7. Kennedy
CHAPTER 7
KENNEDY
B radyn Hunt seems to be the complete package.
He’s handsome.
Kind.
Interesting.
Opens doors.
And loves his little sister. Since we ran into him in the café, Lani not only talked him into letting us crash his quiet dinner and tagging along with us to the movies, but she also got him to do the snack run while we went in and grabbed seats.
As much as I wanted to sit on the opposite side of him, Lani had saved him a seat directly next to me, forcing us to sit elbow to elbow during the movie. What I saw of it was great, at least, though I’ll admit most of my attention was on the fact that Bradyn and I kept accidentally brushing hands when either of us went for the popcorn.
I can still feel the heat climbing up my arm, radiating from where his hand brushed mine.
“So what did you think?” Lani asks as we step out onto the sidewalk.
“Huh?”
She grins at me. “The movie. Did you like it?”
“Oh, yeah. I thought it was great. Definite classic.”
“Right? I told you.” Lani links arms with me.
She’s such a force of positivity. Honestly, she reminds me a lot of a friend I had in college. My thoughts darken with the weight of memories better left buried, so I force a smile and try to keep my head on straight.
Stay focused, Kennedy.
“Do you want ice cream?” she asks.
“It’s, like, thirty degrees outside,” Bradyn argues.
“It’s never too cold for ice cream. Sammy?”
“Uh, sure. I’m good for whatever.”
“Yay. Mint chocolate chip, here we come.” Lani guides me ahead, and Bradyn falls into step behind us. Even though I can’t see him, I can feel his gaze on me. Heat climbs up the back of my neck even as unease settles in my gut.
Is he trying to figure me out? Or is he just feeling the same type of attraction I am?
As we approach the small ice cream shop, which also doubles as the town’s bakery, Bradyn rushes around to open the door, his long legs effortlessly eating up the strides between him and the building.
He holds it open, and we step inside.
The teenager working the counter grins at Lani. “Hey there, Doc. What can I get you?”
“Mint chocolate chip, please,” she says.
“You got it.” He starts scooping. “And you?” he asks me.
“The same.” I’m not even sure I like mint chocolate chip as I’ve never had it. I always go for cookie dough. But every decision I make seems like it carries enough weight it could crumble the world around me, so sometimes it’s easier to just follow along than risk saying too much.
You like cookie dough? How cool, me too. Where did you grow up?
Contrary to what I told Bradyn, I’ve always been super social and a serial oversharer. Before, that didn’t matter as I didn’t have much to share. Now, though—the chain around my neck feels heavier as the past tries to sneak up on me again.
Not now, Kennedy.
“Here you go, ladies.” He offers me my cone, and Lani takes hers. “For you, Mr. Hunt?”
“Bradyn,” he corrects. “And I’m good, Chance, thanks.”
“No problem. That’ll be five even.”
“I got it,” Bradyn offers, stepping in front of us and offering the kid a twenty.
“You didn’t need to do that,” I say quickly, feeling completely uncomfortable with the favor. I know he’s only doing it to be kind, but his family has already done so much for me, and they don’t even know who they’re letting sleep on their property. It feels wrong to take anything else.
“I don’t mind.”
“Thanks, brother,” Lani says and heads toward the door. I follow her, and Bradyn heads out after us, once again holding the door. “See, if you eat ice cream when it’s not a thousand degrees outside, it doesn’t melt as fast.”
“But your tongue freezes twice as fast,” Bradyn replies.
Lani chuckles. “You think you have all the answers.”
“Just most of them.”
Their adorable sibling back-and-forth has made me insanely jealous that I never grew up with a sibling.
“Here I am.” Lani points to her car. I head for the passenger seat.
“Are you heading back to the ranch?” Bradyn questions.
“Yeah, why?” Lani asks.
“I’m headed back there too. I can drive you back, Sammy, if you like. Then Lani can just head home.”
“Oh, good idea. Is that okay, Sammy? Do you mind?”
