Page 26 of When You Got a Good Thing (Misfit Inn 1)

That was the practical thing, of course. But Kennedy felt more than a little disappointed. She couldn’t put her finger on why. Untapped potential, she supposed.

“Look, Kennedy, I wanted to talk to you.”

She stiffened at Pru’s serious tone. “About?”

“Last night for starters. What’s going on with you and Xander?”

“Nothing.” The reply was automatic, if not exactly accurate. She didn’t have a damned clue what was going on with her and Xander.

“I heard you get home this morning. That kiss didn’t look like nothing.”

Blood rushed to Kennedy’s cheeks at the realization that moment hadn’t been as private as it had felt. Of course Pru was the little mother, who wouldn’t have been able to sleep without everyone home under one roof.

“He started it.”

“You were fighting him off so hard.”

Kennedy snorted at the wry tone. “Things are...complicated.”

“You were with him last night.”

“Not like that. I took a walk and hiked out to our old spot to think. He showed up and we spent all night talking.”

“Just talking?” Pru looked askance at that.

“Yeah, just talking. Until he dropped me off. And that...I don’t know what that was.”

Yes she did. It was temptation. He was everything she’d never wanted to lose, and clearly he was opening that door again. Even thinking about it was so very dangerous. She needed to sleep and keep herself busy until her defenses were shored up again.

“Considering y’all nearly set the porch on fire, I’ve got a pretty good idea what that was.”

“We still have chemistry.”

“He still has feelings for you.”

Kennedy bristled. “And is this the part where you warn me away, tell me not to play with him because he’s been hurt enough? Because I’m aware of that, Pru.”

Of course, even her gentle-hearted sister wasn’t worried about her being hurt again. No one had any idea what it had done to Kennedy to leave. And why should they? She’d never told anyone the truth.

Pru just studied her with steady brown eyes. “No, this is supposed to be the part where I ask if you still have feelings, too. But I think you just answered that question. Yes, your leaving devastated him, but I think it devastated you, too.”

Kennedy’s gaze shot to her sister.

“Everyone else was caught up in Maggie’s drama at the time, and it was easier for them to believe you were being selfish. But I know better. I know you. I know how much you loved him. And I know you wouldn’t have left without a damned good reason. Not him and not us.”

Kennedy schooled her features into what she hoped passed for a neutral expression. “I can’t talk about it, Pru.”

Her sister frowned. “Honey, were you pregnant?”

It was the absolute last thing she’d expected to fall out of Pru’s mouth. “What?”

“You didn’t let any of us even see you for a year. And with everything going on with Maggie at the time…I wondered.”

Kennedy had to actually sit down on the edge of the bed as the gravity of that idea sank in. “Jesus. No. We were careful.”

“So was Maggie. Careful doesn’t always cut it.”

“I wasn’t pregnant. If I had been…God—” She loosed a breath. “I could never have kept Xander’s child from him. And it wouldn’t have been in me to give that child up.” Because it would’ve been a part of him.

---