Chapter Fourteen
Kenzie had just gotten out of the shower on Monday afternoon when she heard footsteps climbing the stairs. Her mind went blank and her heart pounded because Frank was away on his trip and she was supposed to be alone in the house.
“Kenzie, it’s me,” she heard Rhylee call, and she blew out a sigh of relief.
Since it was her cousin, she wrapped her hair in one towel and wrapped another around her body. Then she opened the bathroom door and poked her head out in time to see Rhylee walking into her room.
“What happened to your meeting?” she called out. She’d been told some kind of meeting at the town hall was going to keep her an extra couple of hours, so they’d be shopping later than usual.
“It got canceled. Why are you packing? Are you going somewhere?”
Kenzie swore under her breath, realizing too late she’d left her bag and some clothing on the bed. She’d planned to tell her cousin she was going because she needed the two most important people in her life to know where she was, but she’d planned to be clothed, at least.
“I’m going away for the night,” she said as she walked into the room to find Rhylee poking at the pile on the bed.
“Lace?” she asked as she turned to face Kenzie, waving a pair of her underwear like a flag.
“Lace trim. Totally different.”
“Where, exactly, are you going for the night?” She didn’t even give Kenzie a second to answer before she gasped and covered her mouth. “You’re going away with Danny, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Kenzie interrupted the answering squeal by raising her hand. “As friends. It’s a little break from the usual routine to thank me for helping him work through some issues with his book?”
“Wait. You helped him with his book?”
“I mostly listened while he talked through the problems himself.” It wasn’t the truth, but she didn’t want Rhylee to blow it into something bigger than it was. “And he wants to say thank you with a nice dinner out.”
“Did you shave your legs?” She arched her eyebrow. “Was there extra grooming, Mackenzie Corinne Pelletier?”
“Don’t you middle name me, Rhylee Ann Atwell,” she snapped, slapping her cousin’s hand when she reached for the towel. “Mind your own business.”
“Where does he even live?”
“A little south of Concord, I think. I’ll send you my location when we get there.”
Rhylee nodded. “Good idea. I heard he made a really weird comment about dead bodies in washing machines during the trail work.”
“That was a joke.” Kenzie chuckled. “He’s talked about his uncle who writes horror, and I think writers are just wired to go right past the obvious and boring story—like trying to save the dump disposal fee—to something more interesting, like getting rid of a dead body.”
“Still. You have to remember to send me your location so I know where to send the police if you don’t come back because it turns out he actually is a serial killer who disposes of bodies in washing machines.”
“I will.” She knew her cousin was kidding about Danny being a serial killer, but she was serious about wanting to know where she was.
“This looks like a lot of clothes for one night.”
“I’m not taking it all. I’m still trying to figure out what to bring.”
Those were the magic words that kicked Rhylee into gear, and by the time Kenzie had changed from the towels into clothes, her cousin had things sorted into several piles.
“Do you know where you’re going to dinner? Should you take a dress?”
“It’s Concord, not Manhattan. I’m not bringing a dress.”
“Okay, but you want to look sexy.”
“I do not need to look sexy to have dinner with a friend,” she insisted.
Rhylee put her hands on her hips. “Lace underwear?”
“Lace trimmed.” She looked over the piles before pulling out black leggings and the soft tunic sweater she liked to wear with them. “I think these, with my black boots. I’ll look nice enough for a restaurant, but comfortable at the same time.”
Rhylee heaved an exaggerated sigh of disappointment. “You do look nice in this outfit. I mean, it’s not a sexy little black dress, but you’ll wear your hair down, right? Maybe a little makeup?”
Kenzie was afraid most of her makeup had expired quite a while ago, but she nodded so Rhylee would leave it alone. “I’ll finish this later. Let’s go shopping.”
She hoped that was the end of it, but once they were in the car—with Rhylee driving this time—her cousin brought up the trip again.
“Did you tell Uncle Frank you were going?”
