Chapter 23

 

Kenzie tried to swallow the chip in her mouth, but it wouldn’t go down. How had she let herself fall for another rich guy she barely knew? What made her think convincing him to come to the reunion with her was a good idea?

Camden seemed to be waiting for her to respond to him, but she didn’t know what to say. No one had told her she was worth anything. She grew up never measuring up. And now, a handsome man sat across the table from her, and she was having a hard time understanding why he would be saying such things. He was a nice guy, but Mason had been nice to her, too. Telling her what he thought she wanted to hear. Was Camden doing the same thing?

How could she trust him?

Luckily, their food arrived and broke the growing tension. Kenzie smiled down at her plate. “This smells amazing.”

“Yes.” Camden didn’t look at the food. “It does.”

She picked up her fork and cut the end off her enchilada. “So cheesy.”

Camden still looked at her. “Yes.”

Finally, after she ignored his intense stare, he turned to his plate and began eating. She didn’t want him to get any ideas. She’d already encouraged him with the kiss. And now she needed to show that she had no interest in him.

The problem was, her heart didn’t agree with her head.

“Where’s somewhere you would like to travel, but wouldn’t want to live?”

Good. They were back to chatting about nothing; she could handle that. “Venice.”

His fork paused in the air. “Really? I’ve always thought of it as a romantic place. You wouldn’t want to live there?”

“My parents went there for their twenty-fifth anniversary. They said it was an interesting city, but it was smelly and dirty.”

Camden slowly nodded his head. “I could see how that would deter a person from living there.”

She didn’t want another awkward silence to arise, so she asked, “How about you?”

“I’ve always wanted to visit Graceland. But I wouldn’t want to live there. Too many people walking through my bedroom.” He gave her a funny grin, and she laughed.

“Alright, where would you want to live? If you could live anywhere.”

He shrugged and looked down at his food. “I like living where I am. Can I cheat and say I’d live in Virginia?”

She made a face, wrinkling her nose. “For the purpose of this conversation, just play along and pick anywhere else. The world is full of interesting places. Pick one that you’d be drawn to.”

He sipped his Coke through his straw and looked contemplative. “I guess I’d pick somewhere green. Where lots of plants grow. I’d love a garden.”

Kenzie nodded. “We had a garden when we lived in Oregon. Everything grew there, whether you wanted it to or not. I loved going out and picking blackberries and raspberries. Those plants went nuts there.”

“I can totally see you gardening.”

“It didn’t last long. We moved to Arizona.” She scooped a pile of rice onto her fork.

Camden studied her. “I bet it was difficult to move so often as a kid. You had to dig up so many roots.”

“I learned to not put down roots.”

“You stopped making friends at school?”

She allowed her gaze to meet his. “When you know you’re going to move again soon, you stop being friendly. Friendly hurts too much.”

Why was she telling this to Camden? He didn’t care that she moved around a lot as a kid. Before he could respond, she changed the subject. “If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?”

Camden’s gaze grew intense. “Honestly? I’d want your phone number.”

“Come on. Anything in the world. Stop joking around.”

He didn’t smile. “I’m not joking. I really want your number.”

She pulled out her phone and tossed it to him. “Then here you go. That was easy, wasn’t it?”

He chuckled as he programmed her number into his phone. “Easier than I thought.”

“You didn’t think I’d give you my number? We slept together last night.” Several people in the restaurant turned to stare at her and she lowered her voice. “You know what I mean.”

He grinned and slid her phone back to her. She couldn’t help but think about the difference between Mason, who stole her phone to get her number, and Camden. Wait, how was she back to thinking of Camden like that? She needed another change of subject. “What’s your favorite book?”

He sat back in his chair. “I’ve always said To Kill a Mockingbird, but I recently read a book that might change that.”

Her interest piqued, she leaned forward. “What book?”

“Twilight.”

Kenzie laughed. “You’re such a liar.”

He sat, straight-faced, and arched one eyebrow. “Am I?”

She stopped laughing. “You can’t be serious. Twilight?”

“It was a good book.”

She studied his face for a hint of a smile or a crack in his façade, but she couldn’t find one. “You have to be joking.”

He shrugged. “You tell me.”

Dang. She really couldn’t tell if he was being serious or pulling her leg. He wasn’t smiling at all. Not even a hint. Now she wondered if she’d hurt his feelings by laughing. Then his lips twitched.

“You have to be joking. No thirty-something man reads tween vampire books.”

“I guess you’ll never know.” He smothered his smile and signaled for the check. She continued to study him for a sign that he was about to laugh.

He never did.

Camden drove them back to the hotel. After he parked and they entered the lobby, he turned to her. “Are you sure you don’t want to play hooky a little longer?”

She tugged on the bottom of her blouse. She’d much rather play hooky with him, especially with Mason and his octopus arms. But guilt nudged her forward. “I really should go talk to Mason’s father. He’s been asking for me.” At least, that’s what Mason had said. Now she wasn’t sure if he’d told her anything truthful.

Camden’s smile looked forced. “Okay, then. I’m your assistant. But if the Queen of England needs another necklace, I’ll have to interrupt again.”

She laughed and slapped him lightly on the arm. “You’d better behave or I’ll fire you.”

“I have no doubt you would.”

“The afternoon gathering is in one of the conference rooms. I think it’s 101.” She led him down the hallway. Before she opened the door, she mouthed, “Behave.”

Camden grinned and held his hands up in a surrender motion.

Mason spied her immediately and flew to her side. “I’m so glad you finished your order. Father wants to see you.” He grabbed her arm and tugged her across the room. Camden followed.

