Falling For Ken (Blueprint to Love Book 2) (17 page)

Kenny wasn't convenient. Their business dealings made that notion ridiculous. Involvement would be messy. It would require effort to keep it going when A & R finally bit the dust. She would be resentful, hurt, angry. Mostly with him. Yet, that thought didn't scare him as it might have a week ago. Harry wanted to be there. He
wanted
to help her.

She wasn't part of his blueprint. She was a sweet, sexy diversion from his master plan. Great sex didn't equate to a great relationship. A strong foundation required common goals– similar values and beliefs. And when it came time to settle down, Harry would be more in control than he felt now. Kendall was too strong-willed and stubborn for her own good. His life thrived on order. There was a
reason
why he dealt in facts. Numbers didn't lie.

The fact was– on paper, Deborah still scored higher. On paper, Kendall Adams wasn't a close second. Yet as he stole another glance her way, he found her humming, a lopsided smile perched on her face, hair blowing in the summer breeze rushing past the open truck window, and his stupid heart began to pound.

For the first time in his life, Harry didn't care. About the numbers. About facts. About logic. Or his damn plan. He wasn't living his life on paper. As different as they were, they shared common ground. Ken was fiercely loyal. She was generous to a fault– giving of herself in a way he'd never known. She'd taken care of him when he'd needed help the most. Although different in circumstance, their childhoods had been similar in nature. Lonely. Alone.

They were good together– for as long as it lasted.

***

Kendall smiled, lowering her guard another notch. She'd mingled with the Traynors for nearly an hour and thus far hadn't made any mistakes. So far, it had been– fun. Harry's family was like the families she used to dream about. The summer Ken turned ten, she'd started riding her bike to the park. Spying on families spending time together, she'd longed to be one of them. To spend time with parents who loved each other– who loved their kids. Drinking in the sights and sounds, she watched them from the woods– sharing picnic lunches and playing on the swings. And laughing. Always laughing.

Ken smiled at the shrieks floating across the lawn. As a child, it had been painful to see the way her friends lived– to be invited in for glimpses– only to experience what she would never have at home. Now, she was content to watch from the sidelines. She could appreciate being part of the dynamic for a short while– before retreating to her peaceful, solitary world.

She'd been self-conscious when they arrived together– Harrison, the gorgeous, perfect successful CFO and plain old Kendall, the backhoe operator. How could she possibly measure up to the elusive Deborah? Yet despite her misgivings, she'd been welcomed by everyone.

Hand to her eyes to block the last shining moments of sunset, Ken surveyed her surroundings from a bench under an oak tree. Jake's home was a sprawling Colonial, brimming with kids and animals and toys. He'd inherited two children when he married Jenna, and according to the newest Traynor, Jake had taken his instant fatherhood in stride.

Jenna had been kind and welcoming . . . taking the time to introduce her to everyone at the party. The youngest Traynor, Jeff– remembered her from the days when she visited Specialty with her father. And there was Harrison.

He was different here . . . surrounded by his family. Discovering him in the center of a crowd of children, she smiled. Moments later, he was embroiled in a water fight instigated by Jeff. Wrestling the squirt gun away from Jenna's daughter, he fell to the ground, returning fire. In her wildest dreams she couldn't have imagined Harrison with a squirt gun in hand. Yet with his family, Harry seemed more like the man she'd come to know over the past few days. And less like the stuffed shirt she'd assumed him to be.

"Have you met everyone, Kendall?"

Her thoughts scattered when Harrison's aunt appeared at her side. "Yes, ma'am. I think I've got everyone." Crossing her fingers, she continued. "You're Mona, right? Jake and Jeff's mother?"

"And Andrea's, too, dear, but this isn't a test."

"Would you like to sit? I should warn you we're in firing range here." Ken tucked her head to her chest, prepared for the soaking that seemed inevitable.

"They wouldn't dare." To prove her point, Mona remained standing as the cacophony of shrieking, water-drenched children enveloped their safe haven. Raising her voice, she issued an ultimatum. "If I feel so much as a drop of water, no one gets dessert later."  

