* * *
“This… is so not good,” said Cassie as she peered through the kitchen’s pass-through window.
Kenzie, standing next to her, couldn’t agree more.
Connor had Alex cornered at the bottom of the staircase. The hunky moron was talking to her in a low voice. He looked determined. Alex, on the other hand, looked as though she wanted nothing more than to flee.
“I think she could use a well-timed interruption,” said Kenzie. She started for the living room, but Cassie grabbed her by the wrist and brought her up short.
“She has to do this on her own,” she said. “Trust me, I’d like nothing more than to save the girl from herself and tell Connor exactly what a cretinous, pond-scum-sucking loser I think he is. But if she doesn’t stand up to him now, she never will.”
“Is the guy really that bad?” Nate asked from his spot at the island in the center of the kitchen. He’d poured himself a fresh cup of coffee and was nursing it slowly.
Earlier, he and Declan had decided that, until the boss got back, one or both of them would be awake at all times. Just in case.
Nathaniel had drawn the short straw. He’d wake Declan in another four hours.
“Yes, gorgeous,” said Cassie. “He really is that much of a lowlife.”
Kenzie liked this girl. She had spirit, style, and just the right amount of attitude. Alex appeared to have excellent taste in friends. In guys, however, Kenzie was starting to think the dark-haired beauty could use some assistance.
Assistance she would be more than happy to provide.
Returning her attention to the living room, Kenzie found only a frustrated Connor glancing around in confusion. “Huh,” she said. “Alex seems to have disappeared.”
Cassie whipped back around to see for herself. “Crap! She still didn’t tell him no. I can tell just by looking at him.”
“Which means, wherever she is, she’s probably upset,” said Kenzie, an idea forming. “I bet she could use some consoling.”
Cassie seemed puzzled. Kenzie jerked her head in Nate’s direction and the other girl’s eyes lit up.
“Yeah,” said Cassie, catching on to her plan. “Someone should really go talk to her. Make sure she’s okay.”
Nate glanced back and forth between them.
“Oh no,” he said. “No, no, no. I told you that wasn’t going to happen, Kenzie.”
“And I think the boy doth protest too much,” she said, slipping onto the barstool next to him.
Nate’s jaw clenched. It was obvious that he was having one hell of an argument with himself right now.
What Kenzie didn’t understand, was why.
Alex was a sweet girl. He obviously liked her. So what was the hold up? Surely this wasn’t about Declan. Her brother had never stood in the way of Nate going after a girl in the past. So what would make Alex any different?
He seemed to relent. But judging from the look on his face, he hated himself for doing it.
For Pete’s sake. When did he get so emo?
“Alright, fine,” he said. “I’ll go talk to her.”
Kenzie gave Cassie a high-five.
Cassie nodded to Nate. “I’ll handle Connor and keep him from looking for her. You handle Alex.” Under her breath she added, “God knows she’s in desperate need of some good handling.”
With that, Cassie disappeared into the living room. It was so nice having someone around to help her in her scheming.
“I’m assuming this means you know where Alex went when she jumped?” said Nate.
“Sally forth, fair prince,” Kenzie smiled. “Your princess awaits you on the patio.”
He disappeared into the walk-in pantry.
“Uh, Nate,” said Kenzie, leaning out of her chair to peer into the darkened storeroom. “I think you’re mixing up your ‘p’s’ there, kiddo. Didn’t Sesame Street teach you anything? I said pa-ti-o…”
“Needed to grab some supplies,” he said, reemerging with a red bag in his hands. “Can’t show up to an emotional rescue empty handed, now can I? I’d make a pretty piss-poor prince if I did that.”
“Excellent use of today’s letter of the day, Nate,” she said with a grin. “He can be taught!”
“I try,” he said as he made to leave. “Wish me luck?”
“Nah. You don’t need it, Charming. Just go put a smile on the girl’s face. I know you can do it.”
He would totally thank her for this later.
Kenzie was sure of it.