Quinn’s Battle (Team KOA Bravo #4)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Dahlia had slept in and fits and starts, her dreams peppered with fantasies of a certain Navy SEAL. Normally, she came home, showered, and crashed after a closing shift. Of course, last night had been about as abnormal as a shift could be.

Having Quinn a few paces away, on her couch, only added to her restlessness. She tossed and turned, wondering how one man could change the entire feeling of her house. She loved her little bungalow and valued both her independence and privacy. She’d had guests stay over plenty of times. Granted, it wasn’t typical to have what amounted to a current crush on her couch, but still. How was it Quinn filled her soothing personal haven with so much exciting energy?

Had to be the kisses that left her stirred up and needy.

Regardless of the cause, when she woke up around eight and couldn’t fall back to sleep, she went ahead and got cleaned up for the day. After a quick shower, she pulled on shorts and a halter top. She was off from both bartending schedules today. Most of the time she’d reach out to her brothers and see what she could do to help them. But that didn’t feel right today. Her brothers would likely take one look at Quinn and put him to work. They didn’t let able-bodied people stand around on their worksites.

More concerning was having no idea how she’d explain Quinn’s presence as her shadow.

She might be the oldest child in the family, but her brothers tended toward the overprotective end of the spectrum. In the past, they’d intimidated a couple of boyfriends and done a fine job of making sure no one hit on her when she worked with them. She didn’t need to examine why their protectiveness bugged her while Quinn’s approach felt more like welcome shelter. Just more evidence she needed to be careful about her expectations with Quinn.

Tiptoeing out of her bedroom, she braced herself for the punch of seeing him first thing in the morning. But he wasn’t on the couch at all. He was in the kitchen, his back to her. She indulged in the unexpected opportunity to watch him move—enjoying the view of his broad back and lean hips. Although he wore the same clothes as yesterday, he moved like a man refreshed and ready for the day.

As she joined him, she realized his hair was damp. How had she not known he’d taken a shower?

“Good morning, gorgeous,” he said. “You’re just in time. Breakfast is almost ready.”

“Hmm.” She thought he looked good enough to eat. “What if I’m not the breakfast type?”

He shrugged one of those brawny shoulders. “More for me, I guess. You are the coffee type?”

“Yes.” Resigned to whatever weird dimension she’d walked into today, she held out both hands. “Gimme, gimme.”

He filled a mug for her. “Black, right?”

“How do you know that?”

He set the piping hot coffee on the counter between her hands. “Observation.”

His answer sent a happy fizz through her system, almost as effective as the caffeine. He must’ve been paying attention because she rarely drank anything other than water while she worked. These moments, discovering he’d been paying such close attention, were a serious ego boost.

“Eggs are almost done.” He went to the fridge and pulled out a bowl filled with chunks of pineapple, apple-banana, and the dragon fruit and starfruit that were in season right now. She liked making the most of the farmer’s market nearby. “Hope you don’t mind me helping myself to what was on hand.”

She would never complain about a meal she didn’t have to cook. “Go for it.” She sighed happily. “If you’re serious about sticking to me like glue, we should make a list of things you want to have on hand. Food and whatever else you need to be comfortable here.”

“Are you inviting me to move in?”

For a second, she felt a flare of panic, until she realized he was only teasing her. “You’re the one who set the terms,” she reminded him.

“True. I don’t think I’ll be underfoot for too long. We can take it day by day.”

That should not be a disappointment. She was glad he was okay with that approach. She was fighting to feel okay about the changes, caught between being hospitable, feeling safe, and guarding her heart.

“How can you be so sure? I mean, it’s good news.” She stopped before she rambled on too long.

“It is. Hawk sent an update. They finally identified Mr. Unknown as Rowdy Steen,” Quinn said. “Apparently, he’s wanted in California and Nevada for a variety of illegal activities, including passing counterfeit bills.”

“Oh, wow. He sounds like a winner. Was the blue sports car stolen?”

“No. As far as they can tell so far, his business here isn’t about stealing cars.”

“Just exchanging them at Ohana’s.”

Quinn tipped his head as he divided the eggs between two plates. “He’s also the main person of interest behind the disappearance of some excellent counterfeiting plates.”

“That can’t be a coincidence.”

Quinn slid a plate of eggs in front of her. “We agree on that.” He gave her a fork and napkin. “Eat up. We can sort out the security plan and details after.”

