Page 36 of The Dating Prohibition
“I don’t want to go back into that world. It’s not for me.I’m good at it, but it’s hell. All of the bureaucracy that comes with these start-ups, and then there are a lot of unstable people that I’ve had to deal with––they have all of this anxiety because they are worried that their business isn’t actually going to amount to what they dreamed it could be. And their anxiety ends up increasing my own and Idon’tneed it.” She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head emphatically.
“Okay, I hear you. I just want to see you succeed. You’re gonna hit bureaucracy somewhere in any profession––the restaurantbusiness is no different. Your sister-in-law stays up at night thinking through what else she could be doing to make thingswork as they should, but success is a moving target.”
Kendra’s shoulders slumped. “You’re right. But there’s a difference in being in the field you love and being where you areessentially a replaceable product. If I’m going to be up at night, I’d rather it be for my passion project than a day jobwhere I can’t leave behind a legacy.”
Logan nodded. “So what do you think you want to do? How do you feel about this short sale option?”
“It could work potentially, and it’d reduce what I need to borrow some, but how much it depletes my overall savings impactswhat I can invest into the location and how prepared I am for contingencies and payroll. I may start looking further out fromDC.”
“That changes your market.”
“Yeah, so more research to be done. There are so many moving pieces.” She rubbed her eyes.
“I hear you, and Shonda and I will help in any way we can. Anything that I can do now to help?”
Kendra shook her head. “I could honestly use a distraction.” Her mind flipped back to the other night. BJ. His lips and tonguesampling the softness of her skin.
“Yeah, BJ told me.”
She instantly snapped out of her thoughts and stared at her brother. “He told you what?”
“Whoa, don’t get so touchy,” Logan teased. “He just told me that he was with you at a property when you heard back from Dukeand they denied your loan. He said you’d been really upset and could use something to help take your mind off of all this.”
“Yeah, I was,” she responded slowly, eyeing him. She stared, making sure there wasn’t more to the story that he was holdingback, but he left it there.
“I really thought that was gonna work out in your favor with the way that Duke was so excited.”
“Yeah, me too. And I got my hopes up and I shouldn’t have. I know that this is not easy stuff, I just don’t feel like I’vehad anything work easily, you know?”
He nodded. “I know, but it only takes one yes.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“I get email listings of commercial properties all the time. Want me to forward you any short sales I see?”
Kendra smiled at her brother. “That would be amazing. Thank you.”
He nodded, pouring her a fresh glass of a deep red wine. He kept his hand over the label. “I want you to try this.”
The restaurant door jingled, and the hostess greeted a couple at the door. Upon closer look, Kendra realized BJ stood there in a well-tailored suit that practically made Kendra drool. A beautiful woman with passion twists styled to one side and swept over her shoulder was on his arm. She wore a chic cream-colored dress. Something that Kendra would have killed to wear with its boatneck collar, sleeveless with a midi length. It was belted with a camel-colored leather that matched her heeled boots. The only other color evident wasthe ruby red lipstick she wore. It was like she’d stepped into Kendra’s closet and out into BJ’s arms.
As they approached the bar, Kendra’s cheeks warmed and she returned her gaze to her laptop.Wow, that really was it.There had been no expectation that he was going to commit to her just because they’d had sex, but she had held out a pinchof hope because they shared a connection and understood each other. It nagged at Kendra, tearing away another chip of confidence.She fought for her life to keep her shoulders from drooping.
“Kenny.” BJ’s voice rumbled with a gravelly tone. He eyed her warily, acknowledging her with a nod.
Logan reached over the bar, dapping up his best friend. “Hey, man, how y’all doing?”
“Kenny, is it?” the woman asked in a questioning tone, her eyebrow raised. Logan’s and BJ’s eyes ping-ponged between the women,BJ grimacing as his best friend clapped him on the back.
“My name is Kendra. And you?” Her tone clipped, her brother came around the bar to stand in front of her in case any featherswere ruffled. It was a stance he took frequently when his little sister was in town. Kendra wasn’t a hothead, but she wasn’tone to be tried either.I won’t start shit, but I damn sure will finish it.
“Oh, I apologize.” The woman’s face didn’t seem to agree with her words.
“There’s no need. It’s just a name that’s reserved for that gentleman there,” she said, nodding in BJ’s direction, refusingto meet his eyes.Who the fuck is this chick?
“Well, my name is Katie.” She gestured to herself as if the introduction could be mistaken for someone else. “Maybe I’ll learnmy special name tonight.” She smiled suggestively.
Deep breaths, don’t let her see you sweat.“It’s very nice to meet you, Katie.” Kendra smiled sweetly, her tone calm andeven, before returning her gaze to her computer, wondering whether she could send a message telepathically without looking.BJ, you better get this woman out my face...If she were to make eye contact, he’d know to fear for Katie’s safety.
