Hurricane (16 page)

“Thanks for doing this with me.” He ran a finger down her nose.

“Our first barbecue.” Julianne did the same gesture then cupped his cheek.

He lowered his head and kissed her.

“Save that for later. Show me the grill,” Harmon’s voice boomed.

Keenan slowly released Julianne, touching the side of her face.

He turned to Harmon and said, “Right this way. I got the wood you demanded. You better have the sauce.”

“As if I would use anything else.” He held up a gallon jug of his barbecue sauce.

Keenan’s mouth watered, imagining how delicious it would be. He showed Harmon to the grill and left his friend muttering about the temperature.

“Keenan! Rayne needs help. She’s out front,” Julianne called.

Keenan turned, spotting Julianne and Paris Cooper—her partner, the baker for Moments. They were setting up various pastries on the dessert table. Julianne shifted, and Keenan’s eyes widened when he spotted the beautiful cake.

“No wonder Julianne took the store-bought cake out of the cart when we went shopping,” he muttered.

He skirted around the tables then went around the side of the house. Keenan hurried to the dark grey Sequoia. He grabbed a bag that Rayne was juggling.

“’Bout time someone came to help me. Come on. I need to get into the kitchen to get the appetisers done. And the salmon balls done, and the lasagne put together,” Rayne Hawkins said. She was a chef and another of Julianne’s partners.

Keenan frowned. “I didn’t know you were making that in my kitchen.”

“Don’t worry. I have all I need. And Julianne got me the pans and so forth that I need. Now lift the cake, Honey Boyfriend.” Rayne laughed.

Keenan scowled. He would get Julianne for telling her that. He did as she asked and took it out. Rayne got out, grabbing a bunch of bags.

“Let me help.” Dakota came up.

The rest of the partners in Moments, who had just arrived, helped take in bags. Keenan led the way as they went back around the side of the house. He watched as the baker added some piping to the cake.

He walked towards the door. The partner who was the photographer for Moments was taking pictures of everything. She waved, snapped his picture, and moved on to something else. Keenan shook his head, bemused. He entered the kitchen. Rayne was at the stove, already cooking. Julianne and the rest of her partners were helping. Rayne spotted him and grabbed the bags.

“Good. Sit here.” She pushed him towards the table where a cutting board was waiting. “Use this and wipe off your hands. Take these veggies and cut them up.” She gave him a wet towel, then pulled out a black holder and unzipped it.

Keenan raised his eyebrows as she took out a long knife. Rayne set the tomatoes on the board and proceeded to cut them really fast.

“Like this. No, bigger, and please don’t bruise them,” she said.

She put the knife down and went back to the stove. Keenan wiped his hands with the wet towel as he sat, then he started cutting vegetables. He listened as they talked, laughed, and chatted. He smiled. Julianne had done as he’d asked and invited some people to the barbecue. She had invited her partners in Moments, her siblings, and a few other people. His smile faded. Rissa wasn’t coming. Rissa was spending the day with Julianne’s cousins, Bella and Sampson. Although Julianne’s explanation that the plans for Rissa to spend the day and night with her cousins had been in place before the barbecue was sound, he still wondered if she couldn’t have cancelled them so Rissa could attend.

“Be patient, Keenan,” he said softly.

“Did you say something, honey?” Julianne asked.

He put down the knife and slid his hand around her hip. Julianne leaned over and kissed him gently.

“Honey Boyfriend,” voices started to chant.

“Did you have to tell them that?” Keenan put his head against her stomach and groaned.

“Wait until my brother and sisters get here. They’re worse.” Julianne laughed.

“I’m gonna make you pay for that.” He glared up at her.

Julianne leaned over again and whispered, “Make me blush.”

Keenan went rock hard. “That’s just mean. You know we can’t do that now.”

“I know. Anticipation,” Julianne sang softly.

“Anticipation is overrated,” Keenan griped.

Julianne chuckled and went back to the island. Keenan cut vegetables viciously and Julianne laughed again. He shifted.

“What the hell are you doing?” Rayne roared.

Keenan glanced at her, shocked, knife stilling. “Umm…cutting vegetables.”

“Slaughtering, you mean.” She plucked the knife out of his hand, then pointed. “Out of my kitchen.”

