Loch and Key Read Online Free PDF Page B

Date.”
    Her eyes rounded. “Shut up.”
    “No really, it’s a thing.”
    “You, like, stop getting off so you guys have this pent-up frustration. Then you arrive home and go at with your wives and girlfriends.”
    He grinned, amused by her response. “And boyfriends for some. Times are changing. But yeah.”
    “Wow.” She bit her lip, her eyes dancing. “I love it.”
    Even though her delighted words were backed up by her relaxed body language, surprise slid through him.
    “You do? Really?”
    He traced a thumb over her knuckles, loving how soft the skin was. Luxuriating in the fact that he could finally touch her. Even in such a small, innocent way.
    He heard the soft hitch in her breathing and her gaze never left his.
    “Yeah. It’s actually kind of sweet.”
    “It’s not sweet, it’s hard as hell.”
    “No pun intended?”
    “Actually, yes—” he glowered mockingly, “—pun intended.”
    She laughed then. A loud belly laugh that wasn’t the slightest bit sexy or feminine. Several people turned to glance their way. He loved her laugh, in all its bawdy, unrestrained glory.
    The waitress arrived with their food, setting it down on the table. Brett pulled his hand away reluctantly. It’d be a little weird trying to eat holding her hand. He’d gotten away with it in the moment, but something told him she would get skittish after too long.
    “Anything else I can get you two?” the waitress asked, giving them both a knowing look.
    “I think we’re good.” Brett smiled. “Thank you.”
    “Must be nice to have your man back, dearie,” she said, winking at Kenzie. “Welcome home, sailor.”
    Kenzie froze, a mozzarella stick halfway to her mouth, her eyes wide.
    “She must have assumed because we were getting along so well,” Brett assured her, reaching for a wing. “Don’t look panicked.”
    “Aye, of course. It’s just, it threw me off balance for a moment,” she muttered and took a bite.
    “That makes two of us.”
    They ate the greasy food quietly for a moment. When he reached for his iced tea, she spoke again.
    “One thing I’ve always loved about this island is how supportive most people are of the Navy. How warm and welcoming they are when you guys return from being deployed. Or how everyone pulls together when you leave.”
    “I agree. You find that in a lot of military towns.” He gave her a curious glance. “You must see a lot of sailors and spouses come in and out of the pub. It’s not far from the base.”
    “We see a good amount,” she agreed. “We’ve seen several couples married after meeting at McLaughlin’s.”
    “And I’m sure a good amount get divorced from too many nights there.” The words were out with a bitter edge before he could stop them.
    Her gaze swung to his, full of shock.
    Shit. Why the hell hadn’t he filtered himself?
    “What do you mean?”
    “Nothing.” He shook his head and reached for another wing.
    “No, it’s quite clear you meant something, so maybe you should elaborate.”
    Her brows were drawn down and he knew she wasn’t about to drop the subject.
    “Only that sometimes married people end up cheating on their spouses after hanging out in the bars too much.”
    “That’s complete shite. Those same unfaithful bastards might be as likely to cheat with someone they met at the local grocery.”
    “Not always the man cheating, sugar,” he drawled. “Just as often, it’s the woman.”
    “Hmm.” She didn’t look convinced, but maybe slightly irritated now. “Well, I’m not on ring patrol when I’m working at our pub.”
    He needed to change the subject. Fast. He latched onto something she’d said, partly because he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.
    “Did you say ‘our pub’?”
    “Aye. It belongs to my brother, so technically it’s his. But we consider it our family pub. My parents started it when they moved here.”
    “Your parents are the McLaughlins in McLaughlin’s Pub?”
    “One and the same. We’re all