She barely heard him, completely absorbed in the food. “Where did you learn to do this?” With another big bite on her fork, she nearly moaned in pleasure. Eggs were basic. When she made them, scrambled with pepper and sometimes a bit of cheese, they were fine. Serviceable. Quinn had elevated a basic food to something remarkably savory and creamy. “What kind of eggs did you use?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Chicken, I assume. They were in your refrigerator.”

“Huh. They never turn out like this for me.”

He scooped some fruit from the bowl to his plate. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Oh, it is.”

“Why did it sound like an accusation?”

She paused for a second before laughing at herself. “Wasn’t meant to be. It just occurred to me that a man who looks like you probably knows how to do the morning-after breakfast pretty well. And that sounds insensitive and offensive.” She took a breath. “I need more coffee.”

He brought the pot over and topped off her mug. “I’m not going to comment or take offense,” he said with a sly smile.

That smile, the shiver that it caused, only confirmed her theory.

He continued eating standing up, leaning against the back counter. Maybe he was truly insulted but too professional to say anything. “You can sit down.”

“If I do that, I can’t look at you.” Another smile caused warmth to swirl through her belly. “The view right here suits me.” His gaze heated and that warmth turned to sparks.

She was too floored to respond. Men didn’t talk to her the way he did. Granted she rarely gave a guy much of a chance these days. After passing thirty she’d gotten picky about dating and the men she spent time with. She’d grown accustomed to the general chatter and patterns of conversations when she was working. People-watching had also soured her, taking the magic out of relationships, as well.

She could spot a break-up at ten paces. Same for someone on the rebound. A new couple had a charm and glimmer that faded all too soon. Some part of her was over all the drama. When she dated, she wanted to enjoy a connection without a lot of pressure. Relationships were hard work and though she was willing to invest the time and effort for the right guy, that man didn’t seem to be in her neighborhood.

“Tell me what else you learned about this Steen guy.”

“In a minute. I don’t want to spoil your breakfast.”

“Hm.” That didn’t bode well. He was studying her too closely. As if trying to judge her mood. And for the life of her she wasn’t sure what conclusions he might be coming too. “Could you just say whatever it is you’re thinking? Please.”

He tipped his head. “At the moment, I’m curious about your name,” he admitted. “Why Dahlia?”

She got this question all the time and normally blew it off. For some reason, she wanted to be open with Quinn. “My mom is a flower fanatic. You should see her gardens. It’s probably a good thing I had brothers and my dad insisted on more traditional and conventional names for them.”

“Okay, I get that. Dahlias must be her favorite flower?”

She pointed to herself. “This Dahlia is.” She stuck her fork into a starfruit and gave it a spin. Choosing a point, she took a bite. “Honestly, I don’t know how Mom could choose a favorite flower. She gets so excited about everything that blooms, especially when the flowers are brightly colored.”

His gaze clouded over. There were secrets there—and pain too, if she was reading him correctly. He wasn’t the only one who knew how to observe.

“Your mom sounds wonderful,” he said. “From what little I’ve heard about your family, it sounds like they’re great people.”

How much had he been digging into her personal life? “What?”

“You’ve talked about your brothers when we’ve been out surfing,” he explained quickly. “Although I will need some details, I haven’t rooted through your business.”

That fit. “My brothers drive me crazy half the time.”

“And you’re proud of them for the other half.”

“True.”

He set his plate aside and braced his forearms on the counter, coming eye level with her. He had the prettiest brown eyes. This close, she could appreciate the flecks of gold that seemed to burn bright when he focused on her mouth.

Nervous, she licked her lips and then reached for her coffee cup. If he kissed her again, she might just beg him to take her back to bed. She couldn’t think of a better use of her day off.

“Y’know, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”

A shiver, the good kind, danced down her spine. Something in his quiet voice, the way he looked at her, gave her a deja vu moment. She’d learned the hard way not to ignore that little gift from her intuition, to accept it as a little pat on the back that she was walking the right path. “So you’ve said.”

“Are you going to cooperate?” he asked. “You’ve had a chance to sleep on it. I want to be sure you’re okay with this.”

“Yes.” The response was out of her mouth before she could catch it. But she didn’t need to give his protection more thought. She’d made her decision last night. First in the parking lot, and later in the doorway of her bedroom. The situation was sticky, but the only way through was to keep going forward.

“Do you really believe Steen and Morton see me as a threat to whatever they’re doing?”

The gold in his eyes seemed to deepen. “I do, yes.”

“Then let me thank you for your service right now.”

“You don’t have to thank me.”

She swallowed a sudden swell of emotion in her throat. She’d tried to be bright and quippy, as if none of this made any difference to her or how she conducted her life. But it did. Quinn Kennedy was in her kitchen. Literally. He’d cooked breakfast for her. He’d kissed her senseless last night.

