by Becki Willis
“So when do we leave?”
“I’ll have to get ready first.”
“You look great to me.”
“Then you’ll really like my clubbing outfit!” she said with a sassy grin, already off the couch. “Help yourself to the TV. It’ll take me about twenty minutes to get ready.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
Yes, she thought. You probably would. Too bad I’m still waiting on Travis.
Chapter Seven
Kenzie avoided the censure in Makenna’s gaze when she came in from her errands and found her twin getting dressed for a night out.
“I see you have company,” Makenna said quietly, so that her voice did not carry into the living room.
“He surprised me. But I told you I’d see him in person before Travis even called.” She could not resist the slight barb in her words as she rimmed her eyes with kohl.
Makenna eyed the short flared skirt, the low-cut blouse with shiny silver threads woven throughout the clinging red silk. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said softly.
“I’m going out for a night of fun. Do you realize how long it has even been since I’ve gone out? I used to go out all the time, I used to have a social life, I used to have fun! And tonight I’m going to recapture some of that old me. The person I used to be, before all this mess with our father started.”
“And before Travis.”
“Don’t sound so disapproving! I’m not doing anything wrong. It’s not like I’m cheating on him or anything. We had one date, and I had to bully him into that one.” She tried not to think of that magical night at the Cheyenne carnival. Her tone was defensive. “And even though we shared a bed for all those nights, we never had sex. Kisses, yes. Touching, yes. Promises, no. Words of love and loyalty, no. I’m not doing anything wrong,” she insisted.
“It sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself, not me.”
“You’ve been watching too many episodes of Dr. Phil again,” Kenzie huffed. “Have you seen my silver strappy heels?”
“I think I see one peeking out from under your bed. If you put your shoes in the closet, you might be able to keep track of them better.”
Even though they were alike in many ways, there were distinct differences in the two women. Makenna liked lists and order and neatly defined lines. Kenzie was more haphazard, her world too busy and cluttered to keep within distinctive boundaries.
Bending to retrieve the shoe and dig under the messy bed for its mate, Kenzie wrinkled her nose. “Be happy for me, Kenna. Craven is a great guy. You’d like him, if you just gave him a chance.”
“I have nothing against the man. And if he’s the one you want, I’ll support you in every way.”
“He tried to seduce me with a cinnamon roll,” Kenzie admitted, snagging the heel of the elusive shoe and pulling it forth.
“And?” Makenna was almost afraid to ask. Of course, she had to admit, she liked the man’s method of choice.
“I was tempted. Very tempted. You know how much I love cinnamon rolls.” Kenzie plopped down on the edge of the bed and simply sat there, studying the shoes in her hand.
“But?”
“But I guess I love Travis more.” The words sounded strange when spoken aloud.
“Then why are you going out tonight, Kenzie? Why are you wearing that outfit?” Makenna asked softly.
Kenzie lifted her sad green eyes to Makenna’s solemn ones. “Because Travis isn’t here, Makenna. Craven is. Craven cared enough about me to come all this way just to check on me, and he brought me flowers and cinnamon rolls. He wants me, Ken. Not just my body, but me. Travis won’t even call me.”
“He’s in the middle of something pretty big, Kenzie.”
“I know that. But I want to be the something big in his life, Kenna. I want to be the most important thing in his world. It may be selfish of me, but I spent my entire childhood shoved into the background. I was never important enough to take center stage.” Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. “I don’t know if Craven would choose me over his career - and I would never ask him or Travis or any man to ever do so - but at least Craven makes me feel like I’d be worth choosing. Can you understand that?”
“Yes,” her twin whispered.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything stupid tonight. I just want to go out and have a little fun. After all this, especially this new revelation about my mother, I think I deserve one carefree night of no worries, no cares, no strings. Just a night of fun with a friend.”
“You’re right. Just be careful. Not only with your heart - and his, because he does seem like a really nice guy - but with your person. Someone tampered with your brake line, Kenzie. You’re still in danger.”
