Page 10 of Fake Dating the SEAL
From across the yard, when her mother and Maile should have been overseeing all the food and beverages for half the island, they were inside the patio doors, spying at them from behind the blinds. Kenny’s idea, ridiculous as it was, had a silver lining. A holiday season free of her mother’s scrutinizing gaze and Maile’s not-so-subtle maneuvers. It was a tempting offer, a perfect solution to a problem she hadn’t been able to solve onher own. He was offering her a shield, and she couldn’t find a single reason to say no. “So, we keep holding hands, go to family dinners, and if you’ve got this right, I have the first ever Christmas season without having to look over my shoulder every five minutes, and then, after the new year, we can just say we make better friends than a couple?”
He nodded.
“And if it doesn’t work?”
“No harm no foul.”
“I suppose.” Though she wasn’t completely sure if this was a brilliant idea or the worst one she’d ever heard.
“You know what we always say?”
Her gaze narrowed with his, not sure where he was going.
“Hope for the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.”
She chuckled at that, incredibly aware he was still holding her hand, and without looking knew her mother was still watching them. She just wasn’t so sure she was ready for the worst—or any surprises—but she wouldn’t mind the best. “Let’s do it.”
Kenny laughed, and Sara realized that for the first time in months, she wasn’t dreading the rest of the holiday season. In fact, she was actually looking forward to it.
“So, boyfriend,” she playfully tested out the word. “Tell me about your day.”
“Well, girlfriend.” Still smiling, Kenny settled back in his chair. “It just got a whole lot more interesting.”
Of all the words that came to mind to describe this new bargain, she wasn’t sureinterestingwas the one she’d have come up with, but it would do. “So, what do we do now?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “If we lay it on too thick—”
“They’ll never believe it.” He was, of course, right. “In that case,” she pushed to her feet, “I’d better go see what help is needed in the kitchen. Will I see you later?”
“Count on it.”
And to her surprise, she was definitely looking forward to later.
The laughter and chatter of the party were a pleasant, low-level hum in Kenny’s ears. Cutting through the maze of tables and people, he’d pause, smiling and chatting with friends and acquaintances. Every year the list of friends here on the island had grown considerably. Several of the men he’d once worked with like Nick, and Doug had settled on the island the Everrett family called home.
Every so often he found himself glancing toward the house. From the yard, through the massive patio doors that extended across the living room and half the kitchen, he could see Sara elbow-deep in sudsy water, washing dishes alongside Emily and Angela while Maile directed traffic like a seasoned field commander, her voice cutting through the noise with clear, concise instructions that could be heard even from where he stood.
“You made up your mind yet?” Billy slapped him on the back. “There’s always room for an experienced diver at the Big Island Dive Shop.”
He knew that. For years, his friends had always made it clear he would be welcome, if not needed. Kenny had to admit, any time he’d gone with his friends on a group dive, he’d always enjoyed himself. More than he would have thought without a mission at stake.
“Now Billy, what did we agree?” Nick came up beside his longtime friend and business partner, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. “What part of the memo, give the man some time and space, did you not get?”
Kenny patted his friend on the arm. “No worries. We all know I have some decisions to make.”
“Who knows,” Billy shrugged. “Maybe you’ll find a pirate’s treasure and be set for life.”
“What?” Kenny blinked.
“Don’t mind him.” Nick rolled his eyes. “We’ve had an unusual uptick in treasure hunters the last couple of years and it sometimes makes life a little crazy.”
“Well, they do call Hawaii paradise,” Billy reminded him, not for the first time. The mantra had been engrained in Billy’s vocabulary since the first time Kenny had come to visit when everyone was still deployed together. “Angela has a friend from work she wants you to meet.”
His head snapped around to face Billy. Was matchmaking genetic in the Everrett family?
“Don’t look so startled.” Billy held back a laugh. “I told her you could find your own woman.”
Bullet dodged. “Thanks.” Kenny settled his hand on his buddy’s shoulder. “I hate to eat and run, but it was a long flight yesterday and I’ve got a way to go before I catch up on the right time zone. I’m just going to thank your mom, and I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
