by Terra Kelly
They walked to a table in the back away from all the noise, Joshua and Grant were sitting there talking. Grant had on his police uniform still, and Joshua was looking all sexy in his army green cargo shorts and snug navy blue tee. Joshua looked up and noticed Kenzie walking his way. “Hi there, sexy stalker.” Then he stood to greet her, leaning in, he gave her a sweet kiss on her delicious lips. He straightened and looked at the guy next to her. “You have to be her brother, Gage? You both look like identical twins, wow.”
Every time Joshua touched Kenzie, her heart would beat a thousand times faster. He always muddled her brainwaves, too. Clearing her throat. “Yes. He surprised me today and showed up at my boutique.”
Gage put his hand out to Joshua. “And you must be “him,” the one she has been talking about for ten years?”
Kenzie gave Gage a big shove. “Oh, stop it.”
Gage grabbed his arm like he was wounded. “Okay, okay, but I’m right.”
Joshua laughed. “Well, to be fair, I have been, too. My family was about to force me to date someone, like chaperone me and all.”
Grant raised his beer. “Amen to that.”
Kenzie smiled and tugged Joshua closer. “So, everything worked out then, right?”
Joshua wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her in closer to his body, kissed her temple. “Perfect.”
Grant and Gage both audibly groaned. Gage spoke first. “Get a room.” He looked over at Grant. “Should I be worried, has my sister shared my rap-sheet with you yet?” He smiled and leaned in to shake Grant’s hand. “Hi, I’m Gage.”
Laughing, Grant looked from Kenzie to Gage. “Um, not yet, but should I ask for it?” He stood and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Joshua’s older brother Grant.”
Kenzie smiled. “Sometimes things are best left in the past... well, not everything.” She hugged him tighter. “So, do you both have time to have dinner with us?”
Grant smiled. “I need to head out in a few, it has been a long day. But I hear you will have dinner with the family tomorrow? You get to meet my parents.”
Kenzie felt a wee bit of nervousness surfacing, but she pushed it back down. “I am and I’m looking forward to meeting them.” In a low voice for only Joshua to hear. “I hope they like me.”
“They will love you.”
Chapter 7
The sky was a deep blue with only a few clouds peeking out here and there. Kenzie was holding not one, but two leashes, and being yanked everywhere by Elvis and Costello. What was supposed to be a walk, was instead a pull-run-hop and avoid-small-children adventure? She was out of breath and about to give up all together when warm hands encircled hers. “I’m sorry, love. They’re not this bad usually. Are you okay?” Then he took both leashes from Kenzie’s almost death grip. “I shouldn’t have left you, sorry. It was Mom on the phone, we are all set for 6:00 p.m. tonight.”
Kenzie was breathing heavy and trying not to laugh. The two dogs were pretty freaking funny. “Does your mom cook like mine? Meaning, should I wear my comfy pants tonight?”
He laughed. and brushed away a few strands of hair off his face. “Yes. She makes a feast and loves dessert… like several desserts.”
Elvis walked over and leaned up against Kenzie. She stroked his silky fur and patted his behind. “Elvis, you big goof.” She looked over at Joshua, and asked, “Okay, what the hell, they’re perfect for you?”
Joshua gave a side-ways glance and a cheeky grin. “You didn’t let them know who the two-legger was. If they can take control, they will in a heartbeat.” He adjusted the leashes and held them in one hand. Then he reached with his free hand to wrap his arm around her waist. “We’ll work on it together, if you want.”
She nudged her shoulder into his side and smiled. “Two-legger, huh? I’m game to learn.”
They continued walking for about ten more minutes and then turned to head back home. Kenzie was lost in thought, unable to get all the school bullshit out of her mind. She could see it now, everyone will be together at dinner, and someone will ask about her background. This evening could end up going one of two ways, fantastic, or her running out the door from embarrassment. She knew she needed to just get this school stuff straightened out and stop whining about it.
They arrived back at Josh’s house and started up the steps. Joshua looked over at her, and asked, “Penny for your thoughts?”
