Page 67 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

“That’s a cool name.”

Cross grinned. “Thanks. What’s your name?”

“Kenna. I’m almost six.”

He nodded dramatically. “Almost a big girl, then.”

“I am a big girl!”

“I bet you are. What grade are you in?”

“First grade,” Kenna answered with a toothy smile. “What grade are you in?”

“I haven’t gone to school in a long time,” Cross replied.

“Oh noes. Only bad kids don’t go to school when their mommy says so.”

Catherine could see that Cross was making a great effort to be serious when he said, “Make sure you’re a good girl then, huh? Not bad like me.”

“I will!” Kenna promised.

Then, Cross’s gaze turned on Catherine. She had no doubt he knew she was there from the second she walked in. “Seems my friend has finally come, Kenna. You don’t mind if I talk to her now, do you?”

Kenna peered at Catherine with curious eyes. “Well …”

“Hmm?”

“I guess not,” Kenna said with a pout. “But only because she’s pretty.”

The little girl said that with a fierce nod that made Catherine laugh under her breath.

“Kenna, eat your muffin,” the girl’s mother said without even looking at her daughter.

“Bye, Cross!”

“Bye, Kenna,” he said with a wink.

Catherine sat down in the booth when the little girl turned back around. “Making friends?”

Cross shrugged. “Can’t be mean to kids just because I don’t like people, can I?”

“I mean, you could. It might make you an asshole, though.”

“Might?”

“Definitely would,” Catherine assured.

Cross chuckled, and cupped his to-go cup of coffee. “Noted.” Then, he pushed an extra to-go cup toward her. “Two sugars, extra cream. Right?”

“Yep.” Catherine shoved the sleeves of her wrap sweater up to her elbows, and reached for the coffee. She didn’t miss how Cross’s gaze dropped to her wrist with the tattoo. He quickly averted his eyes, but she still saw it. She hadn’t put any bracelets on before leaving the apartment because she didn’t see the point anymore. It was there. The scar no one could see beneath a tattoo that she loved too much to hide. “You can ask about it, if you want. It’s been a long time. I don’t really talk about it because no one brings it up. It’s like they think if they do, it might make me do it again. That’s ridiculous, by the way.”

Cross let out a long exhale. “I’m not sure I should ask anything, to be honest.”

“Up to you.”

Catherine sipped her hot coffee.

Cross’s dark gaze ventured over her face, and his tongue peeked to wet his lower lip. “Could I …”