Kenzie hated to be embarrassed, but kissing Ramon on the dance floor should have been at the top of her charts for embarrassing moments, but it wasn’t. Maybe because her friends, including the bride, cheered her on for finally succumbing to his charms. The DJ in the corner played a slow song; Kenzie didn’t know which. She barely heard the beat over her own heart thumping in her chest. The crystal ball flickered light across Ramon’s face. He smiled down at her.
“I’m digging this PDA,” he teased. “What’s wrong with it?”
The rhythm of the song set in as Kenzie pressed her forehead against the center of Ramon’s ribs. Her stilettos helped balance the height difference between them. “I don’t like the spotlight on me.”
“Says the beauty queen.” Ramon laughed, moving his hand from around her waist to tilt her chin toward him.
“Pageants are different.” Kenzie rolled her eyes. “I am proud of my tiara.”
Ramon shook his head and blew out a sigh. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
“I mean, I’m proud of holding my title as the last Swayne or Hairston—don’t get me wrong,” she boasted. “But that’s as much of my business as I want to let people in on.”
“People in town know about the guy you were dating?”
“Clearly you want to know about my dating history.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” said Ramon, stiffening.
“I’ll tell you this one time.” Kenzie moved her hands to grip Ramon’s biceps. She tried not to pay attention to how solid he felt and how weak her grip was. “Rafe is an old friend of mine. His wife died a few years ago and he was under heavy suspicion.”
“Define ‘heavy’?”
“While he was away serving our country, she was having several affairs. Rafe came back and found out but according to him he didn’t even care.”
Ramon snorted. “Didn’t care?”
“No,” Kenzie said with a shrug. “He’d been in love with another woman for a long time, so I guess his feelings weren’t too hurt and he wanted a divorce. So anyway, Fourth of July night, Rafe came home to a bloody scene and no body. He was questioned.”
“Did he have an alibi?”
“He told me he did,” she answered, recalling the story Rafe had told her. Rafe didn’t want to give up his alibi because of the person he was with wasn’t fully divorced either. He protected the woman he loved. What had made Kenzie’s relationship perfect with Rafe was that his heart belonged to another woman. At least now that lady had come to her senses. And Kenzie was happy for her friend.
Though the music continued, Ramon stopped dancing. “And you’re going to tell me you believe him.”
Something about the tone in his voice irked Kenzie. It seemed like he didn’t believe her or was mocking her. Kenzie took a step backward. She had shared a personal story about her dearest friend and he was mocking her. A piece of Kenzie’s heart ached. “Yes I believe him. Rafe at least comes through for my events.”
“And there are so many events,” Ramon said, exasperated. “You dragged me to at least a half dozen of them.”
The corners of Kenzie’s eyes twitched. She blinked in disbelief. Did he seriously just make fun of her? “What?”
“I’m just saying you’re standing here gushing about some other guy for taking you to all these things, yet he’s not here,” said Ramon. “If he were such a standup kind of guy, why isn’t he here now holding you? I miss one of your many parties that you planned and I’m exiled to hell and this guy stands you up for your month of stress and you place him on some sort of pedestal.”
Kenzie took a step away from Ramon’s embrace. “You know what.” Kenzie’s voice rose with anger. A couple dancing nearby stopped and looked at them. “Never mind,” she said, lowering her voice. “I knew there was a reason I never trust you with anything.”
“What? Wait, what’s happening here?”
“Bye, Ramon.”
Kenzie stormed past Ramon, bumping his shoulder in the process. Walking away was the best thing to do right now. She’d been a fool to think he’d changed. Kenzie rushed over to her table and grabbed her blue clutch and stormed out through the doors toward the elevator. She jammed her finger from pressing the button so hard.
“Running away from another man?”
Without having to turn around, Kenzie rolled her eyes at the sound of Alexander’s voice. The ice in his beverage clanked against the glass. “Go away, Alexander.”
