Page 24 of Beautifully Broken Control

Walker drummed his fingers together. “Why don’t we say just family? We can call in an order for food but tell the girls to pick it up, no caterers or staff on the premises.”

I considered it. I guessed just those at dinner the other night, plus Liam and Tessa would be okay. Red hair and green eyes flashed in my brain. “That’s fine. But no staff. And I pay for everything.”

Tuck chuckled. “You might have a fight on your hands there. Sarah’s determined to welcome you properly.”

I groaned. “Fine. Tell her that she and J can be in charge of dessert.” I paused for a moment, trying to think of the best way to put what I wanted to say next. “And have J invite Kennedy.”

Walker stiffened next to me, but Tuck chuckled. “Got your eye on someone already, huh?”

“Tuck,” Walker warned.

Tuck threw up his hands. “What? I want our boy to get himself some. What’s wrong with that?”

Liam just laughed, and Walker and Tuck continued to bicker like the two old men they were in spirit. I finally let out a piercing whistle. “Enough already. It’s not like that.” Tuck arched a brow as if to saybullshit. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s beautiful, but she’s too young for me, and I’m not looking for anything serious right now.”

Walker studied me carefully. “What is it, then?”

I began to draw circles in the condensation on my glass. “I get the sense that she’s running from something.”

Liam immediately straightened, and I wanted to curse. Of course, this would bring up things for him. “You think she’s running from an ex?”

Tuck’s face no longer held any hints of humor. “She’s not skittish. Doesn’t seem to be afraid of men.”

I tore at another piece of the label. “Honestly, at first, I thought she was taking you guys for a ride. I know Jensen lets her live in that apartment basically for free. I thought she might be conning you.”

“Cain—” Walker started, but I held up a hand, silencing him.

“I don’t think that anymore. I went into the Kettle the other morning and asked her some questions.”

Tuck groaned. “You were a total asshole, weren’t you?”

I winced at the memory. “Some of my less than favorable qualities might have made an appearance.”

Tuck shook his head. “Jesus. Your paranoia knows no bounds.”

My shoulders straightened. “I wasn’t totally wrong. She’s lying about something.”

“What do you mean?” Walker asked, cop hat firmly in place now.

I tried to think about how I could explain this to them. Convince them that I wasn’t totally out of my mind about Kennedy. “She was super guarded about her past.”

“Maybe she just didn’t want to tell a relative stranger her life story,” Tuck argued. “She is a single woman living alone. And she doesn’t really know you.”

I set my glass down on the deck. “Fair enough. Do any of you know where she’s from?”

Walker looked to me. “She moved here from Portland.”

“Yeah, but where is shefrom?” I looked around at the men beside me, none of them having an answer. “She’s lived in Jensen’s shop for like six months, been over to the ranch countless times, and you don’t really know anything about her. She’s hiding something. And I don’t think it’s an attempt to con you out of money or anything else. I think she’s running from something.”

“Fuck.” Walker scrubbed a hand over his cheek. “When you put it like that, you might be right.”

I met Walker’s stare. “I am.”

Tuck got to his feet. “I’ll make sure J brings her to the party. We’ll figure out what’s going on. And if she needs protecting, we’ll be there.”

These were good men, and whether Kennedy knew it or not, she was lucky to have them in her corner.

9

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