Deer in the headlights, that’s me. Either accept the invitation to be driven home by my boss, whom I am incredibly attracted to and can never hope to have a relationship with, or risk hurting his feelings and insist Lani drive me home so I can have distance.
Decisions, decisions.
“Sure, that would be great, thanks.” I step away from the car and head back up onto the sidewalk.
Lani looks between me and Bradyn then back to me. “Are you sure? I can drive you out.”
“Totally fine.” I smile. “Thanks for the fun night. It was really great.”
“Anytime. See you tomorrow! Love you, Bradyn!”
“Love you too, Lani.”
She beams at us then climbs behind the wheel of her car and heads out.
“I’m right over here.” He gestures toward his truck, which is parked right in front of the café.
We walk in complete silence as I finish the ice cream, even though it’s the last thing I want to do. We pass a trash can, so I toss my napkin inside then wait as Bradyn opens the passenger side door of his truck for me.
As soon as he shuts the door, I realize what a mistake this was.
His scent is everywhere. Pine and leather, a heady combination that has my blood pumping. He smells just as good as he looks, something I’d been somewhat able to avoid because I wasn’t basking in his personal space as I am now.
“Sorry if I caught you off guard by offering,” he says as he climbs in. “I just thought it would be easier for Lani since I’m headed that way anyway.”
“No, it’s fine. Thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime.” He fires up the truck and backs out of the parking spot then heads down the street.
Fifteen minutes.
I have to make it fifteen minutes without saying anything that might lead to more questions.
I can do that.
Right?
“So how is it managing two jobs?” I ask, figuring that if I keep the conversation on him, I might be able to avoid any direct questioning myself.
“It’s tough at times. But having my brothers onboard definitely eases the stress.”
“You all work together, right? Not just on the ranch.”
“Right. We rotate who takes the jobs—unless there’s one that requires a specific skill set.”
“You all have skill sets?”
He grins. “We do.”
“Can I know what they are?”
His smile falls just a bit, but he hides it well by glancing out his window. “Tucker is great with computers, Dylan is stealthy, Elliot is great with locks, and Riley could charm information out of a turtle.”
I laugh at the comparison. “How about you?”
The amusement on his expression falters again. He’s got secrets, too. “I’m good at reading people and situations.”
“That must come in handy.” Even as his declaration that he’s good at reading people sets off a spike of fear, I keep the conversation as light as possible. He hasn’t read me so far; that must mean I haven’t given him much to go off of. Good.
“It does. Sometimes it’s a bit of a curse though.”
“I get that.”
He offers me a quick smile. “How about you? What did you do before coming here?”
Uh-oh. “I was in college.” Stick close enough to the truth, and he won’t be able to tell I’m omitting.
“Yeah? Quite a change coming here.”
“It was. But I needed to get away, so I’ve been traveling for a couple of years. Staying in different places and trying to find peace.” I turn my attention out the window as we turn off the highway and start down the gravel road leading up to the ranch. “I don’t know if I ever will though,” I say softly.
“Find peace?”
I sigh. “Yeah. It’s a hard thing to find.”
“Not if you know where to look.”
“And where is that?”
“I find mine in my Bible.” He says it so simply, so confidently, that I can’t help but stare at him. He glances over and smirks. “I take it that’s not what you thought I would say?”
“No,” I admit. “It’s not.”
“There is nothing that can bring you peace quite like God’s word.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“No?”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure what I believe.”
“A lot of people aren’t,” he replies and pulls the truck to a stop in front of my cabin. “If you ever want to talk about it, I’m around.”
“Thanks. I’m okay though.” I open the door and climb out. Bradyn does, too, meeting me in front of the truck. “You don’t have to walk me up.”
“I know, it’s habit.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Thanks for letting me tag along tonight. I had fun.”
“It was fun,” I reply, grateful that for once I can speak the whole truth. “Maybe you can tag along the next time they’re showing a movie your sister is horrified I’ve never seen before.”
He laughs. “I’d like that.” He turns to head back toward his truck but pauses at the door. “Good night, Sammy.”
A smile spreads over my face. “Good night, Bradyn.”