“I can’t go anywhere right now,” said Alexander. “I’m too infatuated with you. You’re gorgeous in that dress.”
His speech sounded a bit slurred but it was no concern of Kenzie’s. She pressed the already lit button to the elevator again and tucked her purse under her arm. Alexander approached. Rum seeped through his pores. She sighed in annoyance.
“Did you ever stop to think that this could be our wedding?” Alexander went on.
As if choking, Kenzie began to cough. Alexander stepped closer. “What do you say we get ourselves a room and pretend we’re on our honeymoon? For old time’s sake?”
The heat of his breath sent a twitch of fear down her spine. Alexander wasn’t a vicious man but he was lecherous when drunk. Before she had a chance to say another word, Alexander made a yelp-like noise. The elevator arrived with a ding and she didn’t bother turning around to give her ex a second thought. She needed to focus on the ride down. Damn Brutti Hotel, Kenzie thought. She rolled her eyes and slowly turned around just in time to watch Ramon give Alexander an odd side hug. Alexander’s eyes widened as his cheek began to swell. Kenzie’s darted her glare between Ramon and Alexander.
“Thanks for the directions, buddy,” Ramon said, all chipper.
Kenzie’s eyes scanned the odd way Ramon held his left fist. He kept opening and closing his fingers together.
“Going down?” Ramon asked. The doors sealed closed but didn’t keep out Alexander’s vulgar goodbye.
“Following me?” Kenzie asked, leveling her eyes with Ramon’s. She willed her libido to settle down. Memories of their little afternoon excursion flooded her mind. Her heart raced with the memory of his touch. Damn him.
“Considering you’re my date this evening...” he began and pressed the PL button for the plaza level.
Knees locked, Kenzie frowned. “We can cut the charade between us.”
“I don’t think so.” Ramon turned his back to her for a moment and screwed around with one of the buttons. The hydraulics in the small compartment bounced to a stop. Kenzie accidently dropped her purse. “You have the nerve to walk away from me after you stood there gushing over some other man while we’re on a date.”
“I wasn’t...” Kenzie tried to justify herself. “I tried to tell you...”
“About how great some other dude is?”
Judging from his flattened lips, Ramon recalled what she’d said. “I didn’t.”
“You think it was easy standing there and listening to you go on about Mr. Perfect?”
Bubbling laughter stirred in her sternum. “You’re jealous?”
“Nah. I just don’t appreciate it.” Ramon folded his arms across his broad chest.
The male ego, Kenzie mused. Men didn’t want what they had until someone else started playing with it. What made Ramon any different than Alexander? Alexander busied himself with other women back in college. Ten years had gone by and he never gave Kenzie a second thought. Now all of a sudden there was a spark on the dance floor with Ramon and he had something to say? Ramon hadn’t given Kenzie so much thought in almost a year and the moment she talked about another guy he became jealous.
“What happened to your hand?” Kenzie asked, noticing his red knuckles.
“Alexander fell.”
“On your fist?”
Ramon shrugged. “He was advancing toward you as you were getting on a small, confined elevator.”
The reminder of where she was caused Kenzie to gulp. “Alexander is a bad drunk, but he’s harmless. Can you start the elevator back up, please?”
“And you know this about Alexander because he’s your ex?” Ramon asked without budging.
“Yeah, like when we were in high school. What does it matter?”
“It doesn’t,” said Ramon.
“Ramon, please start the elevator back up.” Impatient, Kenzie stepped closer to him and tried to push the button. She had no idea which one he used to stop the elevator so she pressed them all. The compartment lowered a foot and bounced back up, then not only stopped but the lights also went out. The jolt sent Kenzie into Ramon’s arms. “What just happened?”
“You broke the elevator,” Ramon teased. “I’m kidding—there must be a short or something. Hang on.”
He tried to let her go to turn to the panel but Kenzie clung to him. “Found the phone. Hello? Hello?”
With her hand still on his shoulders, Kenzie felt his lungs sink with a sigh. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t get a person to pick up the phone.”
