Page 41 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

“When he was ten, he went to summer camp for two weeks.He came home completely energized about everything that he’d seen and learned there.Boys of the Bayou is his new summer camp.Your grandparents are the camp counselors, keeping everything in check and teaching him how things work.Your brothers and cousin are his buddies that he shares all the activities with.And you’re the cute girl that he develops a crush on because you’re new and different.”

Kennedy crossed her arms as emotions swirled through her, then realizing it was a very obvious defensive posture, dropped them.“You think we’re just a diversion then?”

“Yes.An excuse for him to not do what he should do here.A way for him to punish his father.”

Kennedy frowned.“Why does he want to punish his father?”

“That’s not important,” Maria said.“But it’s tiresome.Bennett has made his point.Now he needs to grow up and do the right thing.This juvenile need to rebel is getting in the way of Bennett being successful, and their personal quarrel shouldn’t keep the people of Georgia having Bennett’s leadership.”

Kennedy strongly disagreed that the story about what was going on with Bennett and his dad wasn’t important.But she wanted to get that story from Bennett.

“And I’m sure you would feel terrible thinking that you somehow played a part in continuing the divide in our family, not to mention holding Bennett back from great things.”

Yeah, Kennedy was already tired of being in the middle of whatever this was.“The only thing I intend to hold Bennett back from is role-playing any camp counselor thing in the bedroom that he might have in mind.Because that’s weird.”She looked down at her dress.“Of course, rich bitch debutante and the serving boy passing out champagne at the hoity-toity party downstairs is totally on the table.”

Maria’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she simply said, “The other dress is for tomorrow.It looks like we got the size and style right.You can try that on later.”

Kennedy had to admit she was impressed with Maria not taking the bait Kennedy had thrown out there.Her family never would have let a comment about role-playing sex go by.Then again, the Landrys would have never tried to warn someone off the way Maria was.The Landrys didn’t always make the best decisions and they flat-out screwed up sometimes, but they all believed that making mistakes was one of the best ways to learn and grow.No one got in the way of relationships, even the crazy ones that seemed like a bad idea.Hell, some of the best ones in the family tree were the crazy ones.

“The woman from my spa should be here soon.I hope you don’t mind, but I also asked her to do your makeup.”She crossed to the door and then looked back at Kennedy.“I think you’ll enjoy the conversation with my family tonight.And I trust that you understand how important it is for Bennett to have time with Governor Ray and some of our other guests.”

Kennedy nodded.“I’ll make the blow job in the gazebo a quickie.”

Maria lifted both brows, clearly refusing to be cowed.“I appreciate that.And you won’t end up pregnant that way.”

Kennedy’s mouth dropped open as Maria swept through the door and shut it behind her.Had she just insinuated that Kennedy might get pregnant on purpose?To trap Bennett?Wow.What a bitch.

Strangely, it made her want to sleep with Bennett even more.She wasn’t going to let Maria scare her off.When she and Bennett broke up—if they could even call ending whatever this was an actual breakup—it was not going to be because his mom had showed her claws.

Kennedy decided who she dated and for how long and how that relationship went.Kennedy got her birth control shot right on time, thank you very much, and she’d make damned sure he used a condom.Maybe two now.

If Kennedy wanted Bennett wrapped around her finger, she’d get him there without needing a baby to do it.

Not that she wanted him there.

Not only did they clearly have nothing in common in all the areas she’d known about, but now she knew that their families were nothing alike.Thank God.

She didnotwant to live in Savannah.She didnotwant to be a politician’s wife.

And she didnotwant Maria Baxter as a mother-in-law.

Duke had just takena drink of his Scotch when he looked over Bennett’s shoulder and started coughing as if he’d swallowed it wrong.

Concerned, Bennett stepped forward and whacked him on the back.“You okay?”

Duke coughed again, then cleared his throat.“Holy shit, Bennett.”

“What?”

“That.”He pointed at something behind Bennett.

Bennett turned.And was grateful he hadn’t just taken a drink of anything.

Kennedy had just appeared on the back patio and was looking around.She spotted him and her face relaxed into a big smile as she started for the steps that would lead her down onto the grass.

“From the way you described her,thatis not what I was expecting,” Duke said.

Yeah, this wasn’t the Kennedy Bennett had been expecting, either.At all.

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