Kenna’s fingers searched out Crosby’s. “It’s good. Harriet had been putting off a lot of upkeep in the main house. It makes sense to just do it all at once before the baby comes. And it’s been good reclaiming the space that was my home for so many years. I’m not going to let one asshole ruin it for me.”

Bell raised a glass to Kenna. “Good for you.”

“Proud of you, Ken,” I echoed.

Crosby squeezed Kenna’s hand and then walked back over to the grill to check the steaks. “We’re just about done.”

I swung my legs out from under the picnic table and stood. “I’ll get the salad. Kiddos, time to wash up.”

Mia stood from a back handspring. “Steak!”

Will shook his head and pulled Ava to her feet. “We’re coming.”

I headed for the kitchen. Pulling the salad out of the fridge, I shook the homemade dressing I’d made earlier. Carefully pouring it over the greens, I tossed it together.

“Will said that Griffin was hanging around when the kids got to the store today.”

Kenna’s voice made me jump. “Make some noise when you enter a room, would you?”

“But then I’d lose my ninja status.” She sidled up next to me at the counter, staring me down.

I sighed. “He was getting a sandwich. Is there something wrong with that?”

Kenna’s lips pursed. “Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Just as long as you’re careful.”

I turned to face her fully. “Careful about what exactly? Practically everyone on this island treats Griffin unfairly. They either stare and whisper, morbidly curious about him and his family, or they try and get something out of him. He’s kind and honorable. And Will might not have told you, but he was also wonderful with Mia today.”

“Caelyn, I don’t think badly about Griffin. He obviously has a strong moral compass. But I also know that he’s wounded in a way that means he’s not going to let anyone into his life in a real way. His entire family drowned in front of his eyes, the press hounded him for years, and people have sold him out left and right. That marks a man. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up…”

Kenna let her words trail off, and I winced. Of course, Kenna had seen past all my pithy comments about Griffin the Greek god. She saw beneath the surface. Saw that my crush ran deeper than finding the man handsome and intriguing. There was something about his wounds that called to my own. A pull of attraction and understanding. But I knew that meant we could only ever have a friendship.