“Are you serious?” Kenzie shrieked. “This stupid hotel and its cheap elevator.”
“In the hotel’s defense, you were pressing a lot of buttons, Kenzie.”
Kenzie wanted to dig deep for the anger from earlier. Nothing came. She tried to find something else to be mad at. Better mad than what threatened. “Are you blaming me?” Kenzie inhaled and squared her shoulders.
“Relax,” Ramon said, reaching for her. “Someone will come looking for us soon.”
“Not likely,” Kenzie huffed. “They were getting ready to serve dinner. Free bar and delicious food—no one is going to leave the reception hall any time soon.”
“So that’s good news for us.”
Good for who? she thought. There was nothing Kenzie could do. If she peered against the glass she would succumb to her fear of falling, given how far up they were from the ground. Thanks to the hotel being built in a wooded area, the tops of the trees blocked her view from below. If she stood closer to Ramon, she’d give in to her fear of making love to him right here and now.
“Ever notice every other time we ride the elevator we get stuck?” Ramon teased in the darkness.
The starlit skyline filled the glass compartment. Kenzie wasn’t sure which was worse—facing death if the elevator fell or facing Ramon. She took a chance on the latter and was greeted by a smirk across his face. “I am glad you can find the humor in this.”
“Humor or opportunity?” he asked, feeling for her hand. The pad of his index finger stroked across the vein in her wrist.
Kenzie’s pulse quickened with the touch. She wondered if he felt it, too. “Ramon, I don’t think...”
“For once in your life, don’t think,” Ramon ordered her before reaching for the back of her neck with his large, warm hands. He cupped her neck with his fingers. His thumbs outlined her lips before his mouth came down to claim hers. For the second time this evening Kenzie’s heart melted. Knees caving, she leaned into him. With one swoop Ramon lifted her by the bottom and wrapped her legs around his waist. With her back against the glass of the elevator the hem of her skirt rolled up her thighs. Neither of them broke their kiss. Kenzie fumbled with his belt buckle, which prevented her from touching him. She slid the leather from the loops and let it hit the floor with a clank. Nervously her fingers played with the button and zipper of his pants. She peeled away the material until she found what she was looking for.
The hard erection sprang to life in her hands. Kenzie groaned while she caressed the full length of him. A shiver of anticipation crept down her spine. Ramon tugged at the stitches of her panties until they ripped. He broke the kiss for a moment.
“I’ll buy you a new pair,” he growled, tucking the material into the inside pocket of his jacket. His hands pressed between her legs and fit her body onto him.
They both sucked in a deep breath at their connection. Kenzie wrapped her legs tighter around his waist. Ramon cupped her from under her arms and over her shoulder. He pulled her down onto him as his hips bucked forward.
Kenzie, filled with Ramon inside of her, wrapped her legs tighter. She arched her back and used the glass to help her sink deeper onto him. She gasped when Ramon tugged down her bodice and freed her breasts. Liquid desire coursed through her veins with the heat of his tongue across her nipples. Kenzie cried in ecstasy. Ramon pumped into her, fusing their bodies together. His fingers hung on to her shoulders. Her nails sunk into the fabric of his shirt.
“Ramon,” she cried.
“Kenzie,” he replied against her ear. His velvety voice against her lobe coaxed every ounce of orgasm out of her. She squeezed her legs around his waist, climbing him, grinding him until waves of pleasure poured from their bodies.
“Oh my God,” Kenzie groaned into Ramon’s neck. “I can’t believe we did this.”
Ramon planted a kiss on her forehead. His hands roamed her thighs as he eased her back to her feet. “Believe it. And this isn’t going to be the last time, either.”
“We aren’t getting back together,” Kenzie announced. She found her shoes and slipped them back on, giving her a little bit more height next to Ramon.
A deep laughter filled the space between them. “See, there’s your mistake.” Ramon cupped Kenzie’s face. “You keep looking at us as a couple last summer.”
