The image of Sierra flashed before him. Once, he’d let his walls down, believing there could be more. He intended to give them both another chance.
Kane cleared his throat. “I appreciate it, man. For now, I’m gonna dig in and that means I gotta get back to work. Text me the info for dinner.”
“You got it.”
“Brick?”
“Yeah?”
He smiled at his friend. “I’m so damn happy for you.”
Kane didn’t wait for a response. He turned and headed to his car. Anticipation buzzed through him like a hit of caffeine.
He couldn’t wait till Friday night.
Chapter Nine
“Keep your head, heels and standards high.” – Lola Stark
Sierra walked into the Grill Room restaurant and spotted Aspen and Brick already seated outside. The deck was crammed with diners but their table was tucked toward the edge, offering a bit of privacy. It was a beautiful day with scattered sun and mild temps.
She kissed them both, slid into her seat, and tucked the wrapped package to the side.
“What is that?” Aspen asked suspiciously. “You better not have bought us a gift already. You’ll be broke by the time we reach the wedding.”
Sierra laughed. “It’s just something small. I wanted to mark the occasion. I’m so excited to talk about wedding plans! Am I still the only one who knows?”
Aspen eyed the gift with a bit of greed before refocusing. “Yep. We’re going to allow the news to get out organically now that it’s not a secret.”
Brick’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “We’re taking bets who will spread the word the fastest.”
Sierra rubbed her hands together. “How fun! Hmm, I’d bet on Mrs. Rossi—she’s pretty well connected and nosy.”
“Oh, good pick,” Aspen said. “I’m going with Marco.”
Sierra stared. “Marco doesn’t gossip. He sells t-shirts and smokes weed with his friends all day.”
Aspen and Brick shared a look. “He’s much more than that, trust me. Once he gets a hold of information, he’s faster than social media around here,” Aspen said.
“That’s so interesting,” Sierra murmured. Marco owned a souvenir shop next to Ziggy’s Tours, so he’d gotten really close to Aspen and Brick. Guess she hadn’t spent enough time trying to peel off those surfer dude layers. She was ashamed of herself for judging. “What about you, Brick?”
“I’m going with a dark horse. Someone who’s so good at what he does, no one realizes they’re being conned to spread the gossip.”
“Who?” she asked curiously.
“Me.”
Sierra jumped at the male voice behind her. The wicked word was whispered playfully, but shot all sorts of heat in her body. Stunned at his appearance, she watched as Kane dropped into the last empty chair and regarded her with a lazy, sweeping gaze. “What are you doing here?” she shot out.
“I was invited, of course. To celebrate and talk about the upcoming nuptials.” Kane grinned. “Are you disappointed to see me?”
His mocking words made her cheeks burn, especially with the pointed stare Aspen was giving her. Sierra sat upright, forcing an easy smile. “No! Sorry, I thought it was just us. It’s nice to see you again.”
That lower lip quirked in amusement. She knew she sounded stilted and cold, which only made Aspen and Brick more curious. Dammit, why did he have to be Brick’s best friend? His appearance had been a shock to her system, but now that he’d decided to stay? It was like he was slowly infiltrating every thread of her life, leaving no safe places. She felt like his prey, and he was toying with his food before gobbling her up whole.
Maybe she should’ve been a writer. Her thoughts were always so dramatic when it came to Kane Masterson.
Brick broke the humming tension. “Kane is like my brother, and the only family left.” His words held no self-pity. She watched her sister slide her hand into his for support. “We thought it would be fun to all celebrate together.”
