Chapter Twenty-Nine
Kenzi and Nash slept late, attended church in a small building that smelled of furniture polish, and then drove home.
Home. Their home. After the tenderness that had grown between them on the farm, home had new meaning. The flowers around the pool were brighter and smelled stronger. Cookies tasted sweeter, ice cream was creamier, and even talking to Lunette didn’t seem like a chore. Loving Nash made everything feel new.
“And I named him Bubbles.” Hattie danced her way along the carpet on her way back to her wing of the mansion, excited to relive every moment of her weekend adventure. Bubbles was a cow that had eaten out of her hand. The boys told her she could name him because he liked her so much. Kenzi could have kissed them for being so sweet to her.
“Mama!” Hattie broke into a run at the sight of her mom lounging on the couch.
Lunette threw her arms wide and hugged Hattie close. “I missed you, baby.”
“Mama, I got a cow.”
Lunette’s freshly darkened eyebrows went up. “You did?”
Hattie nodded solemnly.
Lunette looked to Kenzi for confirmation. Kenzi twisted her lips and shook her head ever so slightly. There was no harm in letting Hattie think Bubbles belonged to her as long as she kept the bovine on the farm.
Lunette’s eyebrows lowered as she sniffed Hattie. “Myrtle?” she called delicately.
Myrtle appeared in the doorway. The front of her hot-pink shirt was wet, like she’d been doing dishes and splashed her belly.
“Will you take Hattie for a bath?”
“It’s good for her to get dirty.” Kenzi folded her arms.
“And it’s good for her to be clean.” Lunette kissed Hattie’s cheek and handed her off to the nanny. “Come, sit.” She patted the spot next to her, inviting Kenzi over.
Kenzi regarded her for a moment before she remembered the purpose of Lunette’s spa weekend. When Lunette was sober, she had their mother’s Southern grace and charm in spades. She also had clear blue eyes, not a trace of red in the whites, and her skin was smooth and glowed from the chemical peels and mud masks.
“You look beautiful, Lunette.” Kenzi settled into the seat, leaning against the back cushion with her side and stretching her legs out. She was still sore from Saturday’s workload, but she was also content knowing she could pull her weight on the farm.
“I feel like a lot has happened and I’m behind. Tell me about this man of yours.”
Kenzi rubbed her lips together as she thought. “He’s amazing—unlike anyone I’ve ever known or dated before.”
“But you’re not dating him. You’re married.” Lunette turned towards her, her face openly curious.
“It feels like we’re still dating,” Kenzi mumbled. “Honeymoon phase.”
Lunette smiled indulgently. “What does he do?”
“He’s a businessman—corporate all the way.”
“Funny. I always pictured you marrying a farmer.”
“Ha ha.” Kenzi shoved Lunette’s knee. “He fills out a pair of jeans and muck boots just fine, thank you very much.” Her cheeks colored at the memory of being caught checking him out. He’d winked and kissed her direction. They’d shared a few stolen kisses on the farm, but by the time they got done working, they were too tired to get into trouble.
She’d like to be in trouble with him.
“You love him.”
Kenzi jerked from her memory. “What?”
“I said you love him. I can see it on your face.” Lunette stared at her in awe.
Kenzi hesitated, because she hadn’t told Nash that she loved him. That was a huge step on a path that was difficult to see where it ended. And she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to put herself out there again. The last time … well, the last time was an epic fail.