“I forgot, I was just a fling for you,” Kenzie blurted out.
“Not a fling,” clarified Ramon. “We were just getting to know each other.”
“And what have you learned about me?” Kenzie asked.
The pads of his thumbs traced circles around her cheekbones. “I know you love your city. You love your family, and I know you hate being embarrassed.”
Kenzie pulled her head away from his touch. “Do you know why I hate being embarrassed?”
“Because you’re a perfectionist?”
Scoffing, Kenzie gripped the railing behind her. “I was engaged.”
“Okay?” He tucked his shirt into his pants.
“To Alexander.” Kenzie waited for another slow okay from Ramon as he fumbled with his belt. She expected to hear the jingle of the buckle. When he didn’t respond at all she continued. “We were just out of high school and starting college. I thought I knew him but clearly everyone else did, too—both in town and on campus. When I joined him at school I was humiliated when everyone in my dorm had already been with him and when I came home mortified, everyone who tried to comfort me knew all about his ways.”
Finally Ramon cleared his throat. He reached for her, draping his heavy arm over her shoulder. His fingers splayed against the nape of her neck. “You don’t like being the butt of a joke but you don’t mind being the center of attention.” The last part came out with a chuckle.
“Shut up.” Kenzie laughed.
“Kenzie,” he said, reaching for her hands to bring to his lips. “I would never knowingly do something to embarrass you again.”
A grinding noise sounded as Kenzie tried to gather her thoughts. The lights flickered a few times before deciding to stay on and the elevator began its descent down to the plaza floor.
“Here we go,” Ramon said with a wink.
Kenzie pressed her hands to her face and pinched her cheeks. She must look a mess right about now. The reflection on the doors showed her hair was wild, but that was nothing new. The once-defined curls had their own sense of direction. The flowers of her bodice were crushed and her dress was wrinkled. When the elevator’s doors slid open and a gush of air swept through, Kenzie was reminded of the absence of her panties. As if reading her mind Ramon patted the breast pocket of his jacket and cleared his throat.
Three men in maroon jackets met the two of them at the door. Apologies spilled from their mouths.
“Yes, we are extremely sorry for the inconvenience.” A man, close to six five, dressed in a dark suit and with a turquoise carnation in his lapel, stepped forward. His black hair was cut short and parted on the side. He belonged on the cover of a magazine, not as a bellboy at a hotel, Kenzie thought. “Ramon?”
“Gianni?”
“Brutti?” Kenzie repeated and then snorted in disgust. Because of the location of the hotel, no one ever consulted with her about building it. Had Kenzie met Gianni Brutti in person, well, she still would have hated the idea of such an eyesore sticking out of the forest in Four Points Park, but she might not have hated looking at the man. Talk about eye candy.
“Ramon, you beautiful bastard,” Gianni said in a booming voice. The men hugged and shook hands in that male bonding ritual Kenzie had seen football players do. “Had I known the competition was in my hotel spying, I might have let you stay in there longer.”
“Man, what are you talking about? You aren’t any competition.” Ramon laughed, took a step back and wrapped his arm around Kenzie’s waist. “Gianni, I’d like you to meet Kenzie Swayne. Kenzie, this is an old family friend, Gianni Brutti.”
Gianni extended his hand and Kenzie, remembering her manners, returned the shake. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Kenzie Swayne,” Gianni repeated her name. “As in the Kenzie Swayne, of the Swaynes of Southwood.”
“The one and only.” Ramon beamed.
“Your beauty surpasses the photographs, Miss Southwood.”
Kenzie rolled her eyes. “What?”
“I have a wedding reception going on upstairs. The bride insisted on having photographs posted upstairs,” answered Gianni. “Didn’t you two see them?”
“We were kind of busy,” said Ramon.
Gianni leaned forward and shook Ramon’s hand again. Kenzie watched the way Ramon’s cheeks rose in a silent laugh at whatever the man said to him. “Thanks, man,” Ramon replied. “Well, we’ll see you around.”
