Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel (7 page)

              I thought about protesting but didn't feel like getting into a physical altercation with my cousin in his kitchen which was where this conversation was headed. Garret knew me better than anyone else. There was no doubt in my mind he had seen right through my behavior this past year.

              “Do yourself a favor, Jace,” Garret’s voice was considerably calmer as he walked around the table and placed a hand on my back. “Either step up and go for it or fucking let her go. You can’t have it both ways. It’s not fair to either of you.”

Chapter 6

Kenzie

              JJ's customer base had grown considerably since Emma and Jared had taken over after Jared’s father had retired. I suspected a lot of their success had to do with Emma's talents as a chef.

              I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about starting my new job. While I had gotten better at meeting new people over the years, it still made me a little nervous. I usually had one or more members of my family with me at all times, but I had decided it was time to try doing things on my own so that's what I was going to do.

              After locking up my car I walked into JJ's immediately heading towards the back office where I knew I'd find Jared or Emma. Peaking my head into the doorway I saw both of them sitting on opposite sides of Jared's large desk. I knocked lightly on the doorframe distracting Jared from whatever he had been saying.

              "Hey there gorgeous," Jared said as he rose to his feet to press a kiss to my cheek. Emma smiled and waved me further into the room patting the empty seat next to her.

              I had met Emma around the same time my brother and I had moved in with the Cooper's. The first time we had been introduced she was a friend of Lucas’. It wasn't long after that she had become Wyatt’s girlfriend. Emma had always been nice to me, even after her relationship with Wyatt crashed and burned. After they had broken up, Emma had cut all ties with the guys but she had stayed in touch with me over the years. I doubted Wyatt knew that.

              "Ready for your first day?" She asked with a cheeky grin. Her flame red hair was in wavy curls around her face, which was carefully made up in a way that made me wish I knew what I was doing when it came to my own makeup. Emma always looked so put together.

              "I hope so," I answered taking the seat next to her. Jared returned to his chair behind the desk and folded his hands over his flat stomach with a grin. Ever since he and Garret had gotten back together I had made an effort to get to know the man. It made sense to me why my friend looked at Jared like he had hung the moon. Not only was he smart and funny, Jared had an uncanny ability to put anyone at ease.

              "You're going to do great," he grinned making the laugh lines around his eyes crinkle at the corners. "I bet you already have the drink menu memorized." I gave a short nod making him chuckle. "You're going to be our best employee, I can already tell." Jared's phone started vibrating on his desk, his smile growing wider before he answered the call and placed the phone to his ear. "So how'd your early morning visit go?"

              Emma and I both looked at him curiously but he only continued to chat on the phone. Giving up on getting his attention Emma grabbed my arm and led me out of the room. "He's so rude." She shook her long hair behind her shoulders heading behind the bar.

              "He's a nice guy," I immediately jumped to Jared's defense even though I knew Emma was a good friend of his. Turning towards me she gave a short laugh before pulling me into her arms for a brief hug.

              "I've missed you, Kenzie. You're such a sweetie." I shook my head with a small smile and watched as she started to pull various bottles out from behind the bar. "We'll get started making some simple stuff. Jared is going to be working with you tonight in case you run into any problems but I don't anticipate that happening."

     I felt some of my nerves settle knowing I would have backup with me if I needed it. Emma must have seen the relief on my face because she stopped what she was doing and gave me her full attention. "You have nothing to be nervous about, Kenzie."

              “I know.” I tried to give her a confident look. “It’s going to be fine.”

              Emma pulled her hair over her shoulder and frowned at me with her hands on her hips. “What’s up, Kenzie?” Her eyes narrowed on me as if she were daring me to lie to her.

              I gave a small shrug and started to move around her, grabbing the two bottles she was holding from her hands. “Are you going to test my knowledge before letting me loose on your customers?” Smiling, I waited for Emma’s response. She continued to glare at me for a moment before letting out a frustrated sigh.

              “I guess I should.”

              Emma gave me a few drink orders which I immediately went about making without looking at the menu. Jared was right, I had memorized it before. There were a lot of good things that came from having a photographic memory. I’d have to add bartending to the list.

              After ordering five different drinks Emma let out a contagious laugh that had a few heads turning in our direction. She had always had a great laugh, one that immediately made you want in on the joke.

              “Alright, you pass the test.” Just as she finished speaking Jared rounded the corner and joined us behind the bar. He glanced at Emma’s impressed expression once before turning his attention to me.

              “Do I even need to work back here tonight?”

              “Yes,” Emma and I answered in unison.

              Jared looked pained as he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine, but only because you’re both so pretty.” I rolled my eyes while Emma smacked him hard on the shoulder. When I glanced away, I saw that the current bartender was headed over to us with a grim look on his face.

              “I’m out,” he said tilting his head towards the employee’s break room. “Heads up the lady at the end of the bar doesn't tip and she’s going to need a cab home by the time she’s done here.” The man looked over at me and gave a smile before extending his hand for me to shake. “Hi, I’m Conner.”

              “Kenzie,” I introduced myself returning his handshake. I felt his fingers tighten on mine as his grin grew and I tugged my hand away feeling slightly uncomfortable. His warm brown eyes twinkled at me as if he knew what I had done. Not wanting to offend my new coworker I forced myself to return his smile.

              “Thanks for the heads up,” Jared’s voice lost it’s friendliness making Conner frown as he turned towards his boss. I glanced over and saw that Jared’s usually easy going grin was gone replaced with a stern frown. Emma was biting her lip, looking as though she was trying not to laugh. “We’ll see you later, Conner.”

              Clearly getting the hint Conner turned and walked into the break room without another word. Emma gave up and started giggling as she watched Jared’s features relax.

