Page 34 of The Kissing Part
My gut churns. “I didn’t mean—” I start.
She looks away, her voice a whisper. “You should go.”
I walk a distance away. Not too far, I need to keep watch. Dammit, why does Shayla have to make everything so damn complicated?
* * *
Shayla
I’m so excited to tour the house with Mackenzie and Harper. It’s officially ours. We’re here on a Saturday morning to measure the spaces and decide what we need. Olivia is here, too, to keep a running list of stuff to buy.
“Aunt Mad was right,” Mackenzie says. “It’s definitely move-in ready. The hardwood floors look recently redone. Look at the crown molding in the living room!”
We’re in the front parlor room with a large fireplace and have a view of the formal living room through an archway. To the left is a dining room and, just beyond that, a kitchen.
Harper, Olivia, and I follow Mackenzie into the living room. Owen skulks behind us. He’s not happy with me for buying a house to live in with my friends, who happen to be his family members. I’m not putting them at risk. I planned on having a guard and a good security system. But no-o-o, Owen rejected my choice in bodyguard, saying he was too inexperienced, even though Owen didn’t have any bodyguard experience until recently. I thought JJ had plenty of experience after five years with a famous family. Anyway, Owen’s staying on an extra week while Olivia finds another candidate.
I set Owen free, and he refused to go. Yesterday was supposed to be his last day. Now he acts like I’m forcing him to be here when he was the one who rejected his replacement.Door’s right there, Mr. Grumpy!
“I can just picture a sofa, love seat, and ottoman in here,” Mackenzie says. “Maybe some antique tables.”
“That would be in keeping with the period, but I thought we’d be more modern casual,” I say.
“Exactly,” Harper says. “I have a great red velvet sofa for this room.”
“I have a brown leather sofa,” Mackenzie says. “One can go in the parlor and one in the living room. I think the TV should go in here.”
Owen walks over to the back window to look at the yard with its six-foot-tall privacy fence. Even he has to agree it’s a nice private spot. There’s a vegetable garden with fencing around it to keep out the wildlife, a small fountain, and a large patio. I love it.
“Let’s talk kitchen supplies,” Olivia says, heading toward the kitchen with a clipboard, a pen tucked behind her ear. I’m so lucky to have her on my team.
We follow her. The kitchen is done all in white—white cabinets, white counters, white sinks, white tile floors. Silver accents on the cabinet handles and drawer pulls, along with stainless-steel appliances, stand out in contrast.
“They did a nice job on the renovation,” I say. “Madison showed me the original blueprint, and the kitchen used to be half this size. They expanded it farther into the back and added on the powder room and laundry room at the same time. They also made the living room bigger and added the bay window.”
“This is a dream kitchen,” Harper says. “Too bad I don’t cook.”
“I can make omelets and stir-fries,” I offer.
“I can bake desserts and make bread,” Mackenzie says. “Mostly carbs.”
“Hello, hello,” a warm masculine voice calls.
I step into the small foyer to find Mackenzie’s younger brother Cooper wearing a toolbelt over faded jeans.
“Ready to help,” he says with a smile. He’s grown into his formerly lanky frame—six feet, muscular and athletic like all the Campbell men. Now why couldn’t I be hung up on a sweet guy like him? Unfortunately, he’s two years younger, and I’ll forever see him as Mackenzie’s little brother who used to run wild and throw food at us. Now that he’s in his twenties, he’s much calmer.
I smile. “Hey, Cooper. Come take the tour with us. We’re trying to figure out what we need before move-in tomorrow.”
Owen appears by my side. “You left the front door unlocked?”
“It’s not like we’re living here yet. We’re just scoping the place out. Besides, you’re with me.”
Cooper gives Owen a handshake with a slap on the back.
“Cooper to the rescue again,” Owen says.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