“Of course. I told him before he left for his trip.”
“How did he take it?”
Kenzie laughed. “What does that even mean? I’m not a teenager, trying to run off with a boy. He told me to make sure you knew where I was. I mean, he’s not thrilled about it because, let’s be honest, me having a personal life isn’t great for him, but there’s not much he can do about it.”
When her cousin turned a pointed look her way, she groaned.
“Yes, I heard myself. Of course I have a little bit of resentment. Who wouldn’t? But I love my dad. And I love Corinne’s Kitchen more than most people think I do. Even without Dad factored in, giving up the restaurant wouldn’t be easy for me to do.”
“There’s a lot of space between giving it up and not letting it be the entirety of your life, you know.” Rhylee looked away from the road long enough to grin at her. “But I’m glad you’re going away for the night with your lace-trimmed underwear and freshly shaved legs. You deserve it.”
Kenzie’s phone rang, saving her from the conversation, but her heart pounded as she rummaged in her bag for it.
Outside of suppliers and random sales calls, the only person who regularly called her was sitting next to her in the car, and all she could think of was her dad.
They weren’t going out on the boat until tomorrow, but so many other things could happen.
They’d learned that the hard way with her mom.
“It’s Danny,” she said, instantly regretting saying it out loud because her heart sank when she saw his number on the screen. He’d never called her before, and she could only imagine he wanted to tell her something had come up and the trip was off.
“You have to answer it,” Rhylee said. “Put it on speakerphone.”
“I’m not putting it on speaker,” she snapped. But she did answer it. “Hello?”
“Hey, Kenzie. Just wanted to check in and make sure we’re still on for tomorrow.”
“We are,” she said, relief coursing through her. She looked out her window, hoping Rhylee wouldn’t see the smile she couldn’t hold back.
“Does nine o’clock work? I don’t want to be too rushed because I have that appointment.”
“It’s fine. Do you want to meet me at the restaurant?”
“That’s up to you. I don’t mind picking you up, though, so you don’t have to leave your car in the parking lot. Knowing this town, people will assume it died and you’ll come back to a bunch of your friendly neighbors trying to fix a car that didn’t break down.”
Kenzie laughed because he probably wasn’t wrong. “I’m not far off the main road, so picking me up there would be great. I’ll text you the address.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you in the morning, then.”
“Can’t wait,” she said, and then she hung up. The dreamy sigh escaped her before she remembered Rhylee was right next to her.
“Just friends, huh?”
Kenzie rolled her eyes at her cousin and then went back to staring out her window.
Just friends.
* * *
“If you don’t stop whistling, I’m going to duct tape your lips together.”
Danny dropped his bag in the chair and turned to grin at Rob, who was standing behind the counter, sorting through invoices. It was a beautiful day to annoy his little brother.
“You probably don’t recognize it because you’re usually here with Brian, but it’s called being in a good mood.”
Rob looked at the bag and frowned. “Why don’t you just go home?”
Danny snorted. “Gee, thanks.”
“Okay, that came out a little sideways. What I meant to ask is why you don’t just stay home when you go down for your appointment. You’re going to drive down today, drive back up tomorrow, and then go home Thursday night. It doesn’t make sense.”
“There’s a lot to do Thursday to get ready for the long weekend, and Brian won’t get here until later in the day. There’s bringing wood bundles down to the store, and that ice cream delivery that’s got to be stocked.”
“There’s not enough to do to justify wasting your time and gas like that.”
It was his time and gas, but it would be hard to convince his brother it wasn’t a waste without telling him the real reason. And there was a solid chance Kenzie would tell Hannah at some point, anyway.
“I’m coming back Wednesday because Kenzie’s going down with me and I’ll have to bring her home.”
That certainly shut him up, though Danny knew the effect wouldn’t last long. And he was right.
“Is there something wrong with her car?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Danny.” Rob blew out a breath, running a hand over his hair. “What are you doing?”
