Page 86 of Every Which Way

“I’m Charleston Whitworth-Harrow. My friends call me Charlie.” He held his hand out.

She shook his oddly smooth skin, wondering what he thought of her hand. That was only the beginning of the differences between them. “Kenna Banbury.”

She waited to see if he recognized her name. It wasn’t impossible. When he didn’t react, she figured she was in the clear. He wasn’t going to drug her and take her to some cell in the basement where they would remove a kidney and half her liver—or whatever was on the menu.

At least, not in the next ten minutes.

“Kenna. That’s a great name.” It was a little too rehearsed. “Let’s go find the senator. Last I saw, he was holding court upstairs. It’s quieter in the billiards room, but mostly, they just prefer to camp out close to the cigar cabinet.”

Kenna smiled like he couldn’t possibly have said something more interesting if he tried. In her ear, through the comms earbud she’d inserted in the car, she heard a snort.

Bruce said, “This guy. Where’d you find him?”

She cleared her throat.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m searching the lower level. Catch you later.”

Charlie had said something.

“Sorry.” Kenna shook her head. “I’m a bit mesmerized by this place. I didn’t catch what you said.”

He reached the stairs first, grasping the thick dark wood handrail and stepping up onto the red floral pattern carpet. He paused. “I asked what you do for a living.”

“My father was an author. He published a number of books and movies. So long ago no one nowadays has seen them. But I don’t have to work. This is going to sound terribly entitled, but I have a trust fund.” She tried to blush but doubted it actually happened.

“How scandalous.” He chuckled. “A trust fund. What is the world coming to?” His grin spread wide.

She laughed, trying to sound like a delighted college-age girl.Kill me now.Surely, he knew she was too old for this. But it was easier to act like a vapid person with no job who failed to contribute to the world than it was to pretend to be a physicist. There were less questions to answer.

“Yes,” she said. “I’m afraid I’m one ofthosepeople.”

“We should form a club,” he said as they ascended the stairs. “Tell me, what did you buy with your last check?”

She smiled, as if delighted to be asked. “A dress. It’s pretty fabulous, if I might say so. I’m saving it for a special occasion.” She quoted the retail price with alterations and the shoes.

Charlie whistled. “I bought a yacht. It’s in Virginia Beach. I think I’m going to sail down to Nassau. Spend some time in the Caribbean this summer.”

“Will the senator give you the time off?”

He waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll be ready for a change of direction by then. How about you? What would you say if I asked you to go with me for the summer?”

They slowed at the top of the stairs.

“I’d say you should ask someone you know. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck on a boat with an axe murderer and no way to save yourself.”

Charlie tipped his head back and laughed. “An axe murderer. That’s a good one.”

Two women stepped out of the upper room. Laney and Adrielle. Kenna gave Laney wide eyes that hopefully said,Save me.

“Charleston Whitworth-Harrow, are you bothering my dear friend?” Laney picked up her pace, came over, and kissed Kenna on the cheek. She whispered, “You owe me.”

Kenna said, “So good to see you, Laney.” She reached out to Jax’s mother and said, “Adrielle.”

The older woman squeezed her hand. “I didn’t expect to see you here, dear.”

“You know me. I like to party.” Kenna chuckled.

“I’m going to introduce Kenna to the senator,” Charlie said, motioning to the door.

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