don’t want anything. This was a mistake.”
“So we’re not hungry?” his date asked, as if her appetite depended completely on his. “And what about the tour of your new house? Are we still going to see it?”
“You bought a house?” Kenna gasped out, then had to repeat the question using one of her accents.
Blondie looked at her and frowned. “Excuse me, but this is a private conversation.”
Dane scowled. “Don’t talk to her like that. This is my...Kenna.”
My Kenna.
The words affected her—
heart, hammering out of control.
He’d stopped himself from saying “sister,” she was sure of it. He didn’t feel brotherly toward her anymore.
In a burst of sudden clarity, she realized why he’d brought the blonde to the restaurant. He’d recognized Kenna’s interest, had experienced his own, and he’d wanted to show her that he wasn’t going to do anything about it. He was still dating around and had no interest of starting anything new with anyone else.
I’m being put in my place, quick and easy.
“I’m his soon-to-be stepsister, I am,” she said for him, keeping her tone light, breezy. He’d never know how much he’d hurt her.
Unwilling to take a chance on me. Doesn’t think I’m good enough.
“But we’re not close. Not at all.”
His eyes narrowed, the thick fan of lashes shielding all that molten gold.
Blondie immediately relaxed, extending her hand to shake. “So nice to meet you.”
The weakness of her grip annoyed Kenna. “So...do you want anything to bloody eat?”
Dane closed his eyes for a moment, drew in a deep breath. “Whatever you recommend will be fine.”
She marched away, but she didn’t immediately type in an order. She ducked into the employee break room and took her cell out of her locker. She was going to let Dane know
she’d
moved on. Here. Now. He had nothing to worry about. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she texted West.
Are U free? I’m @ 2 farms & so is Dane. W/ a date.
They, too, had developed a friendship. Unlike Dane, West had called her. Often. Just to see how she was doing. And it was beyond nice; she hadn’t realized how starved she’d been for adult companionship. Brook Lynn had Jessie Kay and her thousands of jobs, but Kenna had never had anyone else...until West had filled a gap she hadn’t known she had.
For the next twenty minutes, she managed to work as if all was well. She took Dane and Blondie a bottle of wine, even poured without spilling it. She served her other patrons without missing a beat.
Finally, West strode through the door. Kenna met him at the bar, and he leaned over to kiss her right on the lips. A blush stained her cheeks, and she had to stop herself from looking around to make sure no one had watched.
“Um, was that really necessary?” she asked.
He grinned at her, unrepentant. But for the first time, she saw the darkness clinging to the edges of his amusement. He wasn’t as happy-go-lucky as he acted, and she wondered why. “Yes. Now, what time do you get off?”
“Ten-thirty.” Only half an hour away. “
If
I can get rid of all my bloody customers.”
“Why are you talking like you’re from a Regency England poorhouse? You know what? It doesn’t matter. It’s cute. I’ll get rid of your customers for you and make sure you get off properly.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
She rolled her eyes. They didn’t have that kind of relationship, would
never
have that kind of relationship, but he still liked to tease her. “I thought a man of your prowess would have more original material.”
He flicked the end of her nose. “Did you know Dane and I have dated a few of the same women? He’s never cared. But time and time again, he’s warned me away from you.”
Hope unfurled, only to die a quick death. No way would she allow herself to get caught up in a does-he-or-doesn’t-he-like-me storm. Whether he did or not didn’t matter. He’d crossed a line tonight.
How? He’s single. He can
“So we’re not hungry?” his date asked, as if her appetite depended completely on his. “And what about the tour of your new house? Are we still going to see it?”
“You bought a house?” Kenna gasped out, then had to repeat the question using one of her accents.
Blondie looked at her and frowned. “Excuse me, but this is a private conversation.”
Dane scowled. “Don’t talk to her like that. This is my...Kenna.”
My Kenna.
The words affected her—
heart, hammering out of control.
He’d stopped himself from saying “sister,” she was sure of it. He didn’t feel brotherly toward her anymore.
In a burst of sudden clarity, she realized why he’d brought the blonde to the restaurant. He’d recognized Kenna’s interest, had experienced his own, and he’d wanted to show her that he wasn’t going to do anything about it. He was still dating around and had no interest of starting anything new with anyone else.
I’m being put in my place, quick and easy.
“I’m his soon-to-be stepsister, I am,” she said for him, keeping her tone light, breezy. He’d never know how much he’d hurt her.
Unwilling to take a chance on me. Doesn’t think I’m good enough.
“But we’re not close. Not at all.”
His eyes narrowed, the thick fan of lashes shielding all that molten gold.
Blondie immediately relaxed, extending her hand to shake. “So nice to meet you.”
The weakness of her grip annoyed Kenna. “So...do you want anything to bloody eat?”
Dane closed his eyes for a moment, drew in a deep breath. “Whatever you recommend will be fine.”
She marched away, but she didn’t immediately type in an order. She ducked into the employee break room and took her cell out of her locker. She was going to let Dane know
she’d
moved on. Here. Now. He had nothing to worry about. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she texted West.
Are U free? I’m @ 2 farms & so is Dane. W/ a date.
They, too, had developed a friendship. Unlike Dane, West had called her. Often. Just to see how she was doing. And it was beyond nice; she hadn’t realized how starved she’d been for adult companionship. Brook Lynn had Jessie Kay and her thousands of jobs, but Kenna had never had anyone else...until West had filled a gap she hadn’t known she had.
For the next twenty minutes, she managed to work as if all was well. She took Dane and Blondie a bottle of wine, even poured without spilling it. She served her other patrons without missing a beat.
Finally, West strode through the door. Kenna met him at the bar, and he leaned over to kiss her right on the lips. A blush stained her cheeks, and she had to stop herself from looking around to make sure no one had watched.
“Um, was that really necessary?” she asked.
He grinned at her, unrepentant. But for the first time, she saw the darkness clinging to the edges of his amusement. He wasn’t as happy-go-lucky as he acted, and she wondered why. “Yes. Now, what time do you get off?”
“Ten-thirty.” Only half an hour away. “
If
I can get rid of all my bloody customers.”
“Why are you talking like you’re from a Regency England poorhouse? You know what? It doesn’t matter. It’s cute. I’ll get rid of your customers for you and make sure you get off properly.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
She rolled her eyes. They didn’t have that kind of relationship, would
never
have that kind of relationship, but he still liked to tease her. “I thought a man of your prowess would have more original material.”
He flicked the end of her nose. “Did you know Dane and I have dated a few of the same women? He’s never cared. But time and time again, he’s warned me away from you.”
Hope unfurled, only to die a quick death. No way would she allow herself to get caught up in a does-he-or-doesn’t-he-like-me storm. Whether he did or not didn’t matter. He’d crossed a line tonight.
How? He’s single. He can
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