Tears filled her eyes. The thing was, they were tears because she was losing her fallback meal ticket, not because I’d hurt her in any real way. She moved quickly before I had a chance to sidestep her, throwing her arms around me. “Please, Crosby, I’m so sorry.”

The bell over the door rang again. Great, a witness to this display. I froze, my eyes connecting with amber ones that looked right into my soul. Fuck. I pried myself out of Alicia’s hysterical embrace. “Brown Eyes.”

The pain that lanced through Kenna’s expression at my words almost brought me to my knees. Total and complete devastation. I moved to her, but she took a step back. “I, um, I don’t have time for this right now. I’m supposed to meet Corrie to look at a new office space.”

“Wait, please.” I wanted to touch her, but Kenna clearly wanted no part of my skin on hers. My hands fisted at my sides. “Just give me five minutes.”

There was heat at my back. “Who is she?” Alicia’s voice was ice-cold, no hint of any of the tears or emotion that had seemingly plagued her a second ago.

“She is none of your damn business. You need to leave, Alicia. Go back to Boston, now.”

Kenna stiffened at the name. That pain flaring back to life in her eyes. “It sounds like you two have some things to hash out. I’ll talk to you later, Crosby.”

Alicia sneered at Kenna. “Or not.”

I whirled on her. “Have you been drinking crazy juice? I’m not going back to Boston with you. My life is here. It always will be. And even if it wasn’t, there is nothing in this world that could make me want a life with you.”

Alicia’s face was the shade of a tomato. “You’re going to regret this. You’ll realize that this island and that woman are nothing more than cheap imitations of what you really want. But by then, it’ll be too late.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I muttered. Alicia flounced out of the bakery, making sure to glare at Kenna on the way. I rubbed my temples. “Jesus.”

“She’s, uh, interesting.”

I scoffed. “That’s one word for her.” I surveyed Kenna’s face. Her mask was firmly in place, the same one she used to keep the world out was now being used to keep me at bay, as well. I wanted to kick myself. “Kenna, please.”

I reached out for her, but Kenna stepped out of my path. “I really don’t have time, Crosby.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m already late.”

“Will you come to my office after your showing?”

Kenna pressed her lips together but nodded. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be waiting.”

“Okay.” Without another word, she turned and left.