“I know. I’ll be careful. And Craven will protect me. But I need this night, Makenna. And I know it sounds kind of corny, but I need your blessing.”
Makenna walked over to the bed and dropped a kiss onto the top of her sister’s ebony curls. “You have it, Kenzie. Go out and have a good time tonight. But keep your eyes open and don’t drink too much. Call Hardin if you see anything suspicious. Enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks, Sis. Hey, wanna come with us?”
Makenna laughed. “I’m sure Craven would love that, me tagging along on your date.”
“It’s not a date. I’m just showing him Austin nightlife. Hey, I could call Marci and Linda to join us.”
“Are you sure you trust yourself with this man? You sound like you’re calling in reinforcements.”
Her sister knew her too well. “He’s very good looking, Kenna. And a great kisser. Part of me finds him incredibly sexy and hard to resist.”
Makenna hesitated a second longer. “Can I borrow your green sweater?” she then asked with a grin.
“You’re coming?” Kenzie squealed in delight. “Perfect!”
“We’ll let your friend Craven be the judge of that.”
Kenzie hurried to the door, flung it open and called out, “Hey, Craven, you’re about to have every man’s fantasy come true! A night out with twins! A brunette and a redhead! If you want to add a blond, we have a neighbor named Marci.”
His laugh was rich and immediate, endearing him to her heart even more. “Who am I to tamper with every man’s fantasy? The more the merrier, I always say!”
Half an hour later, the four of them piled into Craven’s rental. He opened the door for Marci and Makenna to slide in the back seat, then came round to open the front door for Kenzie. Taking her elbow and running his hand along her arm, his voice was low and intimate near her ear. “Don’t trust yourself around me, huh? Needed the safety of numbers. Good to know.”
Kenzie ignored his sage observation. “Sharp looking car,” she said. “Very nice.” She slipped into the leather seat, her eyes going over the state-of-the-art dashboard. As he hurried around to get into the driver’s seat, she eyed more of the features. “Heated and cooled seats, heated and cooled cup holders. Nice. Killer sound system. Top-notch navigational system. Good quality leather. Hands-free syncing for phone.”
“Brand new car, too. Less than a hundred miles on it. And check out the retractable back shade,” he grinned. As he put the car in reverse, the integrated shade slid down for an unobstructed view.
“Now that’s cool,” Makenna said, duly impressed. “Ken, maybe you should get this kind of car next time. Meaning now, of course.”
“Very funny, sister dear.”
“Ooh, girl fight. This night just keeps getting better,” Craven grinned.
“Where do you sisters come up with all these guys?” Marci pretended to groan. “I have trouble finding one decent guy, and you two have an over-abundance of them!” The moment the words were out, the blond haired woman realized what she had said. “I-uh, I meant …”
Craven merely laughed. “Don’t worry, I know all about my competition. But like I told Kenzie the first night I kissed her, I like a good challenge.” He winked wickedly while she blushed. She had not wanted his inter
est in her - or hers in him - to be quite so obvious.
After that, however, Craven put no pressure on Kenzie, and played no favoritism when it came to showering all three women with praise and attention. The night turned out to be carefree and happy, and exactly what Kenzie needed. She was able to forget all about the birth mother she couldn’t remember, the miserable years with her father and that woman, the people who were chasing her, and the cars she had wrecked. She almost managed to forget the Ranger who had not called, but every so often her eye would snag on a tall blond head or a cowboy hat, and her heart would catch in her throat. By the time Craven walked them to the door and said goodnight in the hall, no kisses involved, another morning was well on its way.
“You’re right,” Makenna said sleepily, taking out her large hoop earrings in Kenzie’s bedroom doorway. “Your Craven Shaw is a great guy. And if he’s the man you choose, you have my complete blessing.”
“I may have to fight Marci for him!” Kenzie laughed. “Did you see the way she looked at him?”
