Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(15)

“I know. But I’d much rather him be honest than blow smoke up my ass. He’s real, Carly, which I like.”

“True,” her friend mused. “Shawn did everything he could to be perfect when we first started dating, and it wasn’t until a couple months had gone by that he started slipping and being an ass.”

“Exactly,” Kenna said with a nod. “I mean, I don’t want to be with a guy who’s constantly a jerk and apologizing for it, but I also don’t want to be snowed by someone who’s going out of his way to say what he thinks I want to hear.”

“So…what’d he say?” Carly asked.

Kenna sighed. “He just made me feel as if he thought waitressing wasn’t a ‘real’ job. That it should be something I’m doing while I’m looking for some corporate career.”

Carly shrugged. “Lots of people feel that way.”

“I know. It just caught me off guard.”

“You made sure he knew the error in his thinking, right?” Carly asked.

“Yeah. We talked a little about his job as a SEAL, and I think he realized pretty fast that he’d been rude. I called him a snob,” Kenna admitted.

“You didn’t!”

Kenna shrugged. “I did. But in my defense, he kinda was acting like one.”

Carly studied Kenna for a long moment.

“What?” Kenna asked.

“You came back in here all smiles and glowy, like I said. So you obviously worked it out.”

“We did,” Kenna confirmed.

“I’m happy for you,” Carly said. “I mean, the fact that you guys could have a serious conversation like that and still like each other afterward…it’s…good, Kenna. Seriously.”

“I think so too,” Kenna admitted softly.

The two friends smiled at each other but were interrupted by Justin sticking his head into the kitchen and saying, “Carly, there’s someone here to see you.”

“Me?” she asked in confusion. “What do they want?”

“Don’t know,” Justin said. “Vera just told me to tell you that someone was here for you. That’s all I know. He’s up front.”

“Okay, thanks,” Carly said.

Justin disappeared and Carly turned to Kenna. “Seriously, girl. I like him. He was polite and courteous the whole time I was serving their table. They all were. I admit that I don’t have any desire to date right now, but if I did…I might give you a run for your money.”

“You aren’t interested in Marshall,” Kenna said with a smirk. “But Jag, on the other hand…” Her voice trailed off.

Carly held up a hand. “Nope. No way. Not going there.”

Kenna laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll shut up about it. I’ll take the order to your table so you can go and see who wants to talk to you. I hope it’s an old guy with a million-dollar tip he wants to give to you for being such an awesome waitress.”

“From your lips to God’s ears,” Carly said with a smile. “And thanks for taking my order.”

“Anytime.” Kenna headed to where the orders were sitting under heating lamps, staying warm, and made sure she grabbed the right meals, loaded up a tray, and headed out into the restaurant.

After she’d dropped off the food to a very appreciative couple, Kenna heard a commotion from the bar area. Turning, she saw Carly talking with a man.

Her ex. Shawn Keyes.

Kenna had heard more than enough stories about how horrible he was to Carly. When they’d first started dating, Carly had been flattered that an older man was interested in her. Everything had been all sunshine and roses for a couple months, until Shawn’s crazy started coming out. Carly had tried to explain away his abusive and aggressive behavior, but eventually it became too much. And when she’d come to work with a huge bruise on her upper arm, Kenna and the other waitstaff had convinced her to leave the asshole.

That should’ve been the end of it. But Shawn decided he didn’t want to break up with Carly, and he’d been emailing, calling, and texting her nonstop, apologizing and trying to get her to come back.

Carly had held strong, doing everything in her power to try to make him understand that they were over…but for some reason, Shawn wasn’t getting the hint.

And now it seemed as if he was escalating his campaign to get Carly back. Kenna couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he stood too close to her friend. At six feet tall, he was looming over Carly’s five and a half feet, obviously trying to intimidate her.

Kenna didn’t even hesitate. She was pissed on her friend’s behalf and determined to make Shawn understand once and for all that his relationship with Carly was over and done with. She headed straight for the pair.

When she neared them, she overheard Shawn say, “You’re acting like a spoiled brat.”

Kenna saw red. “No, she’s acting like a grown-ass woman who doesn’t want to be talked down to as if she’s a little kid,” she bit out.

Shawn turned to glare at her, and Kenna refused to back away, even if the hate in his hazel eyes made her want to. He’d cut his dark hair short since the last time she’d seen him, almost a buzz cut. He had on a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, making him blend in with the crowd of locals and tourists without any problem. Kenna had to admit at first glance, the man seemed harmless. Even though he was in his forties, he’d kept himself in shape, didn’t drink or smoke—according to Carly—and had a steady, well-paying job doing something with the local government.