Sing Like Nobody's Listening Page 9
She heard the stairs creak and then Ollie nudged the bedroom door open and came to sit beside the bed. He whined and put his paw up on the covers.
“Hello, doggie.” Kenzie had to smile. He looked for all the world as if he was grinning at her. She sat up and leaned back against the headboard. “You're a good boy, aren't you?”
He stood up and wagged his backside at her.
She patted the bed and he jumped right up and leaned against her, licking her cheek. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his fur. He really was a good dog, and unlike anyone else, he wasn't likely to ask her questions she didn't want to answer!
The door edged open a little further and a small brown-haired head peered around it and squinted into the semi-darkness. “Ollie?” The kid whispered loud enough to wake the dead! “Ollie? We're supposed to let her sleep.”
Kenzie smiled to herself. “It's okay. I was awake anyway.”
“Oh. Can I come in too, then?”
Hmm. She hadn't expected that. She'd never spent much time around kids, she didn't know how to talk to them. They usually seemed pretty annoying.
He came around the door. She should probably at least try to be nice to him since she was going to be staying in his house. “Okay.”
He came right in and climbed up on the bed throwing an arm absently around Ollie. “Hi. I'm Ethan. And you're my new Auntie Kenzie.”
Kenzie stared at him. Auntie? Well, that made her feel old. She didn't know what to say.
“You are,” he insisted, seeming to hear the denial in her silence. “Your sister is going to marry my dad, so that makes you my auntie and I'm your nephew.”
Kenzie was regretting letting him come in now.
He studied her face curiously. “Did somebody beat you up? Meggie said you had an accident, but you've got a black eye. You look like someone beat you up.”
Kenzie chuckled. He was so outspoken she couldn’t help but like him. “It was an accident.” She was hardly going to tell him what had happened.
She laughed out loud when he winked at her and replied. “I'll bet! I never got beat up on purpose either.”
This one was going to be a handful. There'd be no fooling him, she could see that right now. She decided then and there that the best way to survive him would be to get him on her side. She beckoned him to come closer. When he leaned in, she whispered to him. “I don't want Meggie to get upset, so I told her I had an accident. Can you help me keep it secret?”
He nodded solemnly, his eyes big and round. “I won't tell anyone. Pinky swear.” He held up his pinky finger and she wrapped hers around it to seal their secret.
“Thanks, Ethan. You're the best.”
He grinned up at her. “I like you, Auntie Kenzie.”
Smiling back she knew she had just met a guy who could steal her heart all too easily if she wasn't careful. She really needed to get out of Summer Lake—that seemed to happen whenever she came here! “Do you want to just call me Kenzie?”
His little face fell. “I will if you want you me to.”
She'd been hoping he might be thrilled not to have to call her Auntie, perhaps even as thrilled as she would be not to have to answer to it. He looked so disappointed though, she had to ask. “You don't want to?”
He shook his head sadly. “I never had an auntie before. I've got one uncle. My Uncle Gabe. He's awesome, but I always wanted an auntie.”
Oh, God! This kid was going to be able to get anything he wanted from her. “Then I'll be happy for you to call me Auntie Kenzie.” She was surprised when he wrapped his arms around her middle and hugged her.
“Thanks.”
She winced as he squeezed, making him release his grip and look up. “Did that hurt?”
“Just a little. It's okay.”
He leaned against her. “Sorry. I'll be gentle, Auntie Kenzie.”
She was even more surprised at the tears that pricked her eyes as she hugged him back. “I've never been an auntie before. I might need some practice, but I'll try to be a good one.”
He turned his head at the sound of footsteps on the stairs and gave her a cheeky grin. “You can start practicing right now then. Dad's going to tell me off for being in here.”
She winked at him as the door swung open and Michael appeared. “Ethan! Sorry Kenzie. I asked him to leave you in peace.” He scowled at the boy, but Kenzie could tell he would never really get angry with him.
