Page 9 of Kenzie's Perfect Daddies

Sebastian

He watched as her face screwed up into an adorably contemplative expression and she took a deep breath. Her face was so expressive, broadcasting her every thought as she considered their words. Sebastian saw the hope, the pain, the uncertainty, everything. He was holding his own breath as he waited for Kenzie’s decision.

They’d discussed everything he could think of and given her every tool she’d need to make the decision that was best for her. He was aware, however, that she waffled on making choices. She’d told them directly in the discussions of what she needed in a caregiver.

Part of Sebastian wanted to save her from this particular choice, but she needed to make it herself. He couldn’t take the burden of this one from her. After she accepted him as her Daddy, he could do his best to help her, providing support for whatever decisions she might need to make, but this one needed to be hers alone.

He breathed a sigh of relief when her features screwed up into a determined expression. Obviously, she’d made her choice. He could only pray it was the one he wanted.

Kenzie tightened her grip on his hand and whispered softly, “Okay, I’d like to try.”

If he hadn’t been so busy hugging both his Littles, Sebastian might have done a happy dance, and he wasn’t a dancer.

Chapter Eight

Kenzie

“Are you shitting me right now?”

Kenzie added another spoonful of sugar to her morning coffee as she listened to River react to her news. She tended to make her coffee more like syrup. Liking the jolt the caffeine sent to her system but not really being a fan of the flavor, she masked it with a lot of flavored creamers and a ridiculous amount of sugar.

“Nope, I’m serious.” Kenzie didn’t see much point in more of an answer, she’d just spent the whole twenty minutes it’d taken to drink her first cup of coffee explaining the situation.

“You lucky bitch.”

Kenzie had to laugh at that, as it hadn’t been the response she’d expected from River, but then again, they never failed to surprise her. The tone of playful jealousy was also unusual for her friend and Kenzie found herself wondering how much of their jealousy was playful and how much was a real desire for this type of dynamic. River had never said what they were dreaming of finding, and Kenzie found herself suddenly curious to know. She wanted her friend to have the chances Kenzie found herself getting now.

Kenzie’s laughter stopped as quickly as it had begun, her thoughts turning to the risks taking this chance was presenting to her heart and the reality of her concerns settling in. “You don’t think I’m making a mistake?”

“Kenzie, sweetie, you’ve spent a full year and a half grieving the loss of one man and continuing to love him, and you said yourself that your attraction to the other was instantaneous and intense. I think you’d be making a mistake to turn this chance down.” River’s words were tinged with comfort and support.

“But—”

“No buts. I can understand where you’d be scared, but you can’t let fear keep you from living the life of your dreams. Giving in to fear leads to regrets and sad, lonely golden years. Don’t let that happen to you, sweets. Take the chance and run with it.” River gave that a second to settle before adding, “besides, if the worst happens, I’ll always be here, babes. I’ll help you pick up the pieces.”

Kenzie contemplated River’s words as she sipped her still-too-hot coffee. “Ouch, ow, owie!”

“You burned your tongue again?” River knew Kenzie too well. Her impatience often caused Kenzie to do things that she knew wouldn’t result in good outcomes. Case in point, being too impatient for more caffeine and burning her tongue. Was her impatience for happiness going to lead to her heart getting shattered? Would River end up having to glue the pieces together?

“Mmm.” Kenzie’s mumble might not have been decipherable to anyone else, but River knew Kenzie in a way most didn’t. And with the direction her thoughts had gone, Kenzie wasn’t capable of a better response.

“When are you finally going to learn to blow?” Now River had opened a door they knew Kenzie wouldn’t be able to resist walking through, successfully lifting her mood.

“I know how to blow just fine; ask any guy I’ve dated.” She laughed at her own humor while River grumbled good naturedly about her corny joke.

Sebastian

“How’s the Pierson claim going?”

Sebastian brought himself back to the meeting he was attending. He’d spent too much time daydreaming since Friday. They hadn’t visited Kenzie again over the weekend, not wanting to overwhelm her. Both he and Beau had restricted themselves to texts and Sebastian had indulged in one phone call, getting to know his girl better.

Theirgirl.

“Sebastian?”

Shit, he’d done it again. He really needed to get his head in the game.

“The fire inspectors suspect arson but have yet to determine if it was an outside party. I’m still waiting on the final report.”

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