Page 95 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

“Yeah.”

“But…” Kennedy frowned.“You didn’t change anything in the business afterward?”

“I didn’t.”

Kennedy frowned.“Why not?”

“Because I learned that I liked what we were doing and how we were doing it.”

Kennedy shook her head.“So…”

“Okay, I know that sounds like that wasanotherthing I tried but then ended up in the same place I started.”Ellie moved in and took one of Kennedy’s hands in hers.“But that’s not really true.I realized that if you never do anything new, you never learn anything.And learning things changes you.Even if those things aren’t what you intended to learn.You’re never the same after an adventure, Kennedy.”She tapped a finger over her heart.“In here you change.And in here you change,” she said, tapping her temple that time.“I had to learn some things—make some mistakes—on my own.I thought.”She gave a soft laugh.“The thing is, once you have Leo Landry in your life, you’re never really on your own again.”

“But I’m not Leo.I’m you.”

“And now you can try new things and learn new things and have some adventures,” Ellie said.“Because your Leo is finally here.”

Kennedy instantly felt her eyes stinging with tears.She sniffed again.“I’m not sure Bennett wants to be Leo.”

Ellie laughed outright at that and squeezed Kennedy’s hand.“Bennett wants to be Leo badly.He just didn’t have an Ellie.Until now.”She leaned in and kissed Kennedy’s cheek.“I love you, girl.And now it’s time for you to go out and make some mistakes.”

Kennedy laughed and sniffed.“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, you haven’t made a lot of those in your life yet.”

Kennedy had to admit that Ellie had a point.“I’m scared.”

“I know.Good thing Bennett will be there for you.”

Kennedy gave Ellie a hug.“Okay.”

Ellie nodded.“Okay.”Then she moved back to the stove.“And of course the rest of us, too.”

Kennedy stood watching her for a few minutes, but all she could think about was Bennett.And how to let him know that she was doing this Baton Rouge and politics thing, but that she still wanted him.

“I have to go,” she told her grandmother, pushing away from the counter.

Ellie smiled.“Kick some ass.”

Kennedy didn’t ask if she meant figuratively in Baton Rouge, or literally—with Bennett Baxter.

Kennedy pushed through the door and stepped out into the main area of the restaurant.She knew Bennett was there with her brothers, Owen, and Leo.She figured it was about time that they started leaning on him so that their gumbo and coffee would improve.

She took a deep breath and headed straight for their table.When she stopped behind Leo, they all stopped talking and looked at her.

The only one she cared about hearing this was just to Leo’s right.

“I’m going to Baton Rouge,” were her first words to Bennett in four days.

He nodded.“I know.”

“I think I’m going to be great at this.But I’m not sure.Still, I want to try.”

“I know.”

“And… I want to date you.”

His gaze flickered with recognition.He’d said the same words to her in Savannah.“Okay.”

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