“I'm sorry,” she said. “I called to him when I heard someone on the landing. He only came to see what I wanted.”
Ethan grinned at her then nodded vigorously at his dad.
Michael gave him a hard stare then raised his eyebrows at Kenzie as he asked, “Really?”
“Yes, really!” Kenzie and Ethan both replied at once. Ethan looked at her and they both started to giggle. Oh, this was going to be fun. He was adorable.
Michael shook his head at them both with a grin. “So this is how it's going to be, huh?”
Kenzie shrugged and Ethan just kept on giggling.
“Well, in that case, if Kenzie is feeling up to it, you might want to escort her down to dinner.”
Ethan scowled. “She's Auntie Kenzie to me, Dad.”
“And is that okay with Auntie Kenzie?” Michael looked at her uncertainly.
She did her best not to wince as Ethan tightened his arms around her waist. “It is.” She smiled at Michael, wanting to let him know it really was okay with her. “We already talked about it. And since Ethan's never had an auntie before and I've never been one, we'll probably need to make up our own rules for how we want it to work.”
Ethan grinned up at her. “Yeah.”
“Okay then.” Michael smiled back at her gratefully. “Whatever you say. Do you feel up to coming down for some dinner?”
“I'll help you!”
She smiled at Ethan. “Thank you. I think I can manage it, but if I do need any help I'll come right to you.”
Once she was settled at the table, Ethan sat down across from her and grinned. “So are you going to live with us now?”
“No.” Oh, hell no! “I'm just going to stay with you for a few days until I feel better.”
He looked so disappointed she almost felt bad. Almost, but nothing could ever make her actually live with them.
“Don't worry little mate. Auntie Kenzie is going to stay with us for a while.”
Ethan glowered at his dad. “That's what you say.” He turned his glower on Kenzie. “You don't want to stay, do you?”
Damn! The kid was like a walking lie detector. What the hell could she say to him? “I don't want to stay long, no because you guys are just starting to be a family. You don't need me here.”
Ethan was still scowling. “But you're family, too.”
Megan smiled at him. “Yes, but Kenzie needs her own place to live. I can tell you now we won't be able to persuade her to move in with us.” She smiled at Kenzie. “I've been hoping that I might be able to at least persuade her to stay here in Summer Lake. If you'll help me, Ethan, I think we can probably manage it.”
“Yesss!” Ethan punched the air. “Me and my Meggie can make it happen.”
Michael caught Kenzie's eye. “I hate to break it to you darl', but when these two set their hearts on something, they always get what they want.”
Kenzie smiled. Perhaps it wouldn't be so awful to stay here? To be around this little family Megan had made for herself. To share in the kind of family life that they had never known when they were girls. “I don't think we need to plan the rest of my life tonight, do we?”
“No, of course, we don't.” Megan was obviously worried that they'd pushed too hard. “I'm sorry.”
Ethan gave her the cheeky grin she was already starting to love. “I'm not sorry. I'm not going to give up bugging you till you say you'll stay. I mean what good is an auntie if you never get to see her? And you told me you're going to try to be a good auntie.”
> Megan laughed and Michael shrugged. “Sorry, Kenzie, but he does have a point.”
Ethan rested his chin on his hands and stared across the table at her. “So, pleeease say you'll stay.”
How could she say no to him? At the same time, how the hell could she say yes? She was starting to understand how Megan had felt, not wanting to get too involved with the kid before she knew she wouldn't let him down by leaving him. Kenzie knew she was bound to let him down at some point, though. Even if she tried to stay here, to be a part of their family and have a life here, she was bound to screw up somewhere down the line and end up having to leave anyway.
“Pleeeease?”
She smiled at him. “We'll see.”
She could almost hear the wheels turning inside his little head as he considered her reply. Eventually, he smiled at her. “You think that means no, but you don't want to say no. But that's okay because I think it means yes, but you don't know it yet.” He gave her that cheeky grin again and stuck his tongue out at her.
