Page 9 of Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1)

CHAPTER SIX

SEAN

I ’d be lying if I said my mind doesn’t keep going back to Kayla. Kayla beneath that magnolia tree wearing a cream so pearly, it was almost wedding day material. And with that auburn hair spilling down her shoulders …

She’s impossible to get out of my head.

She stayed after most everyone else had left the potluck and—get this—threw away trash. She went all over the lawn with a garbage bag, using a second bag as a makeshift glove.

And I only know she did because that’s usually my thing. I came back from the parking lot after saying goodbye to my parents, and it was just Kayla, the pastor, and a custodian left.

Just a billionaire walking around the church lawn, picking up soiled napkins.

With me.

She’s sunshine and silk and a billion miles out of my league.

I don’t know why she stayed after the potluck or looked more comfortable picking up trash than at any other time during the night.

But I do know this: girls like her don’t stay.

Not with guys like me.

“Son, you’ve been rinsing that pint glass for two minutes. I think it’s good,” Dad says as he wheels past me.

I give myself a shake and set the glass down.

I’m not sure why I’m here tonight, considering I’m not on the clock anymore. But I got nowhere else to be, and rumor has it, someone shows up every night …

Dad has Lucy Jane’s latest single playing over the speakers, and it’s a nice addition to the usual soundtrack of laughter, clinking silverware, and low chatter.

And it’s just quiet enough that I can hear the bell over the front door when it dings.

My head whips around, expecting—hoping—to see Kayla.

And then my hope shrivels up and rots inside me.

Serena.

Serena with a glittering wedding ring, wearing a yellow sundress and white cowboy boots.

She lingers at the door, waiting for the low sunlight from outside to announce her like a spotlight.

I turn my head away, but I can feel the moment she locks onto me. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the head cheerleader stride she perfected in high school. Back before I knew she was playing Tucker Kent and me against each other. Before she had a baby with him.

And before she came crawling back to me, baby in tow.

Just thinking about that baby sends a stab of pain to my gut. ‘Course, she’s not a baby anymore. She’s starting kindergarten soon. Over a year’s gone by, and every time I see her, I wonder if I did the right thing ending things with Serena once and for all.

But when Serena sits at the bar, those doubts vanish.

“Hi, Sean-y.” She emphasizes each syllable, like she wants to make sure I don’t miss a beat.

I pop a cap off a bottle and send it down the bar to a customer. “Serena. It’s been a while.”

“It has,” she says, angling her left hand to make sure her diamond catches the bar lights. It’s a carat and a half—much bigger than what I could afford when we were together. “You look good. Happy. Are the big leagues treating you that well already? Or is there a girl behind that smile?”

Once upon a time, these head games would have made me feel good. I would have misinterpreted her jealousy and insecurity for affection. Serena needs attention at all times. She wants to be picked by everyone … so she can choose who to shut down.

She must have seen me and Kayla yesterday. And I don’t care to disabuse her of whatever notion’s going on in her head.

“What can I do for you, Serena?

“I just wanted a beer. And a chat with my old fiancé.”

I try not to stiffen when she spits the word, mocking what I considered a sacred vow.

“You know, Dakota still asks after you. One of your games came on the TV, and she shouted for you.”

This is the first thing she’s said that cuts like a knife.

Dakota.

I helped raise that little girl. Loved her like she was my own. Probably always will.

“She’s a special girl,” I say, my throat tight.

“It breaks Tucker’s heart that she still acts like you’re her daddy and he’s the fill-in,” Serena says in a soft voice. But it carries over the buzz of conversation and hum of music like a snake’s hiss.

How dare she say that?

“The ‘fill-in,’” I repeat.

“That ain’t what I meant.”

“Sure it is, Serena. I was the guy keeping Tucker’s seat warm for both of you.”

Serena’s eyes tighten, as if she’s in pain. “It wasn’t like that.”

“‘Course it was. He’s the guy you chose. He’s her dad. End of story.”

“Did you ever think maybe you were the one half-out the whole time? You acted like you were waiting for me to run, so I did.”

I shake my head, done with this garbage. “Right. Every night I was home making Dakota dinner and reading her bedtime stories, you were out. Waiting for me to run.”

She looks mad enough to spit. “Whatever you have to tell yourself.”

The bar door rings, and habit pulls my attention to where Kayla Carville walks in wearing a silky top tucked into high-waisted dark jeans, her hair tumbling over one shoulder like it forgot how to behave and that undaunted spirit shining in her eyes.

She’s arresting.