"Cease fire, guys." Jeff barked the order to his troops. "What'd you make, ma?"

The only word Ken could find for Mona's smile was smug. "Brownies."

A chorus of groans met Jefferson's order to change targets. Harry caught her glance and smiled before the battle drifted down the hill to the rear of Jake's expansive yard.

Kendall waited for the noise to die down before she turned. "Those must be some incredible brownies, Mrs. Traynor."

"They're my secret weapon. It was the only way I was ever able to keep those boys in line." 

She was surprised when Mona joined her on the bench to watch the younger children as they moved to the elaborate swing set. "It looks like Megan and Alex have already made friends with the whole neighborhood."

"I'm thrilled to have a few more grandchildren." Mona turned to her. "Did you meet Jenna?"

"Yes, she's been very kind. She introduced me to everyone." Her gaze followed Mona's across the lawn to the newly married couple. Almost on cue, Jake brought their clasped hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles. Her breath catching, Kendall watched him tug her closer, brushing his lips against hers. Even from her perch on the far side of the lawn, she could see the love in his eyes.

"They look so happy." Sighing with satisfaction, she smiled when Mona dabbed her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"How could I not be? My oldest son is finally happy."

Hope and sadness mingled in her chest. Jake was proof of the possibility of love– and how elusive it was. At thirty-one, she hadn't come close. Her thoughts troubled, she searched the sea of faces for Harrison. What if the man of your dreams was out of reach?

"What about you, Kendall? Have you found the right guy?" Mona nodded in Harrison's direction.

"Omigosh, no. No. We– we've only just met, Mrs. Traynor. I– my company . . . we're doing the sitework for the new mall. He . . . we– have to iron out some pretty serious business problems."

She shook her head. "Business tends to get in the way. Trust me on that."

Content to sit quietly as the breeze picked up, Kendall scooped her hair from her neck, enjoying the cooling gust before it drifted away. A tall man with a booming voice stepped out on the deck, a tiny woman by his side.  

"Who's the man with the silver hair? I haven't met him."

Wincing at the sound of his voice, Mona looked as though she'd sipped bitter lemonade.

"Linc Traynor– my ex-husband. The empty-headed woman standing with him is Zoe– or Chloe . . . Unless, of course, it's someone new. These days, Linc changes women rather frequently. I can't keep track."

"Mr. Traynor would probably remember my father. I'll have to say hello before I leave." Risking a glance, Kendall was surprised by the twin spots of color blooming in Mona's pale cheekbones. Was it possible Mona was still angry with him? Had their divorce been acrimonious? Harry had mentioned she'd remarried.

"I should probably find your nephew." She wanted to make her escape before Mona started quizzing her again. "I have a long drive back and Harrison will want to get home after being away so long."

"Don't leave, dear. I'll be forced to walk over there and say hello. If we stay here and chat, perhaps they'll go back inside." The older woman's grip was like iron on her forearm. "Sit and tell me all about you and Harrison."

"I– there's really not much to tell." Tiring of her hesitation, Mona jerked on her arm and Kendall flopped back on the bench. "I guess I can stay another minute." 

"I've heard you took care of Harry when he fell in that hole. Thank goodness he had you. I was halfway across the country visiting my sister." Finally releasing the death grip on her arm, Mona launched into a detailed discussion about her sister's recent fall. "I could barely help Marcie. How did you manage Harrison, dear? He's so big."

"Once I got him into my house, he's– been– sort of . . . trapped there ever since."

"And those clothes. . . I don't think I've ever seen Harrison in a polo shirt. Either he's in a suit or he wears those ratty running sweats he's so fond of."

"His suit was ruined in the fall. I had to cut away what was left of his pants to get around the cast-"

"You cut his pants off?"