The tone got under his skin, putting a dent in his good mood. He didn’t have to explain himself to anybody. “I’m taking a friend out on the town while she’s got a break from work.”
“A friend?”
“What’s your problem, Bobby?” he demanded, using the nickname from childhood just to push his brother’s buttons.
Rob gave him a look that made it clear he hadn’t missed the nickname jab. “You can pop in and out, but we live here. She’s a friend of ours, too—especially of Hannah—and you playing with her could be a problem.”
“Playing with her?” Danny didn’t even try to temper the anger in his voice. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you planning on sticking around for good?”
Danny turned his back on Rob for a moment to get his temper under control. He didn’t want to fall out with his brother. He also didn’t want to explain the complicated feelings he had for Kenzie.
When he turned back to speak, his voice was more even. “I’m not moving here for a woman I’ve gone on a few walks with, Rob. Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not playing with her. She and I have talked, and we’re just friends because it would be impossible to be more than that.”
Rob looked at him a long time, and Danny wasn’t sure what his brother saw on his face, but he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone there because I know you better than that.”
“I know she and Hannah are friends, but I’m not trying to hurt Kenzie here.” He was also trying not to get hurt himself, but he couldn’t make himself keep the distance between them that would require.
“You know, Hannah moved here from California. Her family’s there. Her best friend is there. And they talk all the time and video chat, but I know it’s not the same. Kenzie’s a friend she made here, and I think I’m just overprotective of that relationship.”
“I get it, and we’re good. We’re on the same page.”
Rob nodded. “What time are you picking her up?”
“I’m leaving now, actually. I just wanted to make sure you don’t need anything from down that way before I go.”
“I think we’re good.” He chuckled. “And I doubt Kenzie wants to be dragged around stores during her time off.”
“She wouldn’t mind, but yeah. I’m trying to think of something fun to do as a treat, but I don’t get out much.”
“You can take her to Jasper’s. You know Uncle Kevin would love to meet her.”
Danny grimaced. Their dad’s brother owned Jasper’s Bar & Grille in Concord.
Great atmosphere, great food and definitely a great owner, but he’d rather not.
“If I take her in there, Uncle Kev’s going to assume she’s my date, and the family group chat will blow up, and I’d rather not deal with that.
And also, I wasn’t really thinking sports bar. ”
“It’s a great place for friends to hang out,” Rob countered.
“I’m leaving now. I’ll see you some time tomorrow afternoon.”
When he pulled into the driveway his GPS said was Kenzie’s, the first thing he saw was the house.
It looked sunny and cheerful, and perfect for Kenzie.
And then he saw her, sitting on her front porch.
He waved as he came to a stop, and by the time he’d put the truck in Park, she was walking toward him, bag in hand.
It was clear he wouldn’t be getting a tour of the house, which disappointed him.
Even though it would only torture him in the long run, he really wanted to see her bedroom.
Not because he thought anything would happen there, but just because he wanted to see where she slept.
Did she keep it simple, or was it decorated with pillows and art and knickknacks?
Did she have a plain bedspread, or maybe an old quilt?
But when she tossed her bag into the back seat of the truck, next to his, and then climbed into the passenger seat, the only thing he felt was happiness to see her. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late. I ran into the store to say goodbye to Rob, and you know how that goes.”
She laughed, reaching for her seat belt, and then she looked at him. “Did you tell him I’m going with you?”
“I did,” he said, not sure if that was the right answer. “He thought it didn’t make any sense to go down and come back instead of just staying down there, so I had to. But I did stress to him we’re just friends.”
“Good.” She nodded, snapping the seat belt buckle in. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to remember not to mention it, but that’s not a problem because you went with the truth.”
The truth, he thought wryly as he shifted the truck into gear. But not the whole truth, as far as he was concerned. But he kept that to himself because there was nothing he could do about it, and he wasn’t going to break his promise to keep this weekend friendly.
It might kill him, but just friends it was.