Page 138 of Small Town Firsts
“Everything good back here?”
Kain was wearing a royal purple chef’s jacket and his usually wild curls were plaited in a thick braid down his back. He’d also reshaved the sides of his head for the occasion. I resisted the urge to snicker at the hairnet around his freshly combed out beard.
It was a good night when even Kain was following the rules.
“Boa!I’m glad you’re here. Come taste the poutine.”
“I’m never going to say no to that.” My best friend was damn good at the stick to your ribs cooking. I popped a gravy laden cheese curd in my mouth first. “Amazing.”
By the time I left, I was regretting my belt. The kitchen was going to open after the draft special was done, and from what I could tell, it seemed like everything was falling into place back here, too.
Lennon was putting on a show at the bar and tossing bottles back and forth between a few of the other bartenders who were learning some of her flair tricks.
I made my way into the main dining room and found Kira near the back door. She was standing stiffly with two women infront of her. One with red hair cut in a style at least three decades out of date. As I got closer, I noticed she was quite a bit older than the second woman. The other was slim, wearing a sequined dress that barely covered her ass. Were those hair extensions peeking from the underside of her teased dark hair?
“Don’t get your plus sized panties in a twist. I just wanted to see what kind of craphole…”
I couldn’t make out what she said as a linebacker sized guy blocked me. I gave him a genial smile and shouldered my way through the crowd gathering near the stairs. The tables were rapidly filling and people were wandering in and out of the taproom to the patio.
The woman’s voice came in clearer as I got away from the noisy table. “It’s not terrible in here. Could use a little more excitement, though. Too many townies in here for my taste,” the younger one said as she craned her neck. She spotted me and interest flickered as she turned my way. “Maybe not all hope is lost.”
“Kaylee, don’t talk to your sister like that,” the redheaded woman said sharply.
My jaw tightened as I heard the name. Kira’s family. “Ladies, can I help you?”
Kaylee crowded into me. “Why, yes, you can. Do you work here?” She turned to Kira. “Do you work with this fine specimen?” Her obviously fake lashes fluttered. “Is he your boss?” She turned her attention back on me. “No wonder you’re working here, sis. How did she get the job, big guy? Her ba?—”
“Enough.” Kira’s stern voice sliced through the air. “You are not welcome in my establishment.”
“Yours?” Kaylee laughed. “Hardly.”
I gauged the situation and decided to let Kira give me the go ahead to bounce them. Instead, I simply moved to her side and crossed my arms over my chest.
The conversations muted around us and I could feel Kira vibrating. I dropped my arms to my sides and brushed her hand with mine. She looked up at me and the shock in her amber eyes slowly warmed and her jaw eased.
She linked her fingers with mine as she looked at Kaylee. “You aren’t welcome here.” She looked at the other woman. “Neither are you, Mom. Not if you have anything to do with Kaylee after what she did.”
“She’s your sister,” the older woman spluttered.
“And that’s the only reason she’s not in jail.” Kira’s voice was firm. “And that can be rectified. I do believe the statute of limitations is still in effect.”
Kaylee’s eyes bulged as she looked around. “How dare you,” she whispered viciously.
“No, how dareyou. Go crawl back into whatever hole you’ve been living in for the last five years. Believe me, I’ve rethought my loyalty to you every single day you’ve been gone. I have at least five people who would be happy to press charges against you.”
Kaylee backed up a step.
“And no, Ronan isn’t my boss. He runs this place with me. I am going to marry this big, beautiful man and we’re going to have perfect babies who will never know you. And they’ll never wonder if they’re loved a single day of their lives.” She glanced at her mother, who was slack-jawed with shock. “Not a single day.”
I pulled Kira against me. “I have never loved you more than right this second, Sunshine.”
She looked up at me with a light sheen of tears in her eyes. “I love you too, Viking.”
“Let’s go, Mom.” Kaylee’s voice pitched higher with her anger.
Kira’s mother stood there for a moment, looking between the women. When she followed Kaylee, I closed my eyes in regret.
Kira turned her face into my chest for a moment. When I cupped her jaw, she smiled softly. “I’m okay.”
