17
Kennedy
“The emerald one. Promise me you’ll wear the emerald one.” Jensen was practically bouncing on her toes as she spoke.
The emerald gown was beautiful. It skimmed my body perfectly and made my eyes look like the green gemstones themselves. It was also daringly low-cut. “I don’t know.”
Jensen grabbed my hands, pulling me to her. “Kenz. That dress was made for you. You have to wear it.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was not made for me. It’s your dress.”
“Not anymore, it’s not. I’m leaving it with you and never taking it back.”
“Jensen, no. I don’t want it. It’s yours.”
She sighed. “Fine. I’ll take it back on one condition.” I arched a brow as if to ask what? “That you wear it first.”
I pulled my hands from her grasp. “Oh, fine.”
Jensen let out some sort of girlie shriek that was so unlike her I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay. I’m taking the others home with me, then.” I opened my mouth to argue, but shut it quickly, knowing it would do me no good. “You’ve got my straightener and curling iron. I’ve got Chuck. Need anything else?”
“No, you’ve covered all my bases.” I met her gaze. “Thank you. For everything. I’m so glad I ended up in Sutter Lake and at the Kettle.”
Jensen pointed a finger at me. “Don’t you dare make me cry. Because if I cry, then you’ll cry. And we can’t have you looking all puffy and splotchy for your big date.”
Her final words sent any emotion running. “It’s not a date. I’m just a friend doing a favor.”
“Suuuuure, you are.” Jensen grinned wickedly at me.
“Stop that.”
Jensen tried to hold in a laugh and failed. “I think you’re good for him.” She sobered. “He’s got wounds, so cut him some slack if he’s a little much at times.”
I wanted to ask what those wounds were. All I knew was that he’d lost someone. But, who? How? I had millions of questions swirling in my mind, but I held them back. I wouldn’t want someone prying into my life by asking others about my greatest traumas. I had to give Cain the same respect.
“I’ll cut him some slack.” I pulled J into a tight hug. When I released her, I bent to scratch behind Chuck’s ears. “You be good.”
Jensen hooked the leash to Chuck’s collar. “He’s always good. And Noah is thrilled to have a dog for the night. He’s been begging me and Tuck for a puppy, and I think we’re going to have to give in.”
“Oh, you should. Every kid needs a puppy.”
She draped the excess dresses over her arm. “He lives on a ranch. He’s surrounded by every kind of animal, why does he need to add a dog who’s gonna poop and pee all over my house until it’s potty trained.”
I let out a laugh. “It’ll be worth it.”
Jensen just shook her head. “Try and have fun tonight, okay?”
“I’ll do my best. Tell Noah and Tuck ‘hey’ for me.”
“Will do. See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” I opened the door for J and waited until I heard the back door shut and lock before closing my own. “Fun. Just have fun.” Yeah, right.
I glanced at the clock in my kitchen. Shit. I needed to get moving. I was already showered, but my hair and makeup needed some serious work. I got to it.
My eyes locked on my reflection in the mirror. It was an image I hadn’t seen in a long time, one I wasn’t exactly happy to see again. If I were honest with myself, I didn’t like the person I used to be all that much. Going along with just about every dictate set out by my parents, even the ones disguised as a suggestion. Closing my eyes to all the suffering that had been going on in the world around me. That girl had been nothing but a carefully crafted façade. An expertly painted canvas with little heart.
But I had heart now. I was growing to like the woman I was becoming. I might still know how to expertly paint a canvas, but there was life behind it. Purpose. And the woman I was working my way to being. She would have Cain’s back. So, that’s just what I was going to do.
My hands shook slightly as I brought the locket up to clasp around my neck. It was the one piece of jewelry I’d taken with me when I left. A gift from my grandmother, my father’s mother, someone who probably hated me now.
She’d never been a warm woman. She was couched in proper etiquette and cold distance. But she’d given me this one gift that had spoken to me. A gold locket with a dancer in mid-spin. It wasn’t fancy, but I’d loved it from the moment she’d given it to me for my thirteenth birthday. My mother had always scowled when she saw me wearing it. Called it juvenile, but she couldn’t remove it as she had the other items in my wardrobe that she found displeasing because it was a gift from the matriarch of our family. Even she didn’t dare cross Helen Barrington.
There was a knock at my door. Apparently, Jensen had told Cain to keep an extra set of keys. I took a deep breath and crossed to the sound, pulling the door open. It was a good thing I’d taken that deep breath because I could no longer get air into my lungs.
Cain. In the most expertly tailored tux I’d ever seen. It was unique, just like him. A mixture of playing by the rules and pushing the boundaries. The fabric was a blue so dark, it was nearly black, though not quite. A color that matched his eyes almost perfectly. And the cut… It skimmed his broad shoulders and chest in a way that hinted at the muscle beneath.
My cheeks heated as I saw Cain’s eyes skim down my body. I swore the gaze felt like the lightest touch of fingertips and ignited a shiver I couldn’t contain. “You look incredible, Kenz. Scratch that, incredible isn’t good enough. Transcendent. That’s how you look.”
