A knock on her window startled her, and she slammed on the brakes.
“You want to pop the trunk for me?” Camden lifted his suitcase and gave her a sexy grin.
Her heart stuttered. Handsome men weren’t serial killers, right? Better to be safe than sorry though. She pushed the trunk button and hopped out of the car, rushing to him with her hand up. “Wait. Open the suitcase.”
He gave her a funny look. “Why?”
“I have this rule . . . about my car. Nothing goes in the trunk unless I know what it is. Let me see inside.”
He laid it on the cement and crouched down. “Alright, but it’s just my clothes.”
She watched as he unzipped the case and opened it. Clothes. That was all. She dug a little to make sure he hadn’t buried a gun or something. Holding in a laugh, she peered up at him. “You wear boxers with kissy lips on them?”
His cheeks turned pink. “My mother bought those for me.”
The laugh she was trying to hold back burst from her and bounced off the cement walls of the parking garage. “Okay, you’re good. You can put it in the car.” She motioned to the duffle bag he still had in his hand. “What’s in there?”
“Snacks. Want to see them too?”
She wanted to say yes, but now he was looking at her like she was insane. “No. That’s fine.”
They both climbed into the car, and she pulled out her phone to text Tessa. It was best to let someone know she was coming, just in case. “I’m letting my sister know we’re heading out.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
She shoved the car into gear and peeled out of the parking garage. The setting sun made it hard to see. After they got on the interstate, she rummaged through the console between the seats and pulled out her favorite tunes. “Do you mind putting this in for me?”
He stared at it. “Your car still plays cassettes?”
“Of course. Why would I ask you to put it in if my car wouldn’t play it?”
He shook his head. “I’m shocked. I didn’t know anyone still had cassettes.” He put the tape in the slot and Duran Duran blared through her speakers.
She cranked the sound down. “Sorry. I like my music loud. And it still works, so I figured, why replace it, you know?”
“Sure. Makes sense.”
She gave him sideways glances as she drove, trying to convince herself he was just a regular guy doing her a favor, and that he didn’t bring along a duffle bag full of weapons. “We have a long drive ahead of us. I think we should get to know each other.”
He relaxed against the back of his seat. “Good idea.”
“Have you ever been arrested?” She bit her lip. Was that too obvious?
“Nope.” He looked at her. “Have you?”
“Technically . . . no.”
He sat up straight, eyeing her skeptically. “What does that mean? What did you do?”
It was a long story, and she really didn’t feel like telling it. “Well, apparently a person can’t climb a bridge, even if they don’t mean to fling themselves off it.”
He chuckled and visibly relaxed. “Really?”
“Yes. The police get very testy about it.” She checked her mirrors and switched lanes. “They don’t wait for you to explain, either.”
“Did you get a ticket?”
How did they end up talking about her? She wanted to find out if hottie over there was a serial killer. “Two, actually. But that’s a longer story. How about you? Have you ever gotten a ticket?”
“Sure. A couple of speeding tickets. Nothing out of the ordinary.” He looked out the window.
She shot him a quick glance. “Have you ever gotten away with something illegal?”
He narrowed his eyes at her, suspicion lacing his gaze. “Why?”
“No reason.”
He continued to scrutinize her. “We’re not going to get involved in anything shady, are we? This is just a wedding, right?”
How did he turn everything back on her? She tugged at the collar of her shirt. “No, nothing shady going on here. We’re fine.”
“Okay.” He sounded hesitant, like he wasn’t sure he believed her.
Great. Now she’d made him think she was up to something, which wasn’t her intention at all. She wanted to know if he was going to slice her up into a million pieces. Now he didn’t trust her. She sighed and stared at the car in front of her.
“Have you lived in Virginia a long time?” Camden asked.
“A little while. I’m kind of nomadic. Can’t stand to live in one place for long.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Where all have you lived?”
That was hard to say. “I’ve lived in forty-five of the fifty states.”
“Whoa, are you serious?”
She nodded. “My father’s job had us moving around a lot when I was a kid. I guess it grew on me. Now I can’t stand to put down too many roots. I spent the last eighteen months with my car and a tent. It was fascinating, waking up to a new sunrise each day.”
Camden stared at her. “How old are you? You don’t look old enough to have traveled that much.”
“Twenty-five.”
“What funds your travels?” He was back to looking at her with suspicious eyes.
She huffed. “Nothing illegal, if that’s what you’re implying.” Dusk was settling in and she turned the heater up to combat the spring chill in the air.
“No, I’m just curious. That’s all. What is it you do?”
Kenzie hesitated. Most people didn’t understand her passion. Her sister thought she was crazy. She was used to others making light of what she did, so she didn’t usually tell anyone. But this was the second time he’d asked, and if she side-stepped the question again he’d probably assume she was a drug dealer or something. “I make jewelry.”
He slowly nodded. “That’s cool.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that’s cool. What do you think I mean?” He looked at her like she confessed to eating baby rats.
Now she felt like a nitwit. “Sorry. People don’t generally think what I do is that great. They either think it’s just a cute hobby, or they don’t get it at all.”
