Page 53 of Son of a Preacher Man

I’m better now.

He reminded himself of that. They came without warning sometimes. The thoughts. The heaviness in his chest. Something seemingly insignificant could trigger it, like just now. Chrissakes, he’d had breakfast with Linnea almost every day and been fine, so why was today any different?

In the beginning, the thoughts bombarded every dream, every waking moment. And not wanting to let them go, Kodiak was glad for it. Babs assured him this was normal, and that with time, reflection, and therapy, their impact would shrink. She’d been correct in that regard.

Walking through Coventry Park, he inhaled the frosty air and slowly let it go. And with each step he took, his unease lessened. After almost thirty-five years, Kodiak was finally at a place in life where he could envision a future of his own making, with a partner of his own choosing.

The little brass bells on the door announcing his arrival, Kodiak stepped inside Beanie’s. Coffee beans, mocha, and snickerdoodle cookies. His eyes went to look for Kelly, even though he knew she wasn’t there. Ava and Emmy, mugs of hot chocolate in front of them, waved to him from a table in the corner.

Greeting the toddler, he ruffled her silky blonde hair. “Hello, little princess.”

“Unkey Koko,” she exclaimed in her sweet baby voice, little arms wrapping around his leg. “Santa is coming!”

“So I’ve heard.” With a kiss to the top of her head, Kodiak chuckled. “Have you been a good girl this year?”

Emery turned to a beaming Ava, who nodded. “Mommy says yes.”

“Hey, Ava.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Bo’s not with you?”

“No, I left him in the basement with Chester. He’s cursing at assembly instructions.” She winked. “I figured it was a good time to get Emmy out of the house. Do a little last-minute shopping.”

“Gotcha,” he said with a snigger. “Tell him to call me if he needs any help with that. Merry Christmas, Ava.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Looking particularly festive, Leo tapped his red-lacquered fingernails behind the counter. A wide headband, bedazzled with jingle bells, held back his waist-length, bleached-blonde waves. Green cropped sweater, with ‘Merry & Bright’ embroidered on it, showed some skin and his pierced navel. Tight red pants. Silver boots.

Good Lord.

“She here yet?”

“No.” Leaning over the counter, Leo planted a kiss right on his lips. “Koko, bebé, I’m so nervous.”

“Why?” he asked, wiping red lip gloss off with his thumb.

“Kelly’s gonna be mad.”

“Maybe…for about five minutes.” Smirking, Kodiak shrugged. “Ask forgiveness, not permission. Think about all those cupcakes, sweet stuff. You want that expansion, don’t you?”

“I do.”

And Kelly wanted it too. The bank approved her loan, but not for the amount she wanted. She could either pay off Stacy or do the expansion. Not both.

Kodiak wanted to make her happy. For her to have everything she dreamed of. A dog. A baby. Even if it wasn’t with him.

“Then you’re in?”

Grinning, Leo held up a certified check. “I’m in.”

They were going in together, splitting it fifty-fifty, to buy out Stacy so Kelly could use the loan proceeds for the expansion. Kodiak overheard her and Katie talking one day—she was disappointed, but decided using the loan to pay off Stacy was the best course. Kelly didn’t want to be indebted to her anymore. That’s when he and Leo came up with a game plan of their own.

She wasn’t at all what he was expecting. Older than he’d thought—mid-thirties if he were to guess. Stunning and statuesque, with salon-perfect highlights, the woman was a dead ringer for Cindy Crawford. But she couldn’t hold a candle to Kelly Matthews.

Her gaze darted between him and Leo, paying them each a brief up-down, before the three of them sat down. Kodiak already decided he didn’t like her and wanted to make this brief.

Phil drew up the documents for him. “It’s a simple transfer of your interest in Beanie’s to us.”

Stacy signed.

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