Another long sip, then, "I'm on edge." Before he could comment that she was always on edge, she said, "More so than usual."
He turned green like he was going to throw up. "Just go eat some chocolate, take your Midol, and be on your way. I don't wanna hear about it."
"What?" she asked. "I'm not on my period, you moron. I'm just frustrated." When his eyebrows rose, she cut that shit off immediately. "Not like that. I'm really pissed, okay?"
Finishing off the last of his beer, he slid the bottle to the back of the bar, then crossed his arms and looked at her. "All right. Let's hear it?"
A bark of bitter laughter exploded out of her. "Since when does Bryan Tyke do small talk? In fact, since when do you talk at all?"
"It sounded like you needed someone to listen," he grumbled. "Jesus, Kenna. I was just trying to help. But forget it. Enjoy your week." He stepped away from the bar.
She threw a hand out and touched his arm. Fire exploded on contact, making her snatch her hand back. God almighty, what the hell was that?
He must have felt something, too, because he stopped and snapped a look down at the spot.
"I'm sorry," she said, getting a handle on herself. "It's been a rough day."
Bryan glanced out across the sand, and she followed his gaze, finding Luke and Ash watching them with matching grins. Tyke said something under his breath and shook his head. He stepped back to the bar.
"What's going on?" he asked.
She bit her bottom lip, debating. Telling him about her mom's ring would be like pulling him into the past with her. She wasn't prepared for that. The memories. He knew what that ring meant to her. To them. And if she couldn't recover it …
She wouldn't think about that. Because she was going to get it back. No matter the cost.
"I think someone's been in my hotel room," she said, keeping her voice even.
He blinked twice, and then his nostrils flared. "What do mean?" His voice was eerily calm, quiet.
"I … brought something important with me," she clarified. "And I think someone stole it."
He straightened from his lounged position and cracked his neck, then his knuckles. "When?"
She'd almost forgotten how formidable Bear could look when someone he cared about might be in danger. Not that she was someone he cared about anymore. But still. His reaction said something.
"What did you notice?" he asked. "Do you think they broke in?"
She released a long exhale, trying to calm her increased adrenaline. "Probably. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but yeah, I think so. It was right after the spa. I told Sam I'd meet her for lunch to talk about some final wedding details. I went back to my room to grab, uh, the item, and I noticed the door was ajar. There was a man walking farther down the hall at a fast pace. I called out to him, but he didn't turn. Actually, he picked up speed, so I went after him. He vanished around the corner, and the doors to the elevator closed before I got a look at his face."
Concern and worry blew off of him in waves, so powerful it should've knocked her over. At his sides, Bear's hands clasped in and out of fists. "I'm gonna ignore the fact that you went after this guy when the smarter thing would've been to alert someone. But since you did, tell me what he looked like from the back."
She huffed. "And I'm going to ignore the fact that you feel like you have some sort of rule over me."
He didn't respond, instead he blinked slowly a few times in challenge.
"This is stupid," she said, backpedaling. This wasn't any of his business. She didn't even know why she'd said anything to him. "It probably wasn't him. He could've been some random guy running to catch the elevator. I'm probably overreacting. Forget it."
He tipped his head to the side and quirked one eyebrow like, Seriously?
"Yes, I'm serious," she said. "He could've been anybody."
His mouth lifted into the hint of a sardonic smile. "You've always been a shit liar, Kenna. So let's skip all the back and forth and get to the part where you tell me what he looked like."
Her shoulders drew down, knowing he wouldn't relent until she told him. "Average height. Dark hair. Thin build. T-shirt, black shorts, and sandals. Nothing especially unique or distinguishing."
"Did you talk to anyone from the hotel about it?"
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"I was so worked up about what was taken, I wasn't really thinking, I guess. And I'm still not sure if it was him." That was a lie. She was fairly certain it was. She just didn't want Bear going all macho man if she laid it on too thick.
"Worked up, why?" he asked, his gaze drilling into hers as if he was trying to read her mind. "What do you think he took?"
She almost said it. She wanted to. How easy it would be to lean on him. To share this intimate piece of herself. Just like she used to do when they were younger. He'd been her rock. There wasn't anything they couldn't tackle together. As one.
But that was before he'd shattered her trust.
Pulling a section of her hair over her shoulder, she toyed with the ends, giving herself a second to come up with something-anything else.
"Kenna," he warned. "What. Did. He. Take?"
"It doesn't matter." She inhaled a huge gulp of her vodka lemonade, stalling.
"You're going to tell me," he said, lowering his voice, "or I'm going to march onto that stage and make a scene, looking for this guy."
The stage was lit up with spotlight and mic, as if waiting for someone to make an important announcement.
"You wouldn't," she said in a low hiss.
Try me, his expression said.
He would. And it wouldn't be fair to worry Sam, Ash, Luke, and Cassandra when they should be celebrating the happiest time in their lives.
No, she was going to handle this quietly.
"Bryan, please," she pleaded. "I don't want anyone else to know. Sam and Ash, Luke and Cassandra, they deserve their happy week. They don't need to worry about this."
Some of the defiance in his eyes died. "Then tell me what he stole so I can find him."
She let out another choked laugh. "This is ridiculous. It doesn't matter what he took. I just need to find him so I can get it back. And I don't need your help to do it. I don't even know why I told you. It's none of your concern. It never was."
He hardened his stare, his face mimicking something etched in marble. "If you think I'm letting you go after some random guy, who broke into your hotel room, stole your shit, and might come back and do it again, you're out of your damn mind."
"Letting me?" Her own anger started to bubble and take away her common sense. It was bad enough the ring was missing, but now this beast thought he could control her? Not a chance. "Who do you think you are? I'll do what I want without your interference, you big oaf."
He snorted, and his expression suggested she'd just said all of that for her own benefit. He'd always stuck his nose wherever he damn well pleased without any care for how other people felt about it. It seemed that was his plan now as well.
"Kenna." He said her name like a promise. Without being able to control it, she shivered. God, she hated that rough voice that reminded her of aged whiskey and embers. She especially hated the way it made her want to do anything he commanded. "You know better than to fight me on this. Just tell me what I'm looking for. The faster you submit, the faster I'll get it back."
"So you can get it back? If you think you're going off without me on some wild goose chase like a big-footed Robin Hood, you are out of your damn mind."
Bryan's eyes sparkled. "Big-footed Robin Hood?"
"Forget it," she said. "The point is, what was taken is mine, therefore I'm going after it."
"You're not going alone," he said, low and dangerous.
She eyed him, taking in his protective stance, glowing blue eyes, and determined line of his mouth, and she knew any attempt to fight would be useless. When Bryan Tyke set his mind to something, he saw it all the way through. It was one of the things she'd loved most about him. His unwavering and single-minded determination.
Knowing full well he'd interfere with any attempt she'd make in finding the suspect on her own, she decided to tell him. But first …
She drank another long draw of her alcohol, and a second for good measure, then she blurted, "My mother's sapphire ring. Not that you care, but that's what was stolen."
Whatever he was expecting her to say, it wasn't that. He'd just lifted his beer to his mouth, but as soon as her words came out, he lost hold of the bottle, and it hit the ground, a stream of beer trailing out into the sand. His skin paled instantly. "Your mother's … The sapphire … The ring she gave us … The one we … "