returned from deployment. So long as she didn’t have a boyfriend, as they’d agreed.

He thought of the overly protective, grumpy asshole behind the counter who she’d just embraced. Clearly that dinner wasn’t going to happen.

“You’re right. I just come in here a lot, Kenzie.”

He shouldn’t have used her name, because unease flickered in her eyes and she took a step back.

“The hell you do. I’d remember you better. I know you from somewhere, but…ah shit.” Realization dawned and her eyes went round. “You’re that bloody sailor I promised to have dinner with.”

With that last muttered statement, he heard the hint of an accent. The same accent as the bartender. Which just might mean he’d read the situation wrong.

“Is he related to you? The giant behind the bar?”

Kenzie followed his gaze. “Aleck? He’s my brother.”

Triumph seared through him and he arched a brow. “Is that so? Well, then. Yes. I
am
that sailor who you promised to have dinner with.” He took a step toward her, not missing the slight hitch in her breathing or her quick retreat. “And I thought I’d collect on that promise.”

Chapter Two

He remembered her. How the hell had he remembered her?

Kenzie’s heart hammered in her chest and she cast a panicked look around the pub. They hadn’t even planned on coming here tonight, but Baxter’s had been dead so they’d left after an hour to come have drinks and shoot some pool.

While he clearly remembered who she was, it had taken a moment for her to remember who
he
was. Working as a waitress here, she saw many people come and go. Many faces that became familiar. So many regulars who’d become close friends.

But he’d lied. This man, Brett was his name if she remembered correctly, wasn’t a regular here. He’d only come in a handful of times that she knew of, and the two instances she could recall he’d made it a point to talk to her. Made his interest in her known.

Why had she been stupid enough to promise him dinner? It had been an impulsive response to his flirting when she’d been half-drunk at Sarah’s bachelorette party. She hadn’t for one moment thought he’d take her up on it.

It had been the night before he was going out on the ship for six months, he’d said. He’d been cute. Charming. Some kind of sexy Southern accent that had her pulse doing weird things, so she’d said yes. Had momentarily let down all the walls she had up around her heart, and said yes.

Who could’ve known he’d remember her? Taken her seriously even. But there was a stipulation. She only had to go out to dinner with him if she were still single.

From beneath her lashes, she ran a slow glance over him. While he’d called Aleck a giant, he certainly wasn’t far behind. Likely several inches over six feet, he towered over her five foot six frame. His body seemed to be all muscle. He wore jeans and a nice button-up black shirt that showed the wide, hard-looking chest beneath.

She lifted her gaze from his chest and glanced over his shaved head, the small amount of hair there hinting the shade was probably a dark blond. Her attention fell again, as if drawn by an invisible beam, to his eyes. He watched her with a pale blue gaze that was so intense it became a struggle to breathe normally.

Shite, but he was attractive. A little too sexy, too confident, and the effect was enough to put her at unease. She drew in an unsteady breath and offered a small shrug.

“Dinner sounds lovely and all, but I’m actually seeing someone.”

It wasn’t a total lie. She was seeing someone. His name was Benedict Cumberbatch and she saw him on her television once a week.

Brett stared at her through hooded eyes. She had the feeling he was scrutinizing her words for truth, but as far as he knew, why would she have a reason to lie? She very well could have a boyfriend as far as he knew.

“Bullshit.”

Her breath caught. “Excuse me?”

“I’m calling bullshit on you having a boyfriend.”

Bristling now, she straightened to her full height. “I find it a bit insulting that you’d doubt my relationship status.”

“This isn’t Facebook, and that’s not what I’m doubting. Look, Kenzie, I came in here tonight to see you. I’m not going to lie. Six months ago I thought you were cute. Funny. Sassy. You intrigued me and that doesn’t happen a lot.”

He shook his head and disappointment flickered in his eyes. Disappointment in her, she sensed. Guilt swept through her, and a hint of shame. This man served in the military and risked his life for his country, for the freedom she was fortunate enough to have. And she was treating him like a pesky fly she wished to swat away.

She could feel her ears warming and she bit the inside of her cheek as she tore her gaze from him.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she be like a normal girl and just flirt? He seemed like a decent guy, one who was blatantly interested in her. She’d even promised to have dinner with him, and yet she was pushing him away. She always pushed men away.

“Everything all right here?”

Kenzie flinched at Aleck’s arrival. Usually she’d welcome his interference if a guy was getting too aggressive, but Brett wasn’t really being aggressive. More just confident in a nonthreatening way. He was simply attempting to cash in on an offer she’d made.

Shite she sucked.

Aleck stepped between her and Brett, and the warning vibe radiated off him in spades. Usually his height and stoic presence was intimidating to the scariest of men, but Brett didn’t even flinch. If anything he just appeared irritated if not completely unfazed.

Something told her this was a man who was used to giving orders, not taking them. Being the intimidator, not the intimidated.

“Everything is fine, Aleck.” Her words were quiet and firm as she kept her gaze on Brett. “I’ve got this.”

“Aye? Well I’ll not be too far away if you need me, luv.” With another hard warning glance at Brett, he disappeared back behind the bar.

“Nice protective brother you’ve got there.”

She struggled to explain, but there really wasn’t any way to without getting into deep, dark subjects. “Look, he means well.”

“I don’t disagree. Actually, I think it’s a good thing.” He smiled slightly. “I have a younger sister who I’d give my life to protect. I get it.”

And he did, she recognized that in his somber gaze.

“Clearly things have changed since the night before I left for deployment. Or I misread the signals. Either way, I’ll stop bothering you and let you get on with your evening. Have a good night, ma’am.”

He nodded and turned to leave. Her heart pinched. She didn’t want him to leave, even if fear of the unknown was making
her
want to bolt.

“Wait, Brett,” she blurted, grabbing his arm. “About those signals. You didn’t misread them.”

Seriously? Was she for real? What the hell was going on in this woman’s mind right now?

Frozen in midstride, Brett hesitated before turning around to face Kenzie again. He was torn between frustration and anticipation. Despite her statement that he hadn’t misread her signals, she was a mass of mixed ones. At one moment seeming as if she were about to flirt, maybe even dipping her toes into it, and then backing off quickly the next.

Why the hell he wasn’t halfway to his truck right now, he couldn’t say for sure. High-maintenance women who didn’t know what they wanted were definitely not his thing. He’d been there. Done that. So why was he getting all twisted up by a curvy ginger who couldn’t decide what she wanted?