Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(36)

“What happens if we get caught?” he asked.

Kenna scrunched her nose adorably. “I’ve got another beach in mind as a fallback. But it’s not as nice as this one.”

“I don’t care where we go or what we do,” Aleck told her. “I’m just thrilled to get to spend time with you.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “Wow, I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“It’s true. Fancy private beach, hanging out in that amazing beanbag of yours, or sitting in a dive restaurant eating peanut butter and jelly. I just like being with you. You make me feel…happy.”

Aleck regretted the words the second they left his lips because they were so sappy.

But he changed his mind when Kenna stopped walking and leaned into him. Aleck put his arm around her waist to hold her close.

“You make me happy too. I could be in the worst mood, but then I get a text from you and it’s like whatever upset me is completely forgotten. I don’t recognize myself lately.”

Aleck couldn’t have stopped himself from leaning down and kissing her if his life depended on it. Cognizant of where they were, he kept the kiss light, but it was still intense.

Kenna reached up and put her hand on his cheek, but she didn’t say anything.

A loud honking made both of them jerk in surprise, and Aleck chuckled as he hustled them out of the middle of the road. He waved at the man behind the wheel of the large SUV in apology and saw the man laughing as he continued on.

Kenna took a deep breath. “Okay, this is it. Act natural.”

Aleck didn’t know if she was telling him or herself, but he nodded anyway.

As they neared the front doors to the complex, she started babbling about what they needed to buy at the grocery store later.

Aleck knew she’d picked a topic that would make it seem as if they lived here, and he couldn’t help but hope for a time when they’d be shopping together for real, or leaving each other notes about what they needed at the store. It was somewhat surprising, as he’d never considered living with a woman before, but with Kenna, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about it.

The automatic doors opened and they walked into the lobby of the condo complex. Just as Kenna had ordered, he gave the security guard a chin lift as they approached the desk. Of course, he knew Robert fairly well. He’d come home from a mission very early in the morning a few months ago and they’d gotten to talking. Robert had a brother in the Army, and he wanted to make sure Aleck knew he appreciated his service.

Kenna had a death grip on his hand and she started talking even faster. Aleck wanted to end this farce right now. He didn’t like seeing her all worked up, but now definitely wasn’t the time. She’d be embarrassed if he told her he lived here after she’d tried so hard to look like they belonged.

They passed Robert, who looked back down at the papers on the desk in front of him. They headed toward the doors at the back of the large hotel-lobby-like space, which led out to a grassy area where Aleck and his team had barbequed often.

The second the doors shut behind them, Kenna turned to him with a huge smile on her face. “We did it!” she half-whispered, half-screeched. Then she hugged him once more.

Now it was Aleck who was too embarrassed to tell her they’d made it past Robert because the man knew him—because he was a resident.

“That was awesome!” Kenna said, a smile lighting up her face.

Aleck wanted to bottle her energy and enthusiasm and pull it out when he needed it the most…probably right after he told her they didn’t actually “sneak” anywhere.

“Come on. I want to see this beach. And I’m telling you right now, it had better live up to my expectations.” She chuckled. “Man, my heart is beating out of my chest and my adrenaline is making me shaky,” she said as they headed toward the beach.

Aleck moved closer and put his arm around her shoulders as they walked. “You liked that.” It wasn’t a question.

“I like winning,” she said with a grin. “I don’t really like the stress that comes with actually breaking the law.”

Aleck couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not sure sneaking onto a private beach constitutes breaking the law.”

Kenna shrugged. “I’m a goody two-shoes,” she said without any artifice. “I don’t like breaking the rules. Never have.”

“Well, we’re here now. And as far as anyone else is concerned, we belong here. So no feeling guilty, okay?”

“Absolutely!” Kenna said happily.

Then she pulled away from him and ran ahead to where the grassy area met the sand. She stood there as he caught up to her.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

And it was. While Aleck wasn’t a beach person, he could certainly understand the appeal. And his complex always went out of their way to try to make sure the beach itself was as inviting as possible. There were umbrellas and chairs spread out across the sand, with a satisfying distance between each. Someone raked the sand every night to keep it smooth and to get the leaves, sticks, and other debris out of it. There was a shed where people could check out boogie boards, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear, and even blow-up floats. A small stand served canned drinks—alcoholic and not—as well as snacks. Even the restrooms were fastidiously cleaned and serviced every hour to make sure they were up to the standards of the complex.