“Hey, if you enjoy it, and it’s able to bring in money, there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re making a living doing what you love.”
She glanced at him. He seemed sincere. “Yeah. That’s how I see it, too.”
He unzipped his duffle bag and she tensed, watching as he reached inside. He pulled out a water bottle and she let out a breath she was holding. “You thirsty?” he asked.
Why was he offering her water? Did he put something in it? “No, thank you.”
“Okay.” He unscrewed the lid and took a long drink. Of course, that made her thirsty. She swallowed and tried to concentrate on the road.
After they drove for an hour, she pulled off the interstate and stopped at a gas station. “I’d better fuel up. If you want anything, let me know.”
He nodded and got out of her car. She filled the tank and then parked near the door. She glanced around but didn’t see Camden as she went into the convenience store. She grabbed a cold water bottle and a package of shelled pistachio nuts. There was no sign of Camden, so she bought her food and went back to the car.
Gravel crunched and fear ripped through her; Camden stepped out of the shadows. This was it. He was going to grab her and drag her off. She turned and did a ninja move, her hand up and her water bottle pointed at him. He blinked at her as she stood there wielding her cold drink. “You okay?”
He looked totally harmless. And hot. And his lips were twitching like he was trying not to smile. She lowered her bottle, her heart thumping in her chest. “Yes. You scared me.”
“I was waiting for you out here. The air smells nice after rain.”
She smiled, feeling stupid. “I love that smell too.”
He glanced down at the water bottle in her hand. “What exactly were you going to do with that?”
“I d
on’t know. My pepper spray wasn’t handy.”
His eyes grew wide. “I’m glad.”
She laughed, letting the tension roll off her back. She didn’t know why she was so worried. Camden was harmless. And cute. But she couldn’t think about him in any romantic kind of way. She’d been down that road too many times; it had never worked out. “Don’t worry. I won’t spray you unless you try to slice me up or something.”
He climbed into the car. “You don’t have to worry about that. I hate blood.”
She buckled her seat. “Good, because I kind of like you, and it would be a shame if you turned out to be a murderer.”
Chapter 3
Camden chuckled as Kenzie pulled back onto the interstate. He liked her. She was spunky and fun—and a tad bit weird, but maybe that’s what he needed.
He wanted to put her at ease. She was obviously nervous around him. “I swear I’m not a murderer.”
She flashed a smile at him.
“But I must confess, I did kill my pet fish when I was five. It was an accident.”
“What happened?” Kenzie asked, not taking her eyes off the road.
“I wanted to give Goldie a drink.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “A drink of what?”
“Sprite.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, my mom didn’t notice anything was wrong until the next day when Goldie was floating upside down.”
She cringed. “Poor thing.”
“I was crushed. It’s hard to see a pet die. It’s even harder to know you were the one that made it happen.” He still remembered the guilt he’d felt when he realized it was his fault. He’d cried for an hour.
“Did you get a new fish?”
“No, Mom got me a cat. She figured it would be a little heartier.”
Kenzie laughed, glancing at him. “And is that why you bonded with the skinny one hanging around your construction site?”
“I guess so.” He smiled at her. He liked her laugh. It sounded like it came from her toes. And he hadn’t thought about Lexi at all since he got in the car. If this would continue through the weekend, he’d have a nice time at the wedding.
“What’s your cat’s name?”
“Thor.”
She raised her eyebrows and peeked at him through her hair. “Hopefully he’s filled out a little. A skinny Thor just wouldn’t do.”
“He’s doing great now that he gets regular meals. And he’s cocky, so the name fits perfectly.”
She grinned at him, then tossed her bag of pistachio nuts at him. “Would you open this for me?”
“Sure,” he said as he tore off the top of the package and handed it back to her.
She put it between their seats. “You can have some if you want.”
“Thanks, but I’m beat. I think I’ll take a nap.” He settled in his seat and closed his eyes. He drifted off to sleep, barely aware of the passage of time.
He jerked awake when he realized the car had stopped moving. Had he really slept the whole rest of the way? The driver’s seat sat empty. Kenzie was behind the car pulling stuff out of the trunk.
He picked up his duffle bag and hopped out to help her. “I’ll get that.” He took her suitcase and picked his up from the pavement.
“You don’t have to,” Kenzie said.
“Yes I do. It’s in the written contract.” He nodded his head at her purse, which held the rules she’d written out, and gave her a wink.
He shut the trunk and headed toward the resort to check them in. Kenzie walked with him. He thought he saw her lips twitch into a smile, but when he glanced at her it was gone.
Even in the dark, Camden could see that the oceanfront resort was nice. The landscaping screamed upscale. The double doors leading into the lobby were made of glass, the fixtures plated in gold. He walked up to the desk.
Kenzie plopped her purse on the counter and pulled out her ID. “We have two rooms reserved under Kenzie Bennett.”
The woman behind the desk clicked on her keyboard for a moment. She nodded and gave them each a key card. “You’re in adjoining suites on the fifth floor. Breakfast is served from five to nine in the restaurant. Enjoy your stay.”
Camden picked up the suitcases again and went with Kenzie to the main elevator. He couldn’t help but notice her confident stride as she walked. She was self-assured. He liked that.
