A resounding crash from the bar had Darius setting her on her feet again. “You break it, you bought it, man,” he called, eyeing his partner.

Brick Callan’s surly expression as he unloaded clean glasses from the rack was comically juxtaposed against his cheerful parrot and flamingo shirt.

She gave the man a little salute, then turned her back on him to focus on Darius. Of all the tiki bars on the island, she had to walk into his. “I thought he wasn’t working tonight.”

Darius shrugged muscled shoulders. Remi thought she heard the fabric of his shirt whimper. “Said he needed a distraction. You two aren’t gonna get all snippy with each other and ruin my island vibes, are you? When are you gonna outgrow this whole big brother-little sister thing?”

“Ew! We do not have a big brother-little sister thing.” The idea made her shudder. As complicated as her feelings were for the grumpy monument to all things masculine, none of them included anything that fell in the realm of sisterly.

“I’ve never seen two adults rub each other that wrong for that long,” he mused.

It was time for a subject change before she got to thinking about Brick rubbing her in any way, shape, or form. “I see you’ve quit the gym and let yourself get all flabby,” she said, drilling a finger into his rock-hard stomach.

“Don’t you dare say the ‘f’ word in my presence. I’ve got a reason to stay in shape.”

“A hot manly reason?” she asked, interest piqued.

He grinned down at the toes of his sneakers. “Remember Ken?”

“Three summers ago Ken? Hot and heavy all summer long Ken? Call me if you’re ever in Colorado Ken? Hmm. Nope. Doesn’t ring any bells.”

“Smartass,” Darius said with affection. “As of last spring, Colorado Ken is now Mackinac Ken. He bought the barbershop and moved in with a hot bartender.” The man blew on his knuckles and rubbed them against his shirt.

Remi slugged him in the shoulder. “Shut up! Are you serious?”

He managed to look both embarrassed and ecstatic.

“We kept in touch. I flew out there for New Year’s Eve, and the rest is history.”

“Well holy shit, Dare. I’m thrilled for you two!”

“You should be. We’re amazing, and you should have dinner with us so we can all catch up. Starting with how that happened.” He reached out and tapped her cast, which was visible thanks to the sleeve surgery she’d performed on the thermal shirt in a fit of frustration.

“Yes to dinner. I’ll show up with wine, dessert, and a thousand questions. You won’t be able to get rid of me,” she promised.

He grinned down at her. “It’s really good to have you back, kiddo.”

“It’s good to be back.” This time she meant it.

“Now, what can I get you?”

“I’m meeting my sister. Can you make me something with all of the alcohol? And I guess a merlot for her?”

“Kimber’s still off wine since the migraines,” he said, waving to a couple by the fireplace as they bundled up to leave.