Page 12 of When You Got a Good Thing (Misfit Inn 1)

“Too bad. Your mama and I always liked her.”

Xander bristled at the reminder that his parents—or at least his father—had never approved of Kennedy. Xander had never cared, but she’d wanted so desperately to be accepted by his family. It had always felt cruel that they’d denied her that. And why did he even still care? They were both grown adults, neither of whom needed his parents—or anyone else’s—approval.

Old habits, he decided. “Was there something you actually needed? Or was this just some attempt to play Dr. Phil?”

“Got some process papers that need delivering today.”

Thank God. He was ready to get back to doing his actual job. “Okay then. Who and where?”

Chapter Four

“I DON’T KNOW WHY we’re here,” Pru said. “We’ve still got enough casseroles to get us through the end of the month.”

Kennedy grabbed a shopping cart and headed toward the produce aisle. “Because woman cannot live on casseroles alone, even in Tennessee. If I don’t have some vegetables that aren’t globbed in cheese or wrapped in bacon, my arteries are going to clog in a week. Plus, I need to pick up some basic toiletries and stuff since my luggage still hasn’t arrived.” She’d have to pick up some clothes, too, if it didn’t show up soon.

“You realize you’ve just blasphemed, right? Bacon and cheese are their own food groups here. Or had you forgotten?”

“I hadn’t forgotten. But my tolerance is down after all the time away.” Plus she’d wanted an excuse to get out of the house and away from the tension.

Maggie had sequestered herself with copies of the financial records Robert sent over the day before. Whatever the news, it wasn’t good. Athena was pacing the place like a caged jungle cat, itching to get back to Olympus and knowing she couldn’t leave Eden’s Ridge yet. And Pru was fretting over Ari, who still wasn’t saying or eating much. She’d gone back to school this morning. They were all expecting a call for an early pick up. A grocery run seemed the easiest way to get a brief escape and distract Pru.

“Well, since we’re here, I’m gonna go grab some ice cream.” Pru made a beeline for the freezer section.

“Far be it for me to deny you the comfort of Ben and Jerry.”

As her sister wandered off, Kennedy swept through the personal care aisle, picking up the necessities before heading over to produce. She browsed the fresh veggies, adding potatoes, carrots, and onions to the cart, then grabbing some apples and the fixings for spinach salads. Wondering if there was a chance in hell the butcher had any lamb in the meat department, she circled onto the canned goods aisle.

“I ran into Porter at the funeral. He said progress down in Gatlinburg is going really well, so the resort might reopen this summer.”

Kennedy stopped in the middle of the aisle. She knew that voice. A part of her had been waiting to hear it from the moment she’d set foot back in the Ridge. He’d been at the funeral? She’d wondered why she hadn’t seen him. Wondered if he’d made himself scarce to avoid her.

Hands gripping the cart like a lifeline, she slowly made her way down the aisle and eased around the end to peer down the next row. And there he was, big as life. She couldn’t see his face, but she’d know him anywhere. Xander Kincaid. The reason she’d stayed away all these years. And why she’d always wanted to come back.

Feigning nonchalance, she reached for whatever was on the display at the end of the aisle, taking the chance to study him. His brown hair was considerably shorter now, no longer curling over his collar. His khaki shirt stretched across shoulders that were broader than they’d been at eighteen, and he still had the best backside in Stone County. A duty belt hung around his hips. So her former bad boy had become a lawman exactly like his father always wanted. Looked like Buck had been right after all. She’d been a bad influence.

How long had it taken him to fall in line after she’d left? A week? A month? Or had he made it the whole summer? Had he ever really loved her at all? Maybe she’d just

been a diversion for the hometown boy who’d never really had any intention of leaving.

Feeling foolish, Kennedy tried to shrug off the disappointment. It was ancient history. She should finish grabbing supplies, round up Pru, and get out of here before he saw her. Realizing it was a box of stuffing mix she’d picked up, she reached to put it back. The zipper of her hoodie caught on the buggy, yanking it into the endcap display with a crash that echoed through the store and sent several boxes of stuffing tumbling to the floor.

Of course Xander turned around and looked right at her.

Crap.

Heart pounding, Kennedy immediately unsnagged her hoodie and crouched down to pick up the boxes. She had three in her hands when a pair of black, lace-up boots stepped into her field of view. Their owner squatted down and reached for some of the boxes.

“Why are you even looking at this stuff? You hate stuffing.”

“Perhaps a better question is why they’re highlighting it in March. Hello, Xander.” She made herself look at him. None of the softness of youth lingered around that chiseled jaw. The rest of him had clearly transitioned from the last traces of boy into man. But his mouth. His mouth was as she’d remembered, those sculpted lips just barely curved at the edge of a ready smile.

She hadn’t expected the possibility of a smile from him. Her breath quickened at his nearness and her fingers itched to trace those lips. Would he taste the same? Needing a moment to get her own reaction under control, Kennedy turned to put the boxes back on the display.

Xander did the same before rocking back on his heels, all traces of the smile gone. “I’m sorry about your mama.”

“Thank you.”

Cue awkward silence. What was she supposed to say to this man she’d once planned a life with?

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