Keeping Kennedy (9 page)

“Now,” he said as he positioned himself for
their descent, “hang on.”

His concern with the limbs being able to hold
them suddenly rang in her ears. “What if we break a branch?”

“Then we’re screwed.”

Survival instincts kicking in, Kennedy clung
to him as if he were the only thing that stood between her and
certain death. With one last fleeting look at the ground below, she
decided that maybe he was.

~*~

“A barmaid,” Kennedy huffed again. “I cannot
believe the audacity of that woman! Obviously she selects
characters the same way she designs scavenger hunts—without the
slightest consideration for taste.”

Drake trudged up the stairs. His wet,
mud-splattered clothes had partially dried, and were growing
stiffer by the moment. Between the precarious climb down the tree
and Kennedy’s constant complaining, he had just about had his fill
of fun today. How could a woman as savvy and smart as Kennedy be
such a wimp surrounded by a few trees and a little mud?

“Cassandra lives to make me miserable,” she
grumbled.

“Give it a rest, Kennedy,” Drake said
impatiently. “Don’t let her get the best of you. You’ll make a
great barmaid.” The memory of the long, toned legs he had seen this
morning when Kennedy had been wearing nothing but an oversized
T-shirt ricocheted through his mind. Oh, yeah, she would make a
hell of a barmaid.

Kennedy paused long enough to wave her arms
magnanimously. “You would say that,” she all but shouted. “You get
to be a pirate.”

He summoned the last of his patience.
Irritation was quickly filling the remaining void. “You know what,
Kennedy? I’m going to take a shower. I don’t care about being the
pirate. I only care that I get a shower
now.
And since
taking that little swim and hauling your” he held up his hand to
halt anything she might say until he composed himself “butt down
from that tree was a favor I did for you, I would appreciate it if
you would just allow me some peace and quiet.”

Before she could respond, he turned sharply
and continued toward the bathroom. No one, no one, ever pushed him
this close to the edge. Why did he let Kennedy get to him like
this? The woman was driving him crazy in more ways than one. And he
seemed completely incapable of regaining his footing where she was
concerned.

To make matters worse, she followed him into
the bathroom despite his pointed request. Beyond caring, he jerked
at the buttons of his shirt.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured contritely. “I do
appreciate everything you did today.”

He glowered at her. She moistened those
damned tempting lips and lowered her head a bit, making him feel
like a class-A jerk.

“It’s just that Cassandra always somehow
managed to make me feel inadequate.” She shrugged, and Drake’s gaze
followed the movement, then fell to the breasts outlined by her
still damp T-shirt.

“I guess I haven’t outgrown the immature need
to prove I’m good enough.”

Why did she have to look so vulnerable, all
soft and needy? Her hair was disheveled in a very appealing way, as
was the rest of her. The look was totally out of character for
Kennedy Malone. This Kennedy was still a girl who desperately
needed acceptance. This was a glimpse of the woman who searched for
firm ground when outside her own world, who still needed someone to
support her.

With all his heart, he wanted to be the one
to protect her, to make her feel safe. She didn’t pull away when he
reached for her. He entwined the fingers of his left hand with
hers, then lifted her chin with is right. For one long moment, he
simply looked at her. Kennedy was a beautiful woman. For the life
of him, he couldn’t understand why he just recently noticed that
indisputable fact.

“Everything is going to be fine,” he
murmured. He stroked her cheek soothingly with the pad of his
thumb. He smiled at the streak of mud which had dried there. “You
don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

A tremulous smile came to her lips. “I
apologize for being such a pain today.” She shrugged again. “I’m
not usually so…”

“Helpless,” Drake suggested, his fingers
tightening around hers, that uncharacteristic vulnerability drawing
on his every male instinct. She licked those full lips one more
time and nodded hesitantly. Want welled in him so fast that no
power on earth could have stopped him from kissing her. She tasted
soft, warm and unbelievably sweet. She sighed against his lips and
Drake instantly felt off balance. His fingers threaded into her
silky hair and pulled her closer, forcing her to surrender
completely to his kiss. Fire roared through him, urging him to
press his body against hers. He released her hand and found the
soft swell of her bottom. A groan of pleasure rumbled in his chest
as her body melted fully with his.

