Page 176 of Tainted

I appreciated the way he always let me vent about being so busy. His solution was never just to quit, even though I could. Instead, he used his money to make things easier in our lives so I had more space for dance, like retiring my Mom so she could keep Kyce when he couldn’t. Picking up dinner and not being upset if I didn’t cook. Those were the things I loved most about Kenyon.

“Anyway, Rajah’s last rodeo is Saturday night, so I don’t want any excuses. We’re going,” I declared.

Kenyon’s lids flicked up before focusing back on his food.

“Then I need you to find something nice to wear to Sydney’s donor dinner.”

“Wow, we’re going tit for tat now?”

“You don’t have enoughtitsfor tat,” Kenyon joked.

My jaw dropped in fake outrage. Breastfeeding his greedy daughter sucked what little life I had out of them, “Fuck you.”

“Now we’re talking.”

“You make me so sick,” I giggled.

“Kross came by the office today. He needs your help at the club.”

“I don’t know if I can take anything else on my plate.”

“Then don’t. We’ll figure it out.”

I also didn’t want to put anything else on Kenyon’s plate.

“What about Rajah?” I suggested trying to find common ground. “RajahisUtopia, so who better to take over? It's a storybook ending to a good run.”

“Damn, that’s a good idea.”

“I’m full of good ideas, just like Throttle House. Aren’t you happy I picked you?”

“You picked me?” Kenyon laughed so hard he almost choked on his food. “Be clear, Babygirl. I let you think you picked me, but I was in control the whole time.”

“You are delusional,” I rebutted.

We finished eating while Kenyon updated me on the progress of the app. There was something sexy about listening to him discuss something he was so passionate about. Half the time, I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I listened to the inflection of his voice and the way he smiled at certain parts.

* Lies

Kenyon

Kross was struggling to keep things afloat without Megan wrangling the girls. He called this morning in a panic, rambling about a bunch of shit I didn’t care about. Phoenix and Diamond weren’t getting along, making his job harder, while Rajah threatened to burn the building down if anything went wrong tonight.

“Everything okay?” Zara asked.

“Yeah, I have to handle something for Kross.”

“So much for a lazy morning in the bed,” she smiled while Kyce played with the remote.

“It’s always some shit to do.”

“Shit!” Kyce repeated, causing Zara to narrow her gaze.

“Really, Kenyon.”

“Come on, Mama, you’re getting me in trouble,” I smiled, tickling her tummy.

“I don’t want any excuses about being tired later. Kyce is going to my Mom’s, and you’re coming out.”

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