Page 1 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

Chapter One

MARINA’S WEDDING WASthe first social outing Kennedy Crawford voluntarily attended in many years. The business functions she couldn’t avoid in her job didn’t count. She squirmed in her wooden seat in Marina’s mother-in-law’s backyard where they were holding the reception. The mouthwatering scents of barbecue and roasted potatoes floated to her, but she didn’t feel hungry. Rather, awkward.

Being among people in large gatherings put her stomach in knots, so she’d gone the opposite way from her socialite parents who’d loved to party. And unlike them, shy and introverted Kennedy didn’t have many friends to start with. Any real friends, not those who’d tried to befriend her because of her inheritance. Her rib cage constricted. She didn’t want to spoil the happy event, so she ducked her head and hid behind a large glass of tea.

Her budding friendship with Marina was too precious to let Kennedy refuse the invitation. Marina was a glorious bride in an off-the-shoulder white dress she paired with a wreath of wildflowers, beaming at her newlywed husband. And he looked back at her with so much love.

Wistfulness unraveled Kennedy’s carefully managed emotions. But really, what did she have to complain about? She straightened her back and took a bite from a barbecue rib to keep up the appearance, arranging her features into a cheerful mask. No point in moping, especially at a wedding. She was fortunate to have what she had, and she knew it. And if she’d been lonely, she had only herself to blame.

After all, it was her fault she’d lost her cousin, who’d been as close as a sister. A soul twin.

A knife turned inside her, cutting loose a familiar pain. She welcomed the pain because she deserved it. And because the moment she stopped feeling it would be the moment she’d forget Zoey, and Kennedy didn’t want that.

“Would you like me to refill your iced tea? Or bring you something else to eat?” Austin’s concerned voice reached her as he leaned closer, giving her a whiff of his fresh aftershave.

Right. She’d forgotten she wasn’t alone. “No thanks. I’m good.” A wisp of hair escaped the updo her stylist had decorated with crystals, and the wind threw it in her face. She tucked it behind her ear with an impatient gesture.

“Okay. How about the next dance, then?” He smiled at her.

Keeping the smile in place got more difficult. “Thanks for asking. But I’ll have to respectfully decline.”

“Oh. Okay.” Disappointment flashed in his eyes, and he deflated in his dashing tuxedo. Great looks and great character sure ran in the Lawrence family. “How about the one afterward, then?”

Seriously?

She suppressed a groan and thumped her ice-tea glass onto the table so fast the liquid nearly sloshed. “I don’t dance.”

“I understand.” He shifted away.

Great. Stifling a groan against the guilt, she hid behind the glass while sipping the cold drink. Sunlight sent golden flecks through the amber liquid. While she didn’t know Austin well, everyone in town seemed to like the friendly veterinarian who always had a kind word not only for people but also animals. Her uncle often said one could judge someone’s character by the way they treated children or animals.

She shouldn’t have been rude. She was irritated with herself, not him. Partly because Zoey would never fall in love, never get married, never smile again. All because of Kennedy. Partly because Uncle called this morning and said they needed to talk. At lunch tomorrow.

She stole a glance at Austin. Surprising how he hadn’t left his surly neighbor—namely, her—but rather stayed in his chair, sipping tea.

As the groom’s brother and a groomsman, Austin showed up without a plus-one. Apparently, someone had thought to punish him by seating him near her, who was also without a plus-one.

Why couldn’t she be nicer to him?

Because she’d be ice water to his fire. And not only because of her cerulean-hued party gown where crystals studding the bodice glimmered like water drops while the reddish tones in his fiery hair lit him up. She’d been called out far too many times for her frosty attitude. It was a miracle she’d not only survived in the hospitality industry but also made wise decisions in it. She’d douse his enthusiasm in no time.

“That doesn’t mean you should be rude to him. It’s just one dance, not a lifetime together.” Uncle’s voice rang in her ears.

He’d always been her voice of wisdom. And everything important she’d learned, she’d learned from him. Never mind that her parents had sent her to one of the best schools in Europe to study. Also, to be as far away from them as possible after she’d started asking inconvenient questions.

What did Uncle want to talk about? Her stomach clenched, and the barbecue turned sour there. His tone had suggested the conversation wouldn’t be easy.

Marina caught her gaze and lifted her lemonade glass in a silent toast. Kennedy did the same with her own glass. Then Marina shifted her gaze to Austin, frowned, and said something to her newlywed husband.

Kennedy’s heart fell into the grass. “Sorry,” she mouthed to Marina. Not a great start to a friendship.

Her uncle also often said it didn’t cost anything to be kind. She felt like she’d kicked a puppy—or at least the puppy’s caring doctor. So she leaned to Austin. “On the other hand, I can make an exception. I’d love to have the next dance.”

“Really?” His face lit up.

“Really.” Wow, could it be so easy to bring someone joy? How would she know? She seldom brought people joy, something her mother stated too many times.

“I’m glad.” He got up and gave her his hand.

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