Page 20 of Saving the CEO

“Not particularly. That might be the one thing we have in common.”

Scarlett grinned at the amusement in his voice. “Other than wanting to prove the other person wrong? Don’t tell me you don’t find enjoyment in that?”

“Touché. It appears we have two things in common then.”

“Who would’ve thought?”

His smile widened, showing off a set of perfectly straight teeth. He leaned against the cushions and rested one arm along the back of the couch. His relaxed posture surprised Scarlett. Maybe the olive branch, or rather the hot chocolate, had done its job. She watched him take a sip and wondered what else she’d find out about him tonight.

“You said you wanted to talk to me about something,” she began in a hopeful tone. “Is it about your dates?”

His expression turned serious. “It’s about Bekah. Has she told you anything about a guy named Bash?”

“No, I’m pretty sure she hasn’t.”

“Do you know if she’s been spending time with a male friend?”

Scarlett thought about her recent conversations with Bekah and shook her head. “All she talks about these days are her classes or what we learned from women’s group. I’m sure if she were hanging out with a guy, she’d tell me about it. We’ve talked about guys before.”

“Her and guys, or you and guys?”

“Both. We’ve even talked about you, Mr. Kendall. Nothing worth repeating though.” His face remained serious despite her teasing tone. The only change she noticed was a muscle twitch along his jawline. He sure was a tough crowd to please. She reached over and gave his arm a playful pat. “Lighten up, Devin. It’s okay to laugh at my jokes.”

“I will when I find them to be funny.” His smirk reappeared in full force, along with a twinkle that lit up his blue eyes.

“Ha ha. And to think that I was going to offer to get some intel on this Bash guy for you.” She sighed dramatically. “Now you’ll never know if or who Bekah’s dating.”

He gave her a pointed look. “I can talk to her myself. But if you care about her, you’ll help me keep an eye out. Bash is not someone I want Bekah associating with.”

Scarlett was taken aback at the intensity of his tone. “I’m sure you have a reason for feeling that way, but give your sister some credit. Bekah’s smart. She wouldn’t do anything rash.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” His voice was more somber than accusatory. “Love makes people do foolish things, oftentimes at their own expense.”

His words brought up a slew of memories from the past, ones she preferred not to dwell on. At least God had healed her enough from the pain, so it didn’t hurt as much now to talk about her regrets. “Unfortunately, I do understand more than you think. That’s why I stayed with my ex for so long because I thought he loved me, and I loved him. I tried so hard to be the perfect girlfriend, then fiancée, by putting his needs first. I thought by doing so, he’d realize how much he needed me.”

“And he’d finally wake up and appreciate you?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

His eyes took on a faraway look. “I knew someone like that. It didn’t end well for her, and it obviously didn’t work out for you either. That’s why I have to protect Bekah from making the same mistake.”

The bitterness in his voice was so heavy, she could almost taste it. Whoever he was talking about had to have meant a lot to him. This was the most vulnerable she’d ever seen him. Compassion stirred within her to know that underneath his gruff exterior, he had a soft heart, too.

Scarlett reached over and gave his arm a light squeeze. “You’re a good brother. I can tell you care about Bekah very much.”

He brushed off her compliment. “It’s my responsibility.”

“Not completely. She’s a grown woman; she can take care of herself. But I get it—she’s the youngest of the family and as her older sibling, you feel a sense of responsibility toward her. That’s how it is with my sisters and me. It’s very much a blessing and a curse to be the youngest.”

Devin shook his head. “It’s much worse being the oldest. You have no idea what we go through. We have so much more pressure and responsibilities.”

“I could say the same about being the youngest. We’re always lagging behind and having to prove ourselves to everyone we meet. Imagine going through school and having every single teacher compare you to your older siblings and being disappointed that you’re not as smart or as strong or as pretty as they are. It’s enough to give you a complex.”

“You know what, the younger ones do have it worse.”

Scarlett beamed, feeling like she’d just won. She didn’t have a medal, ribbon, or crown to show for her victory like her sisters did, but the genuine smile on Devin’s face was enough. She grabbed her mug and held it toward his. “This calls for a toast! To younger siblings who go through life with big footsteps to follow and their older siblings who leave them behind.”

Devin clinked her mug with a hearty chuckle. “Cheers.”

---