Page 43 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

His scowl deepened and he moved closer.“You’re on board?”

“I don’t even know what it all is,” she said.“But if you have issues with your family, you need to deal with that straight on.I’m not going to help you run away from your problems.You brought me here to shock your mother and make a point.I’m your big rebellion.Well, I’m not doing that.As far as everyone here knows, including your father, I’m a sweet southern girl who just wants whatever is best for you.”

Bennett couldn’t describe the emotions going through him.He wanted to laugh and he wanted to yell.It occurred to him that if he wanted to be with this woman long-term, that mix of emotions might become the norm rather than the exception.

This was Kennedy.He should have known this wouldn’t be easy.Had he envisioned her coming here and being…her…flashing her tattoos and her black nail polish and making it obvious that he wanted something different and was going a new direction?Yeah.

He blew out a breath.That wasn’t the entire reason he’d wanted to bring her along.She just made him smile.She turned him on.He wanted her undivided attention, just as he’d told her.He’d wanted to get her naked.He’d wanted to get to know her better.

But was she supposed to be the flesh-and-blood proof of his new direction and that he clearly wasn’t going to be following in his father’s footsteps?

Yeah.That, too.

Which wasn’t fair.

“I didn’t realize that would all upset you,” he said, reaching for her hair.He took a strand between his thumb and finger, running down the length of the hair that curled at the end.“You do look beautiful.You always do.Guess you can pull anything off.”

“I was a pageant queen,” she said.“Changing clothes and makeup to affect people’s impression of me is a piece of cake.”

“I don’t want them to have a different impression of you,” he said.“I really do want my family and friends to knowyou.”

“Because it will make them let up onyou?”she said.“I don’t want them to blame me for you rejecting everything here.”Her annoyance wavered.For a second she looked almost hurt.“That’s your choice and it’s not fair to let them think it’s me.”

Bennett nodded.“You’re right.”He bent a little to look her in the eyes.“You okay?You can go back upstairs and change.Honestly, Ken, you don’t have to go along with my mom.”

She shook her head.“It’s not your mom.”

“Then what?”

She took a breath and then met his eyes, lifting her chin slightly.“You talk about the bayou as if it’s truly your new passion.I told myself that you were just playing around and having fun with something new—including me.But I didn’t realize until your mom said that it’s all just your way of punishing your father, that I really wanted to believe that you liked it, I guess.”She shrugged.“I wanted your enthusiasm for Autre and Boys of the Bayou…to be real.”

She’d hesitated afterBoys of the Bayou, and Bennett could have sworn she was going to add on to that thought right there.His heart was suddenly pounding.He lifted her chin with his finger, realizing she was now looking at the collar of his button-down shirt.“And you?”he asked, his voice a little gruff.

“And me what?”

“You wanted my enthusiasm for you to be real, too?”

She pressed her lips together.She didn’t answer.But she didn’t have to.

He gave a half groan, half laugh.“God, Kennedy, I’m soenthusiasticabout you I don’t even know what to do.”

“I know we have chemistry.I’m enthusiastic about that, too,” she said.“But—”

“It’s more than that.”

“How can it be?We don’t even really know each other that well.”

“I know you,” he said.“I know your family.I see how much Sawyer getting back to normal has meant to you.I know how much you love Tori for loving Josh.I see your relationship with Leo.I see your affection for and annoyance with Cora and Ellie.I see how you treat the customers.You don’t let anyone get away with anything, but you’re also kind and patient and you want everyone who comes to the bayou to leave loving it at least a little.The business matters to you, your family matters to you, the town matters to you.Because you value roots and loyalty and being true and honest.”

There was a flicker of emotion in her eyes, almost a wariness.

“But I didn’t know any of this about you,” she said, quietly.

“I know.I guess maybe that was part of bringing you here, too.I wanted you to know.”He sighed.“Though I really didn’t expect my mother to jump right in on campaigning and pushing.I probably should have.”

Kennedy was chewing her bottom lip now.

“What is it?”There was something going on with her and it was making him feel edgy.

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