Page 55 of Her Marine
“So, how’s wedding planning coming?” Kaydence struck up a conversation while they waited for their drinks.
“We haven’t gotten too deep into the planning yet. She is coming into town the second week of December to pick out save the dates and invitations, but I’m going to her the Monday after Thanksgiving to look into locations,” Journee responded.
“Are you still taking other lengthy planning jobs?”
“For the time being. I know the closer we get to her day, I’ll primarily focus on that. So, I’ll stop taking more than week-long planning events in January and then just focus on Alijah’s wedding from the middle of February until it’s done.”
The server brought their drinks, and they informed him they’d wait to order. It would be at least another twenty minutes before their men showed up. Journee took a drink of her cocktail before setting it aside.
“So, you haven’t gotten any more calls since the restraining order on that little old lady, and her son hasn’t said anything else, has he?”
A couple of months back, a woman entered Kaydence’s bakery and tried to show her ass, but her friend shut it down immediately. Her son worked for the police department, and she’d called him there to intimidate Kaydence, which hadn’t worked. It also didn’t help either of them that Axel showed up during the chaos.
Her friend had gathered evidence of harassment against the woman over a couple of weeks before taking it to the police department to get a restraining order. The lady’s son once again approached Kaydence on some bullshit to which his reward was becoming acquainted with Axel’s fists.
“She hasn’t, and to my knowledge, he hasn’t,” Kaydence started with a shake of her head. “Not since he tried to get me to drop the restraining order. I’m also sure if he said anything when I wasn’t around, and Axel got wind of it, he would tell me or get suspended again and then tell me.”
They laughed, and Kaydence sipped her drink while Journee stirred hers with her straw.
“So, I was a bit surprised that you weren’t having trouble walking today,” Kaydence broke the momentary silence with a smirk.
Journee rolled her eyes as she sucked her teeth playfully. Killian hadn’t stayed with her last night since she’d been at an event, and it hadn’t ended until midnight, but she’d been a little sore in the middle of the week when he’d reiterated that he wasn’t like other men she’d dated. She’d been reminded of that delicious fact every time she’d taken a step the following day at work.
“You aren’t funny, and you aren’t one to talk.”
“Yeah, well…” Kaydence stated, trailing off with a shrug, and Journee knew there was nothing the other woman could say because denying it would be a lie.
She felt like someone was staring at her, and only a few seconds later, eyes caught hers over Kaydence’s shoulder. Journee narrowed her eyes, hoping glaring at him would get him to turn around and mind his business. She was not in the mood to deal with David. She’d been lucky not to have bumped into him since the sports bar.
“Ignore him. He’s realizing what he had and can’t get back,” Kaydence stated, and she’d almost missed her friend turning to see what had her attention from the intense glare she’d been giving David. While her friend’s advice was sound, it wasn’t something Journee could do because he’d slid off his barstool.
“He’s walking over here,” Journee told her, and she saw Kaydence roll her eyes from her peripheral.
She wasn’t sure why David felt the need for them to interact. They hadn’t ended on great terms, and she’d moved on. She didn’t understand why he hadn’t as well. When he broke up with her, he’d been clear that she wasn’t who he wanted, so Journee didn’t need him trying to boomerang back into her life. It wouldn’t work out in his favor.
“Journee, Kaydence,” David greeted, stopping at the end of the table.
“Is there a reason you came over here?” Kaydence asked, beating Journee to it.
“I saw the two of you sitting here and thought I’d come over and say hey. Maybe give you some company, and we can catch up.”
Before Journee could tell him he was the last person they wanted company from, she was surrounded by cologne that had quickly become her favorite. His hand slid under her chin, and he tipped her head back as he leaned down to kiss her. It was a kiss that spoke of desire and possession, and the message he was sending out would be hard for anyone to miss.
“They don’t need any company,” Killian informed David when he removed his lips from Journee’s. “And you don’t have anything you need to catch up with Journee on. What did you not get the first time you tried this?”
Journee couldn’t see Killian since he was standing behind her, but she was sure those intense eyes were cutting through David, and she wondered if the other man felt it like knife strokes.
“Look, man. Journee and I have a history. We’re friends,” David replied, and that caused Journee to furrow her brows. They were far from friends, and she informed him of as much.
“We aren’t friends.”
“History, in this case, is not going to repeat itself,” Killian responded almost simultaneously.
“I was too much, remember? Too outspoken, didn’t allow you to take the lead, be the man,” Journee listed some of the reasons he’d given her upon their breakup.
Killian snort. “Letyou lead. Hilarious.”
Journee heard Axel chuckle, and she had to bite the inside of her jaw to keep from laughing. She was unsure why David was still standing there. His first run-in with Killian had not fared well for him. What made him think this one would?
