Page 18 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

Chapter Five

THE NEXT DAY, KENNEDYstepped back from the flamingo-hued wall at Dallas and Skylar’s house and surveyed her work. Though the future parents didn’t know the gender yet, they opted for pink for now and would repaint later if it turned out to be a boy. The couple had said they’d be happy for either one.

Usually, when any renovations needed to be done, Kennedy hired people. But she found something relaxing in the fresh strokes of paint as she did them herself, and the rich, joyful color made her smile.

Okay, fine, her main reason for smiling was the person near her painting the wall close to the ceiling. They wore identical caps, goggles, and gloves since Austin had given her his extras when she didn’t have any.

Not the attire she’d prefer, considering it was difficult to look great in goggles and the cap hid her best feature—her hair. In the world where she’d grown up, appearances were important—often more than what was underneath them. But even more than usual, she wanted to appeal to Austin. She suppressed a grimace. If she didn’t want to wear any paint—and she didn’t—she had to wear this.

Skylar, Dallas, and Marina had gone shopping for baby things, or rather, Marina had whisked them away, providing the opportunity for this surprise renovation. Austin had decided to paint the nursery since Skylar had chosen a color earlier. Then Kennedy joined in when two of his brothers had to drop out due to a ranch emergency. His kindness was one of many things she liked about him. But so far, both of them had avoided the pink elephant in the room—the answer to her marriage proposal.

“You didn’t have to do this.” He spoke from beside the ladder. “But I appreciate it.” He’d volunteered to do the “cutting in” as he called painting close to the ceiling since she wasn’t particularly fond of heights, even small ones.

“I enjoy it.” Even if it put wistful notes in her heart as she imagined little feet running in this room one day soon. “This nursery is going to be adorable.”

“It sure will be.” He stirred the paint with a wooden stick, then poured some from the pail into a tray for her and carried the pail up the ladder for himself. “Thank you so much for helping me.”

“My pleasure.” She meant it. Just being in his company sent pleasant waves through her.

Now that she’d unexpectedly found herself with a lot of time on her hands, she considered volunteering at the animal shelter with him. So far, she’d chickened out because she was scared to be bitten. She couldn’t expect the other animals to be like Caramel’s mother who was dozing in a sunny spot on the hardwood living room floor.

Kennedy’s phone rang in her pocket. She snapped off a rubber glove and fished out her phone.

Skylar.

“How is it going?” Skylar chirruped. Then she continued without waiting for an answer. “I can’t wait to show you everything we bought. Everything is super-duper cute!” She giggled and talked about the crib, toys, car seat, and all the darling teeny-weeny outfits with equally darling inscriptions on them. “Okay, I’ll let you go. See you soon. I have a gift for you. And Dallas and I can’t wait for the little one to get here!” Skylar disconnected.

Oh, to be a newlywed and so much in love and waiting for the first new addition to the family. Maybe Kennedy could live vicariously through her friend. Her heart constricted as she moved the roller back and forth, the paint reminding her of decadent strawberry ice cream and making her crave something sweet. She was happy for Skylar. She really was.

Austin sent her a curious glance from the ladder. “How about breaking for cookies as soon as we finish this wall?”

Her empty stomach perked up. “Sure.” She suppressed longing as she dipped her roller into the paint and moved it back and forth again. She might become a newlywed soon, but they weren’t in love. It was different from Dallas and Skylar, who were head over heels for each other and now for the baby.

Kennedy stole a glance at Austin. Broad-shouldered and muscular, he made a now pink-streaked charcoal-gray T-shirt and a matching cap look good. And even the goggles didn’t make him look ridiculous like they did her. Her heart skipped a beat, and her entire body shifted in his direction before she stopped it.

He caught her gaze, smiled, and saluted her with a paintbrush. “Great job!”

She ached for another kind of compliment, different kinds of words a couple considering marriage was supposed to tell each other. That he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with her. Or how much he loved her. Or yes, cliché, but how she made him the happiest man alive.

But he couldn’t say those words simply because they weren’t true. But then, she’d never received the unconditional love she’d dreamed of. Yes, some of her employees liked her, and some people might even admire her. But nobody’s heart had ever beaten for her.

And not this man’s, either, despite how much she was drawn to him.

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