Mason’s father sat in a wheelchair, but other than that, he looked fine. He was in his early seventies. The age difference between him and Mason’s mother had startled her when she’d first met them. She’d politely ignored it. Alfred’s hair was completely white, and was cut short. Mrs. Wells flitted about like a butterfly on steroids, wringing her hands and asking him if he needed anything. Mason shoved Kenzie in front of him. “Here’s my lovely wife. Dad, you remember Kenzie from the wedding, right?”

Alfred made a face. “Of course I remember. She was the pretty one.” He took one of Kenzie’s hands and patted it, his wrinkled skin soft. “How are you, my dear?”

“Are you too warm?” Delores asked. “Do you want me to take that blanket off your legs?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart.”

Delores picked up a glass with a straw in it sitting on a nearby table. “Do you want another sip of your water?”

“No. I want to talk to Kenzie. Alone.”

Delores’s mouth dropped open. “Whatever for?”

“Nothing nefarious. I just want to talk to my daughter-in-law without your constant hovering.”

Mason frowned, like he wasn’t in love with the idea either. “What do you have to say to her that you can’t say with us around?”

Alfred’s gaze turned hard. “What is everyone so upset about? I just want to breathe a little. Now get.” He waved his hand in a shooing motion.

Mason and his mother wandered off to talk to one of his cousins. Camden ducked into the crowd.

Alfred patted the chair next to him. “Come. Sit down and tell me, how’ve you been?”

Nerves shot through Kenzie’s stomach as she sat down. Why was he singling her out? Had he discovered their secret? “I’m fine. How are you?”

He patted her hand again. “Now, I don’t want to talk about me. Everyone is always asking about me, and I’m tired of it. I know I’m dying, and everyone else should have figured it out now too. That’s just part of life, though, isn’t it? You, on the other hand, are not dying. You’re living. But you’re not living with Mason, are you?”

Panic rose in her throat, choking her. “Um. . .”

“Listen, I don’t care what strange lifestyle you two want. But I’d like a little honesty.”

Words raced through Kenzie’s head, but none of them wanted to come out. What should she say? Deny it and lie to his face? She was a terrible liar. He’d know for sure. But if she told him the truth, Mason would freak out on her. Actually, she wasn’t sure what he’d do.

She waffled, trying to decide what to say. She twisted the wedding ring on her finger. Eventually, instead of admitting it outright, she said, “How did you know?”

Alfred smiled. “Have you seen Mason’s couch? No woman would live there without tossing out that couch.”

She laughed. Mason did love his insanely expensive leather couch, with a built-in refrigerator and a massage feature. It was truly hideous.

Alfred squeezed her hand. “Like I said, I don’t want to butt in where I’m not invited. But if you have something to tell me, I’d listen.”

She chewed her bottom lip. What would happen if she blurted out that she and Mason weren’t married? That she’d left him after a week? Would his father yell at her? He didn’t look like he was mad; he looked understanding.

“Well, actually, we aren’t married anymore.”

Alfred nodded. “I kind of assumed as much.”

Mason came rushing up to them. “Kenzie, come quick. There’s some sort of jewelry emergency.” He grabbed her arm and jerked her off the chair.

“Mason,” his father said, but he was already dragging her toward the door.

After they were in the hallway, he rounded on her. “What was that about? What did he want? Was he talking about his will?”

Kenzie wanted to scream. “Mason, this is stupid. We need to tell them.” Especially since she’d already spilled the beans to his father.

Panic filled his eyes. “No!”

“Tell us what?”

Kenzie turned to see Delores standing there, hand on her hip, lips pinched together. This whole thing was beyond ridiculous. “Mason and I aren’t—”

Mason slapped a hand over her mouth. She shoved him away. “We’re not married anymore!” she shouted. She ripped the wedding ring off her finger and flung it at Mason. He caught it mid-air.

Delores’s eyes grew wide. “What?”

Mason’s mouth dropped. “What?”

Camden rushed through the door, stopping short and looking at all of them. “What?”

“We are not married,” Kenzie said again. “I filed for an annulment right after the honeymoon.”

Mason looked like he was calculating the chances of his mother believing him if he said Kenzie had a head injury and was rambling nonsense. Delores was frozen, her hand over her mouth. Camden was frozen as well, his arms out a little like he might have to pry Mason off her.

“Thank goodness,” Delores said.

Everyone stared at her. Mason shook his head like he hadn’t heard her right.

“I mean,” she continued, fingering the buttons on her blouse. “Look at the two of you. No offense, Kenzie, but you’re unstable.”

“I’m unstable?” The words came out before she could censor them.

Camden came to her side and whispered, “Let it go.”

“You’re not at all like the woman I thought Mason would marry,” Delores said. “I thought this marriage was a bad idea from the start. I’m so relieved.”

Mason’s gaze bounced between them. “You’re not mad?”

“Heavens, no. Did you think I wanted you married to a crazy woman?” She turned to Kenzie. “No offense.”

Kenzie pressed her lips together. She wanted to give Delores a piece of her mind, but held back. Nothing good would come from that.

Mason stepped toward his mother. “But you said you wanted me married.”

“Yes, well, I take it back. I never meant for you to marry the first person you came across who was silly enough to say yes.”

Kenzie balled her hands into fists, her fingernails digging into her skin.

“You won’t write me out of the will?”

“Of course not. But we need to figure out how to tell your father so it won’t upset him.”

Kenzie bit her lower lip. “About that. . .”