Thin Love (Thin Love, #1)(41)

It had started too simply, out of necessity, but now what he did for Ricky had become an obligation that Kona couldn’t see his way out of. “He’s not gonna bug me. I talked to him earlier.”

“He was just at the house. What the hell is he doing here?”

“I’m not his keeper, Lu.”

Kona hoped his brother would be calm, but he knew how upset Luka got when Ricky or any of the shit that followed him was near Kona. He needed to deflect, to ease the tension as quickly as possible and so he nodded toward Vanessa as she helped Mimi off the table and the girl smiled, moving toward him like a deer learning to walk for the first time.

“Finally,” she said, landing on Kona’s lap. He looked to his right, caught Luka’s glare and then moved Vanessa’s nibbling teeth off of his ear.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you keep my brother company, yeah?”

It took her a second to adjust between them. She slipped once, but Kona caught her and she landed with an “umpf” on Luka’s lap. Kona wasn’t paying attention to anyone but his brother. He wanted to make sure that he’d calmed enough to stay off Ricky’s radar and so he didn’t notice Keira until Vanessa looped her arm around Luka’s shoulder with her legs stretched out against Kona’s knees.

Keira stood next to the bar in the kitchen directly across from him, talking to Leann and the guy he’d seen her cousin with on campus. Watching her, Kona forgot about his brother’s temper or the * on the other side of the room that had Kona by the balls.

Keira look like a f*cking goddess; hair down her back in waves; brown skirt hitting above her knees and a pair of leather boots that wrapped her muscular calves like a second skin. His dick got twitchy just looking at her, at that plump ass and how the creamy top she wore cupped her in lace.

He tried to smile at her, forgetting for a moment how she’d stung him that day when he walked out of his room with Tonya Lucas and her scent still clinging to him. He’d spent all afternoon feeling like an * and wondering why Keira made him feel guilty for doing something that was second nature to him.

But tonight with her across the room, looking as beautiful as she did, smiling, relaxed, had Kona itching to beg her forgiveness. That live wire was too damn tempting and he wanted to burn in her. He wanted to burn in her so bad. He knew what she thought of him and the only thing he wanted right then was to change her opinion.

Keira took the drink that Leann handed her, then held it still in front of her when something her cousin said made her laugh. Those blue eyes shone across the room in her humor and then landed right on Kona. He tried smiling, even sat up and pushed Vanessa’s legs off him, but Keira’s gaze shifted from his hands on the drunk girl’s ankles, extracting her away from him, to Luka at his right. The smile fell from her face and she returned her attention to her cousin.

“Shit,” Kona said, feeling stupid and guilty again.

“Man, she looks good tonight.” Luka moved Vanessa head out of way and smiled at Keira.

“Why you looking at her?”

Luka’s mouth hung open and Kona could see his brother was trying hard not to laugh at him. “Brah, that’s why you’ve been acting like a dick?” He nodded toward Keira, then finally let go of his laughter. “You’re worried because she saw you with that Tonya girl?”

“No.” Kona knew his answer came too quick and he rolled his eyes at Luka when his laughter grew louder.

“Go talk to her, *.”

A low grunt vibrated in Kona’s throat and he punched Luka in the shoulder, feeling like Keira’s presence tonight would have him on edge. But, he knew his twin was right. He was acting like a punk because Keira made him feel guilty, made him feel like he was something undeserving of her attention. Right then, he really wanted that attention. He leaned forward, took a final sip of his beer, steeling himself to walk across the room, and then dropped his glass onto the floor when he saw a guy walk right up to Keira and kiss her cheek.

“Damn, brah. Too late,” Luka said, his amused voice only adding to Kona’s simmering anger.

Keira turned to face the guy and the smile that the sight of Kona with Vanessa’s legs on his lap had erased, returned and she let that motherf*cker hold her hand.





Shenanigans were stupid.

That’s the first thought Keira had when Leann dragged her into the party. There were too many people acting like depraved idiots. Too many girls drunkenly dancing on the furniture or straddling whatever football player had a free lap. The music was too loud and, oh yeah, Kona Hale was glaring at her like she had stolen something from him.

“We don’t have to stay.” Leann’s voice carried over the music, but Keira still had to lean toward her to make out what she’d said.

“It’s okay.” She moved her chin toward Michael and Mark, smiling. “Looks like they’re having fun.”

Leann shook her head and slid across the bar to stand closer to her cousin. “Who knew, right?” She glanced again at her boyfriend and the animated way he was talking to Mark. “Freaking lacrosse. We won’t get two words in for the rest of the night.”

Keira smiled, then nodded her thanks to Leann when she handed her a shot. She hesitated only for a moment but then caved when her cousin’s eyebrow disappeared beneath her bangs. “Fine. But this is the last one.” The tequila went down with a burn, but before Keira could do more than squint and frown at the taste, Leann shoved a lime in her mouth and the bitter taste disappeared. “God. Why?”