Lori reached over the seat to grab Kenzie’s hand where it lay near the headrest. “Mostly because you’re here though, dear.”
Well, that wasn’t frightening at all.
“We’re stopping at the grocery on the way home. Do you two need anything?” Lori released her hand and dug through her canvas over-the-shoulder purse.
Tucker frowned some more. “Cord said he’d stock the fridge. But I’m not trusting him to follow through on anything at this point.”
“If he said he’ll do it, he’ll do it.” His father replied.
Tucker’s lips pressed together. “He said he’d drop my truck off, too.”
They backed out of the spot, heading for the exit.
“Don’t be mad. That’s my fault. I insisted we pick you up.” Lori turned in her seat and held out a package of Doublemint. “Gum?”
“Thanks.” Kenzie slid a silver-wrapped stick of gum from the package. And a second for Tucker.
She handed it to him.
He unwrapped it, shoved it in his mouth, and crumpled the foil.
“How many brothers do you have?” Kenzie asked, doing her best to draw him into the conversation.
“Two brothers and three sisters. You can ignore all of them.” He focused on the snow falling outside the window.
The slush under their wheels crunched as they drove slowly around a roundabout.
“Why would I ignore them?” She’d never had brothers and sisters. If she had, she would’ve loved them. Played with them. Spent all her time with them.
All she’d had were a bunch of producers and directors telling her what to do and where to stand.
“Best ignore the boys. A pretty girl shows up, those idiots go to automatic stupid.” His father replied for Tucker.
Tucker nodded. “It’s the truth.”
Lori turned in her seat again, to face Kenzie. “They don’t mean that. Our children are all very smart.”
“I do mean that.” Clint pulled to a stop at a red light. “Those boys can’t keep their heads screwed on straight when anyone with a pretty smile and a set of boobs walks in the room.”
Tucker dropped his head to his hands. “Dad. Really?”
Kenzie’s focus pinged between them. Why try to get a word in when the show was so damn fun to watch?
“I think you’ll find that the McKay kids all turned out great. Good stock. Healthy. The gene pool is really quite good. I’m probably biased, but Tucker will be a great father. Genetically, it’s practically guaranteed.” Lori winked at her.
“Mom, I’m not a stud bull. You don’t need to pimp me out to Kenzie.”
His father hit the gas, the wheels spinning in the snow, setting them back against the cloth seats. Kenzie gripped the seat belt crossing her chest.
“Can’t see where it’d hurt.” Clint glanced back to them in the rearview mirror. “You’ve been so busy dancing around on those stages. It’s time to stick around at the ranch. Time to settle.”
“I think he means settle down,” Lori corrected, with a gentle hand to Clint’s shoulder.
“What else would I mean?” He glowered at her, but he did it in such a way that Kenzie knew if Lori asked him for anything, he’d do it.
“Well, it kind of sounded like you meant that he’s settling for Kenzie. But she’s not the kind a man settles for.” His mother turned in her seat. “Isn’t that right, dear?” She turned back to her husband. “She’s the real deal. He wouldn’t be settling at all.”
Clint huffed, his palm shifting them into second. “I never said he would be.”