She touched his chest hesitantly. He groaned.
God, he was out of control. How could a mere kiss affect him so? He
touched her lips with his tongue and she opened for him, the move
tentative. He indulged his want, tasted her thoroughly, teasing,
testing. He wanted to touch her breast. His knees went weak before
the thought could evolve into action. Touching Kennedy, tasting
her, was killing him. His arousal grew harder by the second.
Kissing her would never be enough.

She whimpered when his palm closed over her
breast. He could feel the tightly budded nipple beneath the fabric
of her thin T-shirt and bra.

“Drake,” she murmured on a sharply indrawn
breath. Her eyes were closed tight, her expression intent.

He squeezed her breast as he simultaneously
pressed her hips harder into his erection. He nipped her lower lip
as he’d longed to last night, then trailed a line of kisses along
the curve of her jaw.

“What are you doing to me?” she whispered
breathlessly. “I can’t catch my breath. I’m burning up.”

“Me too, baby,” he murmured against her
satiny skin. God he wanted her, wanted her now. He flicked her
earlobe with his tongue. “I want you.” He squeezed her bottom,
urging her closer still.

She made a little started gasp. “What are you
doing?” she demanded again, her voice thick with her own
desire.

He stopped. His hands went to her waist and
set her slightly away from him. Her lids fluttered open, revealing
glazed eyes and pupils wide with desire. Her lips were swollen from
his kisses. Her skin flushed from the heat that had blazed between
them. But he had to stop. Something wasn’t right.

“Kennedy,” he rasped, his voice strained.

She finally focused on him, her body still
languid in his hold. “Yes?”

Drake swallowed. Hard. “Who was your last
lover?”

She blinked, breaking the spell. “What?” She
backed up a step, drawing away from his hold.

“When was the last time you made love?” he
pressed.

She plowed her fingers through her hair with
shaky hands. “That is none of your business.” Another step appeared
between them as she folded her arms protectively over her chest.
“My sex life is private.”

Reality crashed down around Drake. He swore
under his breath. He had almost seduced a virgin. He had noticed
her seeming inexperience the first time they kissed. He glanced at
her, then looked away. She was a friend. She trusted him. She was
vulnerable right now. Hell, she was damned
virgin.
And he
had…Damn and double damn. How was a nearly thirty-year-old woman
still a virgin this day and time?

“What’s wrong with you?” she demanded hotly.
“So you kissed me. I’ll get over it. It’s not like I’ve never been
kissed.”

Oh, but she hadn’t, Drake thought grimly. Not
like that anyway. He hadn’t kissed her just for the kiss; he wanted
more. His gaze settled heavily onto her suddenly hesitant one. A
whole lot more.

Chapter Five

“Go away.” Kennedy relaxed lower into the
bathwater’s hot embrace and dared whoever was at the door to
disturb her. She had showered after the scavenger hunt, but
tonight’s bath was for pure, bubbly pleasure—uninterrupted
pleasure. She did not want to talk—to anyone.

The knock came again, defying her wishful
thinking.

Kennedy shivered in spite of the heat
enveloping her. The memory of the man’s kiss loomed large in her
mind and sent a zing of desire through her. No one had ever kissed
her like that. There must be something wrong with her to react so
violently to Drake’s kiss. The man was—

“She says it’s urgent,” Drake announced.

An urgent call? From Veronica? Kennedy
frowned, but refused to open her eyes. If that Cassandra was up to
something again…

“I’ll call her back,” she insisted. No way
was she moving one inch for anything related to this blasted
reunion. The whole event was insane.
She
was insane. Kissing
Drake was insane. Telling him that she was on fire. Kennedy’s face
flamed even now with the memory.

The sound of the door opening made her eyes
pop open and her head snap up. Drake strode toward her, the phone
clutched in one hand and an impatient scowl etched across his
handsome face. She immediately clasped her arms around her bent
knees and tried to hide herself. Water sloshed and bubbles wobbled
around her like Jell-O.

“What are you doing?” Kennedy hissed in a low
voice so that Veronica wouldn’t hear.

Drake’s gaze slowly inspected her haphazardly
pinned up hair, roved down her naked shoulders, then slid back up
to her face. “I’m not your answering service.” He thrust the phone
at her, those long fingers curled around the receiver as they had
been around her hand just a few hours ago in this very room. Those
firm lips that still tormented her thoughts were set in an
irritated line.