She smiled up into that heart stopping expression, it was possible her heart just did a few back flips of excitement. She shook her head. “Wondering how the night will turn out. You know someone will ask, ‘So Kenzie, where did you go to school?’ And I will lose my voice.”
They walked into the house and Joshua took the leashes off each dog. He stood and headed toward Kenzie. “I wonder if I can make your voice disappear?” Then he invaded her personal space by moving closer to her body. She backed-up, but found herself trapped between the door, and a delicious hard muscular body. He reached for her hands, raised them above her head, and pressed them against the door. “I think I will create a game that will be just for you and I, are you in?”
Kenzie was finding it difficult to breathe, she loved having his body pressed up against her. She could feel his glorious erection pressing against her belly. The feeling sent sparks to her girl parts, which started into a song and dance. “Game? What kind of game?”
He continued to hold her arms above her head and started to rub his five o’clock shadow on her cheek. “I love touching you.” Then he started a trail of hot kisses down the side of her face, along her jaw line, and then on her full lips. “If you say something negative about the elephant, I get to spank you.” He started a trail of kisses toward her ear and nipped at her earlobe. “I want you to be positive and work toward changing this situation. I will be with you every step of the way.”
Kenzie’s voice hitched and her hands shook. “Spank me?” She looked up into his hazel eyes and gave an ever so slight smile. “O-Okay.”
He laughed. “You plan to talk negative on purpose now, don’t you?” He moved in again and made her moan. “If only you could play hooky from the boutique, I would carry you to my bedroom now.”
Kenzie took in a deep breath, trying to get air to her lungs. “You make it hard for a woman to think. Do you know that?”
He gave a devilish smile. “Yeah, do I?”
She pushed forward on his ever growing erection. “And you play dirty,” she teased. “I better get to work, but it is my shop… I could be late.”
At around 5:30, Joshua walked into the boutique with a smile plastered on his face. His mind couldn’t shake what they had done that morning… up against a wall. She did not understand how perfect she was. Her body about knocked him off his feet every time he was near her. Plus, her sexy low voice got him hard just thinking about it, especially some of the things she spoke in his ear earlier. He was determined to help her get her GED and then get a college degree. He wanted her, all of her, and he planned to prove that.
Kenzie was standing at the front counter talking to her brother, Gage. As Joshua walked up, their voices silenced. “Am I interrupting anything?”
Gage laughed. “Just my sister bawling me out… again.”
Kenzie gave a frustrated look. “Whatever, Gage.” She smiled when she looked at Joshua. “Hi gorgeous! What Gage wanted to say was, ‘I wonder if I can join you for dinner?’ Followed by me saying that is not my call and kinda inappropriate since you don’t know them.” She then looked toward Gage and gave him an ‘I told ya so,’ look.
But then Joshua surprised them both. “Sure man, my mom would be pissed if I left you behind. She always says ‘the more the merrier.’ There will be plenty of food.”
Kenzie looked defeated. “You both suck. Gage, you always get your way.”
Gage let out a hearty laugh. “Well now, when are we leaving, I’m starving!”
They all were laughing as Kenzie closed up the boutique and headed for Joshua’s Jeep. The drive to Joshua’s pare
nts’ house was about twenty-five minutes from the boutique. So, they found a few things to chat and tease Kenzie. When they pulled up to the big two-story home, Kenzie felt a little tug on her insides. This is the home she would want with her future husband, two kids, and several animals. The home had a wrap-around porch that made Kenzie go all dreamy eyed. She could see herself sitting on the porch, reading a sexy romance, and drinking sweet tea, spiked of course.
Connie and Jim walked out onto the patio, he had his arm behind Connie’s back holding her closely. As Joshua walked up the steps to greet them, another Jeep pulled into the large drive-way. Drew and Isabel hopped out and headed to greet everyone.
Connie smiled. “Wow, talk about timing.” Then she went to give her two boys a kiss and Isabel a big bear hug. Then she stepped back to take the moment to meet Kenzie and her brother Gage. “Hi, I’m Connie. Kenzie, right?”
“Yes. It’s wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Winters.”
