Page 132 of Crossing Every Line

“Well, I’m glad to see you.”

“So how’s everything going with Kendall and the business?”

Shane shrugged. “There’s a lot of repairs that need to be done. I’m still trying to decide if the place is worth working on or if we should sell. A developer would love all this acreage.”

Kain nodded. “I know of at least three companies looking to acquire land near the Adirondacks.”

“Yeah?”

“Companies are buying up land cheap and putting together resorts and spas in nice remote spots like this.”

“I’m not looking to sell it on the cheap. I’d like to know what the land is worth at the very least.”

“I’ll set it up.”

Kain stood beside him and looked over the crowd of people. Kendall’s laugh drew their attention. Shane’s shoulders instantly tensed as two men drew Kendall and her friend into the small group of people dancing.

“Are you sure you want to sell at all, Shane? It looks like you have a good life out here.”

He’d been so focused on getting the repairs done to make the Heron profitable, but the last week with Kendall had been more about living in the present than chasing a future. And anything he’d envisioned included the Heron lately.

“I was actually hoping to come here and see that you were miserable so I could convince you to sell and come back to California.” Kain nudged him. “You look surly, but I think that’s more for the hot dress she’s wearing and the dude who’s trying to dance with her.”

Kendall was swaying her hips in time to the music, and Brandon was consistently offbeat. She raised her arms, and her skirt lifted another fraction of an inch.

“Don’t kill him. I don’t want to spend New Year’s in jail.”

“A well-placed rock tied around his waist, and I could lose him in the middle of the lake. It’s supposed to be cold tomorrow night. I’m sure that last bit will freeze over.”

Kain laughed and slapped him on the back. “As I said, you look happy.”

He had a steady bit of cash coming in from his furniture, but instead of putting it back into the business, he kept buying lumber for repairs on the Heron. He always had enough for the next project under Avery, but he wasn’t getting ahead.

Did he really want to keep hoping they’d become solvent?

Kendall clapped and laughed, her head tipping back in pure enjoyment.

For her, he was pretty sure he’d be willing to take that chance.

“Well, go get her.”

Without a backward glance, Shane plowed through the crowd. The entire room parted, but he had a feeling it had more to do with Kain bringing up the rear than his determined face.

He stood before Kendall, his chest heaving and the dozen people shifting to make room for him.

Kendall reached up and played with the open button of his shirt. “I thought you didn’t dance.”

The next song was slower. Dashboard Confessional’s haunting acoustic harmonies and the whispery voice of the lead singer salted the room. He hooked his arm around her waist, dragging her into him. “I don’t.”

“I’m not ready to leave the dance floor.”

“I didn’t say we were leaving.”

She settled her hands against his shoulders and slid her knee between his as they swayed. “You were very rude to Brandon.”

“He’ll get over it.”

She peered around him. “Should I worry about Kain?”

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