Page 37 of The Only Shot that Mattered

Damien pulled her to him and kissed her head. “Thank you. Just give her a chance.”

She offered him a small smile before they got out of the car. Damien walked around the back of the car and opened the trunk. When he pulled the large box out, they walked to the front door.

“What are we doing here again?”

“Spending time with some good-hearted people I met,” Damien replied. It had been on his heart to check in with Annalise and Alanzo since he met them. He was glad he had some time off to swing by, and he wanted Skylar with him. He felt it was good for her to see him doing good for people less fortunate financially than them. Prayerfully, she would do as she saw when she grew up.

Before they could knock on the door, it swung open, and Kenna stood there looking like she had seen a ghost. The three of them froze, and the moment filled with an awkward silence.

Finally, Kenna’s pretty eyes found his, and he saw the way her skin brightened when she saw his slow smile spread across his face.

“What a surprise.” Damien adjusted the large box, allowing it to rest on the ground.

“I… I was just leaving,” Kenna said before her eyes landed on Skylar again. “It’s nice to see you again, Skylar. I’m Kenna.” She held her hand out, and Damien could tell she was nervous as hell.

Damien nudged Skylar forward. Skylar thankfully caught the hint because she quickly mumbled, “Nice to meet you.” Damien nudged her again, and he could practically feel her eyes rolling to the sky. “And I’m sorry for calling you a… a whore yesterday.”

Kenna’s cheeks flamed, but she gracefully shook her head and quickly said, “No, no. It’s okay. I don’t blame you. I mean, it isn’t nice to call people out of their names, but I can imagine the shock you must have felt. Thank you for the apology. Really.”

“Yeah, sure,” Skylar replied dully.

Annalise appeared behind Kenna with a bright smile. “There you are. How are you, Damien? And who is this beautiful young lady?”

“I’m well, Ms. Annalise. This is my daughter Skylar. I bought Alanzo a basketball hoop. I know you mentioned the one you have is justokay,and I couldn’t have that for my boy. Is it okay if I set it up in your driveway?” Damien grinned at her.

“My goodness. You two have really spoiled me today,” Annalise said with a hand over her heart.

“I’m sick of being treated like chopped liver!” Cam shouted from within the house.

Damien chuckled. “Y’all been over here giving my boy hell?”

“He’s been giving me hell.” Kenna corrected him.

Annalise squeezed Kenna’s shoulder and looked at Damien. “How about we set it up in the back?” Then she gazed at Skylar. “I made some double chocolate cookies. Would you like some?” Skylar quickly nodded. Chocolate was the way to her heart. “Come on in, and you might as well stay a while,” she said to Kenna.

Skylar and Annalise disappeared into the house, leaving him and Kenna alone. “Were you about to leave?”

Kenna looked down at her black and white dunks. The sweats and long sleeved fitted shirt she had on looked good on her. He loved that she wasn’t overly girly but still the prettiest woman to walk the planet.

“Yeah. I should get some work done or something.”

Damien gazed down at her in amusement. “No.”

“No?” One of her eyebrows rose.

“No.” He nodded. “Come home with me.”

Kenna glanced behind her. When she faced him again, she lowered her voice. “What about Skylar?”

“She’s going to her mama’s after this. I have a game tomorrow.”

“What about curfew and no distractions?” she quizzed.

“We’ll be in the house well before curfew,” he teased.

“And the distractions?” she asked with one brow arched.

Truth be told, he no longer gave a damn about distractions. He’d had a taste of Kenna, and there was no way he would pass up an opportunity to have her again… and again.

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