Page 20 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

“I think it’s just the whole attitude,” Maddie said.

Bennett came to stand at the bottom of the porch steps.He looked up at the three women looking down at him.He looked apprehensive.That made sense.

“Good morning, ladies.”Then he tucked a hand in the front pocket of his jeans.

Kennedy grinned.Formal, polite greeting.He didn’t even drop his “g.”But when he put his hand in his pocket like that, he looked more small town.She had to remember that he was just playing dress-up when he was down here.He liked hanging out on the bayou, but he wasn’t a true bayou boy.

“Hey, Bennett,” Maddie greeted, propping her shoulder against the porch column.

“Hi, Bennett,” Juliet said.

Kennedy started down the porch steps with her suitcase, trying to hide the way her heart was suddenly thumping.She was going away for the weekend with this guy.This guy who she hadn’t quite figured out.Yes, he was enamored with her because she came with a bunch of crazy Cajuns he really liked and pots full of amazing food he probably didn’t get in Savannah, but she was more fascinated with him than she had been by a guy in…ever.She hadn’t thought that through.Why washeso damned intriguing toher?He didn’t have a charming bunch of characters that were always around when he was, making things more colorful and entertaining.He’d never shown up with any kind of food, amazing or otherwise.

He’d shown up with a checkbook and a head full of legal knowledge that had helped save her family’s business.He’d helped smooth over some online reviews that had been a little problematic for the business, too.That wasn’t nothing.

She could only chalk her fascination up to him being different than what she was used to, and her having a curious streak that was almost as wide as her mischievous streak.He was a new taste that she wanted to sample.It was that simple.

Bennett met her halfway up the steps to grab her bag from her.He gave her a big grin and took the bag the rest of the way down the steps and to the trunk of the car.

He seemed happy to see her and excited about the trip.That was trouble.She wasn’t getting stuck to Bennett Baxter and she needed to be sure he didn’t get stuck on her, either.

Bennett started for the passenger side of the car and Kennedy realized that he intended to open the door for her.Oh no.He wasn’t going to be chivalrous and boyfriend-like.She took the few steps hurriedly and reached for the handle at the same time he did.With their hands both on the car door, they looked at each other.He only had about two inches on her when she wore her boots, and she realized that put their lips on the perfect level for kissing.

They hadn’t kissed.

Why did she feel like they had?That was weird.She swore that she felt like she and Bennett had made out prior to this.It was all the banter.All the blatant acknowledgement of their attraction.All of the at-night-in-bed-alone fantasies, too.She hadn’t thought of another man while using her favorite vibrator since meeting Bennett Baxter.That was also trouble.

She definitely needed to get this all out of her system.

On impulse—which was one of her favorite ways to do things—she dropped her purse, ran her hand over his shoulder and into his hair, and put her lips to his.

To his credit, and her delight, Bennett didn’t hesitate a second.He shifted, put both hands on her hips, and leaned into the kiss.In fact, he basically took it over.

He opened his mouth, deepening the contact, and brought her up against him more fully.She’d seen him without his shirt on when he’d been helping her brothers get the new dock into the water, so she’d had an inkling he was hard in all the right places.But feeling it was something altogether different.

Kennedy felt herself lift onto tiptoe and fist the front of his shirt, in an attempt to get even closer.

Bennett, being the gentlemanly type of guy who would carry her bags and open doors for her, decided to help her out with that, too, and he turned her, putting her back against the car.Then he pressed close.All of his hardness against her was exactly what she wanted.She gave a little moan that she realized she might be embarrassed about…later…and met his tongue with hers, kissing him deeply, relishing the heat that rose quickly between them.

If she could just keep him doing this kind of stuff for the next two days, then there was very little risk of either of them mistaking this for anything but a hot affair.

She wasn’t going to have two brain cells to rub together.

Hebetterfeel the same way.If he thought chivalrous thoughts about her after Kennedy had rubbed against him like Tori’s pet piglet rubbed against the barn door, then she was really doing something wrong.

“Ahem.”

Maddie clearing her throat was the only thing that caused Kennedy to pull back and open her eyes.

Bennett didn’t pull back.He didn’t let her get too far, either.He stood with one hand on her hip, one braced on the top of the car behind her, looking at her like he’d just figured a whole bunch of stuff out.

How to spend most of the weekend in bed with her better be what he’d just puzzled out.Kennedy let her gaze drop to his mouth, then go back to his eyes.

He gave her a slow smile that seemed almost knowing.Which made her itchy.“I’m excited about the trip, too,” he finally said, his voice a little gruff.

“Just making sure you still want me along after I tell you that I don’t play croquet or golf and that I tried, but I can’t think of a single joke that’s not dirty.”

Bennett lifted a hand and ran this thumb over her bottom lip.“I still want you along, Kennedy.”

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