Chapter Thirty-Four

Hickory-smoked bacon perfumed the air. The griddle sizzled from the generous dollop of thick batter. A green concoction pulsed in the blender.

Smiling, Trenton stood back and watched Kennedi dance around his kitchen in her red T-shirt and denim shorts to the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose’s classic 'Too Late to Turn Back Now' piping out of the Amazon Echo stationed on the counter. How fitting a song for what he was feeling in that precise moment.

I love her. Not that he hadn’t realized it sooner, but in that moment the emotion hit so strong, so profoundly, the mere sight of her made his heart pulse frantic beats.

He took a few light steps closer. She spun on her bare feet and let out a light gasp at him standing on the other side of the counter. “Good morning.”

She gave a command at the device to stop the music, a beautiful smile lighting up her warm brown features. “Morning, babe. Did you sleep okay? I didn’t take over the bed, did I?”

“I slept well.” Better than he had in a long time. “You didn’t have to stop rocking to the oldie on my account.” Smiling, he circled the island and gave her a kiss on the lips then looked around at her handiwork. There was enough food prepared for a small village. “I could wake up to this every morning.”

“What, me making you breakfast?” Grabbing the small mixing bowl to her left, she poured the smooth eggs into a heated skillet, scrambling as she said, “I love to cook.”

“I can see that.” Trenton came in behind her at the cook top and encircled his arms around her waist. He nibbled her neck as he swayed their hips. “But I meant you dancing. I like watching the way you move your body.”

“My mom and I would dance while cooking. I feel connected to her when I do.” She forked the eggs onto a plate and went about transferring the pancakes and bacon to a serving tray with a glance over her shoulder. “Hope you’re hungry.”

“I am.” Giving the back of her neck a more pronounced nip, he ran his tongue over the area and kissed along the smooth angle of her shoulder.

She turned in his arms and looped hers around his neck. “What do you want to do today?”

“I want to take you to dinner, for starters. I can’t cook for you, but I can pay someone to do it for me. Maybe dancing.” He rocked their bodies from side to side, finding a natural rhythm.

“That sounds nice.” Tenderly, her lips met his, offering up small kisses. “Your breakfast’s getting cold.”

“I know what I’d really like to eat.” Sliding a hand down her body, he cupped her between her legs, fingers stroking. “Starting right here.” Her eyes closed briefly as he teased her clit through her shorts.

“Oh yes, I’m up for that.” She grinned, moving against his touch, surrendering to the pleasure, and began working loose the button on her shorts.

The sound of the entry door opening had her quickly scrambling away and straightening her clothes. They turned to find Dominic strolling into the kitchen carrying a small duffel.

He pulled up short and looked between them. “Uh, hey. I didn’t know you had company.”

Trenton frowned as his hard-on took a rapid nosedive. “You need to call up from the garage before barging in here.”

“Since when? I never had to before when you were with—”

“Since now, damn it.”

Dom brought his hands up, palms out in defense. “Hey, sorry if I interrupted.”

“You didn’t,” Kennedi said with a smile, and Trenton shot her a disagreeable glare. Her smile widened. “Dom, you’re hungry? There’s plenty. I tend to make far too much.”

“Hell yes.” Dominic dropped his duffel, plopped down on a barstool at the kitchen island and slapped his hands together, rubbing them eagerly back and forth. “Bring it on. You know I love your cooking.”

“Trent, stop being such a grouch to your brother.” Kennedi smirked and served up two plates.

Cutting Dom a side-eye, Trenton sat next to him. “Why are you here?”

“I thought you’d be interested in getting on the court. I want to break in a new racket.” He slathered practically his entire plate with warm maple syrup.

“It’s raining,” Kennedi remarked with a point at the bank of windows at the corner of the penthouse. “Juice or coffee?”

“Juice. Thanks,” Trenton and Dom replied in unison.

Trenton took a bite of pancake and gave a look toward the terrace windows over in the living room. “The rain is supposed to taper off by noon.”