“Thank you. I just need to grab my purse.” Well, Jensen’s purse, but he didn’t need to know that. I snagged the clutch, a wrap, and a pair of flip-flops for the flight home and then took an inventory of my studio apartment. I felt like I was forgetting something, but maybe it was simply that I was leaving my safe and predictable life behind for a night. It’s only one night. I could do it for one night. I took a slow, measured breath and turned. “Ready.”
“Let’s go.”
Cain offered his arm as we headed down the stairs, and I was glad for it. I hadn’t worn a shoe with a heel in over two years, and I was still getting my sea legs back. “I’ll never know how you ladies can wear those things without breaking an ankle.”
I laughed. “Well, it’s been a minute since I’ve worn ones this high. I might break an ankle before the night is over, or trip and end up on my ass.”
Cain paused at the foot of the stairs, his eyes boring into mine. “I won’t let you fall.”
That handful of words held so much more than their surface meaning as his eyes burned with an unnamed emotion. “Thank you.” The gratitude came out as a whisper, but I couldn’t help the hope it contained.
He squeezed my hand. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
We headed for the airport in silence. It was only a five-minute drive, but each second seemed to ratchet up my anxiety another level. I could do this. Cain needed a friend, someone he could trust, to face a sea of people who could house the traitor trying to hurt his company.
When Cain talked about Halo, I could tell it was about more than money for him. He’d created something that he was proud of. And he didn’t want to lose it. Someone from the inside selling him out had cut at his heart. He hadn’t used those words, but the expression on his face as he’d talked said as much.
Cain pulled right onto the airstrip, parking mere feet away from the jet awaiting us. “Stay put. I’ll come and get your door.”
I nodded, my palms turning clammy. I watched as he rounded the SUV. So confident, so self-assured, as if he could bend the world to his will with only the crook of a finger. There was none of the vulnerability I’d seen a few nights ago. He seemed ready to face what lay ahead while I was a quaking mess.
He opened my door and held out a hand. I slipped my fingertips into his roughened palm.
The texture was comforting, a reminder that he wasn’t the typical wealthy elite, someone who would never deign to partake in an activity that might damage his hands. He was different. He was Cain.
He led me up to the plane and ushered me aboard. We took seats opposite each other, and I immediately gazed out the window as I gripped the armrests of the seat.
“Nervous flyer?”
“No.” It wasn’t the flight that had me terrified. It was leaving behind my safe and secure existence here in Sutter Lake to reenter the den of wolves.
18
Cain
Something was off. I watched Kennedy closely as we took off. She simply stared blankly out the window. No comments about the sleek jet or making fun of me for using it. Just a quiet numbness. I hated everything about it.
“We don’t have to go. I can tell the pilot to turn around. We’ll go back to Sutter Lake, and I’ll take you for ice cream instead.” I would’ve done just about anything to get that look off her face.
Kennedy turned back to face me and gave her head a little shake. “No. I want to go.” I arched a brow at her, and she let out a tiny laugh. That was better. “Okay want might be too strong a word. But I think we should go.”
“Okay. But just say the word if you want to leave. Or maybe we should come up with some sort of secret signal.” I reached up and gave the lobe of my ear two quick tugs. “Something like that?”
Her laughter deepened, filling the cabin of the plane. It was fast becoming my favorite sound. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
A stewardess entered the cabin. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
Kennedy shook her head. “No, thank you. I don’t trust myself not to spill on my dress.”
The stewardess gave her a kind smile. “Just let me know if you change your mind. And for you, sir?”
I liked this flight attendant, no eye-batting or come-ons, just thorough and impeccable service. I was going to offer her a full-time job. “I’m fine, thank you.”
She nodded and headed back to the front of the plane.
Kennedy folded her hands in her lap. “So, who am I going to be meeting tonight?”
“I’m not entirely sure. My driver and assistant will pick us up at the airport. The vice president of my company will be at the event. A number of people we do business with or who use our tech in their day-to-day operations.”
“What made you want to start Halo?”
It had been some time since anyone had asked me that question. I always gave a canned response that was mostly a lie, but there was something that made me want to give Kennedy more. “After I went through that loss I mentioned, I became pretty obsessed with security. I’d always thought to go into law enforcement, maybe try for the FBI because I’ve always been good with computers. Something about the way they work just always clicked in my mind. But after everything that happened, I wanted a more hands-on impact. Something that was truly preventative. I knew I could make equipment and software that was top-of-the-line, but I also knew I could make the everyday stuff significantly more affordable.”
Kennedy nodded slowly. I saw her desire to ask more questions, to delve deeper, but she held back. I was grateful for that. I just didn’t have it in me to tell her about Kiara. I hadn’t told anyone new about her since walking into Dr. Murphy’s office a decade and a half ago.
“Alarm companies all over the world use our equipment, but we also work one-on-one with larger individual clients, designing systems specifically for them.”
“And what you’re working on right now, what’s that for?”
I hadn’t been doing much on that project at all. I’d hoped Sutter Lake would provide me some quiet and time to focus on my new program, but I’d been distracted by the mysterious beauty in front of me. “It’s a program that we’d use for all our individually designed systems.”
