Page 2 of Protecting Kelli
Flash searched his brain for her name. He’d been introduced to her last night as well…
Kelli. Kelli Colbert. She was with the bridesmaid group, but it seemed that, like him, hanging out at a bar wasn’t exactly her cup of tea. She’d ditched the group evenfaster than Flash, leaving the bar entirely and opting for a night in her room.
He must’ve been staring at her for a beat too long, because now she gave him a sheepish grin and shrugged. “Sorry. Ignore me.”
“No, I apologize. It’s been so long since I’ve been required to do more than nod in agreement and smile that I’ve apparently forgotten how to talk to people.”
She laughed under her breath.
At first glance last night, the woman seemed…plain. He hated to think that. It was rude as hell. But compared to her friends—overly made up in every way…clothes, hair, makeup—it was true.
Today, Kelli’s dirty-blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun at the back of her head. Her cheeks were red, from too much sun most likely, and she was wearing a one-piece black swimsuit covered up by what looked to him like miles of material.
Unlike the other women in her group, she wasn’t tall or slender. If Flash remembered correctly, she was at least a foot shorter than his six-two. She was also curvy…the complete opposite of her stick-thin friends.
And today…there was something about her that intrigued him. Maybe it was the genuine smile she flashed at him. Maybe it was her laughter. Flash wasn’t sure. But for once, he wasn’t annoyed that a total stranger was attempting to chat him up. Usually he hated that kind of thing.
“You aren’t over there with the others, hanging out at the bar?” she asked with a small tilt of her head.
Flash shook his head. “Not my thing.”
“Yeah, mine either.”
“If I’m being honest, I hate the beach.”
Kelli smiled, and her light brown eyes seemed to sparkle. “Sure, I can see why. The sun on your face, the relaxing sound of the waves on the shore, servers waiting on you hand-and-foot. It’s horrible.”
It was Flash’s turn to grin. “Let’s just say I spend a lot of time trying to get sand out of…sensitive places…in my day job.”
Kelli turned more fully toward him. “Hmmmm, that sounds intriguing. Beach lifeguard?”
Flash shook his head again. “Nope.”
“You run one of those machines that shoot sand into rock formations, trying to extract the oil?”
Flash was a little taken aback. If he was trying to think of jobs that might involve sand, fracking would be the last thing he’d come up with. “Second strike,” he joked.
“Sandblaster? Installer of backyard sandboxes? Navy SEAL? Landscaper?”
Flash couldn’t believe she’d actually guessed right.
“What? Still way off base?” Kelli asked, with another open and welcoming smile. “Fine. Don’t tell me. But me? I love the beach. There’s something just so soothing about it.”
“If you’ll forgive me…you don’t exactly look soothed.”
She sighed. “Yeah.” She looked around, as if to make sure no one would overhear, then leaned in his direction and said quietly as she could over the distance, “I didn’t want to come on this trip.”
Flash’s brows flew up. “You too?”
It was her turn to look surprised. “You didn’t want to come either?”
Flash shrugged. “You already know my thoughts onsand. I don’t know the guys I’m here with. Not really. The groom-to-be is my sister’s fiancé.”
“Ah…the obligatory brother-in-law duties,” Kelli mused.
“Yup. I want to make sure he behaves, so I don’t have to kick his ass for hurting my sister. And you?”
“The bride’s my cousin. Our moms are sisters. I think she was guilted into making me one of her bridesmaids. I don’t exactly fit in with the Three A’s.”