“Doesn’t matter. We play indoors.” Dom waved his fork in the direction of the stairs. “Trent has a racquetball court downstairs.”

Across the island, Kennedi choked on her green concoction. “There’s a racquetball court in this place?”

“Yep, it’s opposite the steam room. The door on the side of the stairs there.”

Trenton shot his brother another scolding look. “I’m going to need you to add an addendum to the Chase Confections agreement. It’ll include an advance for leasing space, so Kennedi and her partners can continue on with their orders while the construction of their store is underway.”

“Construction will take at best a year, barring no hiccups along the way. Vincent managed to get the court to dismiss Alan Lange’s latest petition.”

Trenton shifted his gaze to Kennedi, who begin tidying up, then back at Dom. “Just get it done.”

“I’ll handle it.” Giving a glance across the counter, Dom asked, “What about that other matter? Have you settled things?”

“No, but I plan to very soon.”

Seeing Kennedi circle the island counter, aiming for the stairs, Trenton jumped up and caught her wrist. “Love, you haven’t eaten.”

“You had spinach in the fridge. I made a smoothie. I’m good.” She looked past his shoulder to Dom. “You guys enjoy. I’m going to take a shower. Maybe I’ll explore the steam room.” She winked.

“We’d planned to shower together,” Trenton said quietly.

Her gaze full of affection, she tugged his chin lightly and pulled him in for a kiss on the lips. “And we will.”

When she’d cleared the top of the stairs, Trenton moved over to the counter and delivered his brother a whack on the back of the head before resuming his seat. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he growled.

“Ouch.” Dom swallowed the mouthful, nearly choking, and took a sip of his juice. “Dude.”

“I haven’t talked to Kennedi about Claudia so keep your mouth shut.”

“What the hell are you waiting on?” Dom stuck the last of his pancake into his mouth and closed his eyes on a moan. “Damn, that was good. Did you taste the cinnamon and bits of banana? Man, that woman knows her way around a kitchen.”

Trenton rolled his eyes upward, grappling for patience. “Counseling with Claudia will take place after the ground-breaking gala.”

Dom’s expression grew serious. “How do you think Kennedi will react when you tell her you’ll be hanging out with your ex for a month?”

Trenton pushed his plate away, having lost his appetite. “We’re meeting for counseling,” he whispered through clenched teeth at the very notion. “That’s it. She says it’s so we can work amicably together in raising the child. I’m certain it’s mainly her way of getting back at me. As for Kennedi, I intend to explain everything. She’s spending the weekend here. I need time with her first to show her how important she is to me before I dig into all the bullshit about my ex.”

“I don’t think that’s wise. You shou—” Hearing light footsteps, Dom clammed up, and they looked across the room to see Kennedi trotting down the stairs.

“Don’t mind me. I’m going to check out the steam room. I thought I’d take a glass of water with me.” Dressed in a pale pink satin robe that cut off at mid-thigh, hair pulled up into a thick twist at the crown, she strolled barefoot across the kitchen, got what she came for, then stepped over to Trenton and leaned in at his ear. “Come join me, lover. There are things I want to do to you.”

Trenton’s dick throbbed at that promise as she delivered a wicked smile on her saunter away. He turned his head to Dom, who stared unblinking at Kennedi until she pulled open the door by the stairs and disappeared within. “Dom? Dom?” he barked and shoved him in the chest. The guy blinked with a rapid shake of his head. “Stop ogling my lady.”

“Man, I need one of those.”

“I thought you weren’t looking for anything beyond temporary. I would think with your trust deadline approaching, you’d be on the hunt.”

Dom sighed. “Don’t remind me. Mom sent another pic of some chick she met at the beach.” He pulled out his cell and showed Trenton. I wish she’d give it a rest already.”

Trenton’s eyes widened. “She’s…she’s—” Looking at the picture, he searched for a delicate way not to insult the woman as he came to his feet.

“Not my type.” Dom scowled.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I have a beautiful naked woman waiting for me in my steam room.” Grinning, he headed off. “See yourself out.”