She had no idea what she could say to him. Unfortunately, she was sticking her own tongue right back out at him before she heard Michael tell him off for it. She crossed her eyes at him and they both giggled while Megan told her off. Who would ever have thought she'd have this much fun with a little kid? He wasn't just any kid though. He was a pretty special little guy. She had to smile at the thought—and he was her nephew!
Chapter Ten
Chase checked the mirror one last time. He looked good. He shook his head with a wry smile. When had he ever worried about that before? Apparently, he was worried about it now. He was going to Michael and Megan's for lunch. Megan had called and asked if he wanted to come and he hadn't even hesitated to say yes. Kenzie hadn't called him. That bothered him. Maybe she really didn't want to see him? He couldn't believe that. He hadn't called her. He kept telling himself that he was giving her time to get better. Maybe she didn't want him to see her while she was still covered in bruises. He refused to admit that he hadn't called her because he didn't want to hear that she just didn't want to see him at all. He went into the big living room and sat down to pull his boots on. All that mattered was that he was going to see her now.
Aaron grinned at him. “Let me guess. You're going to see Kenzie?”
Chase shrugged. The guys hadn't stopped teasing him about his mad dash to Nashville last week.
Aaron sat down opposite him. “I know we've all been busting your balls about it, but I think it's cool.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I mean, when you started the band it was only ever supposed to be a fun gig for a while. That was years ago. You're not getting any younger. It's about time you found yourself a girl.”
“Me? What about you? We're all in the same boat.”
“I know. So seeing you like this gives me hope for the rest of us.”
Chase laughed. “Don't build your hopes too high just yet. She may tell me to get lost. Or she may tell me she's leaving. Anything's possible with Kenzie.”
“But you're still getting all dressed up and heading over there. You're doing some hoping yourself, right?”
Chase nodded. “Apparently.”
“Then good luck.”
“Thanks.”
“I meant to ask, too, are you really renting yourself a place in town?”
“I'm hoping to.” Chase needed to talk to Ben again and figure out what the deal was.
Aaron grinned. “Then can I take over your room when you move out? I know Robin's got his eye on it, but he hasn't asked you yet, right?”
“As far as I'm concerned you can, but you'll have to fight it out between yourselves. Once I'm gone, it's not my call.”
“Yeah, but if you say I can have it then he can't argue.”
Chase stood up and grabbed his keys. “I say you can, but I wouldn't bank on him not arguing. I need to get going. I'll see you later.”
“Later.”
Chase ran down the steps and climbed into his truck. Part of him wished the guys would grow up a bit. He didn't want to be stuck in the middle of stupid fights over who got which room. Still, it wouldn't be his problem soon.
He pulled up in the driveway at Michael's house and checked the mirror before he got out. What was it with that? He wanted to make sure he looked good, he even had butterflies in his stomach as he climbed out of the truck and walked up to knock on the front door. This was all new to him, but it was worth it because he was about to see her again—and he couldn't wait.
The door opened and a little kid scowled up at him. “Are you Chase?”
He nodded. “I am. And you must be Ethan.”
The kid nodded but didn't invite him in. He folded his arms across his chest and continued to scowl.
Chase smiled as Ollie appeared in the doorway beside the kid and barked twice. He pushed his way outside and wagged around Chase's legs before sitting down to offer him a paw. Chase squatted down to shake it and made a fuss over him. “Hey, Ollie. Good to see you.”
The kid's face softened a little. “You know Ollie?”
Chase nodded. “I've met him before. He's a good dog.”
“He's the best.”
Michael came to the door. “G'day Chase. Come on in.” He frowned at Ethan, who was still blocking the doorway. Chase had to smile at the way the kid glared back at him before he turned away and went back into the house.
Michael grinned. “Sorry about that. He's kind of taken with his Auntie Kenzie and I think he sees you as the competition.”
