Page 17

Kenna

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Lori stood in the kitchen doorway, frantically motioning her hand. Kenna set down the tray she carried and hurried across the room.

The cook glanced around to make sure no one else was within earshot. "How's Zora doing?"

With Kingsley and Zane only recently learning that Zora was their mother, she had no idea if she was even supposed to talk about the woman. But considering Lori handled Zora when she showed up at the bar, she chose her words carefully.

"She's back at the cabin, and from what I've heard, she's doing well," she said.

A look of relief spread across Lori's face, and her shoulders relaxed. "There was a time when Zora and I were friends. We worked together in the kitchen when we were only teenagers. That was before Ridge took her out of the bar, of course."

Kenna squeezed the woman's arm in understanding. Lori's concern came from the history they shared. Gem Haven had a lot of secrets. It seemed like everyone had a part in the web that was tightly woven around those who lived on the mountain.

Though she had known Kingsley forever, she was an outsider to Gem Haven. Privately, she struggled to live in Kingsley's world where others belonged here more than her.

For her, he was her whole world—her friend, lover, guardian, and protector. But where did she fit in at Gem Haven?

Even River seemed to adapt to life on the mountain faster than her. What would happen once she talked with her dad? She inhaled deeply. Maybe everything would make more sense, and she could finally concentrate on herself.

For now, she dealt with an incurable need to have Kingsley beside her twenty-four/seven. Without him, she felt unneeded, which led to feeling unwanted—thanks to how she grew up.

Everyone had a job and a place where they were valued. Kingsley had the motorcycle club, his brother, and even his dad, considering he had easy access to visitations in prison. Now, he had a mom back in his life. River had Zane, and her sister enjoyed working at the campground.

The buzzer went off in the kitchen. Lori waved her off, smiling thanks, and moved to the oven. Kenna went back into the bar. More people had entered while she'd left the room.

She moved to the nearest table and worked across the room, gathering drink orders and checking in with the customers already served.

Two hours later, the Gem Haven Motorcycle Club members drifted in, asking for drinks and dinner. Kenna's mood lifted, and energy filled her, knowing the meeting was over and that she could look forward to seeing Kinsley.

Grabbing her notepad, she visited the tables and back booth in the order they filled. There were enough drinks to keep her busy. She grabbed four pitchers and set the trays on the counter.

Rebecca hurried behind her, clipping orders on the spin-wheel for the kitchen. "Yell if you need help with the bikers. The campers will start strolling in at six and they'll want to get out of here."

"So far, I'm keeping up." She pulled the tap and filled the pitcher. "I'll check on Lori after I serve the drinks and see if she needs any help before Taylor arrives for work."

"Thanks." Rebecca grabbed a plate of food and hustled out onto the floor.

The hair at the back of her neck tingled. She looked up, scanned the room, and relaxed. Kingsley had arrived.

She smiled, placing the full pitcher of beer on the tray, and grabbed another one, anxious to finish so that she'd have a few minutes to catch up with him.

Picking up the tray, she walked around the counter and made it to the table without slopping the beer over the rims of the pitchers. She hurried back, grabbed four mugs, and returned to the table.

"If you need a refill, just yell." She picked up her tray. "Rebecca will take your orders in a minute."

Razz dipped his chin and the others at the table who she hadn't met yet volunteered their approval by lifting a finger, winking, and making eye contact. She stepped away to get the next order.

"Ten bucks I can tap that ass before I finish my beer," said a man behind her.

A loud crash startled her. She dropped the empty tray.

"Fight. Fight," chanted the men.

As soon as she straightened, Rebecca grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the counter. "Stay back."

She turned around. There were men standing everywhere. Her gaze, drawn to the movement in the middle, she zeroed in on the tattooed arm bulging before it swung out and hit the other man. She gasped, stepping forward, needing to stop Kingsley before he got hurt.

"No way, my friend." Rebecca pulled her back against the counter. "Let him deal with the men."

"Why are they fighting?" She stood on tiptoes, trying to see past the others. "Kingsley just walked in."

"I'm sure he overheard Savage talking about you," said Rebecca.

"Me?" She studied the man on the floor, bleeding from his nose and trying to get up.

She never paid much attention to the men. The bikers talked all the time. She was only doing her job. Kingsley should understand that she would never think of hooking up with one of his MC brothers.

Kingsley lifted Savage off the floor. "Don't ever look." He hit Savage in the jaw. "Talk." He punched him in the gut. "Think about my woman, or I'll kill you."

Savage, bent at the waist, coughed and held up his hand. "Didn't know she belonged—" He coughed. "Sorry, brother."

"Cool it, boys. Simmer down and clean up the mess," shouted Lori from the doorway of the kitchen. "Rebecca, foods up. Kenna, see if Kingsley needs anything. The rest of you, straighten the table and chairs."

She rushed to Kingsley's side, scanning his face and pushing him away from the others. Then, she picked up his hands and looked at his knuckles. They were red but surprisingly unharmed.

There was no reason to fight. He should've ignored Savage.

She pulled him to the counter and pointed at a stool. "Sit."

"Are you ordering me around now?" He grinned.

"Maybe I should." She walked around the counter and filled a shot glass with whiskey. "Drink and chill."

He tipped back the drink and exhaled loudly. "How often do the members talk to you like that?"

She raised her brows. "Talking is free. It doesn't mean I listen to them."

"Bullshit." He leaned forward. "Tomorrow night, we'll go to the clubhouse. I'll claim you in front of every fucker that's there. They know better than to even look at you."

She wasn't the type of person who needed a big show of emotions. Kingsley knew that.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

He slid the shot glass across the counter and nodded for her to fill it up again. "Nothing."

That wasn't true. He was keeping something from her.

Kingsley was the kindest, most even-tempered, and reliable person she knew. Getting in fights and tossing back whiskey wasn't his style.

She studied him. Yet, here he was, doing a good job of losing his cool. Something had happened at the meeting before he got here and went off on the other biker.

"How about I get you something to eat?" She covered his hand and squeezed. "You'll feel better with something in your stomach."

He stood, leaned over the counter, and kissed her hard. "I got shit to do. I'll see you after work."

He walked out of the bar. She looked around to see if anyone else thought he acted strange, but everyone had returned to drinking and eating as if the fight hadn't happened.