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“How many of those have you had?” I nod to Preppy Tourist’s nearly empty stein. It’s the largest size they serve. I wonder if Zac or Decker know how many this jackass has ordered. They’re pretty good at keeping tabs on their customers, but it’s extra busy tonight.
“None of your business,friend.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m not your friend.”
“Kendra, why don’t we get out of here. I’ve got a room at the lodge—” The second he moves toward Kinley, I step between them, barricading her behind me.
“Don’ttouch her.” Bear growls an echo of my tone, pressing his bulk into Kinley’s knees and sending her behind us both.
He shoves me, and I shove him back. He stumbles backward and trips over his own feet. The crowd around us goes silent, aside from a few laughs. A good portion of the patrons are local, and they’re not going to interfere unless I need backup—which I don’t.
Though I know throwing punches might get me banned from the brewery, I’m prepared to do whatever’s necessary to get this asshole to receive the message loud and clear—he doesn’t get totouchKinley. He doesn’t even get to look at her without me rearranging his face.
“Rowan?” Kinley’s soft voice dials back my anger a few notches. She grips my bicep with both hands. “Let’s go.”
Preppy Tourist pushes to his feet, crazy dancing in his drunken eyes. He’s planning to come at me again. One good punch would knock him out until tomorrow. Keep him from being anyone else’s problem.
“Rowan, please,” Kinley begs, tugging on my arm. “Take me home.”
When I meet her pleading gaze, I’m helpless. The tension inside my chest unwinds in a single exhale. “Let’s go.”
Halfway to the truck, Preppy Tourist charges. Someone shouts a warning. Like I needed it. I turn and plant my feet, ready to land a punch. Bear lets out a low growl.
“That’s enough,” Garrett Bradley snaps, stepping between us. The police uniform is enough to make the asshole back down. Even without it, only someone with a death wish would try to fight us both.
“He started it,” Preppy Tourists spits out like a spoiled toddler.
Garrett looks him up and down. “How many you had to drink tonight?” That seems to shut him up. Garrett waves at me to head on. I lead Kinley and Bear to the truck as he deals with the drunk idiot. She clings to my arm until I open the door, betraying any tough-girl act she put on earlier. Her nerves are shot if her fingernails digging into my skin are any indication.
Bear leaps into the passenger seat. “In the back, Bear.”
He lets out a groan.
“Move.”
The second groan is twice as dramatic, but he hops into the back seat.
“Rowan, I—”
“Get in the truck, Kin.” I feel like an asshole for being so harsh, but it’s the only thing keeping me from sweeping her into my arms and kissing her until her bones melt. I’ve always been protective of my best friend. But the possessiveness I feel is stronger than ever. Stronger than the night I kissed her three years ago. If I kiss her now, I might not be able to stop. “I’m taking you home.”
CHAPTER7
Kinley
The silence in the truck is tense as Rowan drives to Grandma Rose’s house. I stare at the single-story log cabin quickly approaching, reminded that everything I own is in a storage unit in Anchorage. That my future is up in the air since my best laid plans with Anders went to shit.
But that wasn’t the reason I made a rare stop at the brewery for a beer tonight.
It’s been an impossible week. Being so close to Rowan andnotthinking about that kiss. It doesn’t matter that it happened three years ago. My memory of it is so crystal clear that it might as well have happened yesterday. It doesn’t help that we didn’t speak to each other during those years in between. Being around him makes me want to kiss him again. And again. And maybe neverstopkissing him.
“Rowan—”
“What thehell,Kin?” Rowan shifts the truck into park in the driveway and turns a narrowed gaze at me. “That asshole convince you to start drinking?”
“What?” It takes a moment to register what he’s implying, but the pieces fall into place. Holy shit. Is hejealous? Or just being protective? Either way, I feel a tiny thrill race through me. But I don’t dare let it show in my expression. “I drink on occasion. It was one beer,Dad.”
“One drink is all it takes, Kin.” His harsh tone doesn’t match the gentle compassion in his stormy eyes. He knows me better than anyone. He was also the one who saved me from a very scary situation back in high school afterone drink. If it weren’t for Rowan showing up at just the right time…I shake the unpleasant memory away.
