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“It’s the first one all day. The house is only half full right now.”
He turned her toward the dining room and his mom met them halfway. “How are you two doing?”
He waited for Kenna to speak and was surprised when she gave a quiet response. “I know everyone means well, but this is really just too much.”
His mom pulled Kenna into her arms and hugged her close. “It is a lot and they mean well. Except those two busybodies over there who are gathering gossip.”
Kenna turned in the direction his mom nodded. When she turned back to his mom, her eyes rounded and she genuinely smiled for the first time today. “They’re the worst in town. I don’t even know if Mom and Dad know them, other than the gossip twins.”
His mom chuckled. “That’s a perfect name for them.”
Kenna glanced back to make sure no one was listening, then whispered conspiratorially with his mom. “I think I served them once.”
They shared a chuckle, and his heart swelled. That was nice to see and hear.
His mom stepped back. “You two need to eat something. So, grab a plate and maybe go to another room where you can have a moment for yourselves.”
“Is that appropriate?” Kenna asked.
His mom winked. “Your brothers both did it.”
Nodding, Kenna stepped toward the plates. “Those shits.”
He kissed his mom’s cheek. “Thanks for everything today, Mom.”
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him close. “I’m happy to help.”
He filled his plate and Kenna motioned toward her childhood bedroom. He followed her down the hall, holding his breath. No one stopped them and he released a sigh of relief when they made it without interruption.
They sat on her bed, too small for them to sit side by side against the headboard. “You sit and rest your back against the wall. I’ll sit down here and stare at your gorgeous face.”
She scoffed, but willingly rested against the headboard. They ate peacefully in relative silence. She finished her dinner and set her plate on her nightstand. She folded her hands in her lap and watched him for a few moments.
“What?” he asked.
“Do you want kids one day?”
His eyes rounded, and he swallowed his food. “Yes. Do you?”
“I do. When I think of what I want for my life, and I’ve been thinking of almost nothing but lately, I want dark-haired, green-eyed babies with a man I love more than anything else in the world.”
He stared at her, frozen, not entirely sure what she meant. “Okay.”
“I love you, Spencer.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “While we haven’t had a conventional relationship to this point, we’ve been through things many couples don’t ever experience. Every time, you’ve stood by me unquestioningly. Every. Time. I hope I will be as strong and careful and loving if you ever have tough times because I want to be that for you.”
He set his plate on the desk behind him and scooted closer to Kenna. He took her hands in his hands and swallowed to give his heart time to slow down, because right now, it felt like it would beat right out of his chest.
“I love you, Kenna.” He stared at their joined hands. Their fingers intertwined together. Their coloring was different. He was more tanned than she was. His hands were rougher, but she never complained. His fingers were much larger than hers, but she always seemed to enjoy touching him. Holding hands with him. Being near him. “I want dark-haired, green-eyed babies with a woman who loves me with her whole heart.”
“I love you with my whole heart,” she breathed.
His throat tightened up and his heart, as impossible as it seemed, beat wildly. His breathing became quick breaths and his lungs felt like he couldn’t take in enough air.
His voice cracked. “I love you with my whole heart.”
She scooted closer to him, their legs folded in front of them, touching. Her hands framed his face, her thumbs smoothed over his lips, and he was lost in the most beautiful green eyes he’d ever seen. Jewels, they were like jewels.
She inhaled and slowly exhaled as her hands held his head in hers. “I want to stay here and run the business. I want to be in your life, and I so want you in mine. Despite the bad things that have happened since I’ve been home, the good things have far outweighed them. The good things are all you. Your strength. Your protectiveness. Your love. Your steady, constant presence. That’s all you Spencer.”
