Chapter Twenty-Four
Kenzie held the container of potato salad in her lap as they drove up his dad’s driveway. She spent the morning fielding texts and calls from Roxanne. Bogs had briefly mentioned she was an event coordinator but nothing prepared her for what she got in the last few hours.
Her phone dinged and she glanced down to her seat.
“My sister?”
“Is she always like this?”
“If there’s a party.”
“I thought this was just dinner though.”
“You say dinner, she says party.” He laughed and pulled up in front of the house. His childhood home was amazing. Given more time now with less nerves, she got to see the huge house for what it truly was. Magnificent.
The sound of crunching gravel had her turn to see T and Cassie pulling up, Cassie’s blonde hair standing out in the dark cab.
She waved. They parked behind Bogs and got out.
Kenzie watched as Cassie got out from the truck.
She looked as though she was ready to pop out the baby any second.
As T rounded the front bumper, he threw up his hands and snapped.
“I told you to wait for me. Fuck, Cassie, ya can’t just be jumping out of the fucking truck like that.” Cassie moved to the side, rolling her eyes, allowing an angry T to reach back into the truck.
Kenzie laughed when Cassie grabbed a tray from his hands. She slammed the door shut and stuck her tongue out at him. “Relax, baby, I got it. I’m fucking pregnant, not fucking breakable.”
“Cassie.” He narrowed his eyes and his tone was a warning.
She furrowed her brows and smirked, mimicking his voice. “T.”
Kenzie giggled but immediately clamped her lips shut when his gaze jerked to her. Of all the brothers, T was by far the scariest. However, his wife didn’t seem to notice. She didn’t doubt there was a nice guy hidden somewhere underneath the glares and cursing.
Cassie ambled over to her and hooked her arm through hers. Where T made her nervous, Cassie was the complete opposite. “Whatcha got in there?”
“Potato salad.”
“Yum. I wanted to make something else but brownies are my signature. Rox won’t let me bring anything else,” she said as they walked up to the front door.
They entered the house and made their way into the living room. Sadie was sitting on the couch next to Stone and John was standing by the fireplace.
They all greeted each other, Kenzie standing off to the side.
She liked his family but was in no way completely comfortable yet.
She watched the group exchange hugs and handshakes.
When John made eye contact his smile grew to a grin and he walked over to her.
He was extremely attractive. His silver hair was thinner but still a full head, and while his face was slightly wrinkled, he was handsome in a rugged sense.
He was also in great shape. She blushed as he approached.
The last thing she needed was to be checking out Bogs’ dad.
“So glad you could make it, Kenzie.” He rested his hand on her back and leaned in to kiss her cheek.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
He winked. “It’s an open invitation, come over anytime you like. You don’t even need Bogs.”
“Yeah, in fact, next time, leave him at home, Kenz.” Stone laughed. There was something in the way he used her nickname. There was a familiarity. It was bringing her into the fold amongst the Garrisons.
“Hey, girl.” Roxanne walked through the door and immediately embraced her. They had gotten close in the last month. While she spent time with all the girls, she saw Roxanne the most. They constantly texted, and met for lunch once a week.
“I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you.” Roxanne smirked in Bogs direction. Kenzie laughed looking over her shoulder to see him glaring at his sister. Roxanne had made a habit of dropping by his place when Kenzie was there.
“I’m gonna put this in the kitchen.” She carried the tray and walked through the door. She was placing it on the island when she heard footsteps. She assumed it was Cassie. She turned to see T with the brownies. She tightened her lips to a smile and moved out of his way.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” T said, turning around to face her. He stared back at her with his usual harsh scowl. Then the awkward silence. She shifted on her feet and glanced down at the floor. T was intimidating and although she saw a softer side in the truck that night, it was brief.
“You good?” he asked.
She jerked her head and nodded. “Yeah.” He wasn’t just asking about her current status and she knew that. “Thanks again. I know you said it’s over and done but…” She swallowed and shrugged. “Thanks.”
He stared at her. “You’re welcome.”
She cleared her throat and blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “You make me nervous.”
T raised his brows and burst out laughing.
She stepped back and widened her eyes. This was the first time she’d seen him smile at her or heard his hearty laugh.
It completely changed the way she saw him.