Kendall realized her mistake the moment the words left her lips. Mona Traynor's mind, like her grip, was a steel trap. One little toe over the line and the trap door slammed shut. "I– we . . . borrowed some of my dad's clothes-"

"Your father lives with you, then?" Harry's aunt interrupted, a gleam in her eyes. She'd picked up her scent of fear and would hone in for the kill.

"Uh– no. He lives in Florida now." Damn, Kendall should have seen that coming. What if Deborah found out? If  she'd been thinking clearly, she could have protected him.

"I like that shirt he's wearing today. It's completely out of character."

The woman had a one-track mind. "Well . . . after the fire yesterday . . . Harry had even less clothes."

"I'm so sorry, Kendall." She clutched her arm again. "Thank God you were both able to get out of the building."

"We were lucky. Harrison dragged us to safety. The whole building went up soon after."

"On one leg?" His aunt's hand fluttered to her heart. "He failed to mention that part. Do the investigators know anything yet? Harrison said it might be arson?"

Ken frowned. Traynor shouldn't be speculating. There was no official proof Lance started the fire.
Yet
. "The fire department hasn't confirmed anything."

Inching to the end of the bench, she searched the yard for Harrison. If she didn't make her getaway soon, who knew what information Mona would wrangle from her next. Thankfully, she spotted him. Soaking wet, he was talking with Andrea and her husband. As though sensing her interest, Harry turned, catching her staring. He waved, signaling he'd be over in a minute.

Who knew how much more damage she was capable of in sixty seconds? She should make her escape now– before Mona launched another conversational missile. "I think I'll get another glass of lemonade. Would you like some?"

"Wait." She stopped her. "You were explaining how you got Harry to wear normal clothes."

"My dad's stuff didn't really fit . . . and we didn't have time to stop by his place today." If his girlfriend learned any of this, Harry was done for. He'd never talk his way out of it. "We stopped at the mall on our way here to get him a shirt and shorts that would fit over his cast."

Willing herself to stop talking, Ken knew her face was on fire. Risking a glance at the older woman, she froze. Mona was smiling the brownie smile she'd used to control the water fight– soft, secret . . . smug. A smile of knowledge and power.

Mona knew.
Maybe everything. Certainly that she'd slept with her nephew.

It was too horrible to contemplate.
Had she glimpsed the woman in the mirror?
The one who couldn't stop smiling? The stupid, happy woman who was hell-bent on ruining her life?

The woman who was in love with Harrison Traynor.

***

Something happened.

Clear across the yard, Harry read the panic in Kendall's eyes. And it made him move. Without excusing himself, he hobbled across the lawn to where Ken stood near his aunt. Bewildered, he glanced from one to the other. Mona was smiling as though the two women had shared a secret joke. But Kendall . . . looked about to cry. "Can I get you ladies anything? Kenny?"

"No, thank you. I- I'm . . . fine."

She was anything but fine. Her smoky voice scratched along his nerves and it took everything he had to not reach out and capture her hand. But the husky sound of unshed tears stopped him short.

"Harrison, I'm sorry to cut your evening short, but I need to head back."

"No problem. Give me a minute to say goodbye to everyone and we'll leave."

"I don't want to ruin the party." Glancing at his aunt, Ken edged further from the bench. "Maybe someone here could give you a ride?"

"I'd rather-"

"Kendall, dear," Mona interrupted smoothly, "I'm sure Harry would prefer leaving with you." 

For possibly the first time in his life, he was grateful for her interference. "She's right. I'll be ready in two minutes."

"Fine. I- I'll meet you on the deck. I need to say hello to Mr. Traynor." Kendall smiled at his aunt. "Thank you for the invitation. I enjoyed meeting everyone and I had a wonderful time."

"You're welcome, dear. Harry will have to bring you to one of our barbecues out at the farm. Don't you agree, Harrison?"

"Kenny's a real animal lover, Mom. I think she'd love to see the horses."

"I . . . um . . . thank you. Maybe we can sometime." Kendall's reluctance couldn't have been more obvious. Her expressive eyes weren't cut out for lying.