Kennedy produced a smile and held out her
hand. She wasn’t about to reach up. He placed the receiver in her
palm, his gaze holding hers for one long beat before he turned
away. In that tiny space of time Kennedy saw desire flicker in
those silvery depths before he turned and walked out of the room,
closing the door behind him.

Three years. Kennedy and Drake had skirted
this delicate issue for all that time. Now it was alive with
electricity literally crackling between them. The first time he had
kissed her, it had been for the spin. But today…it was different.
That kiss had been about need, raw lust. Kennedy forced her
breathing to calm. Something was happening between them. Something
unlike anything she had ever experienced. Unlike Drake she was new
at this intense stuff. And, unfortunately, he had recognized that
little fact.
Never let the enemy know your secrets unless it
will somehow prove beneficial to you.
She knew that rule better
than anyone. No benefit readily came to mind in Drake knowing that
she was inexperienced.

“Kennedy! Are you there?”

She stared at the receiver in her hand, shook
off the confusing thoughts of him. She had to remember that they
were friends. Nothing more. “Yeah, Veronica, I’m here.” Kennedy
eased back against the tub’s porcelain surface and listened as her
friend alternated between shouting and whispering on the other end
of the line. The kissing bandit had struck again. This time Mrs.
Medford from down at the drugstore had gotten an unexpected smooch
while locking up just an hour ago. Kennedy’s curiosity edged up a
couple of notches. Who could be playing this bandit? And why had he
resurfaced after all these years?

“And that’s not all,” Veronica continued,
whispering again. “I saved the juiciest gossip for last.”

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense.” Kennedy
lifted her foot to catch a drop of hot water as it fell down the
faucet. She doubted any local gossip would appeal to her, but she
loved Veronica so she listened.

“Cassandra caught Larry in a clinch with
little Jessica’s hot-to-trot dance teacher. Cassandra is fit to be
tied.”

“What?” Kennedy sat straight up, her complete
attention now focused on Veronica’s excited voice. Water sloshed,
creating a mini tidal wave. “When did this happen?”

“This afternoon! Larry had gone to pick up
Jessica, but Cassandra didn’t know it. When she stopped by the
studio, Jessica and some other little girls were practicing their
pirouettes while Larry and the teacher were in the office warming
up for the horizontal mambo. Cassandra caught them! They were
wrapped in each other’s arms like lights around a Christmas
tree.”

A frown drew Kennedy’s lips downward. “What
happened then?” Considering Cassandra’s nasty temper, Kennedy
wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

“Well,” Veronica went on in a hushed tone,
“the word I got was that Cassandra simply smiled and told him not
to bother coming home. Then she walked right out and took her
daughter home like nothing had happened.”

Kennedy blinked, confused at her own
reaction. The anticipated thrill didn’t come. She had disliked
Cassandra for so very long, plotted revenge dozens of times in the
back of her mind, but the reality of the hurt this incident could
cause gave Kennedy no pleasure at all. The Hawthorne children would
be the ones to suffer now. Cassandra would get over her
humiliation, but those kids needed both their father and their
mother, witch though the latter might be.

“Isn’t that wild?”

“Yeah.” Kennedy let go a heavy breath. “Very
wild.”

“Since you’ve been gone, you probably don’t
know this, things have been on pretty shaky ground for those two
the last couple of years.”

Kennedy rubbed at the tension coiling in her
neck. “No, I didn’t know that.”

“Well, I just had to call and tell you,
girlfriend. But I gotta go now. My husband is stalking around the
kitchen wanting to know what’s for dessert.”

After a quick goodbye, Kennedy depressed the
talk button and ended the call. She tossed the receiver onto the
rug near the tub and decided there was no point in trying to relax
now. Veronica’s call had her totally wired. She pushed to her feet
and reached for the towel. As she dried her skin, Kennedy
considered the possible reasons why Larry had done such a thing.
After all, he was a grown man, with children and responsibilities.
Granted, Cassandra could be a cold-blooded bitch at times, but she
was undeniably beautiful and a decent person in most ways. Kennedy
pulled on her old pink robe. Even if Cassandra had stolen Larry
from her all those years ago, the woman didn’t deserve this now.
Not with kids involved.