Those interactions, viewed separately, didn’t add up to much. In fact, if she told any of her friends, they’d probably blow it off, claiming she was reading way too much into insignificant moments.

The kisses were not insignificant.

Was she willing to relinquish her privacy for the chance to make out with him again?

The little voice in her head made an entire song and dance out of one word: absolutely.

Her closest friends might be paired off, but Dahlia didn’t need promises or assurances about the future. She would enjoy as much of Quinn as he could give and be thankful for it. This was more than an opportunity to hang out with a gorgeous man for a while. There were plenty of beautiful men on the island. But something about Quinn captivated her. She enjoyed his company when he visited Ohana’s. She’d enjoyed watching him interact with his friends and hers, and the regulars at the bar as well.

He was a good man.

They could have fun together until the risks were over without turning the world upside down.

And if he made her long for something different, something special… Well, that was her problem. Mentally, she shied away from those dangerous thoughts, but they kept right on coming, flooding her mind with possibilities.

More like impossibilities.

She’d been lecturing herself on willpower and self-control for the past several weeks. No one could expect her to turn away from a fling now that she’d discovered how well he kissed.

“Dahlia?”

Whoops . “Sorry. Lost in thought.” She helped herself to more of the fruit.

“Care to share?”

The sincerity in his eyes undid her. Why hold back? He said he’d stick with her regardless. “Growing up on the island you learn that you can’t really outrun your problems.”

“At least not without a boat.” He shifted back, standing tall.

“Or a plane,” she agreed, matching his light tone. “I just want to be clear that I’m thankful you’re willing to help out.”

“Funny,” he said, humor alight in his eyes. “I would’ve thought you’d be thankful for the make out part of our agreement.”

She laughed. “That too.” Perspective would be essential. He made her heart race and her knees weak, but this was temporary. He might need to go back to the SEAL teams before they sorted out what Morton and Steen were up to.

Unlike the five former SEALs who co-owned Ohana’s, Quinn was not yet retired. He might never be a fixture here on the island. Even if he did stay, that didn’t mean they were destined for some great romance or happily ever after together.

Look at that. She’d found her perspective. And she silently vowed to maintain that perspective. Besides, if Quinn was anything like his pals who had swept her friends off their feet, it would be a fun ride no matter where it ended.

She ignored the little twinge behind her heart that reminded her she’d been holding out for more than just a fun ride these days. She was thirty-four and her family had stopped being subtle about wanting her to settle down. They would not be supportive of her decision to give in to a fling with her bodyguard.

The thing was, she didn’t feel restless. When loneliness crept close, she hopped on her motorcycle or went surfing until she felt settled again.

“You’ve mentioned helping your brothers on your days off,” Quinn said. “Do you want to loop them in on the situation?”

She shook her head. “There’s no reason to worry my family right now. My brothers are more likely to bluster about kicking ass and watching my back. Delusions of grandeur.” She sighed. “They mean well, but I can keep my distance. If that’s best? We’re all adults.”

“Right.” He nodded thoughtfully, his gaze on his coffee cup. “We’ll see.”

“Do you have siblings?” she asked.

“I have the guys.” He went to the coffee maker for a refill. When he brought the pot to her, she let him refill her mug once more. “Those three are more than enough family for me.”

If she didn’t know Carter, Bowie, and Flint, his comment might’ve struck her as sad that his only brothers came from his career. Except she’d seen the four of them in action. They were a team, down to the bone. They squabbled or supported each other as needed.

Whatever issues went down before Hawaii, she thought they were all starting to relax. She remembered the first time they’d walked into the bar looking edgy, as if the tiki masks on the walls might start spitting bullets.

She didn’t need to know all the details to be glad the four of them had come to Hawaii and found Ohana’s. Quinn’s three friends had rescued her closest friends from some serious troubles. She was grateful for each one of those men.

Because she didn’t want to contemplate her life without Emery, Moana, or Mia. The four of them had known each other in school, but the real bond had come later with adulthood.

Now they were all linked despite different experiences on and off the island. And they were linked through the bar. For Dahlia, it was like having three sisters. They’d become their own family through ups and downs, lending a hand or a joke—or just a comforting shoulder.

In Dahlia’s heart, that was the true definition of ohana.

The last time the four of them had been out surfing, Mia mentioned Carter and the others were debating what to do about their reenlistment paperwork. So far, no final decisions had been made, although they were all taking leave through the end of October. Dahlia didn’t feel it was her place to ask Quinn directly, but she wanted him to know she would listen.

