Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(8)

The second the door shut behind them, Lexie burst out laughing.

“Shhhh,” Elodie scolded in a whisper. “They might still be able to hear us!” They walked down the hall toward the dining area, and only then did Elodie join Lexie in laughing.

“That was awesome!” Lexie exclaimed.

“They’re gonna be kissing all the waitresses asses now for sure!” Elodie agreed.

Kenna couldn’t remember if someone had ever gone out of their way to do something like that for her. It was harmless and funny, but would likely be effective. Of course, there would always be patrons who felt it was perfectly all right to treat the waitstaff like shit, but for tonight, those two women would almost certainly do an about-face and change their attitude.

“Thank you so much,” Kenna told them. “They honestly weren’t all that bad, but I appreciate it all the same.”

Elodie got serious as she met Kenna’s gaze. “I’ve had more to drink tonight than usual, and I’d probably never say something like this otherwise…”

Kenna braced.

“I like you. I mean, I don’t really know you, but I like how Aleck can’t take his eyes off you. I like your smile and how you’re always looking over at him. And I freaking love that you didn’t hesitate to try to rescue him when you thought he was drowning. Aleck is a good guy. He’s funny—and yes, he’s the smart aleck that he’s named for. But when we all invited ourselves tonight, he didn’t say no. He didn’t pitch a fit. I think he was kind of glad because he was nervous. And he’d only be nervous if you mattered. So…all that to say…I hope things work out between you guys.”

Kenna was surprised. She kind of thought Elodie would tell her not to fuck with her friend or something. She definitely liked this woman. “Me too,” she admitted.

Lexie nudged Elodie and gestured not so subtly with her head toward the table they’d been sitting at. Their men were headed their way.

“Wow, they gave us a whole five minutes,” Elodie joked with a laugh.

Not able to stop herself, Kenna looked back at the table, and her gaze met Marshall’s.

“You okay?” he mouthed.

Kenna nodded at him.

Marshall made a big deal out of lifting his arm and looking at the watch on his wrist. Kenna smiled and held up five fingers. He nodded.

“See? You guys can have an entire conversation from across the room,” Elodie said. “That’s awesome.”

It was awesome.

Kenna nodded at Midas and Mustang as they arrived to collect their women.

“You good?” Mustang asked her.

Kenna couldn’t help but smile. “I’m good,” she told him. “Your wife and Lexie were awesome.”

“They can be a little…enthusiastic,” Midas said, wrapping an arm around Lexie’s shoulders.

“We are awesome,” Lexie agreed, snuggling into her man.

“Dessert arrived while you two were delivering your smackdown,” Mustang told them.

“We didn’t do any such thing,” Elodie protested. “We just had a conversation. That may or may not have been overheard.”

“We’ll see if it was when the bitches go back to their table,” Lexie said.

“Speaking of which, I’d better get more napkins for them,” Kenna said. “Thanks again.”

“Anytime,” Elodie said. “That’s what friends are for.”

Kenna smiled at both women and headed back toward the kitchen. She heard Mustang ask, “So you’re best friends with Aleck’s woman already?”

“Yup,” Kenna heard Elodie say, right before she entered the kitchen area. Smiling, she gathered up the napkins and fork, grabbed the appetizer for another table that was ready, and headed back into the dining area. She had time to do one more check on each of her tables before her much-needed and anticipated break.

After dropping off the poke tacos and crab wontons to table forty-three, she headed back toward table twenty-seven.

This time, the blonde and brunette couldn’t have been nicer. They apologized for being a pain and the blonde even complimented Kenna’s hair. It was such a crock of shit, because the ponytail Kenna wore wasn’t anything to gush about. But she merely smiled and asked the group if they needed anything else.

Kenna had to admit that Elodie and Lexie’s ploy was crazy effective. They hadn’t started a knock-down drag-out fight. Hadn’t shamed the two women. Had just lied their asses off with their elaborate tale, which had worked like a charm.

Making a mental note to never underestimate either woman—that was, if she had the chance to spend time with them in the future—Kenna headed for her next table to make sure all was well.

Five minutes later, she took off her apron, hung it on a hook near the kitchen door, waved to Carly, and headed for the front of the restaurant. She still had a couple hours of work in front of her, but she’d never been as excited for her break as she was tonight.





Chapter Three





Aleck stood apart from the patrons waiting to be seated at Duke’s and realized he was fidgeting. He never fidgeted. But anticipation over spending time with Kenna, even if it was only thirty minutes, had him shifting back and forth on his feet like he was a ten-year-old kid in the principal’s office.