Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(7)



Kenna felt as if she was in junior high school all over again. She was giddy with excitement and definitely looking forward to getting to know this man.

“If we’re not here when you get back, we’ll be at the bar,” Elodie’s husband said. “Watching over Elodie and Lexie.”

“I think I’m gonna get going,” Pid said.

“Same,” Slate agreed.

“You can stay as long as you want,” Kenna told them. “It’s not a problem. We don’t usually get large groups this late, so we won’t need the table.” She didn’t want the guys leaving if they truly didn’t want to go.

“We’re good,” Midas said.

“I think I’ll stick around. Someone has to make sure these guys don’t get into trouble,” Jag said with a chuckle. He was referring to his friends, but his eyes were focused on something behind her.

Kenna turned to see who he was looking at and saw Carly coming toward the table. She inwardly smiled. It was more than obvious Marshall’s friend was interested in Carly. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she’d sworn off men for the foreseeable future.

She looked back at Marshall. “Meet me in ten minutes by the podium at the front of the restaurant?”

“I’ll be there,” he told her.

Kenna gave him a shy smile, then turned to deliver the fork and napkins to table twenty-seven. She’d missed the two women getting up and heading her way, so when she turned, she ran right into the blonde, dropping both the fork and the napkins she’d been about to deliver.

“Watch it!” the brunette exclaimed, then she and the blonde giggled as they walked toward the restrooms.

Sighing, Kenna knelt to pick up the mess she’d made—and realized Marshall was right there next to her, reaching for the napkins.

“I’ve got it,” she told him.

“I know,” he said, not standing up or returning to his seat.

It was a little thing, but she appreciated his help even though it wasn’t a big deal to pick up the items. Ten seconds later, they’d collected all the napkins before they could blow away from the slight breeze coming off the ocean.

“Bitches,” Marshall muttered as they stood, and he handed her the napkins he’d picked up.

“It’s fine. Trust me, they don’t even rate on my asshole-patron scale.”

“I’d say I’d love to hear stories, but I have a feeling hearing how you’re treated would just piss me off,” Marshall said.

“Ten minutes?” she asked again, holding the napkins to her chest.

“Excuse me, gotta use the restroom,” Elodie said with an edge to her voice.

“Oh shit,” Pid muttered as he moved out of the way so Lexie and Elodie could scoot out of the booth.

The women headed in the same direction the blonde and brunette had gone. Kenna glanced at their men. “Should I be worried?”

“No,” Midas said.

At the same time Mustang said, “Maybe.”

“Ten minutes,” Marshall said, lightly touching her arm.

Kenna nodded, then turned to head back to the kitchen. She dumped the dirty napkins in a bin inside the door. Making a split-second decision, she headed for the bathroom. She didn’t really know Elodie or Lexie, but she didn’t want them to get in trouble because of her. She’d been dealing with people like the blonde and brunette for years, so nothing anyone said or did ruffled her feathers anymore.

She pushed open the bathroom door and saw Elodie and Lexie standing at the sinks. There was no sign of the other two women, but since both doors to the stalls were closed and she could see feet on the other side, Kenna assumed that was them.

Elodie winked at her before turning back to Lexie. “I’m told one of the waitresses here is related to one of the producers of the latest Jurassic Park movie.”

“Really?” Lexie exclaimed in the fakest voice Kenna had ever heard.

“Yeah. You know they film on the northeast side of the island at that ranch…what’s it called again?”

“Kualoa Ranch?” Lexie asked.

“That’s it!” Elodie said with an overabundance of drama. “Anyway, so I heard Chris Pratt is on the island filming and they need extras for some of the scenes.”

“Ooooh, cool,” Lexie gushed.

“Right? And rumor has it the waitress helps her dad, or uncle, or whoever he is, find extras. Since she meets so many people, she asks random guests if they might be interested in working out at the ranch for a day,” Elodie said.

Kenna put her hand over her mouth to try to keep her laughter in.

“Who is she?” Lexie asked. “I want to kiss her ass so maybe she’ll ask me!”

“I don’t know,” Elodie said in a dejected tone. “But I plan to be as nice as possible to the waitress. I mean, can you imagine being a bitch to the staff, then finding out later you could’ve been hired for a Jurassic Park movie if you’d just been nicer?”

“That would suck so bad,” Lexie agreed with a huge smile.

“I think my hair is as good as it’s gonna get,” Elodie said. “You ready to go back? I need another drink.”

“Ready,” Lexie agreed.

The two women in the stalls hadn’t said a word, but Kenna figured Elodie and Lexie had gotten their point across more than adequately. She backed out of the restroom, with both the other women following and grinning like lunatics.

Susan Stoker's Books