Page 1 of Banking on Love

Chapter One

KENSI

The last customer walked out the door. I quickly made my way around the counter. My heels clicked against the tile floor as I walked over to the door to flip the open sign to close and lock the doors.

My hand reached for the lock just as the door opened. The bell above the door jingled, indicating the bank’s latest arrival. I bit back a groan… No. A sob. I wanted to cry. It was Saturday and already half an hour past closing time thanks to Mr. Benson and his pennies.

“Hey, Kensi,” Mrs. Carter smiled, stepping inside. Her pinned-up white curls and floral dress blew as the door closed behind her.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Carter,” I beamed, hiding my internal dismay. “How are you today?”

“I’m doing just fine,” she patted my hand then shuffled past me with her cane. Completely oblivious to the fact I was locking up.

I looked at Mrs. Carter, who now stood at the teller window. When she saw me looking, she smiled brightly. It wasn’t a warm smile. More like a child who was caught with their hand in the cookie jar and hoping they wouldn’t get scolded.

“You sly dog,” I muttered faintly; well out of earshot of Mrs. Carter.

Mrs. Carter was eighty-two years old. She had been a customer at the bank since the Dark Ages. She knew our hours like the back of her hand. So who was I kidding thinking she didn’t know I was locking up.

Just one more customer, I assured myself, plastering a huge smile on my face then made my way back around the counter back to my teller window.

“How can I help you today, Mrs. Carter?”

* * *

My bed welcomed me with open arms after my shower. I snuggled up with a pillow and closed my eyes. The quiet sound of the ceiling fan took me to my oasis.

I imagined my toes dipped in the sand. Waves crashing in the background. A hot shirtless waiter serving me a mai tai. His perfectColgatesmile enticing me to ask him for a kiss. Or two.

“Mmmm. So sexy,” I moaned softly.

“Kenz!” my twin sisters Kimberly and Kallia screamed from somewhere in the house.

“Seriously?” I groaned, opening my eyes and leaving my beach daydream. “In my room!”

Fast, heavy footsteps approached my room. My bedroom door flew open. The two hellions came running into my room. The bed shifted to their weight as they jumped on top of me and laughed.

“Hey, brats. What are you doing here?” I giggled, despite having my fantasy interrupted by them. It was hard to be upset when I was being bear-hugged.

“Dad is off with his friends. We want to go to the movies but don’t have any money,” Kallia grinned.

“We were hoping our beautiful, older sister would hook us up with a few bucks,” Kimberly said, turning on the charm.

“Didn’t I give you your allowance this week?” I asked, sitting up.

Kimberly looked at Kallia, who shook her head and gestured for Kimberly to speak. Kimberly’s eyes widened then she frowned at Kallia. Neither one of them wanted to spill the beans.

“Did that ass spend the money on beer?” My words came out harshly. It wasn’t towards them though. The venomous tone was meant for my dad, who irritated me to no end.

“He’s been trying really hard, but…” Kimberly whispered. Her eyes settled on my comforter. She looked sad. “He’s just not--”

“It’s okay,” I said, pulling her into my arms. I kissed the top of her head. “My purse is by the door. I think there’s forty in there. Take that.”

“We’ll be fine with twenty. We can make that work,” Kallia replied.

“Kallia,” I smiled at her, “you are young ladies. You need to each have your own money. So twenty for you. Twenty for you, Kimberly. Okay?”

“Okay,” Kimberly sniffled.

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