Page 131 of Crossing Every Line

Brandon’s hand landed on her lower back, and Shane snapped the beer down on the table, wading into the half dozen people between them. Brandon left his hand on her, and Shane bit back a growl.

Before he could make it to her, a commotion at the front of the house brought him up short. Kendall’s friend was holding open the door, her head tipped back and her hands on her hips.

“Well, son of a bitch,” Shane said.

A handful of people turned to Shane as he changed course and went to the door. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Kain ducked inside the door, his mile-wide shoulders clad in a custom-made pearl gray suit. Kain didn’t have a choice; whether he was wealthy or not, his body was far too large for off-the-rack suits.

Kendall gave a happy laugh and zipped by Shane to throw her hands up and around Kain’s shoulders.

“Hey there, `ânela.”

Bells stared at them both. “You know this guy?”

Kendall hopped down and dragged Bells over. “Belinda Grayson, meet Kainoa N’ai.”

“Kain,” his friend said, his deep baritone cutting through the chatter of the room. People started whispering among themselves.

Bells held out her hand and shook his best friend’s hand quickly before tucking it behind her back. Kain frowned and dipped his hand into his pocket.

Shane slapped Kain on the shoulder. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“It was a last-minute decision.”

Bells looked from Kain to Shane and back. “Do they grow them all this good-looking in California?”

Kain grinned down at Bells. “They do in Hawaii anyway.”

“I have got to get out of Winchester Falls more.”

Kain’s gaze slid over her bare shoulders. “Say the word, and I’ll fuel up the jet.”

Bells sidled over to Kendall, her smile a little wicked and a little uncertain at the same time. “I’ll remember that.”

“All right, Kain. Enough showing off for my best friend.”

“Who’s showing off?”

“Let’s get you a beer.” Shane steered Kain over to the table full of food. He looked over his shoulder at Kendall again, but she was deep in conversation with Bells.

“Nice digs,” Kain said mildly.

“We’re getting there.” Done with small talk, he handed his friend a beer. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Good to see you too, brother. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Kain chuckled, taking a drink. “Kendall told me to come out for the holiday, so here I am.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have met you at the airport or something.”

“I wasn’t sure I could get away. I had to make a few appearances at some parties in the city. Then I took the chopper up here.”

“Oh yeah, just took the chopper. You’re such show-off.”

Kain belted back his beer and reached for another. “I needed some time away from the home office.”

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