“Ah!” Chase laughed. “I wondered what his problem was.” He was thrilled to think that there must be a reason the kid saw him as a threat. It gave him hope. He decided he'd have to find a way to win Ethan over.
“He'll be fine, but don't let him give you any grief. Come on in.”
“We'll work it out,” said Chase as he followed Michael down a long hallway and into a big bright kitchen-dining room. He felt the air rush out of his lungs when he saw her. How did she do that to him? Whenever he laid eyes on her, he felt like he'd been sucker punched and needed a few moments to recover. She was so beautiful. She looked softer somehow. It wasn't just the purple and yellow bruises on her face and arms. It wasn't even just the grateful look in her eyes or the smile that spread across her face as she held his gaze. She didn't just look different. She had a different air about her too. Softer, gentler somehow.
“Hi.” She even sounded different.
“Hey.” He cleared his throat. He sounded different too—about three octaves too high! “How are you feeling?”
“Better now.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, hoping that she meant better now that he was here.
“Why don't you two go outside?” asked Megan. “We're still a little ways from being ready for lunch.”
Kenzie stood up and smiled at him. “Want to?”
Did he ever! “Sure.” He followed her out the doors to a deck that looked over a sweeping lawn leading down to the lake. He looked around then turned to smile at her. “Beautiful.”
She searched his face. “It is a nice place, isn't it?”
“I wasn't talking about the house.”
She smiled but shook her head. “You're not going to tell me you find bruises attractive.”
He took a step towards her. “I don't see bruises. I just see you. And I say again, beautiful.”
She came towards him. “Thank you.”
“Can I get a hug?” He needed to feel her in his arms, but it didn't feel right to just take hold of her. Not here. Not while she was still so obviously hurt.
She nodded and held her arms out to him. It reminded him of the way she'd done that in bed. The gesture was so open, so inviting—so trusting. He closed his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her. She slid her arms around his middle and rested her head against his shoulder. “It's good to see you.”
Chase planted a kiss on top of her head and held her closer. “I
t's good to see you, too.”
“Hey!” They sprang away from each other at the sound of Ethan's indignant voice. He glared at Chase. “You have to be gentle. Auntie Kenzie has bruises. You have to be careful not to hurt her.”
Chase smiled at the kid. “I'm being very gentle and I'll do my best not to hurt her.”
Kenzie looked up at him.
He nodded. “I'll do my very best.”
The hard edge was back in her voice. “She doesn't hurt easily.”
Ethan came to stand between them and looked up at Kenzie. “Is he you boyfriend?”
“No,” said Kenzie.
“Yes,” said Chase. They turned to him. He grinned at them both. “We may as well be honest about it.”
Ethan looked at Kenzie. “Is he?”
Kenzie looked at Chase. He narrowed his eyes at her and nodded. A wave of relief swept over him as she smiled and said, “He might be.”
Ethan pondered that for a few moments then looked up. “So does that make you my uncle?”
Chase grinned. “I guess that depends on...”
“On what?”
“On whether you want me to be.”
Ethan studied him. “You seem kind of cool.”
“Is that a yes then?”
“No.” He grinned up at Kenzie. “It's a we'll see.”
Kenzie laughed. “Perhaps we should give him a trial run? We can always send him back if it doesn't work out.”
“That's a good idea.” He turned back to Chase. “You can be my Uncle-for-now Chase, and maybe someday you'll be my Uncle-forever Chase.
Chase nodded, realizing as he did that he would be happy to try-out for the title of uncle-forever.
“Ethan, can you come and give me a hand please?” called Megan through the kitchen window.
Chase smiled at Kenzie as the kid ran off back into the house. “So are you going to stick around long enough to try me out on a trial basis?”
She nodded. “I am. Ben stopped by earlier. He offered me a job in the bakery at the resort. I'm not sure I'm cut out for it, but I'm going to give it a try.”