“Most definitely,” said Gianni. “Your mother told me she’s made reservations here for the sesquicentennial in Southwood next week.”
“Funny. See you later.” Ramon escorted Kenzie outside to where he parked his car.
“What was that all about?”
Ramon cast a glance toward the hotel. “What? My folks? I’m sure he was joking. I’ve had reservations held for my family for weeks now.”
“What did he whisper to you?” Kenzie asked.
“Oh, that? Well, let’s just say I have already started keeping my promise to you.” Ramon opened the passenger door and allowed Kenzie the chance to sit first. She climbed in but kept staring, waiting for his answer. “Let’s just say the lights were off but the cameras were still rolling. Gianni is going to erase everything for us.”
* * *
It hadn’t been Ramon’s intent, but he woke Kenzie up the next morning by accidently kicking open the door to her bedroom. Last night, instead of walking Kenzie to her apartment door, he’d stayed, continuing what they did in the elevator. And he was glad he had, too, except for the fact he had no clothes other than his dress slacks to change into. In his defense, carrying a breakfast tray filled with a wineglass of orange juice, a bottle of water, two egg-white omelets, toast and two bowls of fresh peaches was a struggle. He made a mental note to give the staff at Magnolia Palace a raise for making it look so easy.
Upon the clumsy entrance, Kenzie sat up in the bed. One side of her hair fell across the left side of her shoulder, covering her bare breast. She brought the pink comforter to her neck in an attempt to be modest.
“Nah,” Ramon said shaking his head. He set the makeshift tray on the edge of her bed and reached for the covers to expose her luscious body. “Too late to be bashful now.”
Kenzie gave him a lazy smile. “Yet you’re so formal in your pants.”
“Good thing you didn’t have any bacon. I would have been forced to make it.”
“No one would force you,” Kenzie said with a laugh. She scooted over to make room at the head of the bed. She tucked her long, slender legs to sit crisscross applesauce style, as Philly used to say.
“Oh yes, if bacon is in a refrigerator, it belongs in a frying pan—it’s a law,” said Ramon, trying to recall the last time he ever brought food or cooked breakfast for a woman in her home. He wondered what made her so special but when she cocked a brow at him, not believing his theory, he realized why. She didn’t fall for his BS. “I’m a man—we are drawn to bacon.”
“Maybe that’s what my brother was doing in my fridge last week.” Kenzie pondered, her finger on her chin. “Since he and Bailey moved back to town, he seems to do a lot of shopping from my kitchen.”
“Your brother Richard?” Ramon asked, trying to recall meeting him at Corie’s wedding last week.
“He has yet to learn that a woman is impressed by a man who cooks,” Kenzie mused over the tray. “I’m impressed. Did you once tell me you have brothers?”
“Three of them,” Ramon boasted.
Kenzie’s pink lips parted for a whistle. “No sisters?”
“No, but we have cousins.”
“Your poor mom.”
“You mean poor me.” Ramon laughed. “Being the youngest of four boys, six if you include how close me, Stephen and Nate are, I got beat up a lot.”
“Aw, poor thing.” Sincerity was lacking in her voice but because she was naked and eating his food, Ramon was not going to complain.
“That’s all right.” Ramon snagged the slice of peach off her fork. “My mama took care of me and fed me.”
“Fed you what?”
“What didn’t she feed me.” Ramon chuckled. “I didn’t always have this physique.”
Kenzie took a peach off his plate. The ripe skin matched her nipples. Ramon stirred on his side of the bed.
“So you were a mama’s boy?”
Holding his left hand in the air with his right over his heart, Ramon gave his oath. “I cannot tell a lie. It was pretty bad.”
For the first time ever, Ramon confessed what it was like for him growing up. He spoke while keeping his focus on the sheets until Kenzie touched his kneecap. When he glanced up, their eyes met. He’d seen her with the kids at the wedding last night. She’d make a wonderful mother. If they ever had a child together, Ramon imagined Kenzie nurturing him and if their boy got teased, he wouldn’t march his son back outside like his father did. “And yet you decided to leave the comfort of your mama’s side to start anew here in Southwood.”
