Page 17 of Kiss Me

“The more the merrier,” Kennedy, my cousin’s wife says as she comes up behind her brother.

Dae isn’t too far behind his wife, wrapping his arm around her as he lifts an eyebrow looking toward me.

“You’re Kennedy Townsend,” Tania says, surprising just about everyone.

“Kim,” Dae corrects. “Kennedy Townsend-Kim.”

“She’s still a Townsend,” Kyle glares over at Dae, causing his wife to admonish him.

“Damn straight, she is,” a deep, booming voice enters the picture.

I don’t have to see him to know the voice belongs to Aaron Townsend, CEO of Townsend Industries and Kennedy and Kyle’s father.

“She’ll always be a Townsend,” he says as he glares over at my cousin.

“Aaron, don’t start,” his wife, Kennedy’s mother interjects before pulling her daughter and then my cousin into a hug. “Sorry we’re late.”

“Where’s Stasi?” Eve asks.

“She decided to redo her hair. She’ll be here soon,” Patience Townsend answers. “Why don’t we go in and start setting up?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to blurt out your name like that,” Tania says looking at Kennedy. “I love your podcast,” she comments.

My cousin’s wife’s face lights up. “Thank you. I’m a fan of yours as well. I was bummed to hear about your ankle. I hope it’s healing well.”

Tania clears her throat. “Yeah…” she hesitates and looks up at me. “It’s, uh, still a little tender but it’s on the mend.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Though you’ve already met, I should still make introductions,” I finally interrupt. “Tania and I met on the slopes earlier today and she graciously agreed to be my date for the evening.”

“Date?” Dae and Tania both speak at the same time.

I glare down at her, realizing my arm remains around her waist. “That’s what I said.”

She levels a look at me.

“Slopes?” Kennedy questions. “You were on the slopes?”

“No, uh, well, I miss being out in the snow even though I can’t get on my board. I went out for a little fresh air and came across Taehyun here.”

A half-smile crests on my face. She lies almost as well as I do.

“I bet he made you an offer you couldn’t refuse,” Dae says while staring at me.

“I’m nothing if not a man of negotiation.” I stare my cousin in the eyes. His narrow and I know he’s reading more into it than what meets the eye.

I’m certain I’ll get questions about it later.

“It looks like more people are pouring in. Shall we head inside?” I ask.

Tania tries to move away, but I trap her to me, holding her back until the others have entered the dining space the family has rented out for the night.

“There should be a space for you as well, Liza,” I tell her assistant, who obviously is uneasy about leaving the two of us.

My hold on Tania, though silent, tells anyone watching that I’m not about to let either one of us move until I’m good and damn ready.

“Okay,” Liza replies with a head gesture before following the rest of the large Townsend family inside.

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