“Yeah, she looks at Hardin the same way. We need to find her a man of her own. But don’t worry, Craven looks at you about the same way Hardin looks at me. You don’t have to worry about Marci. Or anyone other woman, I’d say.”
“I’m not sure if that makes me happy or sad,” Kenzie said, kicking off her shoes and letting them fall where they may.
Makenna eyed the careless gesture with a frown, but she nodded, knowing what her twin meant without her having to say it. “Because if things work out with you and Travis, you want Craven to be happy with someone else.”
“This love stuff is so confusing and highly over-rated,” Kenzie proclaimed before yawning noisily. “Okay, I gotta hit the sack. We’re getting up early to squeeze everything in. Sure you don’t want to come?”
“Sorry, have to work.”
“Me, too, but he was sweet enough to come all this way just to check up on me. Taking a day off is the least I can do.”
“Yeah, what a sacrifice. Taking a day off work to spend with a handsome hunk in the Hill Country. What a chore!” Makenna teased.
“Go call your own handsome hunk and let me get some sleep.” She playfully waved her sister out the door.
As Kenzie pulled back the covers and slid beneath them, she glanced furtively at her phone. Travis still had not called.
Chapter Eight
Craven had shown Kenzie highlights from his home state, so it was time for her to reciprocate. Even though the rugged hills of the famed Texas Hill Country were no match for the towering heights of the Rocky Mountains, they were just as enchanting in their own right. After a breakfast of authentic fruit-filled Czech kolaches, they visited a cave with impressive formations of stalactites and an interior 90-foot waterfall, then took some of the meandering small roads that wound through rocky hills, lazy rivers, and glimpses of deer and exotic game. Winding up in Fredericksburg, they strolled down quaint streets and visited a few shops that featured local craftsmen, found a small German eatery for lunch, then took a guided afternoon tour of some of the nearby wineries.
Touted as the number two wine destination in the country, second only to Napa, the Texas Hill Country was home to dozens of vineyards and many award-winning wines. By taking the chauffeur-driven bus, they were able to enjoy the wine and the scenery and each other’s company as their day together quickly slipped away.
As dusk set in, Craven and Kenzie lingered along the lattice-trimmed streets of Fredericksburg, sharing ice cream cones as they slowly made their way back to the car.
“I’m not ready for the day to end,” Craven told her, his arm close around her waist.
“When you come back, we’ll go to San Antonio. I’ll take you to the Alamo and the Riverwalk.”
“Two weeks. I’ll be back in two weeks,” he promised.
“That’s an eternity,” she mumbled, thinking it had been that long since she had seen Travis. Two long, miserable weeks.
Craven stopped abruptly on the sidewalk, thinking she meant the sentiment for him. Kenzie paused in the middle of licking her ice cream, startled by his sudden halt.
“I’ve been good all day,” he told her. “Last night I kept a running conversation going with three different people, trying to keep my mind off kissing you. Today I’ve literately sat on my hands, trying to keep them from reaching for you. But I’ve reached my limit. I’m warning you, Kenzie, if you aren’t perfectly still right now, I swear I’m going to forget the promise I made to myself not to pressure you. If you as much as bat an eye, I’m going to kiss you, right here and now.”
The natural-born flirt in her could not resist the challenge. Nor could the little piece of her that secretly yearned for his kiss. Very deliberately, Kenzie slowly blinked her long lashes.
He accepted her invitation with a groan. Kenzie barely had time to hold her ice cream to the side before he crushed her to him and his mouth came down on hers.
She could taste the cold flavor on his lips. When Travis kissed her, it always felt like warm chocolate oozing over her body, sliding over her with decadent delight. Craven, she reminded herself sternly. Travis isn’t here. “Mmm, chocolate,” she murmured.
“Mmm, Kenzie,” he replied, oblivious to the people who stepped around them. When someone jostled into them, Kenzie lost her grip on her cone and the ice cream fell to the ground with a splat.
