Page 64 of Small Town Firsts
“Were you talking to me?”
I blinked up from my phone. “Sorry?”
The dark haired woman smiled as she toyed with the curling ends of her ponytail. “I wouldn’t mind if you called me Kain.”
I laughed. “Old friend texted me.” I noticed her tag and relaxed. The idea of a woman flirting with me generally wouldn’t cause me to put my back up, but I was working on little sleep and a dash of credit card shock. I waggled my phone before stuffing it in my pocket. “I have to answer this, but is there somewhere I could set this down?”
“Sure. Follow me.”
She was a little bit of a thing, but she moved fast, winding around the maze-like shop. As I was speed walking behind her, I grabbed two more dust catchers and tucked them into my bag. One more for my mom and a piece of stained glass—that one was for me. Since most things seemed to be one of a kind, I would rather hold onto it and decide if it was really for me when I could pay attention again.
She pointed toward the checkout counter. “You can set it on the side counter there. Sure hope you’re buying all of it.” She winked. “Since I’m the owner.”
“Oh, really? This place is great. I’ll definitely be back for all my gift buying.”
“What I like to hear. I’m Colette, if you need anything. And I do mean anything.”
“Um, thanks.” Why was it that women were the most flirtatious when I was less than available? Not that I had any pull toward her other than noticing the fact that she was attractive. Big hazel eyes, creamy skin, and dark chocolate hair would have had me lingering to chat her up, once upon a time. However, Kira had me locked down, even if she didn’t know it yet.
I slipped outside and was glad to see a bench a few doors down so I could get out of the late morning foot traffic. I took a seat, quickly added his contact into my phone, then texted Kain back.
Ronan
Where are you?
Kain
Aloha to you too. Think I’m someplace called Dewitt. You somewhere you can take a call?
Yeah.
My phone buzzed and I lifted it to my ear. Before I could say hello, he was talking.
“What’s up,Boa? Long time no talk.”
I laughed. “What the hell are you doing in New York?”
“This and that. I needed to get away. Got on my bike.”
“You rode your Harley out from California?” My ass immediately had sympathy pains at the thought.
“I spent a week at Shane’s and realized your new digs were pretty close.”
“Really? Huh. I didn’t realize Winchester Falls was upstate.”
“Yeah. A bit more east coast, but just a handful of hours. After driving the PCH, seems like a blink.”
Memories slapped into me hard. Me and Kain on our bikes in our twenties when we were both running from responsibilities. Him running from the N’ai name and his father’s insane moneyed reach in Hawaii, and me from college that never quite fit. We spent a year doing shit jobs along the coast to cover the cost of campsites and beer in between good surfing spots.
Sometimes his best friend, Shane Justice, would meet up with us for a week or two before he had to get back to work with his father. We were wild and free and more than young and dumb, but that year had solidified our friendship.
“And my ass remembers the chafing.”
Kain’s booming laugh crackled through the phone. “Not so bad when you find a warm and willingnani.”
I shook my head and relaxed against the bench, kicking out my long legs. Kain’s deep baritone gave me an instant boost. “And how many did you find on this trip?”
“Not nearly enough. I was more about the scenery on my bike than the stops. I found myself heading east. I went to see Shane first. He and his woman are settled and disgusting with it. Hell, they’re even doing the kid thing. Tell me you aren’t the same.”