“Call me Connie, please. Now, I’m not sure who you are, but I will say Kenzie’s brother?”
Gage laughed. “We can never hide our identities or stay incognito when we’re together.”
Jim leaned forward and reached out his hand. “No son, that would be difficult. You both look like twins. It’s nice to meet you, I’m Jim.”
Connie reached out her hand. “That’s true, you could be twins. Are you sure you’re not?” Then she shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Isabel leaped forward. “Hey Gage, good to see you again. Here is my handsome fiancée, Drew.”
Drew smiled and shook Gage’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Okay, come on everyone, let’s go inside for cocktails, and lots of food. Grant should be here in a few, he said there was an accident, and he was the first responder.”
Kenzie gasped. “Oh no, I hope everyone is okay.”
Joshua put his arm around her shoulders. “He would’ve told mom, so I bet just the normal fender bender.”
As Kenzie walked into the house, she inhaled the scents of bread, beef, wine, and something with apples. Their house was decorated with several floral prints and small flower tchotchke’s on several little shelves. There were different yellow accents on each wall. The place felt homey, comfortable, and inviting. Kenzie looked toward Connie. “Your home is beautiful, Connie.”
“Thank you dear. I keep saying, I should update or try a different theme, but I love the way my house makes me feel. Happy.”
“Happy is a perfect word to describe how it makes you feel. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Connie was nervous to meet Kenzie, after all the years of watching Joshua look sad at just the mention of, “That girl.” She looked at her now and could see that Kenzie was kind. She knew she needed to give her a chance. “Would you like a cocktail, dear?”
Kenzie sighed. “Oh yes, anything with bourbon sounds lovely.”
Connie laughed. “Well, I believe we have just the remedy for that need. Come on, sweetheart.” Then she put her arm around Kenzie’s shoulders and lead her toward the kitchen. “Izzy and I tried out another cocktail, instead of always drinking our Bourbon Lemonade. Which is delicious? So, today we have an adult version of sweet tea, sound good?”
Gage walked into the kitchen just as she said, adult version of sweet tea. He raised his hand high. “Sounds fabulous, Mrs. W.” He walked over and stood next to Kenzie and looked at everything spread out on the kitchen island. “Did you make all this today?”
Izzy walked in holding a large bottle of bourbon and a pan of something sweet. “Well, all except these,” she said, holding up the pan that looked like a very large banana split. She turned to Connie. “I boozified my banana split cake recipe, and it’s out of this world.”
Gage looked at Kenzie. “Why didn’t we come around sooner? I love the bourbon love this family has.”
Drew, Joshua, Jim, and Grant walked into the room at that moment. Jim looked at Gage. “They have the bourbon love. Me, I choose a tall cold one instead,” as he held up his beer.
“You and me both, Dad,” Grant said, and raised his bottle up.
Izzy poured bourbon in a measuring cup. “They’re just missing out, Gage.” Then she poured about two cups of bourbon into a pitcher for the spiked sweet tea. Looking excited. “Should we set the table, mom… I mean, Connie?”
Connie had tears surface. “Oh, how I love when you call me mom.” She walked over and gave Izzy a big bear hug. “Yes, let’s get this party started.”
They were all seated at the big dining room table and passing the different array of foods counter-clockwise to each other. Kenzie grabbed a bowl of green beans, tomatoes, and some other yummy goodies from Joshua, “Oh, is this all for me?” she winked. “I’m kidding, but I adore recipes like this, it looks fabulous!”
Connie laughed. “Have as much as you want, we have more in the kitchen. With four boys, I always make extra food. There is nothing wrong with leftovers, right?”
Just then Kenzie could feel something shift and she knew what was coming. Then Jim looked her way, and asked, “So Kenzie, you’re from Arizona?”
She nodded. “Yes, the Phoenix area. I was a military brat, so we traveled everywhere when I was growing up.” Gage had gone quiet next to her and she could feel his unease. She looked toward him and smiled, hoping to calm his nerves.
Connie grabbed the butter for her dinner roll. “When you left Wilmington several years back, did your family keep traveling together?”
