“Yes. My parents will be there. My brother is going to fly in if he can pull himself away from work.” Mom has been giving me shit about this wedding, wanting to know why she hasn’t met my future bride. Why she can’t be a part of the wedding plans. If she knew the truth, my mom would lose it. She and my dad were high school sweethearts. My mom would have my ass if she knew how I got my future bride.
“Anyone else?” I wish Kennedy would ask me questions. Her voice is always soft and soothing, and when she is talking, you catch a glimpse of one of her dimples. I didn’t know dimples were a turn-on. Now they are for me. I want to see her blush and smile at the same time.
“Emily invited some others. She gave you a head count, no?” I stare at Kennedy, willing her to answer me. Her pink tongue slides out as she licks her bottom lip. My cock that I was trying to get down comes roaring back to life.
“She did. She’s been very helpful. Sometimes it feels like I am marrying her.” She gives a half smile, picking up her wine and taking a sip. The smile is fake. Her eyes show anger. Is she mad I kissed her or is she mad that I’m having Emily handle the wedding? I thought it was for the best to keep space between us, or I’d be going further than our little bathroom makeout session before we say I do.
“It’s nice you can afford help to handle the silly details.” I don’t think my wife feels the same as her mother. She goes back to eating, and I see her sister lean over and say something under her breath that has Kennedy fighting a laugh.
“I didn’t want to intrude,” I tell Kennedy honestly. Plus it sounds boring as shit. Tasting cakes and picking out tablecloths. “But my mother would enjoy being a part of some of the planning if you’re okay with that?”
Kennedy sits up straighter. “Your mother?”
“She's excited.” I shrug.
“That’s fine.” Her face doesn’t look like it’s fine.
“I would love to meet your parents.” Laura beams at me. I already know Mom isn’t going to like Kennedy’s mother.
We all go back to eating, and William steers the conversation to work and the ideas he has. He already got the one and only deal he’s ever going to get from me. I wouldn’t trust him to handle the vending machines in the employee break room.
His past decisions have gotten him to where he is now: pushing his daughter into marriage in order to save his ass. I’m not complaining because I get my angel in the deal. If anything, he should kiss his daughter’s ass. It would be a whole lot harder for me to tell her no. Him I could care less about.
How the evening both drags on and seems to pass too quickly I have no idea. Between the heavy scent of Linda’s perfume and her high-pitched practiced laugh, a headache starts to form at the base of my skull.
“Why don’t you walk Mr. Kane out, Kennedy?” Finally the woman is useful for something. Kennedy gives a stiff nod as she starts to rise from her chair. I wait for her to offer her my arm. She takes it, looking up at me. She licks her lips, her cheeks going pink, and I know she’s thinking about our kiss. I know it’s all I’m going to be thinking about until I get another taste of her.
“I wasn’t trying to be rude about your mother. Of course she can come. I was a little surprised.”
“Or worried that she might be overbearing like your own mother?” She pauses, looking up at me and batting her lashes, and I know I hit the nail on the head. “She’s not. Mom will bend over backwards to get you what you want. She’ll be an asset. I promise. You’re going to enjoy her company.”
“That sounds nice.” We start walking again toward the door. I pull it open, and she starts to let my arm go, but I don’t let her. I pull her outside with me, letting the door fall closed behind us. I need a few more moments with her before I go.
I pull her into me, and just like in the bathroom, her fingers dig into the front of my shirt.
“Remember what I said earlier, Kennedy. You don’t want to see what I’m capable of doing.”
Her mouth falls open. “Are you threatening me?”
“No. I’m threatening any man that you let touch you.” Before she can say anything, I take her mouth in another kiss. I make sure this one isn’t as long as the last, knowing I’m holding on to my control by a very thin string. Any longer and it might get too out of hand.