Gunn (Bayou Springs Alien Mail Order Brides #2)
Author: Kenzie Cox
Kennedy
Holy balls it was hot. My cotton shirt clung to my sweat-dampened skin, I could barely lift my fatigued arms, and the sun had all but fried my brain. After riding for twelve hours on an old Triumph motorcycle through the backroads of Middle America, the only thing I wanted was a juicy hamburger and an ice-cold beer.
Thankfully, the Lunar Eclipse Brewery loomed before me, promising to offer exactly what I needed. Too bad my feet were glued to the pavement and my heart was racing. What would Gunn say when I walked through those doors? Or would he ignore me? That was hard to imagine, but I could hardly blame him. Not after the way I'd left all those years ago.
I stared at the wooden structure. They'd added a sign depicting three green aliens, each happily raising a mug in toast. The tagline read: Eat, Pray, Love … Or just drink with your local alien. I smiled. Someone had found a sense of humor.
Maybe I was making too big a deal of coming back to Bayou Springs. Of coming back to Gunn. Eight years was a long time. To think he'd been pining after me was egotistical in the extreme. A man like Gunn didn't need to wait around for anyone. There was no doubt in my mind he had an entire list of women more than willing to keep his bed warm.
I'd come back for two reasons. One, I'd needed to get the hell out of Gravity Bay. And two, Audrey had called and informed me the Azurites were making progress on infiltrating Gravity Bay's city government. There were rumors they were working on a secret bill to decriminalize the act of feeding off the energy of nonconsenting human women. To add insult to injury, our elected officials were doing nothing to stop it. Too many backroom deals and payoffs had corrupted our system. No one cared about human rights as long as everyone was getting richer. My adopted city would soon be overrun with Azurites that fed off the energy of human women just because they could. And unless I too wanted to turn a blind eye for the sake of my career, it was time to come home and join Audrey in the fight to protect as many women as we could.
I'd made the only possible choice. Now I was back in Bayou Springs, standing in front of the brew pub I'd practically grown up in. If only I could force myself to go inside.
"Kennedy?" A deep voice, full of surprise said from behind me. "Is that you?"
I spun, my lips already spreading into a huge grin. "Hey there, tall, dark, and sexy. Who would've thought the awkward book nerd would've turned into the town hottie?"
Echo's onyx eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned against a big black four-by-four truck. "You're not fooling anyone. Don't think I didn't notice you checking me out during all those hours we spent in the library. If you'd ignored my superior physique and paid more attention to my instruction, you probably would've gotten a better grade in calculus."
I laughed, remembering a lanky, awkward kid who'd survived high school by being his brother's wing man. "Hey! I brought my failing grade up to a C. And I seem to recall you barely squeaked out a B in calculus. I think you took me as far as you could. Though, I'll confess I was a little distracted. But don't go thinking it was your incredible physique that did me in. The truth is, I was strangely fascinated with your Dumbo ears. I always wondered if your head would grow into them."
"Ouch. Insulting my tutoring skills is one thing, but bringing up my oversized ears is entirely another." He shook his head in mock exasperation as he pushed off the truck and opened his arms. "Now you need to console my bruised ego. Get over here and give me a hug."
A lump formed in my throat as I flew into his arms, burying my head into his chest.
"Welcome home, K-bug," he whispered.
I let out a small chuckle. "Thanks."
He pulled back and stared down at me, his dark eyes searching mine. "Just tell me one thing."
Dammit. Here it comes. He's going to ask why I'd left. I sucked in a breath and braced myself. "What?"
He turned his head from side to side then tapped his left ear. "How do they look? Did I turn out all right?"
I stared up at him, speechless for a moment as I processed what he'd asked. Then I started to laugh. "Yeah, they're okay. Did you get them pinned or something?"
"Damn, K-bug. You think really think I'm so vain I opted for surgery?" He placed his hand over his heart and gave me a wounded look. "When did you become such a ballbuster?"