Page 69 of Son of a Preacher Man

“C’mon.” Lifting his gaze to the top of the wheel, he smiled just for her. “I promised you a ride.”

There’s something about the smell of a coffee shop. And a bakery. But put the two together and it’s something else entirely. Sweet, aromatic nirvana.

Opening day and the place was mobbed with a line out the door that wrapped around the corner. Not an empty seat to be had. The stage set for Venery, folks crammed themselves into any available space, waiting for them to appear.

Leo, in heavy wing-tipped liner and a platinum-blonde ponytail, passed out mini cupcakes for customers to sample, while Katie cranked out one latte after another. Catching Kelly’s eye, Kodiak winked at her. She looked so happy.

Except for Dillon—no surprise there—everyone was here. Kelly’s sisters even took the train into the city for the occasion. Much to Brendan’s delight—not—they were staying with him and Katie for the weekend. After spending six hours with them last night, helping Kelly and Leo put the finishing touches on Sugar Beanie’s, Kodiak could sympathize. Opinionated and unfiltered, they were…well, they were a lot.

Even now, they debated the merits of the Venery boys amongst themselves. “I think you should go for the drummer—he’s hot. I danced with him at Katie’s wedding,” Kim advised her younger sister.

Kristie, the eldest and Katie’s mom rolled her eyes.

“You go for him then. I want the guitar player.” Kara squealed, fanning herself like a teenager with the latest issue of Tiger Beat magazine.

“Taylor’s married.” Smiling from beside him, Linnea leaned into his ear. “How old are these women?”

“Uh, late thirties, I think,” he whispered with a shrug.

“See? Go for the drummer. He smells hella good too.”

“Bo is taken, ladies,” Kodiak informed them.

“That’s okay, and I know the inked-up one is married. I want the other one.”

“Which other one?”

Never gonna happen.

It’s not that Kara wasn’t attractive, an older version of Kelly, she was. But if there was one thing that turned these guys off, it was fangirling. A groupie might luck out when they were on tour, only to be forgotten the next day. Here at home, though? No way. Besides, out of respect for Katie and Brendan, hooking up with either of them was out of the question.

“Forget it, Kara.” Giving him his juice, Kristie adjusted Declan on her lap. “You’re too old for any of them anyway.”

“I. Am. Not,” she seethed, turning to her sister. Then with a flip of her hair, and in the haughtiest tone, she said, “I’m a cougar.”

Oh, dear.

Kodiak about choked on his coffee.

His sister, however, apparently having swallowed the wrong way, sputtered into a napkin. Linnea put Charlotte in his arms, and waving her hand in front of her face, tried to catch a breath and keep herself from laughing. Looking up at him with her bright blue eyes, the baby pulled on a handful of his hair and grinned.

He grinned right back. Bringing her up eye level with him, Kodiak rubbed her button nose with his, making her giggle. She had the cutest little laugh.

“You look good with a baby,” Kristie commented, tipping her chin at him. “Are you and Kelly planning on having any?”

I hope so.

“She’s not getting any younger, you know.”

Rude. Not to mention, their plans were none of her business. As much as Kodiak wanted everything with Kelly, it was very likely she wouldn’t feel the same once she learned what he’d done. His unforgivable sin.

Your sister forgave you.

She did, but then Linnea could hardly remember it.

Brendan, Jesse, Chloe, and Ava, their little ones in tow, appeared, saving him from Kristie’s meddling. The buzz grew louder, and that could only mean one thing. He glanced up, Bo and the boys were taking their places on the tiny stage, and just as the din began to calm, Kara stood up and excitedly pointed. “Him.”

Oh, shit.

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