Page 93 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

Bennett frowned.“The categoryyou’rein?”

“Yep.The one who simply hands her the tools she needs, keeps her company while she’s taking care of what she needs to do, and makes her push herself harder than she thinks she can.”

Bennett stared at the older man.Slowly he started nodding.Yeah.He could do that.He could be Kennedy’s Leo.

Kennedy felther grandmother move in beside her.

“You know I’m not going to let you keep ruining my food,” Ellie told her, plucking the clove of garlic out of her hand.

“I’m not doing anything to the customers’ food,” Kennedy said.She’d never do that.

“Yeah, well, I can’t have my customers sitting around listening to the guys complain’ about their food.It’s gonna start to rub off.”

Kennedy set her spoon down.“I know it’s immature.”

“It is.But if Bennett wants to have a life down here with you, it’s better he find out up front what it’s like when you’re not happy,” Ellie said, grabbing the spoon and bumping Kennedy out of the way with her hip.

“I’m not always like this,” Kennedy said, abandoning her spot and leaning back against the counter next to the stove.

“No.You’re very rarely scared,” Ellie said.“But when you are, look out.”

Kennedy frowned.“Hey.What?I’m not scared.I’m mad.”

Ellie looked over, her expression a mix of affection andCome on, girl.“You’re scared.”

Kennedy crossed her arms.“I’m hurt.Bennett doesn’t think I’m capable of being something more than what he’s seen here in Autre.And he doesn’t want me to be anything else.He wants me to just be the receptionist at Boys of the Bayou and sit around in the office waiting for him to come flirt with me and take me on big fancy trips whenhehas time or a reason to go.He’s going to go out and make the world better and save the environment, while I’m supposed to sit here and answer the phone and order stuffed alligators and dust the fucking shelves.”

It wasn’t until Ellie stepped in front of her and lifted her hands to wipe the tears off her cheeks that Kennedy even realized she was crying.

“Of course he thinks that.Because that’s what you’ve been doing.Happily.”

Kennedy sniffed.“He should think I can do more.”

“It’s not that he doesn’t think youcan.He didn’t know youwantedto.”

“But—”

“Becauseyoudidn’t know that until you went to Savannah.”

Kennedy wanted to protest that, too.But she couldn’t.She sniffed again.

Ellie cupped her face.“And now that you do know it, you’re scared.Because you can’t ignore it anymore.”

Kennedy swallowed hard.“I don’t want to ignore it.”

“You do.Ignoring it is easier.I know.”Ellie dropped her hands and took a deep breath.

Kennedy watched her grandmother return to stirring the bisque she was making.She wasn’t sure she wanted to get into this.But she wasn’t sure she could resist.

“I’ve been telling myself that I was afraid of being Leo.The one who just put up with everyone else’s bullshit.The one who lets everyone take him for granted.”

Ellie smiled and nodded.“I know you’ve been telling yourself that.”

Kennedy chewed on her bottom lip, watching Ellie.But Ellie didn’t go on.

This fucking family.When you wanted them to shut the hell up, they wouldn’t.When you wanted them to talk, they wouldn’t.

“But you don’t think it’s true,” Kennedy said.

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