Page 7 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

KENNEDY SNEEZED FORwhat had to be the thousandth time, even after taking a generous dose of her allergy medicine. And that was after her uncle had taken the hibiscus bouquet to his car, and she’d aired out the house.

Why oh why, did her allergies have to include the flowers the man she liked had brought her? She’d literally sneezed him away.

She splashed cold water over her face in her master bathroom, blew her nose again, and dried her face with a towel. She grimaced at her puffy eyes and swollen nose in the mirror.

Just call me Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

Sighing, she brushed her best feature, her long hair that somehow became tangled. She wasn’t a beauty to start with, so having one of the most eligible bachelors in Port Sunshine—yes, she’d done her research—see her like this made unshed tears prickle her eyes.

But hadn’t she cried enough today already? Even if allergies were the only thing that made her shed tears these days.

She lifted her chin and marched into the dining room where white orchids emanated a delicate aroma and decorated the marble-topped table together with the crystal goblets and golden-rimmed porcelain plates her family had passed down for generations. And her family had great taste in fine porcelain and crystal.

On the other hand, sometimes during her insomnia after a nightmare, she wanted to hurl one of those expensive plates at the wall.

Now that she was back with a watery smile but a smile nonetheless, her uncle eyed her, his gaze shrewd. “When were you going to tell me about this young man pursuing you?”

Warmth rose inside her. She walked to open another window to air out any remnants of the hibiscus scent. The spectacular ocean view mocked her turmoil, but the short walk also gave her a pause to come up with a good answer.

Yet the only thing she could come up with was, “He’snotpursuing me.”

Austin’s gift was an apology. And after her reaction, he’d never want to see her again. Besides, she wouldn’t be surprised if the flowers and chocolates were her friend, Marina’s initiative to start with. Marina had been giving hints the entire day yesterday, and it must’ve been her idea to sit them together at the wedding. That shouldn’t have given Kennedy a sting of disappointment, and yet it did.

Why? She wasn’t interested in romance. At all.

Any men she’d dated had only been interested in what she could do for them, not in her. Dedicating herself to the vast family business was way safer and far more rewarding.

She opened the box of caramel chocolates and savored the delectable sight. They might ruin her appetite for salmon, but she couldn’t help herself. She popped one chocolate in her mouth and nearly purred in pleasure as it melted, suave and sweet, the combination with gooey caramel perfect. “Help yourself, please.”

Her uncle did as she asked. “Hmm. He knows you well to know your favorite chocolates.”

Marina probably told Austin. But before Kennedy could explain, her uncle waved a hand. “I heard this man was your date at your friend’s wedding, as well.”

She blinked, then covered her confusion with a sip from her water goblet. “How... how did you know?”

He forked salmon and chewed slowly, deliberately, like he did everything. “I know lots of things. And today, I saw him in the hall mirror.” He studied her, his eyes like laser beams. “You don’t like this man?”

“I do!” Oh. She shouldn’t have blurted that out. She gulped some cold water with a slice of lime to cover her blunder. Time to change the topic and fast. “You said you wanted to talk to me about something today.”

“Two things.” His gray eyes darkened, and he let his fork drop beside the steamed rice. “My recent physical wasn’t great.”

Her heart crashed to the marble floor. “How...? What...? You’re not...”

Her eyes watered, and this time, it had nothing to do with allergies. But she kept the tears in. Her fingers trembled, and she steepled them to stop shaking.

Her uncle was her pillar and her rock as long as she could remember, even when her parents were alive. But then she’d spent much more time with her cousin—Uncle’s daughter—than with her own family. And even when she’d been home, her parents hadn’t paid much attention to her, letting nannies take care of her.

Familiar pain shot through her, but it wasn’t because of her parents’ neglect. The pain wasn’t resentment. It was guilt. No, her uncle had never blamed her for his daughter’s disappearance. Kennedy blamed herself enough for both of them.

If only she hadn’t disobeyed the nanny that day... If only she hadn’t run into the water... Her heart froze for a moment like her little feet had that tragic morning.

And now... She couldn’t lose the person who’d been her entire family for so long, her friend, her mentor, her teacher, and yes, her parental figure.

“I still have time. Well, if I change my habits and stay away from good fatty food and cigars.” He poked the shiny fork tines at his baked salmon without much enthusiasm. “But I do want to see you get married during my lifetime. I want to walk you down the aisle.”

She breathed easier and drained the rest of her cold water. It wasn’t an imminent threat. Unless... Her heart went colder than the liquid she’d drank. Unless he was sugarcoating it. She watched him for signs, but he always had a great poker face.

“I’m not interested in romance. All my previous relationships were a disaster. All those guys were interested in my properties, not in me.” The taste in her mouth turned bitter, and she sweetened it with another caramel chocolate.

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