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“Of course,” Mom assures her with a smile.
I follow Kennedy to the kitchen, trying not to gaze at her ass as she walks in front of me. I’m failing miserably. “Have a seat,” she says, pointing at the small table.
“What can I do to help?”
“I’ve got it. Besides, you are helping. Your mom really does cook enough for an army. Grandma and I would be eating this for a week,” she says, referring to the large pan of lasagna sitting on top of the stove.
“I don’t know if she knows any other way. Our family is growing, so it’s only going to get worse.”
“Growing?”
“Yeah, my brother Brooks and his fiancée are expecting a baby, our little cousin, Ramsey, who is like a sister to us, is getting married, and my older brother Orrin, he’s practically engaged himself, so yeah, we’re growing.”
“I always wanted a big family,” she says, scooping up a huge helping of lasagna, covering it with a paper towel, and popping it in the microwave.
“I joke that it’s not all that great, but it’s a lie. I loved every minute of growing up with my brothers. There was never a dull moment in our house, that’s for sure.”
“I’m an only child,” she confesses. “I begged for a sibling growing up.” She smiles. “I met your brother Brooks earlier today. He stopped in to check on Grandma.”
“She seems to be in good spirits.”
“She is, but nothing seems to get her down. My grandma is definitely one of a kind.”
“I don’t know her well. I was already moved out and living on my own when she moved into this place. I have seen her at barbecues, and I know my younger brothers, the twins, mow for her, and she pays them in cookies.”
She laughs. “If you only knew the stories that I hear about the handsome young men who mow her lawn.”
“Please don’t tell them that. They’re cocky enough as it is. They’ll make sure we all hear about it over and over and over again.” I shake my head in amusement.
The microwave beeps, and she removes the plate, placing it in front of me on the table. “Sweet tea, milk, or water? I could make some coffee,” she adds.
“Sweet tea is fine. Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome.”
I don’t take my eyes off her as she pours me a glass of sweet tea and brings it to the table. “Thank you.” I accept the glass and take a sip. “Sit with me?” I don’t know why I’m asking. My Tahoe is running, and I need to get Blakely home and give her a bath, but the words are out there, and I find that I don’t want to take them back. I’m here, so I might as well soak up her company while I eat.
“Sure.” She pulls out a chair opposite me and lowers onto the seat.
I take a bite, and the familiar taste of my mom’s homemade sauce hits my tongue. I shovel the forkful into my mouth and barely even chew. I force myself to slow down and mind my manners, as my mom always used to remind us. Hell, who am I kidding? As an adult, she still reminds us.
“So what kind of work caused a lion in your belly?” she asks, a grin tilting her full, sexy lips.
“I’m a mechanic. I own my own shop in town. What about you?”
“I’m a freelance editor. I work mostly with independent authors in the romance genre.”
“So you’re able to work anywhere?” I ask, shoveling another bite. I love my mom’s lasagna.
“Yes. Which makes it nice at times like this. It also helps that I was ready to get out of town for a few days.”
“Sounds like there’s a story there.” I point my fork at her.
“Do nightmares count as stories?” she asks.
Slowly, I nod, reaching for my tea. I take a long drink before placing it back on the table. “Are you okay?” My eyes scan over her, and she doesn’t look to be injured, but I know all too well that some pains aren’t visible from the outside.
“I’m fine.” She waves me off. “I don’t want to bore you.”
I look down at my plate. “I’m still eating, so how about the condensed version?”
“Let’s see. The condensed version is I received my divorce decree yesterday. My now ex-husband, Lyle, moved out about six months ago. Our marriage had been on the rocks for a while.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s fine.” She offers me a soft smile. “I mean, it’s sad, but it was time. We loved each other, but we weren’t in love with each other. I don’t know when that changed, but somehow over the last four years, it did, and well, we had some differences of opinion that helped to widen that gap.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It sucks. No one gets married thinking they're going to be divorced.” She stares off into the distance for a few heartbeats before her eyes focus once again on me. “What about you? Married?”
