Page 34 of Son of a Preacher Man

Thanks, Kev.

Repeating herself, Kelly raised her voice, “I said, we’re friends.”

“Right.” Folding her arms across her chest, Katie giggled. “When have you ever been friends with anyone who has a dick?”

And she turned to Leo.

“Don’t be lookin’ at Leo, bebé. I don’t count.”

“Oh, Brendan is going to die when I tell him this.”

Her eyes widening, Kelly shook her head. “Seriously, Katie. Don’t.”

“He’s my husband. Why not?”

This time, she shouted, “I told you, we’re just friends.”

And I’m not ready for the whole damn world to know it.

He told her he’d come for her at eight. They could grab some dinner at Charley’s on their way to the club. But since she had to close up shop first, Kelly couldn’t make it until ten.

Knowing she’d been hard at work since early this morning, Kodiak wanted to make sure she was fed. He was here at her door, takeout in hand, half an hour early.

Clutching a robe tightly at her chest, beautiful as ever, Kelly let him pass. She followed him inside. “I’m not quite ready yet.”

“Plenty of time.” He pulled out a chair for her. “Eat.”

Kodiak watched her devour the burger. She’d seemed—he wasn’t sure, exactly—uncomfortable, perhaps, with his attention that afternoon at Beanie’s. He wanted to know if she had been, and if so, why. “Truth for a truth, Kelly…”

“Again?” With a cute little laugh, she wiped sauce from her lips with a napkin.

“Always.” He smirked, tipping his head to the side. “You never did tell me what made you blush.”

Her brows drew together.

“At Beanie’s, when I stopped in with Bo—remember?”

“Ohhh.” Nodding, Kelly rubbed her lips together. “Yeah, I do. Was I blushing?”

“Like a cherry tomato.”

“I was probably imagining…” Flush darkening her cheekbones, she lowered her gaze. “Everyone was watching us and…”

“And?” he prompted when she didn’t continue.

“Look…” She glanced up, blowing out a breath. “We’re friends, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs to know we’re fucking. Actually, I’d prefer that they didn’t.”

Laughter bellowed from his throat. “I don’t think…”

“Katie already thinks it.”

“Does it matter?”

Fingers fidgeting in her lap, Kelly worried her lip.

Apparently so.

“It’s not what you’re probably thinking.” Taking his hand, those blue eyes looked into his. “This is all new to me, okay? I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t need Katie, her husband, your friends…everybody…looking at me like some kind of oddity…watching us, dissecting our…friendship.”

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