Forever.
“You’re crazy.” She looked at me again, smiling. “This is still the same body as it was this morning when you saw me getting dressed.”
“Something’s different.” I quickly put on my swim trunks, my stare then slowly dipping down her body, all the way to her toes and back up. “I love you more now than I did this morning.”
She walked over to me, gripping my face. “Who knew underneath all those growls and profanity was the most incredibly sweet man?”
“It’s our secret.” I winked at her, kissing her fingertips. “I have something else for you.”
“You mean … there’s more?”
I cupped her ass as I said, “My grandparents are in an assisted living facility in Malibu.” Her eyes narrowed, and I could tell she had no idea where this was going. “I spoke to them a few weeks ago, and my grandmother had to let me go because she was going downstairs for a crafting class.” I tightened my hold on her. “It got me thinking, and I called the owner of the facility—he’s a client of Ford’s, and he owns eight of the same kind of facilities within a sixty-mile radius.”
“Dominick …”
“He’s looking to hire a director who can coordinate art and activities across all of his locations. The position would be based from home, but you would travel to each place, making sure the programs are all running smoothly, interacting with the residents, ensuring they’re all happy.”
Tears were filling her eyes, her hands on my shoulders digging in harder with each breath.
“His wife has been doing this job, but she’s pregnant with their third baby, and she just can’t do it anymore.”
“I don’t”—she swallowed—“even know what to say.”
I kissed her, tasting the tears on her lips. “This isn’t a reality show or an endorsement or a billboard on Melrose. This is you, Kendall, and I know how happy it will make you.” I moved my hands up to her face. “All you have to do is say yes, and you’ll meet the owner as soon as we get back.”
“Yes. Oh God, yes.” She kissed me. “Thank you.”
“I’m not done yet.” I paused. “There’s one more thing you need to see. Go open your Instagram app and pull up your sister’s account.”
Her brows rose. “Daisy’s? But why?”
“Go.”
She found her purse and pulled out her cell, backing up to take a seat on the bed. “Oh my,” she whispered, her hand going over her mouth.
I sat next to her, knowing what I was about to see since my assistant had alerted me that Daisy had posted.
The video had gone live about fifteen minutes ago. Kendall was the caption, followed by an emoji of twin girls.
Kendall hit Play, and Daisy appeared in front of her camera phone, wearing little makeup, her eyes even slightly puffy.
“I just wanted to come on here and say that some people are blessed enough in life to have someone they can always count on, someone they can share their life with, someone who will answer their calls, no matter what time of day or night it is. I had that someone in my life, and I’ll admit, I didn’t always appreciate that fact. I didn’t always see my sister the way I should have, nor did I always make the right decisions when it came to her.”
As she took a breath, she glanced down, taking a few seconds before she made eye contact again.
“Kendall, I’m sorry. I’m really, truly sorry. It’s taken some time, but I realize the only way to grow is to be able to see your faults, recognize them, and try harder. Be better. And that’s the promise I’m making. The promise we should all be making to ourselves.” She took another breath. “I love you, Kendall.”
The video ended, and Kendall gradually lowered her phone, looking at me. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
“I told her to do the right thing. I certainly didn’t know she was going to post online and make a whole spectacle out of it, but that’s Daisy, so it shouldn’t surprise me.” I grazed her chin. “For what it’s worth, she sounds sincere.”
“She is.” She glanced at her phone, pulling up her texts, and the first one listed a message from Daisy. “I guess there’s more.”
Daisy: I called about an hour ago, and my call went straight to voice mail, so I’m trying this way instead. I know we have lots of things to work out and discuss and that you’re frustrated and angry—I can’t blame you. After a chat with Mom and Dad and Dominick and a very interesting run-in with Charlize, I’ve realized how wrong I’ve been. Long overdue, I know, but I’m hoping you’ll at least talk to me about it.
Me: I just landed in Hawaii, and I’ll be here for the next two weeks.
Daisy: Maybe we can have lunch when you get back?
Me: Daisy, I need some time. I’m still processing what you did and how you hurt me so easily. I appreciate you taking the first step. I’ll let you know when I get back to LA.
Daisy: That’s all I can ask for right now. Have a good trip.
Daisy: And just know, you have two men in your corner who love you very much.
She tossed the phone on the bed, her arms resuming their position around my neck. “Please don’t tell me you have anything else up your sleeve. My heart literally can’t take any more right now.”
I lifted her, straddling her naked body over my lap. “I don’t have anything in my sleeves, but there’s something extremely hard in these shorts and one thing on my mind …”
“My ass.”
“It’s mine.” I held her wrists behind her back, kissing down her neck and up her jaw until I reached her lips. “And when I’m done, your cunt is next."