Ramon reached out and ran his hand along her smooth thigh. “What a great decision that was, huh?”
“The jury is still out,” Kenzie said with a roll of her eyes.
In a smooth swoop, Ramon pushed the tray farther to the edge of the bed with his legs and with his hands, lifted Kenzie onto his lap. Kenzie pressed her palms against his chest. He wondered if she felt the way his heart beat faster at the mere touch of her skin. “You can’t possibly be thinking about going another round,” she stated rather than asked.
Ramon’s fingers were splayed on her naked hips. “Weren’t you the one questioning my stamina last week?” He lifted his hips forward and cursed the restraining fabric of his pants. Ramon cocked his head to the side and kissed her lips. She tasted like peaches. Truth be told, he could go several rounds with Kenzie. He pushed her hair back and kissed her freckled shoulder.
“The food is getting cold,” Kenzie moaned. The vibrations of her vocal chords tickled his lips.
“Fine,” he said with a sigh, “I don’t want you passing out on me when I ravish you later.”
“Later?” Kenzie wedged her bottom between his opening thighs, resting her legs on top of his. He was drowning in unchartered infatuation. He had never felt this way with a woman before. He couldn’t get enough of her. And the fact she looked at him like she felt the same way he felt drove him over the edge. Desire overcame him when she leaned backward, baring her breasts to him as she reached backward to drag the tray closer to the two of them. He willed himself to behave.
Oblivious, Kenzie continued what she was saying. “I have to meet up with Bailey down at Grits and Glam Gowns.”
“Ah, you’re going to see my family, Lexi?”
“Speaking of family,” Kenzie began, pulling the crust off the buttered toast. Ramon watched with amusement, still waiting for her to finish her statement, while she meticulously pinched off any sign of crust. A red tint splashed across her face when she looked up and found him looking at her. “Crust makes your hair curly.”
“I’m pretty sure that isn’t true.”
Kenzie tugged a few strands of her hair. “Want to make a bet?”
“No.” Ramon chuckled.
“Back to your family,” she said, poking her tongue out. “I am putting the seating charts together. Are you aware you have a table of twelve at the gala?”
“Yeah,” he began with a tsk. “We’re keeping it small. Stephen and Nate’s mom is coming to town for the afternoon festivities but she is going to babysit Philly.”
The mention of his niece brought a smile to Kenzie’s face. Since he assumed she wanted to be married, Ramon wondered where Kenzie stood on having children. He wondered why any of that mattered. Pushing the thought out of his mind, Ramon grabbed the discarded crusts and shoved them into his mouth. Crust spilled out when he tried to give her a toothy smile.
“Ew.” She frowned. She lifted her hands to shake his hair out of the knot he put on the top of his head. “Now you’re going to have curly hair.”
“I don’t care.” Thanks to the bread in his mouth, his answer came out muffled.
“Now, what would your mother say?”
Chewing, Ramon grabbed the water bottle to wash it down. “I don’t know. Let’s call her.” Ramon leaned back against the headboard and grabbed his phone from his pocket.
“Stop.” Kenzie busted out laughing.
“I don’t mind,” Ramon said.
“I mind,” she gasped. “What would your mother think of me if you called her at this hour?”
Ramon set his phone on the night stand. “Well, let’s see...how am I going to introduce you?”
“Kenzie Swayne, Southwood historian.”
“Okay, Kenzie Swayne, Southwood historian.” Ramon mocked her and grinned when she poked her tongue out at him. One more time and he was going to capture it with his mouth. “We can tell my mother the same story we’re telling Auntie Bren.”
“Stop calling her...”
Ramon shoved a piece of fruit into Kenzie’s mouth before she could finish. “Auntie Bren and I have bonded. Before you took advantage of me last night I was playing the perfect wingman for her.”