“Oops, lost my ice cream,” she murmured, pulling away.
“I lost more than that,” he murmured, trying to steal another kiss.
“I think we’re making a bit of a scene. Maybe we should go.”
Craven reluctantly agreed, turning with her to continue on their way. “I think you’re right. That guy over there sure is staring at us.”
Unease slid down Kenzie’s spine. She had been having such a good time she had forgotten to stay on her guard. “Where?”
“See, that guy over there reading the paper. Except I don’t think he’s reading. He keeps staring. Do you know him?”
“He-He does look vaguely familiar.” Kenzie moved closer to Craven’s large body. “Come on, let’s get out of here. He’s giving me the creeps.”
She practically raced down the street. Even Craven had trouble keeping up with her as she hurried to the parked car and scanned behind them for the man. “Hurry up, Craven,” she urged.
Doing as she requested, Craven wasted no time in starting the motor and backing away from the curb. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” he asked.
“Not particularly.”
“Can you still not tell me why Franks was trying to kidnap you?”
“I’m-I’m sorry, Craven, I’m not allowed to talk about the case with anyone just yet,” she said, watching the rear view mirror for signs of the man.
“Even me?” She could hear the hurt in his voice.
“I’m sorry, but especially you. You worked with the man, after all.”
“I had no idea what he was doing Kenzie, you have to believe that!”
“I do,” she assured him quickly, putting her hand on his arm. “I didn’t mean that. But you’ll probably be called as a witness, and I can’t say anything that may color your testimony or your perception of the facts as you know them. It’s nothing personal, Craven. It’s more of a legal matter.”
“What about the man we just saw? And why do you keep watching the road behind us?”
“Just being paranoid, I’m sure. But after Franks pulled a gun on me and having two car wrecks that weren’t my fault, I just get a little jumpy.” She smiled and turned around in her seat, folding her hands calmly in her lap. “So what kind of food would you like for dinner? I have one last opportunity to dazzle you with the best Austin has to offer.”
“I’m already dazzled with the best,” he said, reaching over to cover her hands with his. After a very definite pause, he continued. “But in addition to a very talented pastry chef, I hear my hotel also has a five star chef in residence. Have you ever eaten there?”
�
��No.”
“Then what would you say to dining at the hotel this evening?”
She heard the hidden invitation in his words. Nerves fluttered along her stomach. Temptation settled low. “I-I’m not sure.”
“Dinner, Kenzie,” he said softly. “I’m not asking for anything more.”
She slowly released a tense breath. “Alright,” she agreed. She glanced down at her khaki capris, cotton top, and sandals. “Am I under-dressed?”
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Craven.” She gave him a genuine smile, touched by the compliment.
While he turned the conversation to other topics, Kenzie stole another glance into the mirror. Still no one following them. Maybe it had just been someone watching them kissing, after all. There were all sorts of perverts out there.
Still, the man had seemed oddly familiar….
***
“Mmm,” Kenzie murmured contently, pushing away her plate. “Five stars seem so inadequate.”
“It was delicious, wasn’t it?” Craven smiled.
As if by magic, a waiter appeared at their side, whisking away empty plates, refilling water glasses, and offering to pour more wine.
“No more for me, thanks,” Kenzie said, shaking her head. She was already feeling light-headed. After a satisfying meal and a more than satisfying dinner companion, the last thing she needed was alcohol to lower her inhibitions and impair her judgment.
“Would you care for some coffee?” Craven offered. He was reluctant for the evening to end.
“That sounds nice.”
He turned to the waiter. “We’d like to have our coffee in the courtyard, if you don’t mind.”
“Certainly, sir,” the waiter said, ducking away to do his bidding.
“You don’t mind, do you?” Craven asked Kenzie as he stood to assist her with her chair.
“Not at all.” She followed him to the dimly lit courtyard just off the dining room, remembering a similar setting in Colorado. She had drunk too much wine that night, and murmured Travis’s name when Craven tried to kiss her.
