Though what could he do, force it out of her? He knew something terrible had happened. It must have, if the ever-so-strong Kenzie appeared to have the living shit scared out of her.
With her growing relaxed state, he noted her becoming more uncomfortable and shifting on her feet under his intimate touches. He continued to brush his hands down her arms and changed the subject for her benefit. “I came by today because I wanted to know if you heard the news about Kyler and Ella.”
She nodded, only softness held in the depths of her eyes now. “Cora called a little bit ago and told me.”
“I’m glad.” He spotted how her chin was lowered, her eyes holding his in a gentle embrace. “Would you mind shopping for Sawyer and me, since we are completely clueless as to what we should wear?”
An inner light filled her eyes. “A bunch of useless men, huh?”
“Now, now, I wouldn’t go that far.” Leaning in, he pressed his body closer to hers, loving the way her breath hitched and enjoying the heat emanating off her. He could stay right there, holding her. It came as a surprise how comfortable he was with her outside of Club Sin. He enjoyed having her pressed against him in public. “I would think by now you would know that I’m quite useful.”
She gave a playful wink. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. Surprising him, she hugged him in return, and he wondered if she knew that she was grasping his T-shirt tight. He kissed her cheek and then whispered in her ear, “I’m here for you, Kenzie, if you need me. Not out of obligation, not because of Club Sin, but because I want to be.”
She hugged him tighter. “Just stay for a little bit, okay?”
He locked his arms around her, realizing that he quite possibly needed her as much. Her spicy scent spiraled around him as he kissed the soft part of her neck. “I’m not going anywhere, kitten.”
Chapter Eight
The next day, Kenzie packed up her suitcase and then headed out the door of the hotel room. Last evening, Porter had stayed with her the rest of the night until she closed up shop. When he’d left, so had she. She hadn’t told him her plans to stay far away from home last night. There was no way in hell she was staying at home by herself, and thankfully she had scheduled her employees to work the weekend shifts. Kenzie then decided to book a night at one of the larger casino’s hotels, thinking a busy location was the safest place for her to be.
Not that she’d gotten much sleep—drunk people in one room next to her were loud and obnoxious, and in the other room on the opposite side there was a couple arguing for a good few hours, keeping her up all night. Even with a pillow over her head Kenzie could not block the noise. Tonight she’d have to find other arrangements. She could deal with a hotel bed, but she needed sleep, especially with all that was going on. The last thing she needed to do was add exhaustion to her already full list of shitty things happening in her life.
Once she checked out of the hotel, she put her overnight bag in the trunk. Earlier in the day, she’d gone for breakfast and then went shopping for herself, and for Porter and Sawyer. Excitement fluttered through her to see the guys’ reaction to what she’d bought for them—Porter a black vest, a fedora, and a silver tie, and Sawyer a red bow tie with matching suspenders. She’d texted both of them telling them, I’ve got your costume. Get black pants and a white shirt, and you’ll be good to go.
Now dressed in a baby-blue chiffon strapless cocktail dress with a black ribbon at the waist, she was ready to party tonight. She opened her car door, and iciness brushed across her, as did the oddest sense she was being watched. She didn’t think anyone had followed her to the casino last night. Now she questioned herself. Her hands shook as she dropped into her seat, and her hair prickled on the back of her neck as she drove off.
She had to do something about Adrik. She didn’t know what that something was. Selling the store was out of the question, and she wouldn’t be bulldozed by some jerk. She needed to come up with a solution, and she would, but not right now. Tonight she planned to drink her pain, her worries, and her stress all away.
This night belonged to Ella.
Vegas streets went quickly by her window, and she made it to the club in less than twenty minutes. Wasting no time and hating the thought of being alone, she hurried out of her car and approached the bouncer at the door. She showed her ID, and after he waved her in, she stepped into the club and the techno music washed over her. A crowd had already formed on the dance floor at the back of the large square room, and even more people were standing around the bar. She searched the dimly lit room, quickly finding the girls sitting in a booth by the bar.
Kenzie moved through the crowd, and a few men looked her way, but she paid them no attention. They didn’t have that Dominance that she needed—that she craved—and without that edge to them, there was no attraction there.
She realized, with a little surprise, they didn’t have what Porter had. That playful yet powerful personality that could make her melt with one look, drawing her in so rapidly she couldn’t run from it. A slow heat filled her as her thoughts went to Porter and his wicked touches. She shook it off when she reached the girls, and they all smiled at her.
Kenzie opened her arms and said to the beaming Ella, “Oh my God, girl, I’m so excited for you. Hugs, it’s a must.”
Dressed in a very cute black cocktail dress, Ella pushed out of the booth and wrapped her arms around Kenzie. “Thanks, it’s still a shock, but a good shock.” She released Kenzie, showing off her sparkling engagement ring. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to get divorced, pregnant, and remarried in the same month.”
Kenzie laughed, taking a seat at the booth next to Presley, who had her hair up in a bun and wore a red fit-and-flare dress. “Well, there is nothing wrong with doing things the unconventional way.”
Cora added, “I’m pretty sure none of us are what you’d call conventional.”
The waitress, wearing a sports bra–like top and a miniskirt, came over to table, and Kenzie said, “I’ll take three shots of whiskey.” As the waitress left, she smiled at the girls, who all gaped at her. “What? Isn’t one of the guys driving us home tonight?”
Cora nodded. “Aidan is picking us up at midnight, but damn, Kenz, I’ve never seen you start out with anything so hard.”
Kenzie knew why she was skipping the wine and going straight for the good stuff. She needed to get drunk. She needed to forget. More than anything, she needed to stop feeling like everyone was watching her. Even now, as she scanned the crowd at the bar and on the dance floor, creepy-crawlies tickled her skin. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the man who attacked her was there tonight. Not wanting to ruin Ella’s night, she forced away the fear deep inside her. “I’m ready to party it up tonight.”
“Apparently,” Presley snorted.
Though that fear couldn’t vanish completely, and while Kenzie knew how important this weekend was for Ella and Kyler—and didn’t want to make it about her and her problems—she also wasn’t stupid. She said to Cora, “Speaking of tonight, do you mind if I stay with you and Aidan for a couple days?”
Cora’s brows rose. “Why?”