Keenan stood. “Hey. This is my house. My kitchen. You can’t throw me out.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Rayne’s chocolate-brown eyes narrowed. “The hell I can’t. When I’m cooking, no matter where, the kitchen is my domain. Now out.”

Keenan opened his mouth. A hand gripped his arm.

“He’s going, Rayne. Don’t hurt him.” Reid, Julianne’s brother, manhandled him to the door.

Keenan didn’t put up a fuss, but glared at Rayne. She flipped him the bird, then turned her back on him.

“Who is going to fix this mess Honey Boyfriend made?” Rayne asked.

“I got it, sugar,” Dakota said.

“Humph. Don’t pull that on me. Get to work,” Rayne said.

“She’s crazy.” Keenan shook his head as they entered the backyard.

“Consider yourself lucky. At least now you won’t have to be in on the cooking for the weekly family dinner.” Reid slapped him on the shoulder.

He walked away, joining some of the others who had arrived. Keenan frowned. He didn’t know what Reid had meant. Spotting Tommy and his wife, he went over and greeted them. People began arriving, and he made sure they had whatever they wanted. Morgan strolled in. Keenan grabbed a strawberry banana juice from the cooler and took it to him.

“Good turn-out,” Morgan said.

“Don’t leave before you meet Julianne,” Keenan warned, handing him the juice.

“I won’t. After all you have my favourite flavour juice. And I spotted some strawberry and coconut pastries on the dessert table.” Morgan smiled.

Keenan chuckled. Morgan had a selective sweet tooth. He only loved anything with strawberry or coconut. If they were combined, it was even better. Morgan hated crowds. Keenan would have to keep an eye on the dessert table, or all the strawberry and coconut desserts would be gone, along with Morgan.

“I’ll get Julianne,” Keenan said.

He went towards the kitchen.

“Keenan, where is the rest of the wood?” Harmon called, stopping him.

He turned back and returned to him. Bending by the table next to him, he pulled out the box with the wood chips then he straightened and handed some to Harmon. Harmon accepted them, spreading the wood chips on the grill as Keenan watched him. Once he was done, Harmon put the first set of ribs on the grill, arranging them. Soon he closed the lid of the grill and moments later Harmon took a drink from his water, then glanced at him.

“I see they kicked you out of the kitchen.” Harmon laughed.

“Rayne did. Out of my own kitchen, too.” Keenan scowled.

“She’s that way when she cooks. At least you won’t have to work at the weekly get-together.”

“What is that?” Keenan asked.

“The Sunday dinner the siblings have. They rotate between their houses. Whoever’s house it is at chooses the menu that will be made. And then everyone comes and we all cook together. Well, except for those who don’t have an aptitude to cook. They’re banished from the kitchen and relegated to be the cleaning crew when all is done. We usually watch movies after dinner and just chill out. I usually go to the one Julianne and her siblings have, but the others demand I bring some of my sauce to them.”

“There’s more than one?” Keenan asked.

“Yep. Each set of the Locke siblings has their own, every Sunday in the month except the last one. That one is the family Sunday dinner thing, with each set of siblings and their parents. It’s a way for the parentals to keep in touch with what everyone is up to,” Harmon said.

No wonder she doesn’t see me on Sunday.
Keenan frowned. Julianne hadn’t mentioned anything about either one to him.

Maybe she’s planning to
. Keenan glanced towards the kitchen door. Spotting Julianne talking with Morgan, he wondered why they looked so intense. Julianne hugged Morgan. Keenan’s eyes narrowed.

“Get me the steaks. The other grill is ready,” Harmon said.

Keenan looked away from Julianne and Morgan. He got the steaks from the cooler, handing them to Harmon one by one. Harmon put them on, then checked the first grill.

“Smelling good,” Julianne’s voice sounded.

Her arms slid around his waist. Keenan pulled her to his side.

“It is. See you met Morgan. What were you talking about?” Keenan asked.

“Oh…nothing special. Harmon, I want some of the corn.” Julianne stepped up beside Harmon.

Keenan listened absently as they chatted. He didn’t really register what they were saying. From the brief view he’d had of Julianne and Morgan’s discussion, it hadn’t seemed like nothing. He remembered that Morgan had mentioned knowing Julianne.

“Are you okay, Keenan?” Julianne’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Umm…yeah. Come meet Tommy and Willy,” he said.