The late hour must have caught up with Kenzie because she yawned. He held in a grin. “What’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”
“There’s a Bride’s Breakfast, something I can’t remember in the afternoon, and then bachelor and bachelorette parties in the evening.”
They exited the elevator when they reached their floor. A young woman turned the corner down the hallway. “Kenzie? Is that you?” The petite blonde shrieked and ran toward them.
“Tessa,” Kenzie said, smiling. “Good to see you.”
Tessa looked pretty much like Kenzie had described her. The perky, cheerleader type. A little younger than he’d pictured. She embraced Kenzie and squealed. “I can’t believe it. You’re here. It’s been forever!”
An older couple appeared and approached them, and Camden could see the family resemblance immediately. Kenzie’s mother sported the same blonde hair Tessa had, except it was styled in a short I-have-money kind of cut. Tessa’s was shoulder length with soft curls.
Kenzie’s gaze bounced between them. “Camden, this is my sister, Tessa, and my parents, Michael and Helene. This is my boyfriend, Camden.”
Tessa eyeballed him before giving him a hug. “Glad you could come.” She turned and winked at Kenzie.
Helene gave him a polite nod, her lips pressed together. She turned a sour expression toward her daughter. “McKenzie, what have you done to your hair? It looks like someone spilled wine all over it.”
Kenzie cringed, and Camden wondered what was wrong with the color. “I think it looks nice.” Kenzie shot him an appreciative look.
Michael gave Kenzie a hug. “I do too, honey.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“It’s a popular color, Mom. And it shows off her freckles.” Tessa fluffed the curls.
Helene’s scowl deepened, her thin lips almost disappearing. “And what are you wearing?”
Kenzie’s cheeks flushed and Camden resisted the urge to tell the woman off. She was Kenzie’s mother, and he was here to be the . . . what did she call it? Man candy? He needed to shut up and act polite.
“Printed leggings are in now,” Tessa said, putting her arm around Kenzie. “How was your drive? Was it long?”
“Not so bad.” Kenzie looked relieved to have the subject changed. “At least until Camden fell asleep and started snoring.”
“What? I don’t snore.”
Tessa laughed and playfully hit him on the arm. “Long car rides put Eric right to sleep, too.”
“Well, it’s late,” Kenzie said. “And we have an early morning.”
“You’re right. We should all get to bed. We’re around the corner.” Tessa ushered her parents down the hall. “Have a good night. See you tomorrow.”
Kenzie turned to him, a weary look on her face. “See you in the morning.”
Kenzie awoke, a feeling of dread clinging to her. Why had she come? She wasn’t ready for the slew of memories seeing her mother would bring her. The pain of never measuring up. She thought she’d buried it, but it was back with a raw vengeance.
She climbed out of bed and tried to ignore the dark mood pressing down on her as she showered. After she slipped into her dress and pinned on one of her favorite brooches, she knocked on the door joining her room to Camden’s. “You awake?”
Camden pulled the door open. His blue dress shirt was unbuttoned, and she struggled to not stare at his chest. Construction workers really got buff lifting all those heavy things. He could grate cheese off his abs. “I’m almost ready,” he said, struggling to put in his cuff links.
Without thinking, she reached out and took over. Her fingers grazed his skin a
nd electricity shot through her. She had to force herself to breathe normally and continue. The heat from him made her heart pound, and her breathing difficult. Finally, when she was done, she took a step back from him. “There. Now button up your shirt.”
“Thanks,” he said, his dark eyes smiling at her. It was almost like he knew how he was affecting her.
She pulled the door almost shut. “Knock when you’re all done.”
He nodded, now grinning at her. “Sounds good.”
She shut her door and leaned up against it. Holy cow, she hadn’t been expecting that kind of physical reaction to him. Tiny zaps still skimmed over her skin. She would have to watch herself and remember why she was hiring out the part of her boyfriend.
Real relationships always ended up with her getting hurt.
By the time he knocked, her breathing had returned to normal. She grabbed her purse and headed out with him.
“You look nice,” he said, his gaze traveling over her dress.
“Thanks. You, too.”
“Do you have any other siblings or other family I should know about?”
“No other siblings, just me and my sister. I’m sure my Aunt Vita will be there. She’s my father’s sister. A warning—she can say some odd things. She had a head injury a few years ago and hasn’t been quite the same since.”
“Oh.”
“And don’t look so nervous. You’ll do great.” She smiled up at him to help him relax.
They entered the restaurant and the smell of bacon and coffee hit her in full force, making her mouth water. She hadn’t realized she was so hungry. “We’re here with the Bennett-Adams party.”
The hostess motioned. “Right this way.”
As they approached the table, Kenzie saw they were the last to arrive. Aunt Vita sat on the end, her hair teased up to look like she stepped out of a 1960s ad. Her parents were next, followed by an older couple she could only assume was Eric’s parents. Tessa and her fiancé sat on the opposite side, two empty seats next to them.
Eric’s mother stood. “You must be Kenzie. I’ve heard so much about you.” She extended her hand. “I’m Veronica, and this is Rodger,” she said, indicating her husband.
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