“No, after we left Wilmington, we went back to Arizona and have lived there ever since.” Kenzie felt her heart rate increase, she knew what question was next. Taking in deep breaths without everyone noticing was not easy.
Jim looked her way. “So, is Arizona State your alma mater?”
Kenzie took in another deep breath, trying to regain the little control she had left. When everything became a blur. Gage looked toward Jim. “Oh heck no, Mr. W. Kenzie and I boycotted school, especially ASU.”
Connie looked at Jim, then to Joshua. “Boycott? School?”
Out of the blue, Joshua looked at Grant. “So, you were first on the scene for an accident? Was everyone okay?”
Kenzie wanted to run, she wanted to hide. No, she wanted to smack her brother upside the head, but that wouldn’t work right now. She heard Gage, take in a breath like he was about to say something. So, she did what anybody would do, she kicked his leg under the table.
He let out a yelp. “What the hell, Kenzie?”
With the confusion happening, she snuck a glance at Izzy, hoping she could read her mind. What her mind was saying, no it was yelling. “Get me out of here.”
Isabel spilled something on her pants. “Crap. Leave it to me to make a mess.” Then looking toward Kenzie, she asked, “Will you help me out, please?” Then they both stood and headed for the bathroom, not down the hall, the one upstairs instead.
Isabel closed the door and turned to Kenzie. “What did I save you from? I don’t understand what’s going on!”
Kenzie sat down on the toilet, resting her elbows on her thighs and covering her face with her hands. In a muffled voice, “I told Josh this would happen. My dumb brother, I could kick his ass right about now.” She sighed and stood. Then walked to the mirror and looked at herself. “The thing I had to talk to Josh about? Well, it is about school or lack thereof, I guess.” She turned to face Isabel and shared why she was freaking out. She didn’t leave out a single detail. When she was done, Izzy had a sadness in her eyes. She walked forward and pulled Kenzie into a hug. “Oh sweetie, those wonderful people downstairs, they could care less about all the school shit. All they care about is that everyone is happy. Everything else is just info, nothing more, nothing less.” She stepped back from Kenzie. “What Connie will be more concerned about, is your father okay?”
Kenzie smiled, like the first smile in over forty-five minutes. “He’s wonderful. I miss him but talk to him all the time.” She sat back down on the toilet, clasped her hands together,
and let out a deep sigh. “How do you tell people that are successful, and holy cats smart, that I never finished school?”
Izzy squatted down in front of her. “You don’t. Let’s change this unspoken grumpy elephant back to a happy elephant. Josh and I will help you. What do you say?”
Kenzie felt tears surface, she tried to hold them back, but they fell at their own free will. She reached out and touched Izzy’s face. “You would help me, it’s not a bother?” She dropped her hand back to her lap and looked down at her hands. In a whisper, “I never let myself have close friends, even in Arizona. I guess with all the traveling, I let myself become very guarded. There is something about Wilmington, Joshua, you, and my sweet little store. You all make me so happy. I love you have given our friendship a chance. Now here you are offering to help with my school stuff. Thank you, Isabel. It means more than I can even put into words.”
Izzy smiled and put her hand on Kenzie’s knee. “That’s what friends are for, sweetie.”
Just then there was a knock at the door. “Kenzie, Izzy? You both okay in there?” It was Josh, and he sounded concerned.
Izzy hopped up and went right to the door to open it for him. “All okay. We three need to chat later but we better go act like everything is hunky dory for now.” She looked to Kenzie, and asked, “Sound good? Maybe let’s get a drink later after dinner at The Clam Bake, deal?” Then she headed for the door. “I will see you both downstairs.” Then she winked at Kenzie. “Thanks for getting the stain out of my pants.”
Joshua walked right to Kenzie and knelt down in front of her. “Baby, you okay?”
She flung herself into his arms and inhaled his delicious male scent. “I am now.” Leaning back, she said, “Let’s say, having you and Izzy in my life, well, it’s fantastic.” She put a hand on either side of his face, pulled him to be closer to her, and kissed his gorgeous lips. “Let’s go devour boozy banana split cake and chat about the elephant later with Izzy. Deal?”
