“What can I say? I’m a lucky man today, Susie.”

She chuckled. “Do you guys know what you want?”

“The Burger Barn has the best burgers on all the islands, so we all have to get burgers, no salads.” I eyed Kenna to make my point.

She rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t dream of getting anything different. Can I do the cheeseburger with caramelized onions?”

“Sure thing, hun.”

Kenna glanced at Zoe. “Want to split a milkshake?”

Zoe nodded. “Do you like strawberry?”

“It just so happens to be one of my favorites.”

A foreign feeling invaded my chest, a warmth that seeped into every corner. Kenna rarely ate like this, but she was trying to make sure Zoe ordered a lot of food, and that she had whatever she wanted from the menu.

Zoe looked up at Susie. “May I have a hamburger with no tomato, please?”

“Of course, sweet thing.” Susie turned to me. “I already know what you want, but how about to drink? Guinness or Coke?”

“Coke, please. Thanks, Susie.”

“Coming right up.”

Zoe toyed with the straw in her water, glancing back and forth between Kenna and me. “Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?”

Kenna had just taken a sip of her water and promptly began choking. I patted Kenna on the back. “I’m gonna try and not take that reaction personally, Brown Eyes.” I turned to smile at Zoe. “No, we’re just friends.”

“You should ask her out, Crosby. She’s pretty, and she’s nice. You don’t always get both in one person.”

Truth from the mouths of babes. Kenna was stunning, but it was the beauty that she hid away, the heart that cared so deeply, that stole my breath. “I think you’re right, Zo.” I turned to face Kenna. “What do you say? Can I take you out on the town?”

The look Kenna gave me was one that spoke of a slow and painful death. “Sure,” she gritted out.

Zoe let out a little squeal. “We have to pick the perfect place for you to go. It has to be romantic and beautiful and—and—I don’t really know what else. But special.”

“How about The Cove? That’s pretty romantic.”

Kenna stiffened beside me. “Anywhere but The Cove. Or skydiving.”

I grinned, but it was forced. Kenna was scared of running into Grant there. Shit. I needed him gone from Anchor. Now. “You’re right, The Cove is too stuffy. I’m gonna think of the perfect place to take you.”

I only hoped she didn’t murder me when we got there.

19

Kenna

“You gonna toss me overboard if I hold you to that date?”

I glanced away from the wake the ferry was churning up and towards Crosby. “Come a little closer and find out.”