She leaned her head against his shoulder and nodded. “Now you know. I’m a horrible sister-slash-daughter-slash-person.”
He kissed her hair, pausing with his lips against her head to breathe in the smell of her shampoo. Crap. Now he wouldn’t be able to use it again without feeling her tucked into his side. “I don’t think you’re horrible,” he mumbled into her hair.
She leaned back and placed her hand on his chest. “That’s nice of you to say.”
He hooked a finger under her chin and lifted her face so their eyes could meet. He studied her, going past the sky-blue color of her eyes and finding a woman full of heart and courage. “I’m not just saying that, Kenz.” He moved his hand to cup her cheek. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
The tears were gone, and in their place were a thousand twinkling lights. “Have you been living in a hole?”
He brushed his thumb over her warm, smooth cheek. Her skin was soft as velvet. His gaze dropped to her lips. “Something like that.” He shouldn’t even consider kissing Kenzi. She was so far out of his league, and though she’d bared her soul, he had yet to reveal the darkest parts of himself. And he got the impression that Kenzi wasn’t the type of woman to go around handing out kisses. Which meant that they were valuable. He only wanted one. Just one kiss from his wife, and he’d be set.
He glanced at her lips again, her beautiful, inviting lips. Kenzi tipped her face up to him, an invitation he had to answer. Swiftly closing the distance between them, pressing his mouth against hers in an explosion of heat and wanting that took his breath away. They couldn’t have been in contact more than five seconds before he pulled back, gasping for air to find Kenzi staring at him in shock.
“I’m sorry,” he blurted, and jumped to his feet. “I shouldn’t have done that. You’re vulnerable right now and I didn’t mean to—I mean, I shouldn’t have—”
Her fingers went to her lips.
Aw, geez.
“Sorry.” He bolted from the room. He had so much energy he could have run every hallway in the mansion and not been tired. As it was, he took the stairs at a rapid pace that left him tripping over his own feet.
The sounds of the birthday party caught up with him and he slowed his steps. He couldn’t leave her here to deal with Clyde alone. He had to stay, his need to protect Kenzi stronger than his need to escape the embarrassment he’d caused himself.
Why did he have to kiss her? They were getting along so well, and he threw that all out the window in one impulsive moment of desire.
Posting himself at the back of the garden where Kenzi wasn’t likely to see him but where he could watch the party, he spent the next two hours silently berating himself. He wasn’t good enough for her. The worst thing she’d ever done was hurt her sisters’ feelings and run away from home. That was nothing compared to the lives he’d ruined and the fortunes he’d lost.
He rubbed his thumb over his wedding band. It was gold and soft and warm for a metal. The moment Kenzi had slid it on his finger, he’d forgotten it was there. He didn’t even take it off to swim in the pool because it was a part of him. And he was a good husband. He’d filled in for Kenzi when she needed him, he’d held her when she cried, and he stood up to her not-so-brilliant British ex.
If she knew what he really was, she’d want nothing to do with him. And he wouldn’t blame her, because it was better for her not to be associated with his tarnished reputation. He should ask for an annulment and leave before Raquel blew his cover. Harrison probably had the paperwork drafted with their names filled in.
But … if he left, who would watch out for Kenzi? Even though she was surrounded by family and employees loyal to Hazel’s Dairy Delights, there was no one who really had her back.
Nash could be that guy. He’d stood in front of a judge and promised to be the man Kenzi thought he was. If he left now, he was no better than the man who walked into that prison three years ago.
His eyes darted to the birthday cake, where the giant number three candle still sat on the third layer. Three years ago, Kenzi was going through her personal hell at the exact same time he was building the walls of his. Was that a coincidence, or had it been orchestrated by a higher power? The timing lined up too well for it to feel like an accident.
His eyes lifted from the cake to the house behind. And then he took them even higher, noting the clear blue sky matched Kenzi’s eyes. He hadn’t talked to God in years—didn’t think He could hear his prayers through the two-foot concrete ceiling above his cell. The ceiling was gone now, and if God was going to hear him anywhere, it would be out in the open when his heart was lying on the ground.
Is this all an accident?He silently pleaded for an answer. When nothing came, he looked around to make sure no one would hear him and spoke out loud. “Am I supposed to be here?” The heavens were quiet. After a few moments, he lowered his chin to his chest in defeat.
“Mr. Westport?” Nash’s head whipped to the side to find Guy Tratto, the COO, headed his way. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Nash shook his head once, feeling disbelief at Guy’s choice of words.I’m glad you’re here.Maybe it wasn’t the answer he was looking for from heaven, but at least someone was glad he was around.
“I have some questions I wanted to ask outside of the meeting, but I couldn’t find you at the office.”
Nash sputtered his excuse about the birthday party.
Guy waved off his concern. “I figured as much. So do you have a minute?”
Nash glanced up at the window he thought Kenzi had sat in, and a sense of purpose filled his chest. He may not be the man Kenzi deserved to be married to for the rest of her life, but he could be the man she needed now. The one that would help her reach her goals. “Let’s find a seat.”
Even though he told himself he was doing this for Kenzi, a part of him knew his motives were selfish. He wanted to be near her, and the idea of some other guy holding her close, kissing her neck, and hearing her gasp was too much for him to bear.
