Page 41 of Her Devoted HERO

“Austin is a whiz when it comes to anything mechanical. Most of the kids he hangs out with like video games, he’s the one who likes pulling apart the game counsel, or motherboard and dinking with it. He’s been changing the oil on my car, and the spark plugs for the last three years. He said being a mechanic or a computer repair specialist won’t allow him to take care of me in my old age, so he’s going to become a mechanical engineer.”

Kenna wiped the film off her glass of lemonade. The condensation looked like tears.

“Darling girl, what is making you sad?”

“Why would a fifteen-year-old boy be thinking of taking care of his mother in her old age? That is so wrong.”

“You’ve raised a great son.”

“Well he needs to be selfish,” Kenna said vehemently. “If he wants to be a mechanic or a janitor, that’s what he should do. I could care less about how much money he makes.”

“Or a baseball player,” Rosalie threw in.

“Yeah.”

“Or a SEAL.”

Kenna jerked her head. “Well, wait just a minute. They get hurt.”

Rosalie laughed.

“Dinner went well?”

“Really well.”

“Did Dexter kiss you?”

“Of course not.”

“Why do you say it like that? He had you over at his townhome, didn’t he? You’re a beautiful woman. Are you saying he didn’t kiss you then?”

“He didn’t.”

Rosalie looked so disappointed that Kenna immediately rushed to reassure her. “He flirted a lot.”

“He did?”

“Yes.”

“Did you like it?”

Kenna rolled her eyes. “Yes,” she sighed. “He’s annoying, but he’s really funny.”

“And handsome,” Rosalie said slyly.

“Yes,” Kenna agreed.

“You like him.”

“Yes.”

“You should go out with him again. Not just to visit those damn shelters,” Rosalie said forcefully.

Kenna cleared her throat. She felt her face redden.

Rosalie set down her glass on the table and clasped her hands together. “You are going out together. You’ve been holding out on me.”

“We have a date on Saturday. And then he’s invited Mom, Austin, and me over to his place on Sunday for a barbeque.”