Chapter 24: “You’re free with me.”
Kenny
Nothing was keeping Slayde and me apart now. If I wasn’t at his place, he was spending the night at mine. He still left early each morning to be at the gym, cleaning the locker rooms and getting ready for the day, but now that Rook had made him a trainer, he was with me more all the other times.
Slayde never said how many years he’d been a fighter before he quit, but he was so skilled at everything, it had to have been a while. Even Pete asked him for pointers on lifts and moves.
He’d already left for the day when I was hanging out with Mariska that Wednesday afternoon, dishing about my super sexy boyfriend. She was dressed as always in her Boho-Goth style. Deep emerald bodysuit with a long, rayon skirt wrapped around her slim hips. Her long, wavy brown hair was pinned back on the sides and silver skull earrings were in both her ears.
“Is he really rough?” She leaned forward, hazel eyes sparkling. “Like when you’re doing it, does he hold you down and shit?”
“No,” I laughed. “That’s such a freakin’ stereotype.” My knee-jerk response I’m sure was a result of Patrick’s intense line of questioning the last time I’d talked to him. Shit! Had that been two weeks ago? I needed to plan a trip to Wilmington now.
Mariska’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe it. He has those wicked-sexy eyes, like he likes to strangle you.”
Leaning forward, I scanned the bar to be sure we were alone. “I’ve always wanted to try that,” I whispered. My friend squealed, and I kicked her. “Shut the fuck up,” I hissed. “That’s why I can’t tell you anything at work.”
“So does he do it? Do you come really hard?” She was leaning forward on the bar again, and I was about to tell her we’d never tried it when a man pushed through the glass doors.
He strode toward the counter, and we both snapped to attention. He was gorgeous, tall and slim but built, and the way he carried himself, I could tell he was used to giving orders—and being obeyed. He was military, I’d bet my life on it.
As I looked at him, something was so familiar, from the light brown hair with caramel highlights to the intense hazel eyes that were almost green. The more I studied him, the more he reminded me of...
“Can I help you?” Mariska’s voice cut through my thoughts with a force that caused me to step back.
“I’m looking for Kendra Woods. She goes by Kenny.” The handsome man surveyed the gym behind us.
Blinking up at him, I straightened. “I’m Kenny.”
Stern eyes moved to my face, and he hesitated. “I expected someone... older.”
Embarrassment mixed with anger. Was he insulting me? “I’m twenty-six, and you are...?”
“Stuart Knight. You know my brother Patrick.”
My mouth dropped open, but I quickly closed it. The few times Patrick had mentioned his older brother Stuart, it had always been to say what a hardass he was or to note how much they didn’t get along. I could see where he was coming from, but I wasn’t about to be intimidated on my own turf.
“I know Patrick. What do you want?”
“May I speak with you in private? It’s about your s
on, my nephew.” He never once lost his imposing posture, but he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, revealing the slightest crack in the armor along with some pretty impressive ink hiding under his long sleeve.
I took a breath and exchanged a glance with Mariska. Patrick’s brother or not, I wasn’t comfortable being alone with this guy. “Mariska’s my friend. We can talk here.”
He glanced at her, and for a moment, his eyes got caught. It was like he saw her for the first time, and even I could feel the unexpected charge that passed in the air between them.
His voice changed, sternness gone. “Hello.”
Mariska’s cheeks warmed along with her voice. “Hi—it’s Stuart? Would you like a smoothie? I make them myself... right over there.” She pointed across the bar. “It’ll give you a little privacy. While you talk.”
Watching the two of them, I almost suggested I make the smoothie and leave them alone together, but he grabbed the reins.
“Thank you,” he said, breaking their moment. Still, his gaze drifted to her ass when my friend sashayed across the bar. I resisted rolling my eyes at her obvious hip swish.
The deep voice was back on me, sternness restored. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I have something for Lane. I’d like you to keep it for him until he’s old enough to have it.”
I watched him dig in his pocket and pull out a small bundle wrapped in a black cloth. It fit in his palm, and as he unwrapped it, I ducked under the counter to stand in front of him. “What is it?”