Page 21 of Her Devoted HERO

“I’ll drive myself.”

“Nonsense. The mission is in Encanto. You shouldn’t drive in that area alone. What’s more, it will save on gas. Dex, I’ll reimburse you for your time,” she informed him imperiously.

“No, ma’am, you won’t. This is my pleasure,” he stated steadily.

Rosalie regarded him, taking his measure. Finally, she responded warmly. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“You’re nuts,” Kenna mouthed at him.

Dex laughed.

Chapter Five

“Mom, what’s the deal? Are you feeling okay?”

Kenna looked at her son in the reflection of her bathroom mirror. He was lounging against the doorjamb staring at her. His hair was tousled because he had just gotten out of bed.

“What makes you think I’m not feeling well?”

“I called your name like six times, and you didn’t answer. And now I see you’re putting on makeup to go to Rosalie’s. Something’s up.”

Criminy. She was busted.

“It’s just some mascara and lip gloss.”

“You curled your hair.”

She eyed herself in the mirror. She hadn’t gone overboard, had she? Maybe she needed to put her hair in a ponytail like normal. She grabbed a scrunchie.

“Stop, you look nice.”

She glanced up at Austin again.

“Ya think?”

“Denny would totally swallow his tongue if he saw you this morning. He already thinks you’re hot.”

Ewww. She didn’t need to know that a fifteen-year-old boy thought she was hot. She grabbed her hair in one hand to put it up.

“Don’t do that. Seriously, you look good with it down. Why are you changing things up?”

“I’m not going to Rosalie’s. I’m meeting up with some people. Your grandmother will be here any minute.”

“She’s coming pretty early, isn’t she?” Austin asked.

“I have to leave early. Somebody’s going to pick me up.”

The doorbell rang. They looked at one another.

“That must be your ride. Gram has a key,” Austin stated the obvious.

Dammit. She’d texted Dex to wait at the curb, and she’d come out to him. She didn’t want him to meet Austin. There were going to be too many questions.

She looked at her cell phone. Nope, no text from Dex, just another call from an unidentified caller. Couldn’t Dex have texted to let her know he was coming to the door? This did not bode well if he couldn’t follow one simple request.

Her son left to answer the door and she took another look in the mirror. Not too bad. Not as good as her profile pic, but not too bad. She swiped on another layer of lip gloss and hurried down the stairs.

Double damn. Her mother was at the bottom of the stairs beaming up at her. Dex was standing beside her, with a wide smile.