He walked with her to Tommy and his wife. He’d talk with her about it at another time.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the guests were leaving.

“Night, Keenan. Thanks for the great barbecue,” Rayne said.

She grinned widely. Keenan hugged her and teased, “Next time, I’ll keep out of your kitchen.”

“See, I knew I liked you. See you tomorrow, Jules,” Rayne said.

She laughed, leaving behind the rest of the last departing guests. Rayne pulled the door closed behind her.

“That was fun.” Julianne slid her arms around his waist.

“It was. And it was nice of them to clean up before they left.”

“That’s what they do. I’m beat. Going to get ready for bed.” Julianne kissed him gently, then went up the stairs.

Keenan headed for the kitchen, then out of the back door. He walked around the yard, double-checking to make sure everything was put away. He took the lock out of his pocket and locked up his shed. Heading back inside, he secured the house and headed upstairs. Keenan entered his bedroom, shrugging out of his shirt. He went into the bathroom. The shower was running and Julianne was humming some song.

Suddenly, she belted out, “Is that my Honey Boyfriend? Come and stroke me. Make me blush.”

It was perfectly pitched. Julianne opened the shower, singing the words over and over again. She made a ‘come here’ gesture, swirling her hips as she sang about her Honey Boyfriend.

He stripped and joined Julianne. “I didn’t know you could sing.”

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me.” Julianne started singing again.

Her many facets continued to surprise him. Keenan kissed her. Julianne gripped him. Keenan pushed her back against the shower wall from under the multi-head shower spray. Julianne lifted her leg around him, rubbing her slit over his shaft. Keenan withdrew from their kiss and opened the shower door a little, reaching for a condom. Julianne took it from his hand then stepped to the side and sat on the bench. Keenan turned to face her. She placed the protection on the bench beside her. Julianne slid her hands over his hips and pulled him forward. Keenan stepped closer. She opened her mouth and he moaned as he slid between her lips. Julianne sucked and licked his shaft.

Keenan thrust into her mouth, watching her face. Julianne’s head was pushed back as she opened to take him in. Keenan put his leg up next to her on the bench, moving in and out of her mouth. With a fingertip, he traced her lips stretched around his cock. Julianne’s lids fluttered and her golden eyes met his. Her cheeks hollowed as she suckled him stronger. Keenan held himself rigid as she tantalised his shaft with her ministrations. His sac went tight and he shivered as he came in her mouth.

“Julianne,” Keenan moaned sliding his hand into her hair.

Julianne swallowed it all down, still moving on his shaft. She kept sucking until he was hard again. She released him with a pop, then retrieved the condom and slid it on his revived erection. Keenan knelt and brought her forward to the edge of the seat. He raised her legs around his hips before thrusting forward into her wetness.

“Keenan,” Julianne cried.

He rocked inside her slit. Julianne’s hands tangled in his hair holding him firmly. Keenan moved inside her wetness. She moved her hips, shifting against him. Keenan turned his head and met her lips. He kissed her as he thrust. She gasped in his mouth then went tight. Keenan held her, pushing forward, then he shuddered as he came again. Julianne clenched on his cock as his release flowed out of him into the latex. Suddenly he resented that barrier between them—Keenan wanted to feel her bare. He held her, wondering when she would be ready for that.

Keenan withdrew from her warmth then disposed of the condom. He rose and pulled her up with him, turning them into the spray of water and washing them off. As Keenan slid his hands over her body he imagined her heavy with his child. The visual was so real he ached with the need for it. Keenan shook it off. That would come in time. First he had to work on getting Julianne to let him into all aspects of her life. There was still so much Julianne kept separate from him—he still hadn’t properly met Rissa.

Be patient, Keenan.
He licked out of her mouth then pressed soft kisses on her lips.

He would be for now.

Keenan stopped typing as he re-read the report he was preparing.

“Hey, Keenan. I found this lady outside looking for you,” Morgan said.

Keenan turned towards the office door and stood when he spotted Julianne.

“Julianne. This is a surprise.” Keenan walked over to join them.

“See you soon, Jules. I have to check…something,” Morgan said, leaving them alone.

“I was in the area for a meeting and decided to come by. I hope my dropping in is okay,” Julianne said.