Chapter 6

 

The clubhouse room was bustling when Kenzie entered. Camden put his arm around her waist and leaned over. “Do you know all these people?”

She tried not to react to the tingles now racing over her from his touch. She scanned the room. Luckily, she didn’t see Mason. “I see a few of Tessa’s high school friends. That’s about it.”

Camden pointed to the food table. “Want something to eat?”

“Yes. I’m so hungry I could eat a snake.”

“I think that’s horse,” Camden said.

Vita stepped toward them. “That’s ham, dear. We don’t eat horse.”

Her wide smile made Kenzie laugh. “You’re right, Aunt Vita.”

She patted Camden’s arm. “Get your girl some food. Love doesn’t grow on an empty stomach.”

“Will do,” he said.

Kenzie snagged a small plate and went down the line, filling it with things on toothpicks. When they got to the end she stood against the wall. The room was packed. She cocked her head and stared at the older woman by the fireplace. “Tessa invited her third-grade teacher?”

Camden chuckled. “She sure is spending some cash on this wedding.”

Kenzie shook her head. “I don’t get big weddings. Like, at all.”

He shrugged. “People like to celebrate.”

“But a wedding is all about you and your spouse. It’s not about all these other people.” She bit into a cherry tomato, the flavor bursting on her tongue.

“People would be disappointed if they didn’t get to see you get married, though, right?” Camden asked as he leaned up against the wall.

“They’d get over it.” She swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable with this line of conversation. “How’s the ham?” she asked.

He grinned. “Delicious.”

She’d finished her plate when Tessa emerged from the throng of people and grabbed her arm. “Kenzie, you have to meet my friends.” She tugged Kenzie through the room and over to a trio of women. “Kenzie, meet Adele, Shelley, and Brenda. This is my sister, Kenzie.”

The girls all nodded politely. “Nice to meet you,” Kenzie said, self-conscious of the way they were looking at her dress.

“That’s an interesting pin,” Adele said, pointing to her brooch. “Where did you get it?”

She probably should stop wearing her jewelry. She cringed every time someone asked about it. “I made it.”

Adele raised her eyebrows. “You did? How interesting.” The way she smiled said she was anything but interested. “I thought maybe it was made by an artist.”

Kenzie bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from speaking. She just had to get through the next couple of days. That was it.

Tessa pointed to the other side of the room. “Kenzie brought her boyfriend. He’s the buff one by the hors d’oeuvres.”

The girls craned their necks to see. “Seriously? How did you snag him?” Brenda asked.

The way she said it made Kenzie stiffen—like she couldn’t possibly attract someone like Camden. “I’m paying him to attend the wedding with me,” she said before her inner snark could be smothered.

Tessa laughed and picked up a glass of wine from one of the servers who walked by. “You’re hilarious, Kenzie.”

“He’s wearing an Armani suit. What’s he do for a living?” Shelley asked, curling her dark hair behind her ear and staring at Camden.

“He’s a construction worker.”

“No way,” Adele said.

“He’s coming over.” Shelley nudged Adele’s arm.

Camden appeared beside Kenzie a moment later. “There you are. I wasn’t sure where you’d disappeared to.” He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Perfect.

She introduced him to Tessa’s friends. “We work together at the bank,” Tessa added.

The hair stood up on Kenzie’s neck and she glanced behind her. Mason was standing at the door, looking around the room. She was sure it was him this time. His blonde hair was a bit longer, and he was thinner if that was possible, but it was him. She suddenly couldn’t breathe. She crouched to the floor.

“What’s the matter?” Tessa asked, bending over.

Kenzie patted the carpet around her, pretending to feel for something. “I lost a contact.”

“Oh,” Brenda said, backing up.

“You wear contacts?” Tessa knelt down on the floor with her. “Since when?”

“Recently,” Kenzie said, her heart pounding. She felt around, looking for the non-existent contact, inching her way toward the table. What was her plan? Hiding under the table for the duration of the party? She was in serious trouble.

Camden joined her on the floor. “You okay?”

“She lost a contact,” Tessa said, feeling around on the commercial-grade carpet.

The longer she stayed on the floor, the more attention she’d draw to herself. Kenzie pretended to pick something up. “Ah, here it is!” She scrambled to her feet, keeping her head down. “I need to go wash it off. Where’s the ladies room?”