T folded his arms and leaned back against the island.
“I make everyone nervous. You’ll get used to it. ”
Everyone filed into the kitchen and Kenzie stepped back making room. Emory was the last in the room and scanned until her eyes landed on Kenzie. She smiled and walked over. “When are we doing another girls’ night? You need to host it at Bogs’ place.”
Kenzie giggled nervously. “If it’s alright by him. I mean, it is his place, not mine.”
“Yet.” Emory winked. “I give it another month before he’s got you moved in.”
Bogs wrapped his hands around her waist landing on her stomach and tugged her into his chest. “See, everyone thinks it’s a good idea you move in.” He whispered in her ear then kissed her temple.
Kenzie clasped her hands over his and smiled.
****
Bogs rested back in the dining room chair completely stuffed from the meal.
It hit him a few times how their family was expanding at record speed.
Soon enough, a kid’s table would have to be added.
As he glanced around the room, his heart ached slightly.
Only one thing was keeping this from being perfect.
He tightened his lips. His mom would have loved this, seeing her boys settle down, starting their own families.
He glanced over at Cassie who was rubbing her stomach and laughing at something Emory said.
She would have loved being a grandmother.
He lifted his head and caught sight of Roxanne smiling at him.
“What?” he mouthed.
Roxanne grinned and shrugged her shoulders. He wasn’t a mind reader but if he had to guess, his little sister was sharing in his thoughts.
Bogs excused himself to go find Kenzie. She had left the table and hadn’t returned yet. He walked past the kitchen meeting up with his dad.
“You see Kenzie?”
His father pointed to the stairs. “The bathroom was occupied. I told her to use the one upstairs.”
Bogs passed his dad but was halted by his hand on his shoulder. “You did good with that one.”
Bogs made it up the stairs. The bathroom door was open with the light off. He scanned the hallway and started down the hallway, passing T’s childhood room, then Stone’s, and making his way to his. Inside the room, Kenzie stood by his dresser holding a picture frame.
He leaned against the doorframe and just watched her.
He knew the picture she seemed so engrossed with.
It was from their front porch. All of the kids with his mom and dad.
All the rooms had the picture. It was one of the few pictures of the whole family.
His mother was big on taking pictures of them but very few included her.
His dad had insisted on getting a family photo. It was his favorite.
“Ya know, I planned on using my super human mad finesse skills to get you up to my room again. All that’s wasted now.”
She giggled and turned her head gifting him the most beautiful smile. “I’m snooping. I didn’t get a chance last time.”
“I see that. Find anything good?”
She held up the frame. “Yeah. I think this is my favorite. How come you don’t have it in your condo?”
He shrugged, pushing off the door and ambling to her. He took the frame from her and studied the picture. It was so long ago. Long before his mom got sick. He stared at her face and that smile.
“You look really happy?” She wrapped her arm around his waist.
“I was.”
“Your mom was beautiful.”
“Yeah, she was. Inside and out.” He glanced down at Kenzie who was smiling at him. “You remind me of her.”
Her head rested on his chest and her arm tightened around his waist. He placed the frame down on his dresser and curled his hands around her throat lifting her lips and kissing her.
It wasn’t meant to be any more than a simple sweet quick kiss.
But being with her always stirred more in him than simple.
Feeling her body rest against his and the slight pivot of her hips, his girl was teasing him. Or maybe she couldn’t resist either.
Her hand slid down his stomach and landed over his erection. She smiled against the kiss before breaking away. “Don’t get any crazy ideas.”
He cocked his eyebrows. “Like what?” He shifted her backward and fought to laugh against her big shocked eyes as the legs backed into his bed and he fell over her. “You touched me first.”
She pushed at his shoulders. “We are not doing it with your family downstairs.”
He kissed her neck fighting against her pushing away. “Doing it? What do you mean by it?” He slid his hand to her neck down to her chest, softly cupping her breast. “Is this it?” He squeezed her flesh and licked the shell of her ear.
“Bogs.” Saying his name was meant to be a warning but she was having trouble being convincing.
His hand moved further down, gliding gently over her stomach and the small sliver of skin.
Her body curled under his and he kept up his descent, cupping her pussy through her jeans. He whispered, “Or is this it?’