Page 41 of Two of a Kind
He had hoped to talk to Kayla alone, but that wasn’t possible if they stayed here. Making a snap decision, he offered another charming smile to the mother and said, “Actually, Kayla and I have plans.”
“You do?” The older woman shot Kayla a calculating look. “You didn’t tell me you had plans, dear.”
Kayla opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, he added smoothly, “Nothing too grand. We were just going to discuss possible promotional material for my new resort. Kayla is an excellent agent.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Patricia said, but he could see the wheels turning. “Please, do come in while Kayla takes a moment to make herself presentable.”
He didn’t miss the way Kayla’s shoulders stiffened. He wasn’t typically one to play white knight, but he couldn’t allow that comment to go unanswered. Often the recipient of his father’s thinly veiled criticism, he knew how it felt.
“She’s perfect as she is,” Spencer said, meaning it.
Rather than be flattered by the compliment, however, Kayla seemed to shrink. Her mother, on the other hand, beamed like she had just won the lottery.
He ignored the warning bells, even louder now, and held out his hand to Kayla. “Shall we?”
She tried for a smile. “Sure.”
“It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Davidson.”
“Please! Mrs. Davidson is my mother-in-law. Call me Patricia.”
“Patricia,” he obliged with a slight inclination of his head.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, as well, Mr. Dumas. Enjoy your evening.”
He put his hand on the small of Kayla’s back and guided her toward his car. She said nothing until they had driven at least a mile away.
“Do you go looking for trouble, or does it just find you naturally?”
He chuckled at that and patted her hand. “A little of both, I think. Keeps life interesting. That’s your mother, huh? I admit, I wasn’t prepared for a meet-the-parent moment.” He glanced over to see her staring out the window, hoping for a smile. He didn’t get one.
“You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
“What have I done?”
She didn’t answer.
Spencer continued to drive away from Brandyville. A brightly lit sign appeared up ahead, and on a whim, he pulled into the lot. “Wait here,” he said.
Minutes later, he was putting a bag in the back seat and they were off again.
Kayla eyed him, the question evident in her eyes but unspoken.
He grinned and winked. “Just trust me, okay?”
Another sigh, but he thought he saw a glimmer of amusement when she nodded.
Spencer drove to a somewhat secluded area, then parked.
“Come on.” He grabbed the bag from the back seat and got out, walking into the darkness just beyond the car. It took a minute or two, but Kayla got out and followed. He patted the top of a picnic table. “Come on. I don’t bite.”
She snorted again, but eased up beside him. “Yes, you do.”
He laughed, images of their time together at Sate supporting her claim more than his.
He pulled two cartons out of the paper bag and held them out to her. “Cherry vanilla or chocolate marshmallow?”
The skies were clear and the moon full enough to see her eyes light up. She snatched the chocolate marshmallow, then rummaged around in the bag for the plastic spoons. “We’ll split half and half.”
