Page 53 of Try Easy

Penny nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. “I would.”

Lou thought about everything she and Penny had been through. No one knew her better than Penny, not even Paul. She hated to believe that all the plans they had made together were finished. But as she looked at Penny, Lou knew there was no point in trying to change her mind.

Opening her arms, Lou pulled Penny into her embrace.

“I want you to be happy,” she said. “If he makes you happy, then I’ll be there for you.”

“Thanks, Lou.”

“You’re welcome.” Lou took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. She hoped Penny would help her make sense of her conflicting ideas. “I need to talk to you about something,” she said.

“What?”

They were interrupted when Bones came over and squatted down in the sand next to Penny.

“Can I steal you away for a walk?” he asked.

Penny glanced at Lou for permission.

“We’ll talk later,” Lou said.

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

Bones and Penny wandered off, leaving Lou and Keoni alone once again. Keoni was busy with his guitar. He adjusted the strings and started playing a new song. He strummed a few chords and started singing.

He had a strong, sexy voice that made Lou’s heart beat faster. A tingle rushed down her spine as his rich voice filled the air. Their gazes met over the fire, and he smiled his crooked smile. Lou’s heart stopped for a beat and then started up again in a hurry.

She was more than halfway in love with Keoni. She wondered how many women Keoni had seduced with his music, his smile, and a surfing lesson. He’d said he wasn’t good at games, but it seemed like he was playing one. Was she a game to him?

He finished the song and grabbed two beers from the cooler. He gave one to Lou and popped the top on the other one. They both watched the receding figures of Bones and Penny along the beach.

“Penny thinks Bones is in love with her,” Lou said. “What do you think of that?”

Keoni shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Lou felt a spear of anger. “Love isn’t a game,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said, angling his body away from her toward the fire. “I know that.”

“Maybe you should tell your cousin.”

“K’den,” Keoni said, drinking his beer.

“Maybe you should tell him he shouldn’t mess with people’s lives.”

Keoni turned to look at her, one eyebrow lifted. “K’den,” he said.

“Does he really love her?” Lou demanded.

“I’m not a mind reader.”

“Tell him to be careful.”

“What else should I tell him, eh?” he asked, his voice rising with anger.

Lou realized Keoni might not be too happy about Bones and Penny either.

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