Chapter 3
“I just needed a box of Fruit Loops.” ~ Harper
Harper
I groan as I pull into the grocery store parking lot. It’s packed. I shouldn’t have waited until Saturday afternoon to do my groceries, but it’s the first opportunity I’ve had all week.
And I can’t wait any longer. Dad nearly lost his mind when there was no Fruit Loops cereal for breakfast this morning. A grown man shouldn’t be eating Fruit Loops but you try arguing with my dad about it. I’ve given up.
I manage to squeeze my car into a spot at the rear of the parking lot. It may technically be a spot for a motorcycle but if the car fits, does it matter?
I open the door and am immediately assaulted with loud music. This is Smuggler’s Hideaway. There’s always some festival or celebration happening. But it usually isn’t this loud. And there usually aren’t screaming women.
What is going on? Did Hudson Clark – former NFL wide receiver and local hero – venture into town without a t-shirt again? The last time he went jogging without a shirt on, the police had to get involved. Hudson’s wife, Nova, was not amused.
I force my way through the crowd toward the entrance of the grocery store.
“Hey!” a woman shouts. “You can’t budge the line.”
“Budge the line?” Is everyone waiting to enter the grocery store? If this is the line, Dad can forget about his Fruit Loops.
“Don’t act all innocent.” A woman elbows me. It’s a good thing I’m used to dealing with rowdy crowds or I’d be on the ground crying in pain.
I hold up my palms. “I just need to buy some Fruit Loops. And some milk. And maybe a loaf of bread.”
“I don’t care what you need to buy. You’re not getting in line in front of me.”
I scan the area for some clue as to what in the world is going on, but it’s impossible to see beyond the crowd jostling me. I glance toward the sky – hoping for some help from above – and swear under my breath when I notice the sign.
Warning: Contents May Be Too Hot. Meet the Contestants Competing for Smuggler’s Sexiest Man.
One of the many, many initiatives the mayor of Smuggler’s Rest – one of the three villages on Smuggler’s Hideaway – established to bring in tourists was the sexiest man on the island competition.
The contest came under fire last year as one of the requirements to vote for a man is that you have to kiss him.
But the mayor, Lana, dropped the kiss rule and continued the contest .
I don’t have time for this. Dad will have to suffer through breakfast tomorrow without his beloved Fruit Loops. I whirl around to march back to my car but then I realize – coffee. I don’t have any coffee in the house.
I can put up with a lot – men flirting with me at the bar, getting beer poured all over me, women shouting at me for kicking them out of the bar – but I can’t live without coffee. It’s inhumane.
I reverse direction and force my way through the crowd toward the entrance of the grocery store once again. Women try to stop me by tripping me, elbowing me, and shoving me, but I keep going. I’m not playing their sexiest man games today.
But then a woman grabs hold of my ponytail and yanks. Oh no, she didn’t.
I drop to my knees – forcing her to release her hold – before spinning around to confront her.
She sneers at me. “You’re going down, bitch.”
“Bring it on.”
We begin to circle each other. The crowd notices and cheers break out. “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Great. Not only am I not going to get Dad’s Fruit Loops or my coffee. At this rate, I’m going to be late to work. Someone needs to start a grocery delivery service on the island because I don’t have time for this.
But I don’t back down. I never do.
“Harper!” a man shouts .
I glance over my shoulder, where I notice a stage and walkway are set up. There’s a lineup of men strutting across the stage. They’re all shirtless and wearing kerchiefs to cover the lower half of their faces.
“Harper!” the man shouts again as he jumps off the stage.
My breath nearly catches at the acrobatic move and how his abs contract as he lands.
He prowls toward me and I can’t help myself from staring at the muscles on his chest and arms. I didn’t think men with this type of muscle definition existed outside of the romance novels I love to read when no one’s looking.
“Harper,” he grumbles, “are you okay?”
I force my gaze away from his chest to his face. Blue eyes greet me. Deep blue eyes, the color of the ocean on a hot summer day. Blue eyes I’d recognize anywhere.
Oh, dear mermaid. I’ve been drooling over Kai. The man-child.
