Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty-Two

Trenton parked his car next to Kennedi’s in the glow of the streetlamp, scooped the small box from the passenger seat before exiting, and crossed to the door of Chase Confections. He hadn’t seen Kennedi since last week. She’d texted she would be spending her time at her boutique to finish packing things up.

The Business Closed sign gave him pause. He’d been in this situation many times before with owners and their companies and understood it to be part of doing business. But this felt different. Much different.

He’d tasked Dom with finding an alternative site and had something in the works, but there were a few things to iron out before he could present it to Kennedi.

Seeing Evie and Carlos at the counter, he tapped on the glass door. The young man came forward and stretched it open. Trenton stepped inside. “Good evening.”

“Hey. It’s Trenton, right?” Carlos turned the lock.

“Yes.” The sweet aroma still carried in the air, but the display cabinets were bare. Tables and chairs were pushed against the wall. The absence of the large, healthy ferns that once hung in the corners no longer camouflaged the small fissures, the decrepitude of the plaster. A sudden heaviness pressed on his chest, an unmistakable sense of loss. Taking a breath, he turned to Carlos and handed over the box. “I’m actually glad I caught you here. Belated congrats on your graduation.”

“Thanks. Mind if I open it now?”

Trenton gave a nod. “It’s yours to do with whatever you like.”

Carlos opened the box and brown eyes flashed up, bucked wide. “No way! An Audemars Piguet! It’s from the Jules collection—an Audemars Minute Repeater Supersonnerie. Oh snap!” His smile stretched before he did a rapid tap of his feet. “This is unbelievable!” Settling himself, he extended his hand. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“You were admiring mine. I felt you’d appreciate your own. Thought I’d start you off small.” Trenton grinned with a wink.

“It’s perfect.”

“Let me see.” Evie rushed from behind the counter. “Ooh, that’s really nice.”

“Most def. I won’t be wearing it on the Metro though.” Carlos shook his head. “No way I’ll chance it. I’m putting this away for special occasions. But, for now…” He took the watch out of the platinum box and fastened the black leather band around his wrist, turning it left and right, allowing the smoke-blue enamel face to catch the light. Taking his cell phone from his back pocket, he brought up his wrist close to his cheek and snapped a selfie. “I’m going to savor it for a minute. Let me show Kennedi.” He beamed happily.

“Trenton, Kennedi’s in her office packing the last of her things. I’ll walk you back.” Evie, with Carlos beside her, led the way. She rapped on the door, and they stepped just inside the room.

Trenton caught the glistening fan of wet lashes before Kennedi turned away, quickly swiped fingers at her eyes, and then turned back. Staring back at the evidence of her recent tears started a slight panic within him.

“Kenni, Trenton wanted to see you,” Evie said. “I thought it’d be okay to bring him back. If you’re busy—”

“Trenton, why are you here?” Kennedi asked.

“Hey K, check out my cool graduation gift that Trenton got me.” Carlos stretched out his arm. “Sweet, right?” He nodded, smiling wide.

“Yes, it is,” she said softly.

“Think I can catch a ride home?” Carlos asked. “I don’t wanna take the Metro this late with my watch.”

“How about I go drop off Carlos, then swing back for you? It’ll give you time to finish up.” Evie scooped Kennedi’s keys from the desk.

“I’ll take Kennedi home when she’s ready.” Trenton read the objection in Kennedi’s solemn eyes. He turned to Evie. “There are some items I’d like to go over with her, then I’ll see her home.”

Evie looked between them wearing a sly smile. “Items to discuss. Umhum, okay.” With a gesture of her thumb over her shoulder, she started backing out. “I’ll let you two get to it, then. Come on, Carlos. Good night, Trenton.”

“Good seeing you, Evie,” Trenton returned, and a full grin lit all the way to her green eyes in a blatant flare of mischief. No doubt she knew about his hookup with Kennedi in the kitchen.

“Kenni, I’ll come by your place in the morning around six,” Evie said.

“Okay.”

Trenton closed the door and came forward. “Evie doesn’t have a car?”

“Her car was in her husband’s name. They’re separated. He refuses to give it to her.” She sighed. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

“You’re upset. What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.” She averted her gaze from his and started filling a small box on the desk with the stack of papers beside it.

“Kennedi, I can see there’s something bothering you.” Trenton caught her wrist, pausing her actions. “Talk to me.” Her eyes watered over. “What is it?”

“What do you think? I’m closing my store.” She held up a wad of papers. “These are my mom’s old recipes.” She gestured at the stack of binders on the corner of the desk. “Her cookbooks. This office…” Crossing to the door, she pointed at the markings along the molding. “You know what these are? My height measurements.” She crouched. “I was only three here. And four here.” Standing upright, she directed a finger at another mark and looked up with eyes glistening. “When I turned five, see here, my mom drew a picture of a candle. She’s gone, her store’s gone, and my father… What will Carlos do? He helps to take care of his grandfather. My employees… And Tabitha and Evie…” Her breath rasped, and her shoulders started to tremble as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Kennedi.” Contributing to her grief rattled the tether of his emotions. He went to her in two quick strides and enfolded her in his arms.

As she wept into his chest, he slipped his fingers beneath her curls and massaged her neck. The other hand stroked her back while he swept his lips gently across her brow.

When her weeping had settled into faint sniffles, he said, “I’m sorry,” expressing the regret he felt, yet fully aware it wasn’t nearly adequate enough.

Pulling out of his arms, she snatched several tissues from the box on the desk and dried her eyes, her vulnerability suddenly hidden behind an expression of calm. “Don’t worry, I won’t go back on our agreement.” She looked out at the stack of boxes, then her shimmering gaze leveled with his. “Chase Confections will officially close. I never make a promise I don’t hold to, good or bad. I’m standing in the way of your profit margin.”

“No, Kennedi,” he rushed out.

“It’s business. I get it.” Lips trembled. “What did you want to discuss?”

“It can wait.” Her words had punched him in the chest. It’d been all about business for him with her in the beginning, but not anymore. And that’s a problem.

“Then I’ll call a Lyft.” She grabbed her handbag off the chair at the desk and moved past him out of the room.

Shit. He followed her quick stride into the storefront. “I said I’d take you home.”

“I’m a big girl.” She shut off the lights, set the alarm, shoved him out the door, then followed. “Good night, Mr. Shaw.”

Trenton raked stiff fingers through his hair. The woman could be so damn stubborn. “Kennedi, my car is literally ten steps away at most. Why must you fight me on everything?”

“I don’t fight with you on everything. I just don’t need your pity.”

“That’s not what this is. It’s a friend offering another friend a ride home. What’s wrong with that?”

“Friends.” She chuckled low through that somber countenance as her head angled, aiming a look in the direction of his Maserati.

“I insist.” Taking a light, cautious hold of the back of her arm, he coaxed her to the car and settled her into the passenger seat, then slid in behind the wheel. Giving a look at her, he asked, “I know you’re in Oxon Hill, but—”

“Twenty-seven eleven Locust Creek Lane,” she reeled off, looking straight ahead, her posture about as stiff as her tone.

He was never sure which Kennedi would show up—the one who despised him or the one who admitted to being attracted to him. Tonight it was obviously the former. He, on the other hand, lately remained constant. I want her.