Page 37 of Paradise in Progress
Running a hand through my hair, I push out a breath. “Shit, Ken. He shouldn’t have called you. I told him we had everything handled.”
“Thanks, but it’s fine. I spent all day at the administrative office, only to be informed that the guy I needed to speak to took a personal day. That was after I was there for three hours.”
As I open my mouth to respond, feeling panicked, she puts her hand up, shaking her head.
“It’s fine. I was able to talk to someone else and explain everything. He told me he would make sure I had a meeting tomorrow. So I’ll be back there at nine o’clock.”
Thank fuck.
“Well, that’s at least something.” I stand from my seat and walk over to the bar cart to pour myself another drink. Kennedy can finish mine.
Walking back to the couch, I can’t take my eyes off her. Even dripping in exhaustion from her frustrating day, she’s still breathtaking.
“It is…” she starts before bringing one of her bare feet onto her lap as I settle back in my seat next to her. “Except now my feet are killing me because chairs were limited, so I had to stand most of the day. The bottoms of these sandals are hard as a rock.”
Placing my hand in front of me, I gesture for her foot. “Give it.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Ken. Give me your foot.”
She reaches next to her for the pile of throw pillows before she arranges them in a way that has her body resting on the makeshift backrest before. Then she’s bringing her foot onto my lap at a snail’s pace, almost as if she’s waiting for me to change my mind.
“I can’t believe you’re letting me do this.”
A defeated shrug is all she gives me.
Adjusting her legs so that they are hanging across mine, I dig my thumbs into the arch of her foot. A soft moan comes from the woman who I can’t keep out of my mind, and it’s the best reward. I glance over at her and find her mouth parted, eyes hooded as they roll back into her head. And now I’m picturing her pillowy red lips wrapped around my dick as she’s on her knees in front of me.
Fuck, looks like I’ll be getting myself off again tonight. Only now, I know what her moans sound like...
She clears her throat. “That feels incredible.”
I can think of something else that would feel incredible…
“So what’s got you so frustrated?” Her breathy voice interrupts my blatant daydream.
“It’s nothing.”
Kennedy starts to sit up, but I hold her foot hostage. She blows out a frustrated breath as her eyes narrow.
“Uh-uh.” She waves her pointer finger in my direction. “Don’t do that bullshit. You wanted a truce, so spill, Nelson.”
Feisty Kennedy is my favorite.
“Today, it’s my dad’s lack of faith in me that’s got me pissed.” I can feel her gaze boring into the side of my face, waiting for me to elaborate. “He’s waiting for me to fail.”
“Wait, what? Your dad is waiting for you to fail?”
“It’s always been like this. I know you think I’m the ‘golden boy’ who has had everything handed to him, and in some regards, I have. But it’s Xander who is the real golden boy.”
For the next few minutes, I elaborate on everything that I’ve had to deal with by being the middle child and second boy. It’s an archaic, elitist logic that only the firstborn receives the blessing of the companyand everything the family name stands for. I watch as her eyes widen and her breathing increases. Anger seeps from her pores, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Kennedy get defensive over me. Usually, she’s finding a way to piss me off, and here she is, getting upset at the cards I was dealt.
“I had no idea.” Her voice is small, and I hate that my admission is making her feel any sort of way.
“It’s not your fault.”
She purses her lips and stares out the window. I follow her gaze and watch the palms blow in the slight breeze.