“Harper.” He reaches for my hand, but I retreat a step. Straight into the fist of the woman. She connects with my jaw and I go down.
Except I don’t land on the ground. Kai catches me.
“Shit, Harper. Are you okay?”
I try to form words, but the feel of Kai’s arms around me has my body short-circuiting. He lifts me into the air.
“Move out of my way,” he demands and the crowd parts for him.
I shiver at the command in his voice. I’ve never heard Kai be anything but light-hearted and goofy. His deep voice commanding a crowd has my nipples pebbling .
Whoa! Nipples pebbling. The hit to my jaw must be worse than I thought. I must be concussed. No way does my body get all revved up for a male who’s eight years younger than me. He’s practically a child!
Kai carries me to the Red Cross Station behind the stage. Say what you will about how crazy Smuggler’s Hideaway can get, but we always prioritize safety. Thus, a Red Cross Station at an event to showcase men vying to be crowned the sexiest man on the island.
He sets me down on a chair. As soon as he releases me, I feel cold and abandoned. Abandoned? What is wrong with me? Am I so desperate for male companionship that I’m lusting after a child?
“I need help here!” Kai yells.
Yep. I’m desperate for male companionship. There’s no other explanation for the explosion of butterflies in my stomach at the sound of a man’s growly voice.
A paramedic rushes to me but I wave him away.
“I’m fine.” Revved up hormones is not a medical emergency. Not even on Smuggler’s Hideaway.
“She was hit on the jaw and is dazed.”
I glare at Kai. “I’m not dazed from a simple hit on the jaw. I could have taken her.”
“Sure, you could, Slugger.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Do not patronize me.”
He lifts his hands. “Me? Patronize you? I thought I didn’t understand the meaning of the word. ”
I frown. Did I tell him he didn’t understand the meaning of patronize? It’s possible. Kai Raider has been a thorn in my side for months now with his blatant sexual innuendos and numerous requests for a date.
“I’ll …” The paramedic backs away and leaves us alone.
“I’m sorry if I offended you,” I begin, “but you can’t blame me for getting frustrated.”
“Frustrated?”
I glare at him. “Do not act all innocent with me. You hit on me several times a night every time you come to Rumrunner. ”
“I’m persistent.”
“I think you mean pest.”
He tugs his bandana away from his face and scowls. “Do you seriously think I’m a pest?”
Crap. He sounds hurt. I don’t want to hurt him. Despite what my employees and the patrons of the bar think, I’m not a cruel person.
“I just needed a box of Fruit Loops. How was I supposed to know there was a male stripper show happening in the parking lot of the grocery store?”
“We weren’t stripping.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Yet.”
Great. The crowd will go wild once the men begin removing their clothes. I probably should get to work and prepare for a busy night. No coffee for me. I can always beg Parker from Pirate’s Pastries to deliver to my house. She’s done it before.
I stand. “I need to get to work. ”
“The paramedic hasn’t checked you out yet.”
“I’m fine.” I alternate touching my nose with my finger. “Completely steady.”
He frowns. “I don’t like this.”
“Too bad. You don’t get a say.”
He grasps my hand. I nearly jump from the jolt of electricity I feel at his touch.
“You feel it, too,” he whispers and shuffles closer.
I yank my hand away. “Doesn’t matter what I feel. You’re immature and childish and way too young for me.”
“You’re never going to give me a chance, are you?”
The hurt in his blue eyes slays me. I don’t want to hurt him. I never want to hurt anyone. But I seem to accidentally hurt people all the time. It’s my special skill.
“I’m sorry, Kai. But no.”
Our gazes meet for a long moment. I want to erase the words I spoke. But I can’t. My life is beyond busy. I’m barely managing as it is. I can’t handle one more thing to look after.
And, make no mistake about it, I’d be looking after Kai if we were in a relationship. There’s no way he’d look after me. And I want a man who will carry some of the burden for me. Not add to mine.
Kai flashes me a smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll change your mind.”
I groan. Great. A persistent man-child. Exactly what I need.
“After you.” He motions me forward.
“After me?”
“I’ll walk you to work since you’re too stubborn to get examined by a paramedic. I know all about head injuries.”
I snort. “I bet you do.”