“So that’s why you’re ignoring Dakota,” Serena says.

A retort springs to my lips and dies just as fast, because Kayla’s eyes have found mine, and her big, gorgeous, Julia Roberts grin only widens.

I slide Serena’s beer toward her but don’t even notice if it gets there.

Kayla sits down in the open seat next to Serena. “Well, well,” she says to me. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“He owns the bar,” Serena says in a voice that screams, duh .

Kayla’s eyes drop to Serena, who’s only a hair taller than Eunice. Something in her body language shifts, and she hunches ever so slightly, like she’s … like she’s afraid she’s taking up too much space.

“She knows, Serena,” I say. Kayla’s eyes snap to mine, though I can’t imagine why. “Kayla, this is Serena Kent. Serena, Kayla Carville.”

Kayla is a thinker. In the handful of times we’ve spoken, I’ve gotten the sense of gears winding when she looks at something. And right now, those gears are spinning in overdrive. “Serena … what was it?”

“Kent,” Serena says, offering her dainty hand to Kayla, who shakes it. “Wow. You have such big hands.”

Outrage flares up in me, hot as lava.

But Kayla rolls her lips together, like she’s holding back something much more cutting. “Yes, that’s a common side effect of being tall. Yours, on the other hand, are really cute. That must be so fun for you.”

I duck my head to hide my smile. I shouldn’t have worried about Kayla. She can clearly hold her own.

“I have to say, I didn’t expect the two of you,” Serena says.

“The two of us to what?” Kayla asks, looking at me innocently. I blink innocently back. And it’s that show of innocence that makes us both seem guilty as sin.

Serena purses her lips, her gaze narrowing. “You’re trying to tell me you two ain’t a thing?” She laughs with all the sweetness of a viper. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though. Seany’s always had a desperate need to be loved. He just can’t stay single for long.”

“It’s been over a year—” I start, but Kayla interrupts me.

“I’m sorry, did you call him Seany?” Kayla asks with patronizing amusement, ignoring Serena’s dig at me altogether.

“Is that what you called him when you were together? He’s a grown man, and you called him Seany ?

” She looks at me like this is the funniest thing in the world, like the two of us are so close, so totally established that we already laugh about cheating exes who ruined our lives and other absurdities.

“It was a term of endearment,” Serena says, almost baring her teeth. “What do you call him? Mr. O’Shannan?”

“Only when he’s naughty,” Kayla says with a wink, and I can’t stop the laugh that makes my shoulders shake. Kayla’s eyes dart to mine, a half-smile turning her lips up that makes us look like we’re in cahoots.

Serena’s cheeks flush beneath her dark tan. “You know what, Sean? I came to check on you because I felt bad for you. I heard the Arsenal didn’t even sign you for a contract next year, so you abandoned the Blue Collars and kept them from winning the Calder Cup for nothing.”

Kayla gasps. “Mr. O’Shannan, you didn’t tell me you were the only player on the Blue Collars. Of course, maybe I just don’t know how sports work. You’d think owning a team would teach me something at some point.”

I put my elbows on the counter, leaning forward while I laugh. Kayla’s protective streak might be the most attractive thing about her yet.

But Serena may as well be shooting fireballs outta her eyes. “Does she know about your little vow, Seany, or did you already break it?” She chuckles and stands up, throwing a ten dollar bill at me before walking away. “Good luck staying single.”

And that’s when Kayla looks at me and whispers, “Just go with it.” Then she calls out. “Hey, Serena!”

The smaller woman turns around and plants a hand on her hip. “Yeah?”

“You’re right. Sean’s not single.”

Then Kayla grabs my face and plants her lips on mine.

And my brain stops.

Straight up flatlines.

Then it flickers back to life, short-circuiting like it has faulty wiring.

Because this isn’t some peck.

This is a real kiss, all frantic lips and hot breath. And although I should probably panic that this is happening at all, I can’t seem to care enough.

I plunge a hand into her waves, guiding her mouth, deepening the kiss.

And loving every minute of it.

She leans closer into me, her fingers stroking my beard like it’s her personal good luck charm. My pulse roars so loud in my head, everything else fades. I’m back in the crease. The noise of the bar, the music, Serena’s sharp, shocked chuckle—it all disappears.

It’s just me and Kayla and this kiss.

When she finally pulls back, her face is flushed, her lips are swollen, and her eyes …

Oof. They have a dazed look to them that makes me hungry for seconds.

I should say something funny. Something to break the ice. Something to convince her to keep going.

But Serena’s voice cuts over the gasps and noise of the bar.