“It sounds like you love what you do.”
“I do. Most of the time.”
Kennedy grinned at me. “It’s a job. It’s impossible to love it all the time.”
“What about you? Are you happy at the Kettle and teaching ballet?”
Her smile turned soft. “I am. Both jobs give me a sense of purpose.” She started to say something more but stopped herself.
“What is it?”
Kennedy gave her head a little shake. “I have this crazy dream of rebuilding the community center, creating all sorts of new programming.” She let out a breath. “But I’m not sure how that would even be possible. Maybe one day.”
“You’re pretty amazing, you know that?”
Kennedy’s eyes widened as her cheeks flushed. “Uh, thank you.”
I chuckled. “Okay, no more compliments tonight. I promise.”
The pilot announced our descent into Portland, and before long, we were pulling to a stop on the tarmac. I unbuckled my seat belt and rose. As Kennedy did the same, I noticed her fingers trembling slightly.
My jaw clenched, and I reached out to take her hand in mine. I gave it a little squeeze. “Just remember, you can call it at any time.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” I helped her out of the plane and led her towards a waiting SUV. As we approached, the driver rounded the vehicle, and Rachel stepped out of the passenger side.
She strode towards me, reaching out and giving my arm a quick squeeze. “Missed you, Cain.”
I gave her a quick smile. “Thanks for holding down the fort while I’m away.” I took a step back. “Rachel, Vince, this is Kennedy.”
A look of shock swept over Rachel’s features before she hid it. I wanted to laugh. It wasn’t exactly typical for me to fly in with a date. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too. It’s lovely to meet you both,” Kennedy said as she made her way to the door Vince held open.
He grinned at her. “You, too, ma’am.” He turned to me. “There are a few items that were messengered to the house. Would you like me to have them stored in the plane?”
I climbed into the SUV behind Kenz. “That would be great.”
Rachel followed suit, hopping into the front. “Here are some files for you to look over.” She looked briefly at Kennedy as though unsure if she should continue speaking.
I waved a hand for her to continue. “You can say anything in front of Kennedy.”
Rachel’s eyes flared. “O-okay. There’s a file in there with the list of employees we were discussing.”
I nodded. “I’ll look at them tomorrow. The system update is in place and working?”
“It is. Though I have to be honest with you, some people balked at needing another employee for access.”
“Tough shit.” My hands fisted at my sides. “Our company is under attack, and if any of them have a problem with doing something that’s just a little inconvenient to protect it, they are welcome to leave.”
“Understood.”
Kennedy placed a hand on my knee, squeezing gently. The simple touch calmed me somehow. The knowledge that I wouldn’t be walking into this den of thieves on my own helped. I covered her hand with mine and breathed deeply. I had everything under control.
I had arranged for us to enter the gala through a back door, knowing that Kennedy didn’t want her photograph taken. A harried-looking event staff member met us there. “Right this way, Mr. Hale, Ms. Charles.”
I placed a hand on the small of Kennedy’s back, the heat of her seeping into my palm and making it tingle. “Thank you for meeting us back here.”
“Of course, Mr. Hale. Thank you for your generous donation.”
Kennedy dipped her head to whisper to me. “I didn’t even ask. What organization is the gala for?”
I swallowed thickly. “A rape crisis center here in Portland.”
She paused her forward movement for a moment. “I’m really glad we’re here, then.”
“Me, too.”
The ballroom of the hotel was full but not over-crowded. As always, I spotted many familiar faces, and even more I didn’t know. I hated
this kind of thing. That something for good was turned into a chance to hob-knob and make deals. The focus should be on the center, but that was never going to be the case. At least, I knew they’d walk away with a few million by the end of the night.
“Cain,” a voice called from my right. Drew Wright, a long-time client, appeared through the crowd. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it. The rumor mill’s been working overtime. Something about you running away to the mountains.”
I chuckled. “Thank God for private planes, they can bring you in from anywhere. How are things?”
“Great. The missus and I just got back from a couple of weeks in St. Barts. You been to the island this year?”
“No, there’s only so many sandy beaches and five-star resorts I can take. I was getting a little sick of the same ol’, same ol’.”
Drew grinned. “Only you would get tired of a private villa on the ocean.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Kennedy’s expression turn sour. I hadn’t thought about the fact that she would hate the persona I put on at these events. And didn’t that just turn my stomach? I wanted to be a man she’d be proud to stand next to, not someone she was ashamed of.
“And who do we have here?” Drew eyed Kennedy in a way that made me want to deck him.
I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to my side. “Drew Wright, this is Kennedy Charles. Kennedy, Drew.”
Kennedy took Drew’s hand in a polite shake. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too, darlin’. How’d you meet this one?” He stuck a thumb out towards me.
She smiled politely. “Mutual friends.”
“I know these friends?”
I jumped in before Drew could push any further. “I don’t think so. I’ve got to get this lovely lady a drink, but I’ll find you later.”
“You do that. I’ve got a proposition to discuss with you.”
Beautifully Broken Control (The Sutter Lake Series Book 4) Page 13