              “Do you not like him?” I asked, mystified as to what had just happened. Jared was usually nice to everyone. I wondered what would make him dislike someone enough to be so abrupt with them.

              “He’s a nice enough guy,” Jared shrugged his broad shoulders as his eyes followed Conner’s progress to the break room.

              “Then why were you so short with him?”

              “Because he’s not good enough for you and I recognized the look in his eye. I’m totally on board with your plan, but Conner isn't the kind of person you’re looking to meet.”

              “What plan?” Emma looked back and forth between Jared and I as I continued to stare at him, my heartbeat quickening in my chest. I felt my fists clench at my sides and made a conscious effort to relax them. I started going through some breathing techniques I had learned in my Coping with Stress class, trying desperately to temper my bubbling panic.

              “The plan Kenzie has to get over Jace,” Jared answered like it was no big deal.

              A rush of anger washed over me as I listened to him speak. I felt like there was steam coming out of my ears and almost raised my hand to check.

              Pinching the bridge of my nose between my fingers, I continued to concentrate on my breathing as tears burned behind my eyes. If Jared knew then there was no telling how long it would be before everyone else found out about my plan. That was what I got for expanding my circle of trust.

              “Uh oh,” Emma commented as she looked me over. “You just stressed her the fuck out.” Rearing back she landed a punch on his shoulder making him wince. Like my soon to be sister in law, Emma was often prone to violent outbursts. “I don't think that’s public knowledge, you dolt.”

              Jared frowned and looked at me uneasily as I tried to get control of myself. “Which one of them told you?” I spoke quietly meeting Jared’s eye. It either had to be Reece, Lane or Garret. My money was on the boyfriend.

              He tried to look anywhere but at me as he bit his lip, crossing his arms over his chest. “Can I plead the fifth?”

              I let out a low growl and pulled my hair away from my face, my anxiety level rising when it only continued to flop into my eyes. I wished like hell I hadn't given Jace my last hairband even though the smile it had put on his face had almost been worth my current level of aggravation.

              Emma looked at her friend as though she wanted to hit him again. “Keep the pillow talk to yourself next time, Jared.” The man had the decency to look ashamed, casting his gaze to the floor. Emma’s lips twitched at his response before she firmed her expression. “Kenzie is old enough to make her own mistakes, which is exactly what Conner would be.” She turned back to me with a shake of her head. “While I don't agree with how he went about it, Jared is right about that. He’s a player. Not good enough for you.” Jared picked up his head looking justified as he started nodding in agreement with Emma’s words.

     “However,” she continued, her smile showcasing her dimpled cheeks, “If you want to fill me in on the plan, I can certainly help you identify some prime candidates to make you forget about a certain egotistical knuckle walker. I have some prior experience in that area incase you forgot. You can be my wing woman and we’ll have the men in this town falling at our feet.”

              I felt my looming headache recede as Emma gave me a sassy wink. Jared scrubbed a hand over his jaw and looked at me with a grin tugging at his lips. “Looks like you got yourself a pimp, Kenzie.”

Jace

              Since Garret and I had patched things up I found sleeping easier. Over the past few months I had started to hate my cousin, which left me with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. When I had thought there was something going on between him and Kenzie, I had felt powerless to stop it. Logically I knew Kenzie was going to end up with someone someday, I just didn't think it was going to be my best friend. Seeing how close he and Kenzie were drove me insane.

              The amount of relief I had felt when Garret came out was immeasurable.

              I heard a knock on my front door and called for whoever it was to come in. Glancing up from where I was mindlessly channel surfing and munching on potato chips, I saw Declan stride into my living room. He gave me a short look before plopping down into the recliner next to mine with a loud sigh.

              “I’m bored,” he complained giving me a pathetic look. “Reece and Simon are in school. Lucas and Garret are fishing. Kenzie is in town. Wyatt is God knows where and Mrs. Cooper is packing for her vacation.”

              “So what you're saying is I’m your last resort?”              

              My friend grinned and nodded his head. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

              I nodded in acknowledgement and tried to relax in my seat. Declan and I hadn't spent much time together since we had gotten back home. Things had been tense between us since the night of Kenzie’s birthday party, even more so over the last few weeks.

              “So I talked to Kenzie,” Declan spoke without taking his eyes off of the television. “She told me that you guys are back to being friends.”

              I turned my head to look at him, feeling a huge smile take over my face. “She did?”

              Flicking his eyes to me, Declan gave a curt nod.

              I bit my tongue to keep myself from asking him if she had said anything else about me. If Kenzie had told Declan that we were on good terms again then it had to be for real. Those two were as close as any siblings could be. Hell, Declan was basically Kenzie’s father.

              “She’s obviously forgiven you for however you fucked up.” Throwing the remote on the end table he focused his icy blue stare on me. “Just to be clear, I haven't.”               “Wouldn't expect you too.” I didn't bother denying that mine and Kenzie’s falling out was my fault. We both knew that it was. Kenzie was too kindhearted to ever hurt someone she loved. Unlike me who had done nothing but hurt the people I loved the most continuously over the past year.

              The conversation I’d had with Garret had stuck with me long after it had ended. My cousin didn't think I was a bad guy, but if he knew what I came from then he wouldn't want me anywhere near Kenzie. If Declan knew, I doubted that I would ever see her again.

              I didn't talk about my early childhood for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I liked to pretend that it had never happened. That everything I’d experienced living with my parent’s had happened to someone else and not to me. With Uncle Leonard gone, Aunt Lorraine was the only one left who knew what had actually happened to my family. Thankfully my aunt never brought it up. She never told her kids about it either even though I knew those nosey bastards had asked her endless questions about why their foreign cousin was coming to stay with them on a permanent basis.