“I’m sure,” Kenzie said after chewing for a moment, “she truly appreciates you helping her.”
“I would do anything for her—that’s my buddy.” He meant it with all sincerity. Even though Ramon had left his large family, it was comforting being around a surrogate one like Kenzie’s.
“So anyway,” she huffed, “how do you plan on introducing me to your mother?”
“I like that you’re eager to meet the family, Kenzie.”
“Considering my family is convinced we’re in some sort of relationship, I think it’s only fair.”
“‘Some sort of’?” he repeated, feeling let down that this was not a permanent situation between them.
“Well, you know, this thing between us,” Kenzie began, wagging her fingers between the two of them.
Ramon sat up and away from the headboard. “You mean my proposal, the one you refuse to give me an answer to?”
“Yet we’ve already been to two different events and lunch a few times last week.”
Ramon shook his head. “Lunch was a work thing. And one of those meals we shared with your cousin Erin.” Judging from her frown, Ramon confirmed Kenzie did not care for her family member. “What is the deal between you two?”
Her light shoulder shrug made the juice in the glass slosh. “It’s silly, now that I think about it.”
“Tell me.”
“Erin and I are the same age and it seemed like we were always competing for everything growing up, including Auntie Bren’s affection. Auntie Bren never cared for beauty pageants, which of course are in my blood.”
“Miss Southwood.” Ramon bowed his head.
“Please.” Kenzie rolled her eyes. “Erin always said pageants were degrading for women.”
“You don’t agree?”
“Of course not. Pageants are not just a way of life in the South—they’re such a confidence builder.”
Ramon felt his eyes widen. “How so? There’s only one winner and it’s based on beauty.”
The bottom portion of her succulent lip poked out. “You’re judged on several things—beauty, talent and speech.”
“No, someone has to walk away a loser.” Ramon reached for her calf, smoothed his hand down to her foot and lifted it to kiss her big toe. As expected, she tried to pull away, but he kept a firm hold. “Don’t,” he warned. “Don’t pull away because I don’t agree.”
Crossing her arms, Kenzie shook her head. “Not if you’re going to sit here and make fun of me.”
“I’m not making fun of you, just trying to understand how pageants build egos.”
“You attended one last year.”
“No, I came after the crowning,” Ramon reminded her and then stopped himself. After the crowning, there had been that party that he didn’t escort her to, which had landed him in months of torture from Kenzie. He never wanted to go down that road again. “Sorry,” he said.
Knowing where the conversation was going, Kenzie offered a soft smile. “You’re entitled to your own opinion.”
“That means without retaliation?”
“I know nothing of which you speak.” Kenzie played coy with him, hiding her laugh behind the glass of juice she picked up.
“I guess my truck getting towed and the salt being replaced with sugar at the food truck thing, and other little antics were just a coincidence?”
“You could look at it that way, or at least look at it like—” she paused and licked her lips “—if I didn’t care, I probably wouldn’t have felt the need to retaliate.”
“Twisted.” Ramon wiggled his eyebrows.
“Twisted is my flesh and blood rooting for my opponent.”
“Your opponent being the woman whose wedding we attended yesterday evening?”
Kenzie nodded. “Felicia and I are friends. We will always be friends, but knowing Erin campaigned against me...” She shook her head. A curl fell over her shoulder. “That was betrayal.”
“How could she campaign against you? Aren’t there judges?”
“There used to be,” Kenzie explained, “but in order to get people to come out to the pageant, you have to get supporters. Erin backed Felicia, even put money in toward her getting a gown and everything. But I still won,” she boasted with a proud smile.
“Okay, I get it,” he lied.
Eyes narrowing on him, Kenzie shook her head. “Do you really now?”
“No,” he admitted. “I just like the way you smile when you talk about winning.”
Once again Kenzie poked her tongue out at him. This time he pushed everything aside and kept the promise he made to himself, taking her once more.