Page 61 of The Sweetest Devotion

My fists curled at my sides. “I’m trying so hard not to fuck you right now.”

Kennedy leaned up on her toes, going and pressing a torturous kiss to my neck, making a trail to my ear. “The only thing that needs to behardright now is?—”

“Keith?”

Fuck.

Uncle Rod was coming up the hallway toward his office, looking for me.

I moved in front of Kennedy at the first sign of her fear. With my back to her, I went and unlocked and opened the door just as Uncle Rod was reaching for the knob.

Confusion covered my uncle’s face as he took in the previously closed door and then me. “Everything okay?”

The smell of sausage and eggs wafted from his grease-stained brown paper bag. He’d more than likely hit up Sonny’s Kitchen, a local diner that served breakfast all day. Rod was a stickler for routine. His day wasn’t complete without his sausage, eggs, cheese, and bacon sandwich combo from Sonny’s. The steaming cup of coffee in his hand was another testament to the fact.

I took a step back and made room for him to enter his office, still making sure Kennedy’s presence was covered as much as possible.

Of course, Uncle Rod still noticed the feminine energy in the room.

“Is that Leila?” he asked, keeping his eyes on me curiously.

Loyal to a fault, no one in my family was rooting for me to reconcile with my ex. Not after the state of darkness I’d fallen in after our breakup.

What I “had” with Kennedy wasn’t real, but Sunday as I came to realize I was alone, I headed into the kitchen and put away my groceries. I peeled the Band-Aid from my heart and finally threw away Leila’s grocery list. It was time to move on.

“No,” I said firmly.

Rod leaned over, stealing a peek at Kennedy. I watched the surprise take his face. He was impressed, I could tell.

Uncle Rod came back to me, a proud dad-like smile on his face. “It’s your day off.”

I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t getting rid of me that easily. “I’ll take a lunch.” I extended a hand behind me. “Kennedy?”

Her soft palm met mine and I squeezed my hand shut around it. Rod let us pass him by on the way out, managing to smile and nod at Kennedy’s shy wave.

I wasn’t hungry, but I wanted to talk to Kennedy. About some ground rules. About her father’s health. About ridiculous boundaries.

I didn’t know where she was parked, but it didn’t matter as I took her over to my Tahoe.

“If we’re going to your house, let me get my car,” Kennedy said as she let my hand go and gestured across the lot where her Lexus was parked.

My house was tempting, but I needed to focus. “We’re getting lunch.”

Kennedy stood her ground. “What I’m hungry for isn’t on the menu.”

Ignoring her, I did a mental skim of what Sonny’s offered. “You eat eggs? Sonny’s has the best breakfast in the city.”

Kennedy’s lip curled up. “Are you for real?”

Little Miss Princess was used to having her way, I could tell. “Very.”

She huffed, but put up no fight as she went over to my passenger door.

I could’ve just fucked her. Given no care to the world about whatever was going on in her life. It wasn’t trulymyconcern, but beneath her giddiness to see me, I could spot desperation in her eyes. The sadness. Something was up.

I wasn’t dressed for work. Instead, I was casual in my T-shirt and jeans, making going out for lunch easier.

Sonny’s Kitchen wasn’t that far from Rod’s Repair. We were there in less than five minutes. Maybe it was me being protective, or maybe it was an old customary habit, but once I was out of my truck I rounded it and met Kennedy on her side and was quick to take and hold her hand as I led her into the building. The action caused Kennedy to relax into me, and for some reason, I liked that.

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