He winked then left.
Everyone was quiet because I had a feeling we were all staring at his butt.
“He’s a really nice guy, Quincy, but be careful.” Megan warned. “He recently got out of a relationship. He may be interested in only a rebound.”
A rebound could work because it meant he wasn’t interested in commitment but just a little fun.
“Well, actually, it’s probably been a year,” Megan corrected, blowing on her hot coffee. “It’s safe enough. I’d do him. But don’t tell Hayes.”
We laughed, knowing it was definitely better not to tell Hayes.
“I’m not blind,” she added. “He’s hot. And nice.”
“I’m not looking to marry the guy. Just for some entertainment in the form of broad shoulders and strong hands.” I flexed my own small hands for emphasis, and my friends hummed in approval. “Being a rebound is fine by me.”
Except the strong hands that popped to mind didn’t belong to Lee but Kennedy. Those long fingers knew exactly where to touch me. How to bring me to org–I shook my head to clear that thought. Inwardly, I groaned.
This was exactly why I wanted to get something going with Lee Landers.
I needed to work Kennedy out of my system once and for all. The guy had gotten under my skin in a way I hadn’t seen coming. We hadn’t just hooked up the night I decided to scratch an itch with him. We’d gotten down and dirty. He’d given it to me rough. Then gentle. Then kinky as hell.
And the worst part? He’d spent the night.
That was what left me undone. I hadn’t expected it from him. I’d never actuallysleptwith a man before. I left for the military straight from my parents’ house at age eighteen and, of course, sleepovers were strictly prohibited in the Navy. It wasn’t like I had private quarters. It was only until I was deployed when the ratio of men to women was so vast that I had a space of my own. Small and cramped but alone.
Then, I’d been raw and vulnerable after the mission we’d just completed. I’d bared myself to him–not just my body but my soul–and he’d stayed with me. While it had been a one-time thing, we’d done it way more than one time. His stamina had been… impressive.
By morning, Kennedy had been more than a hot SEAL who gave me a joy ride and that was the part that ripped me apart. Because I’d known he wasn’t playing for keeps. Not even remotely.
“So, I guess we’re going out tonight?” Holly asked pulling up a chair. “Is that what I heard?”
“Yep, looks like it.” I sipped the foamy cappuccino she made me with appreciation.
“Do me a favor?” She lifted her brows suggestively, a sly smile turning her lips. “Bring the rest of your team when you come.”
I tried not to bristle. There was no reason to keep Holly from the eligible guys. Taft might like her.
But I’d rather not. I’d very much rather not. Living with Kennedy was hard enough, especially when I knew the way he rolled. I didn’t want to have to witness him doing the morning-after routine with a friend of mine. Knowing they’d slept together…
“So it’s a couples thing?” Indi asked with mock innocence. “Or do you just mean the available ones?”
“Oh, your men can stay home.” Holly wagged a finger between Indi and Megan because they were in solid, unbreakable relationships with Ford and Hayes. “But bring the other two. It’s no fair you keeping them all up on that hill to yourselves.”
Indi and Megan chuckled. “Me? Us?” Megan said, pointing at herself then Indi. “It’s Quincy who’s got them all to herself.”
I hid my scowl in my coffee because it wasn’t Holly’s fault her words poked a wound. I didn’t blame her. I was eager to jump the guy myself. Kennedy. Not Taft. She could have him.
But I’d be damned if I mentioned anything to the guys. If Indi and Megan wanted to make this a group event, they’d have to arrange it themselves.
CHAPTERFOUR
KENNEDY
I’d been tryingto track down any lead, any detail, blip, snippet… any kind of electronic intel whatsoever on who was behind the drug smuggling ring that had gotten Buck killed and Ford blackballed. With the fucker Tully’s death–a fall into a craggy ravine that wasn’t harsh enough–we had some closure. Except he was only a minor player in the game. Someone higher up was pulling the strings, and he hadn’t been identified. He was getting away with it, and that pissed me off.
Ford was the most chill guy I knew, and I knew it kept him up at night. His mind was eased some when Buck had been cleared and his honor restored. Out of the two issues, he’d rather have that done. But I wanted both of them cleared and the fucker, or fuckers, behind all of this brought to justice. Or dead.
That was a good option, too.