“You’re giving me that bartender look again.”

“Probably,” she admitted. She couldn’t help that she found him so intriguing. “You can’t read anything into it. Bartenders are Switzerland. Neutral, good listeners. If you ever find yourself needing to talk.”

He didn’t look convinced. “I’m good.”

“Good,” she echoed. She’d made it weird and she wanted to make it right. Searching for common ground, she said, “I was thinking it’s cool we both have three brothers.”

His brow furrowed. “Guess you’re right. You grew up with yours. All the awkwardness and sibling rivalries,” he said. “The four of us were more like overconfident quadruplets.”

“That sounds…like a lot.” She laughed. “I’m imagining the horror of my childhood if my brothers had been triplets. They’ve turned out all right. Though I’m sure my parents had their doubts along the way. I know I sure did.”

“Spoken like a true big sister.” A sadness washed over his face, tempering the smile she found so enticing.

She’d bet good money the man had been through some things that had nothing to do with the Navy. Things that left him scarred up on the inside. Patient, she let him decide whether or not to share any details.

“I grew up in foster homes,” he said at last. “It’s not the same as having a true sister, but I’m familiar with the concept and the basic tactics.”

Whoa. There was a lot to unpack there. Did she want to dig in?

The voice in her head that had done the happy song and dance earlier screamed “yes” now. She wanted to know everything about him. Whatever he was willing to share. It was the strangest thing. His gaze held hers and she realized he was waiting for a reaction. Did he expect her to send him packing over circumstances he’d been too young to change?

“I’m glad you’ve got your brothers now,”

“Me too.” He gathered up the dishes, clearly restless. “We’ve been through hell and back more than once.”

“And now you’re all stuck in paradise,” she observed. “With me.”

“Certainly feels like it,” he murmured. “The paradise part, not being stuck,” he clarified in a hurry. “I mean?—”

“I get it.” She waved off his concern. “How much longer will you guys stick around?”

“I’m not sure. All our testing is completed and we’re officially on leave,” he said, confirming what she’d learned from Mia.

But it was general information and she wanted the specifics about him . “Until you sign the paperwork to go back to the SEAL teams.”

“You heard about that?”

She nodded. “Friends talk. From the snippets I’ve heard, Mia and Carter have been discussing his options.” Bowie and Moana were surely having similar conversations.

Quinn was frowning in earnest as he stared into his coffee. She’d said the wrong thing. Regrettably, she had no idea how to correct it. This is why she listened and rarely gave any actionable advice to those who confided in her.

“What about you?” she asked brightly. “Are you considering any options?”

He looked up and glared at her. More like through her. She could tell his thoughts weren’t anywhere close to this kitchen and conversation. For a moment she wasn’t even sure he was still with her in Hawaii. His mind had gone elsewhere.

She waited him out. Having met all kinds of people while tending bar, and liking the vast majority of them, she’d learned to be patient.

“Options? Yeah, sure,” he said at last.

“You’re not feeling boxed in?”

He pushed a hand through his hair. “More like boxed out.” He sighed. “Sorry for whining. Everything’s fine. Besides, this isn’t about me.”

“Why not?” she challenged. “I don’t see any trouble we need to deal with right this second. Go on, talk,” she urged.

He grunted. Checked his watch, then his phone. “You’re right. Nothing else going on. No updates and no lurkers outside. Though I’m sure they’ll give us something soon.” Still, he hesitated. “Your friends told you we had concerns and equipment failures during missions with a new team?”

“I caught a vague overview.”

He glanced around, as if he expected to spot a listening device. “Simply put, our CO, Castle, sent us here to get us out of the way while he investigated some illegal activity we witnessed.”

“Protecting the four of you, right?”

“That’s right.” He checked his watch again and rolled his shoulders.

But she could see the tension lingering in the set of his jaw and the tightening around his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”

“I’m not sure I know anything.” He sounded so miserable she fought the urge to soothe him. “Last night the guys accused me of judging them for wanting to stay.”

“But you don’t.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “You make that sound like a given.”

“Because it is.” She traced the edge of her cup with her thumb. “You don’t judge them at all.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Hey, I’m an observer too.” She grinned up at him. “Those men are your brothers, not just in combat, but wherever you find yourselves. That means you want them to be happy.”

He set his coffee cup aside. “They are definitely happier lately.”

“Are you jealous?”

That query seemed to land a little too directly. He laughed, the sound short and sharp. “Jealous isn’t the right word. Mostly it’s not the right word,” he amended. “Over the years I’ve learned I’m just not built for relationships the same way they are.”

