Those Sweet Words (Misfit Inn 2)

“No.”

Flynn scowled at her. “Well, that doesn’t reflect particularly well on any of us.”

“It’s just…I never would have imagined you changing your entire life like this. You love to travel, love to perform.”

“So do you,” he pointed out. “And you came back.”

“That was different. My roots were here. This is you changing literally everything. Because that’s what this means. She’s not free to pick up and go with you if you get a wild hair.”

“I’m not asking her to.” He met Kennedy’s jewel green eyes. “Look, she’s not ready yet to believe that everything between us is real, not ready to believe that I’ll really stay. You haven’t helped with that by reminding her exactly how many people have broken their word to her.”

“I’m just trying to protect her.”

“So am I. I love her. She can’t accept the words just yet, not without action to back it up. I’m ready and willing to wait her out on that. In meantime, I made her a promise to stay by her side and see this through. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

“Okay.”

It was Flynn’s turn to blink. “Okay? That’s it?”

“That’s it. You’re one of my best friends, Flynn, and one of the best men I know. Do you really think I’m going to object to the idea of having you as a brother-in-law?”

“So you’re okay with this? With us?”

“I want her happy. And despite the strange circumstances you’re in, I can see that you make her happy. But…”

“Of course, there’s a but.” This conversation had gone far too well.

“Have a care. She’s never let any other man get this close. You have noble intentions, but you’re in a position to hurt her worse than anyone else ever has.”

“Hurting her is the last thing, I’d ever want to do.”

“Let’s just hope that’s a promise you’re able to keep.”

Chapter Twelve

“I CAN’T BELIEVE MAGGIE agreed that easily.” Pru stared at the laptop, as if her sister was going to put through another Skype call to say she’d changed her mind. She’d gone into the family meeting prepared for a fight and instead she’d gotten full support.

Athena spoke from the laptop, where she’d yet to sign off the call. “She’s still so thrown by your engagement, I think she’s happy to see evidence that you’re still sane. Business makes sense to her, so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

As Pru absorbed the reminder of her recklessness, Kennedy wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “The spa is a great idea, and the business plan supports that. After all the work we put into that thing the last two weeks, I’d have been shocked if she said anything but yes.”

“It didn’t hurt that Porter is basically volunteering himself and whichever ones of us he can corral as free labor on his days off to get started on what can be done without a full crew,” Xander added, giving Porter the sid

e eye.

Porter just grinned. “C’mon, Xan, when was the last time we swung a hammer together?”

“Without being paid for it? That would be the old treehouse, when we were thirteen. Building stuff is your first love, not mine.”

“I’m sure your wife will see that you’re fairly compensated for the time.” Porter punctuated the statement with an eyebrow waggle.

“Teenager present!” Pru warned.

“It’s cute how you think that should bother me,” Ari said.

Xander scrubbed a hand over his face. “God save us when you start dating.”

“That won’t be until she’s thirty,” Flynn insisted. He said it so easily, as if there was no question he’d be here when Ari turned thirty.