Page 14 of The Last Key
No idea what it means, but I’m taking it as a good sign. She didn’t completely shut me down.
A ball of excitement forms in my stomach.She didn’t shut me down at all.
Out of the corner of my eye, I look at her again.
What if she wants this, too?
I can’t get hung up on that thought, but as I pull into the parking lot of the inn, it’s the only thing rattling around in my brain.
“Sweet Kennedy!”Gladys says, standing up from the check-in desk and hurrying over to pull Kennedy into her arms.
“Oh, Gladys, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, sweetheart. How are you? Devon mentioned your job didn’t work out. That is their loss. I’d give your former boss a piece of my mind if I could.”
Kennedy laughs and lets Gladys lead her over to the desk. “I appreciate that.”
Gladys pulls her reading glasses off her nose, letting them hang from a chain around her neck. She’s wearing her typical “uniform” of comfortable pants and a loose floral top. She’s got ahippie chic vibe, and she exudes warmth. She’s been like a second mother to me, and as my parents’ health has declined, I’ve been even more grateful for her. She keeps the inn running smoothly while also checking in on my parents and trying to take care of me. I don’t often let her, mostly because I’m self-sufficient. My mom made sure I knew how to cook, clean, and care for myself by the time I was in high school. She said it wasn’t just for my good, it was for hers too, because she wants grandbabies one day and men who take care of themselves are more attractive to women.
Not really sure if that’s true since I haven’t had a serious girlfriend in over three years. Not that many of the serious ones have beenthatserious, anyway. The last few years, it’s been hookups here and there to get me through when my hand wasn’t sufficient.
My eyes drift back to Kennedy. What would it feel like to have her sweaty body writhing beneath mine? To hear her scream my name? Watch the ecstasy on her face when she comes? To have her supple pink lips wrapped around my cock?
“Hey,” Gladys calls, snapping me out of my haze of lust.
Mostly. Because I’ve absolutely got a semi now. Thankfully, my cargo shorts shouldn’t make that readily visible.
“Huh?”
Kennedy and Gladys snicker.
“Where’d you go? On vacation in your mind? Somewhere warm, I hope,” Gladys teases.
Making my way over to the desk, it’s impossible to miss the smirk on Kennedy’s face. Like she knows where my mind was.
“Something like that,” I say, eyes on Kend and drifting down her body. She arches a brow, calling me on it. Then she smiles and turns her attention back to Gladys.
She likes my eyes on her.
I need to find out what else she likes.
“I had some of your banana bread this morning,” Kennedy says. “I forgot how good it is.”
Gladys chuckles. “Cinnamon is the key.”
The door from the kitchen swings open and our longtime cook, Martin, steps out.
“Hey, boss. Glad you’re here.” He’s white as a sheet and looks horrible, though his eyes brighten for a moment. “Kennedy. It’s good to see you.”
“You too, Martin.” She steps toward him, but he holds up his hand.
“You should stay back. Something hit me in the last hour or so. There’s no way I can work the rest of my shift. I’ll be lucky if I make it home before I—” he gags.
“Get out of here, now,” Gladys commands in a firm, motherly voice.
He nods. “Going.”
“I’ll bring you some soup later, hon,” she calls after him.
