“We weren’t getting paid.”
“Child slavery, then.”
She actually laughed in genuine amusement at that. Something she hadn’t thought she’d do for a while yet. He just sounded so comically aghast.
“Dad thought it built character. The boys loved it for the most part. For the first few years we were pretty much go-fers for the work crews and site foremen. We were all so eager and competitive for our father’s approval and attention that we soaked the experience up like thirsty sponges.
“We were encouraged to ask questions, but absolutely not allowed to touch or operate any equipment or heavy machinery. Not until we were eighteen. We got the grunt work. Lifting, carrying, fetching, that kind of stuff. I was stuck in the on-site offices most of the time, whichreallygrated. My brothers were out in the thick of things while I was treated like a glorified assistant for a secretary.”
“How long before you had them pulling equal office duty?”
She gaped at him, expression nothing less than astonished.
“You’re too ambitious and stubborn to allow yourself to be pigeonholed,” he said a little self-consciously in response to that look.
“Uh…” She gathered her thoughts, a little flustered by his accurate read of her personality. And unsure if he thought it those were admirable traits or not. “A year, at most. By the time Iwas fifteen, I was so adept at problem-solving and ironing out snags that the site managers were singing my praises to dad. The boys, meanwhile, could wield hammers and nail guns efficiently—and Cade was old enough by then to start learning how to operate heavy machinery—but none of them had any knowledge of how to manage a job site. So Dad decided it was important for them to get some office experience too. Andthatmeant rotating duties.”
“And eventually, I assume, you got to operate some heavy machinery too?” he asked with absolute certainty.
“I’m a licensed and accredited tower crane operator,” she divulged with a shy shrug and a small, proud smile. She might be a surgeon, but that license still felt like one of her greatest achievements.
His clear fascination upon hearing her abashed confession gratified her.
“What?How? You’re such a nervous driver.”
She laughed self-consciously.
“Youoperatea crane, Smith. You don’t drive it. A completely different skill set.”
He still looked utterly bemused and captivated by the information.
It had been so long since Kenny had seen anything remotely flattering in his gaze when he looked at her that she wasn’t quite sure how to deal with the warmth flooding her system. The dopamine rush was making her a little giddy.
“Wow, Kenna, that’s a fucking amazing accomplishment.Whendid you find the time to get licensed?” The praise made her blush and she fought the urge to preen a little.
She was still angry with him. Still hurt by all that had been said before. It would take more than a little praise to coax her out of that hurt. But, after all the negativity of the last few days, his words were like a soothing balm on her tattered ego.
“I got my license when I was twenty-one. At that point Iwas already in medical school, but it was important to me to get it. Up until I was nineteen I honestly believed I was going into the family business. I wanted to be on-site and in the thick of things. Nothing corporate like Cade or Nox.”
“What changed?”
She swallowed, knowing they were venturing into painful territory. She didn’t want any more pain tonight.
“Sorry. I got a little distracted…” she murmured self-consciously, skirting over his question. “I was saying I don’t know what I’d do with my free time. I went straight from school holidays on construction sites to university and medical school. I’ve always been sobusy. I won’t know what to do with myself for the next few months.”
He didn’t respond for a moment, seeming lost in thought as he stared at her. She was just starting to feel uncomfortable when he blinked and shrugged.
“Maybe you shouldn’tdoanything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you’ve never simply stopped, Kenna, and allowed yourself to rest. Maybe that’s what you should be doing on this vacation.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek as she contemplated his words, not really sure what to say in response to them. She’d never really been one to rest. She wasn’t sure how todothat. But she’d felt a little pathetic after admitting it to Smith, who’d always been so relaxed in his own skin and around others.
“How long areyoustaying?” she asked. It was a question that he’d avoided answering before, but she was desperate for a change in subject and happy that they were at least able to have a civil conversation for now.
It hadn’t seemed remotely possible just two hours ago.
