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“This must be all your parents’ shit.”
“Most of it, why?”
“It’s old.”
McKenna’s narrowed gaze landed on the back of his head. “Sorry to disappoint by not meeting your usual standard but I like my house and everything in it just fine.”
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it. Just making an observation.” Carter stood, moving slowly to the small wooden dinette that sat off the kitchen. After tugging at one of the chairs, his long body awkwardly filled it, making it clear his legs were too long for the space. “And how do you know what my usual standard is?”
“I don’t,” she made clear as she filled two plates with the lasagna she’d not too long removed from the oven that had been cooling on the stove.
“Then why the slick ass comment?” Carter’s stomach growled when a plate found its way in front of him. It seemed like the minute she’d cut into the dish the aroma instantly found him. McKenna placed hers on the opposite side of the table and he chuckled at the fact that she was constantly trying to keep her distance.
“I have water, juice, and soda.”
“Nothing stronger?”
She frowned but moved to the cabinet, wrapping her hand around a half-empty bottle of bourbon. It was old and had belonged to her father.
Carter’s brow lifted, immediately recognizing the label. It wasn’t his preference but would do if it was all she had. “You drink brown liquor?”
“Nope.”
“Your man?”
She snorted and grabbed a tumbler, placing them both in front of Carter before she entered the kitchen one last time, returning with a bottle of water for herself and utensils for them both. She handed the fork to Carter before she sat, delivered a short blessing, then dug into her food when she was done. He poured some of the bourbon, tossing it back and feeling a slight burn because it had been a minute since he’d consumed any alcohol.
“You not gonna answer the question?” he asked before digging into his food.
“No.”
“Damn this is good as hell,” he mumbled through his second mouthful.
No matter how annoyed she pretended to be, his comment about her food made her smile. McKenna, however, wasn’t quick enough to catch it before it surfaced. “Thanks. At least I get points for that.”
Chuckling, Carter loaded another forkful before he went back to his original question. “Why aren’t you gonna answer?”
“Because, whether or not I have a boyfriend is none of your business and besides, I thought you were an expert on my life. Shouldn’t you already know the answer?” She peered at Carter who smirked and nodded. He should have, but then again, he’d been wrong about her occupation.
Even if he hadn’t seen a man coming and going from her house, that didn’t necessarily guarantee she didn’t spend time at his. There was also the factor that he hadn’t been watching McKenna as closely as he’d made it seem. He was fully aware of certain details about her life but what little he was privy to was necessary in his opinion. Carter never knew what or who he might need so he made sure to keep up with small details that could potentially come in handy.
“I do, but I figured I’d let you do the honors. You got a man, Kenni?”
Kenni?
There it was again. Carter speaking to her with a familiarity that he shouldn’t have, however her body still reacted. People called her Kenni all the time but it felt different when he said it.
“Do you have a woman?”
“No, at least not in the way you’re asking. I’m cool with a few people but nothing serious.”
She snorted, eyes rolling at the same time. “Typical.”
Carter chuckled at her reaction but made clear, “There’s nothing typical about me. Regardless of what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours. Most of what you think isn’t true.”
McKenna’s fork lowered followed by the squaring of her shoulders once her spine straightened. “You probably sell drugs, you hurt people, and you choose to rotate women instead of being committed to just one. Typical.” She made sure to put emphasis on the last word.
Tossing his chin up Carter continued eating but didn’t respond right away. Instead he pinned her in place with a look so malicious that her expression shifted from taunting to an expression showing the uneasiness that crept into her spirit. Carter’s eyes remained steady and unblinking as they peered directly at McKenna until she eventually dropped hers.
