Page 36 of When You Got a Good Thing (Misfit Inn 1)

With another shy wave, Ari headed out the door. As soon as it closed, Maggie blew out a breath. “I thought we’d be on better footing by now.”

“You’re intimidating,” Kennedy told her.

Insult whipped color into Maggie’s fair cheeks. “I am not.”

“You kind of are,” Pru said. “It works for you. Most of the time. You’re the woman who Gets Things Done.”

“Pru is the warm, fuzzy one,” Kennedy said.

“What about you?” Maggie demanded. Was that jealousy in her tone?

>

“I’m the most like Ari. She relates to me.”

An almost imperceptible shudder passed over Maggie, as if perishing the thought of having another sister like Kennedy. “Well, it’s good she’ll open up to at least some of us.” Turning on heel, she strode with purpose into the kitchen.

Kennedy and Pru exchanged a look. “Business mode,” Kennedy murmured. Not quite ready to face whatever her middle sister wanted to discuss, she said, “I’ll be right back. Need to run upstairs for a minute.”

It was a foolish and unnecessary delay, but she retreated to her room, pulling out her laptop and compulsively checking email. Maybe there’d be something from Flynn.

But it wasn’t email from Flynn that snagged her attention. It was an email from the book editor.

Hey Kennedy,

I was just following up on our conversation from a few weeks ago. Tried to call you at the pub and was referred to one Flynn Bohannon. He told me about your mother. I’m so very sorry for your loss. I know you’re dealing with a lot, but I just wanted to keep the lines of communication open. Still very interested in the book project, and the powers that be are pumped. Ready and willing to discuss when you’re in a better place.

Enthusiastically yours,

Elena Beckhoff

Kennedy read the email through twice more, feeling her pulse jitter. The whole thing was still on the table. Her eyes fell on the stack of scrapbooks piled on a chair in the corner. She’d almost swear she caught a whiff of violets from that direction. Mom would want her to do this. Or at least talk to the woman about it more in depth. Deciding that was scarier than whatever Maggie wanted to discuss, Kennedy shut the laptop and went back downstairs.

She found Maggie fiddling with the coffee pot instead of ready to get down to brass tacks. Needing something to do herself to dispel the nervous energy coursing through her from the email, Kennedy moved to tackle the breakfast dishes.

“So how did your date with Xander go last night?” The question itself wasn’t unexpected. That it came from Maggie was.

“Fine.” Which told them exactly nothing.

One fair brow winged up. “You were home awfully late for it to just be fine.”

Kennedy plunged her hands into the sink and began scrubbing at the sausage drippings in the skillet. “I didn’t sleep with him, if that’s what you’re asking.” Not for lack of trying. There was no sense in being embarrassed by that. His rejection had nothing to do with not wanting her. That much had been clear.

But instead of taking what she’d offered, he’d denied his own needs and given her what she’d needed. He’d listened. He’d defended. In the face of lackluster support from her family, Xander’s unwavering belief was humbling. Beyond that, he’d given her something infinitely more precious. A second chance.

There’d been more to his kiss, more to his touch last night than the old, familiar heat and affection. Like stumbling across a unicorn on a hike, she didn’t want to look too closely, lest it disappear. Whatever it was left her feeling shaky and fragile inside, and so very, very needy. She didn’t know how it could work, didn’t know if she’d ever be free of the ghosts from her past. But for the first time she felt brave enough to try. To have Xander back, she’d be willing to endure almost anything.

From the other side of the room, Pru studied her with a serious expression that had discomfort crawling up Kennedy’s spine.

“So we had business to discuss?” she prompted. Might as well take the pressure off herself somehow.

Maggie poured them all fresh cups of coffee and gestured to the big farmhouse table. Kennedy set the clean dishes in the dish drainer, and they took their seats.

“Do we need to call Athena, get her on speakerphone?” Pru asked.

“I already talked to her about this on the drive to the airport yesterday.”

“And you waited to loop us in why?” Kennedy asked.

---