Page 31 of Beautifully Broken Control

I glanced over to where Kennedy was now carefully slicing an onion. “Is she going to be okay?”

The assessing stare was back. “You trying to get in her pants?”

“What?” My head jerked.

“You heard me, pretty boy.”

“No, ma’am.”

Anna let out a snort. “Yeah, right. She’s gorgeous and has that delicate bird thing going on.” She pointed her spoon at me again. “Kenz doesn’t need some playboy messing with her head.”

“I’m not—”

Anna cut me off before I could finish my sentence. “Of course, you are. You’re hot. From the looks of it, you got money. There’s no way you aren’t used to getting exactly what you want.”

She wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had turned me down, but it didn’t change the fact that I had no plans to pursue Kennedy. “She’s not for me.”

Anna’s eyes flared. “She’s not?”

“No. She’s not. We’re friends. That’s it.” We weren’t even friends. But I wanted us to be. She needed someone to look out for her. Deserved it.

A delighted shriek filled the air, and I turned to see a girl who couldn’t be more than three or four leap into Kennedy’s outstretched arms. “Kennie!”

“Lizzie girl. I missed you.” Kennedy nuzzled the little girl’s neck, blowing a raspberry there. The tightness in my chest was back, but this time, it was a vise. “What have you been up to today?”

“Mom took me to pre-school, and then I’ve just been waiting for you. Can we have another ballet class? Can we?”

Kennedy bent, gently setting the girl on her feet. “You know it, sister. Why don’t you show me how you’ve been practicing the positions while I finish up this salad?”

Lizzie nodded, her face taking on a serious expression as she concentrated on contorting her legs into a series of movements. Kennedy praised and encouraged the whole time. If there was any correction, it was gentle and kind, always accompanied by praise when Lizzie got it right.

“Not interested in her, my ass.” The words were uttered under Anna’s breath, but I heard them clear as day.

I shook myself out of my Kennedy-induced stupor and turned back to Anna. “What can I do?”

* * *

“You make a mean meatloaf.”Kennedy grinned up at me as I held the community center door open for her.

“It happens to be one of my specialties.” There had been a burning sensation in my chest as I’d made the dish. Low and simmering as memories assaulted me. All the times I’d made it before. Who I made it for. But the second I’d seen little Lizzie take a bite and smile hugely, it had all been worth it.

A hand brushed my arm, the contact oddly calming. “Are you okay?”

“What?” I blinked away the cobwebs and met Kennedy’s concerned stare. “Sorry, just got lost in thought. All that meatloaf praise going to my head.”

Kennedy dropped her hand and gave a light laugh, but it didn’t quite ring true. “Well, you did an amazing job. I know I kind of backed you into coming, and it was really nice of you to do so. And to write that check.”

“I’m happy to help in any way I can.” My eyes bored into hers, urging her to hear that the promise was true for her, as well. She stayed silent. “I’d like to come back. Would that be okay?”

Surprise flickered across Kennedy’s face. “Of course. When?”

“When are you coming back?”

“Tomorrow.”

I twirled keys around my finger. “Then, tomorrow it is.”

Kennedy’s fingers twisted in her bag’s strap again, an action I’d already learned meant that she was unsure about something. “You don’t have to. I don’t want to think I guilted you into something you don’t want to do just because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.”

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