She considered him for a long moment and then sipped her coffee. His words sounded like a warning, though she refused to press him. Not her job to point out that his iron-clad bonds with the guys were actual relationships. On the flip side, the few stupendous kisses they’d shared didn’t come anywhere close to meeting the definition.

And that was fine. Things were going well. She was satisfied with her life and career and she would remain so long after Quinn made his choices. “Is that your way of saying you’ll sign your papers and go back to the teams?”

“Maybe.” His shoulders lifted and fell and for a moment, he seemed discouraged. “There’s a lot going on and I can’t talk about the details yet.”

She figured it was more accurate that he didn’t want to discuss details with her, a woman with zero direct military experience. Her grandfather had served in the Navy, and her only context came from the stories he shared.

“Fair enough. I’ll back off. If you want to talk, you know I’m a good listener.”

“And a captive audience,” he said with a tight smile. He pointed to the countertop between them. “Seems like you’re always on duty no matter where the bar is.”

“Haha.” She held up her hands in surrender. “I declare myself officially off duty for the rest of the day.”

“All right. What do you normally do on your days off?” he asked. “For the sake of protection, I’ll need to be close at all times. It helps to have information on the places you visit often, any regular contacts you have beyond your friends and family, as well as any upcoming obligations or appointments.”

If he would be with her, why did it matter? But he didn’t tell her how to serve drinks so she wouldn’t try to tell him how to be a bodyguard.

“You haven’t met my family, but other than that, you know my life,” she said. “You’ve met all my best friends, been surfing with me, and you know where I work. It’s not that complicated.”

He didn’t seem convinced. “And today?”

“I can stay home. There’s always something to clean inside or out. My brothers weren’t expecting me to pitch in today. We do need to get groceries.” Her fridge and pantry weren’t stocked to feed two people, especially when one of them was a man built like Quinn. “Why don’t you start a list while I clean up?” She was getting antsy sitting here with no real plan.

“I’ve got it,” he said, turning to the sink.

His back wasn’t any less tempting than his front. “You cooked,” she reminded him. “I’ll clean. Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Scowling, he let her take over. She loaded the dishwasher and washed the skillet by hand. “More coffee?”

“You’re doing that bartender thing again,” he said. “You don’t need to wait on me.” He moved around her and opened the fridge. Then the freezer. “What’s all this?”

She peeked around him. “My mom doesn’t believe I can feed myself,” she joked. “It’s the late hours. She worries, so she brings over food or sends me home with buckets of leftovers when I visit.”

He reached in and checked the labels. “Meatloaf?”

“Best on the island,” she said. “Though I’m probably biased.” She couldn’t tell if he was for or against the meatloaf.

“It’s so homey.” He sounded completely awed by the concept.

She decided to be proactive, taking the foil wrapped package from his hands and setting it in the fridge. “We’ll reheat it for dinner,” she stated. “And swing by the farmer’s market later for whatever we want to go with it.”

“Seriously?”

He looked utterly delighted by the idea and she felt happiness flit through her system. “Surely you expect food on this assignment.”

“Yeah. About that.” He took a deep breath and pulled out his phone. “I was about to ask you out before Cassie and Hawk called me up to be your protector.” He turned his phone so she could see the reservation. “I rented a motorcycle so you could give me a tour of the island.”

“Oh.” It would’ve been a perfect date. Staring at an app shouldn’t make her go gooey on the inside. But this was Quinn and everything he did had a bigger impact. “What about the loaner out front?”

“We can use it to go pick up the bike.” His voice floated over her skin, feather soft, teasing, and full of promises.

Personally, she loved the freedom, the focus, and the strength it took to ride well. “I didn’t know you were into motorcycles.”

“What kind of Navy SEAL would I be if I wasn’t into anything that required a little death-defying action?”

She laughed, delighted with him.

“We don’t have to go today,” he said. “But if we did, you could show me around.”

“For security or enjoyment?” She still hadn’t let him explain why they were so concerned for her safety.

“We can’t enjoy being secure?”

That made her smile. “Of course we can. That sounds like the best sort of fun.”

“I just have one more condition.” He rested his hands on her hips and turned her to face him.

“Something more than me cooperating with any orders you might give?” She’d meant it as a joke, but the words charged the air with innuendo.

His gaze cruised over her face, settling on her lips before drifting lower to her collarbone. His finger traced the curve of her shoulder.

He was going to kiss her again. She was going to melt again. And as their lips met, as she breathed him in, she didn’t have a single regret.