Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
Lou stood, straightening her skirt. “She’s right. Zach already asked Theo and Erin for permission. It’ll be interesting to watch Zach let Devi dress him. I don’t think he knows what he’s in for. I’ll go make sure everyone is ready to pelt you with birdseed.”
Tasha frowned. “Maybe I should sneak out the back.”
Her mom took Tash’s hand. “Nope. The photographer is waiting. I want all the pictures, and you should prepare Dare for what’s waiting in Loa Mali. Yas promised to give you a couple of days, but she’s going to want at least a girls afternoon.”
Princess Yasmine, the future queen of Loa Mali, had been a playmate when they were young, and no one did a girls day like a real princess. It made Kenzie wish she was going to Loa Mali, but no, she would be running around looking for Huisman.
At least she would be with Ben.
Tasha moved in, putting her hands on Kenzie’s shoulders. “Be patient with him. He’s hurt and he might lash out, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t need you. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you and that you won’t be right here in a year or so.”
“She’s right,” her mother agreed. “Patience, and you’ll probably want to punch him a couple of times.”
“But I shouldn’t.”
Her mom’s strawberry blonde hair shook. “Oh, no. Punch away if he crosses a line. It’s how your father knew I loved him. I’m sort of joking. Your dad was pissed when I came back. I’ll give you the same advice I gave Tash. Be patient and show him how good life can be with you.”
Kala made a vomiting sound. “That is not the advice you gave me.”
“You don’t take advice. Ever. Also, you were the one who was hurt, sweetie. Like your aunt here. You are the ones who needed patience from the men who loved you,” her mom pointed out.
“Did not,” Aunt Chelsea said under her breath.
But she had, and what her mom said was true. Patience and understanding would win her man.
And an enormous amount of generous, filthy sex.
Tasha stepped to the door, glowing and happy. Chelsea and her mom followed her.
Kala caught her arm and pulled her in for a hug.
Which was meaningful because Kala wasn’t generally affectionate, so Kenzie hugged her hard.
“I know you cheated, Kenz,” Kala whispered. “But I like Willow and I know sometimes you have to play dirty to help the ones you love.”
Kenzie pulled back but before she could argue, Kala leaned in again. “So don’t be surprised at the lengths I’ll go to for you.”
Kala kissed her cheek and strode away.
Kenzie prayed she could survive her sister’s “protection.”
Chapter Seven
Ben sat on Kenzie’s bed and let the events of the evening wash over him.
He was here. In her room. She was feeding her dog and talking to her roommate. She would be a little while, and her laptop and phone were right there, but was he doing his job and trying to figure out all of Kenzie Taggart’s secrets? No. He was studying the pictures on her wall. Her room was painted a cheery yellow, and it was so feminine it hurt. And comfortable.
It made him think about the apartment he kept in Toronto. It was bland and dull, with Spartan furniture because he was almost never there. His fridge was always empty for the same reason. If he was “home” he ate takeout.
Kenzie had a plate of cookies under a cover. The roommate had happily noshed down on one as they talked.
Kenzie had a life, and it was seemingly warm and open.
One whole wall was covered in pictures and posters. In some, Kenzie was young and surrounded by other kids. There were pictures of her family standing in front of a cabin in what looked like the mountains. It was easy now to pick her out from her twin. Kala rarely smiled in pictures, but Kenzie glowed like the sun.
He glanced over to her desk. There was a stack of books, and not a one of them looked like material she was reading for work. Unless their next mission had something to do with dragons.
She was bold and bright and not insecure. She was everything he needed in his life.
Could he keep her for any amount of time?
If he did find something, would he even use it?
Walking down the aisle with her…
It felt right. He thought he would get here, look at her, and remember all the bad shit she’d done. That was not what had happened. He’d looked at her, and something fell into place. Something that had been missing for a long time. He wasn’t even certain he could explain it properly, but being with Kenzie Taggart when they weren’t working was the most peace he felt in a long time.
And that was dangerous. He had to find a way to put up a wall between them—one Kenzie wouldn’t be able to sense—while he decided which way this would go.