“I’ll take you there.” Camden protectively put his arm around her and guided her toward the door. Toward Mason.

She stopped. “Wait. This isn’t a contact. It’s a hair.”

“What?” Camden looked confused.

“You know what? I forgot I didn’t put my contacts in this morning.” She ducked back into the crowd to avoid being seen. Camden followed close behind her.

An exit sign caught her attention. There was another way out of the room! She almost broke into song. She sprinted toward the door.

“Kenzie, wait.”

She pushed the door open and the cool hallway air hit her in the face. She sucked in a breath and almost sprinted down the hall.

“Kenzie!”

The last thing she needed was Camden shouting her name. Mason could hear him. But she also wanted to get away from the clubhouse. She slowed, then turned and smacked into his chest. “Oh!”

He caught her from falling. “What’s going on? Why are you running?”

She glanced at the door, certain Mason would walk through it at any second. “No reason.” She bit her lip, wondering if she was as terrible at lying as she felt.

“Come on. Spill it.”

Mason shoved through the door to the clubhouse and turned toward her. “Kenzie. I thought that was you.”

Camden spun around. She appreciated the protective way he stood in front of her. “Who are you? Why are you following her?”

Mason stopped walking. He rubbed the back of his neck. The image of him and another woman in a passionate kiss flashed through her mind, and she grew angry all over again.

Mason pointed to her. “I’m her husband.”

 

***

 

Camden sucked in air and coughed. “What?” he choked.

“Ex-husband, if you can even call it that,” Kenzie said. “We were only married one week.”

Camden felt like he was twelve steps behind. “You were married?”

The man looked pained. He took a step toward Kenzie, and Camden moved further in front of her. He didn’t want this man anywhere near her before he could figure out what was going on.

“Kenzie. I just want to talk. I made a mistake. But I still love you.”

“A mistake?” Kenzie hissed. “Picking up the wrong mayonnaise is a mistake. Kissing the hotel towel girl when we are on our honeymoon is not a mistake, Mason.”

Camden was catching up fast, and he had the urge to deck the guy. Mason cringed. “I know. It was a terrible thing to do. But she meant nothing to me. I would have told you, but you left and I didn’t know where you were.”

Tessa emerged, looking confused. She approached them. “Kenzie? I saw you leave. Did you get your contact back in?”

Camden glanced at Kenzie. She sighed and buried her face in her hands. “Not now,” she muttered.

“Yes,” Camden said, covering for her. “She did. It’s good now.”

Tessa’s gaze flickered between Mason and Kenzie. “Who’s this?”

Mason turned around and extended his hand. “I’m Mason, Kenzie’s husband.”

Tessa’s eyes grew wide as she shook his hand and Kenzie made a guttural noise. “Ex!” she shouted.

“Wait, you were married?” Tessa froze, clutching at her neckline. “And you didn’t tell me?” she whispered.

Kenzie groaned, and Camden wondered what he could do to take the heat off her. Nothing came to mind, so he put his arm around her to show his support.

“I’m sorry,” Kenzie said. “It was a rash decision. And bringing family into it seemed like it would . . . complicate things.”

Mason turned to Kenzie. “I know it’s a bad time, but I really need to talk to you.”

“There’s nothing to say. We’re through,” Kenzie said.

The door opened again and Helene entered the hallway. “Tessa, darling, people are starting to ask where you went.”

Tessa looked like she swallowed a marble. “Uh, yes. We should get back in there, mother.” She grabbed Helene’s arm and started tugging her toward the clubhouse.

“Wait.” Helene’s gaze centered on Kenzie. “What’s going on here?”

Mason stuck out his hand again. Kenzie’s face turned white as Mason spoke. “You must be Helene. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Mason, Kenzie’s—”

“Ouch!” Kenzie shouted, and everyone turned toward her. “Sorry, kink in my neck. Mason and I met in California a while back. Funny he’s here at the same resort we are, isn’t it, Mason?” She shot him a glare.

“I’m Kenzie’s husband,” he said. “I’m here to work things out.”

Helene’s face flushed. “McKenzie? You’re married?”

“Ex-husband. I filed for an annulment.” Kenzie looked like she wanted to melt into the floor.

“That’s what I’m here to talk about. I don’t think it went through.” Mason ran a hand through his hair. “We’re still married.”