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KENNETH

Well, today did not go as planned – and Kenneth wasn’t exactly upset about it either. Jamie saw things differently, noticed things that he hadn’t, and made steps to protect both him and Zachary when they weren’t looking by creating a distraction. The woman worked a room, was playful, outrageous, and seemingly easygoing with his son… and he couldn’t be more relieved.

And that kiss?

Ha! That was hardly what anyone would call a kiss, which told him just how na?ve his little wife was. She thought she was being the aggressor in the relationship when she grabbed his shirt and kissed him. What she didn’t know is that by doing something like that, she’d revealed her hand. She played the part of a wild card, but he knew better.

Then he got fired this morning. He was cut from the team the moment he said the word ‘trade’ – and escorted by security out of the building. Yeah, that was a nice touch. Instead of grumbling or resisting, he simply got his things and left.

It was time for a new start for all of them.

He’d been a fool to walk Jamie to her door last night – but he’d been so confused by his own thoughts that he needed a little space to himself. It really didn’t help any of it. The separation only made him wonder what she was up to. Instead, he walked over to her condo, knocked, and when she opened the door in a tank top and shorts – his brain short-circuited.

“Get ready. We’re heading out.”

“Oh? How long do I have?”

“Ten minutes – and pack a bag.”

He walked off immediately ignoring the her shocked face and the perfect ‘O’ that her mouth made at his announcement. Yeah, he could have said more, but he couldn’t get past the sight of her long, tanned legs.

Cripes.

Now, the three of them were walking to the car and Kenneth opened the back door for Zachary to climb in. Zachary looked at Jamie.

“Are you coming with us?”

“Yes,” Kenneth answered before she could.

“Where are we going? Are we going on a honeymoon?” Jamie asked, hesitating and looking at him in surprise.

“Well, I thought we could look at houses, and I need to get things lined up in Quebec. Why would I go on a honeymoon?” he asked in a flat, droll voice and fought back a smile as Jamie stared at him in disbelief, but it wasn’t before he saw her make a face… and heard her mocking him.

Yeah, he had her pegged already.

She played it tough, but she was a woman just like any other. Was it mean of him to say that? Probably – but he wanted to get her back for making him lose his temper about her man-crush. He hadn’t been expecting her to say something like that but now that he was picking up how she worked, oh yes, he had her all figured out and was going to use it.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, Jamie was frowning and looking straight ahead, ignoring him.

“Well?” he asked, starting the car. “You didn’t answer me. Are you coming with us?”

“I don’t have anything else to do, so yeah, I suppose I can.”

“Good,” he said, fighting back a smile. “I’ll need someone to stay with Zachary while I go look around.”

“Seriously?”

“He’s your stepson.”

“And I’m now your wife…”

“So ‘wife-it-up’ and stay home with the kiddo,” he managed to strangle out without laughing – but only until she swatted him on the shoulder. He chuckled, giving her a slow look, and put the car into reverse.

“If I have to ‘wife-it-up,’ then you need to ‘man-it-up,’ buddy, because, lemme tell you – this isn’t a one-way street or…”

“Jamie,” he interrupted, fighting back a smile. “I was teasing you.”

“I knew that,” she harrumphed and crossed her arms, looking away.

“We’re flying to Quebec and going to take a look around the town. I need to get a place locked down for us and then arrange the movers.”

“Sounds good,” she replied, still looking dismayed and a little perturbed that he’d teased her back. Maybe she needed someone to ruffle her feathers sometimes and she glanced back at Zachary. It would be good for all of them to get to know each other a little better and exploring a new city would be nice for everyone.

And, maybe, he would show her what a real kiss looked like.

The thought of that made him curl his fingers around the steering wheel as he drove, pressing his lips together to keep from saying anything else that would give away his interest. While he never expected to get married, and Jamie had looked so bedraggled yesterday – the woman sitting beside him was anything but that.

Her hair was in a ponytail, but it was sleek and smooth, telling him that she probably was one of those girls who made sure she had a straightener or some goop to put in her hair to make it look good. She also didn’t wear much makeup, not like his ex-wife did. His ex looked painted, whereas Jamie looked fresh and welcoming.

Approachable.

He liked that more than he cared to admit.

* * *

I t made him feel good to see Jamie’s surprised face as she did a doubletake looking at the aircraft he’d chartered. It was easier to fly like this, even if it was more expensive. Zachary could run around, he wasn’t being pressed to sign autographs, and there was no wait regarding boarding. When he flew with the team, they rented a massive plane or used their busses – which gave him the idea.

“We’re not flying coach… or business class?” she asked in disbelief.

“Do I look like I fly coach?” he said flatly, teasing her… and sure enough – she laughed.

“C’mon Zachary,” she invited, clasping his son’s hand. “We’re gonna have fun and touch everything on the plane!”

His son’s smile was brilliant, and Kenneth swallowed, wondering if she was including him in that statement, before shaking his head. No, he needed to keep his mind straight and not become involved with a woman who would take him to the cleaners again.

This was a marriage of convenience, and he needed to focus on the ‘ convenience’ portion of that statement a whole lot more.

Following them up the steps of the private plane, he nodded at the attendant and fought back a smile. His son was currently testing each seat with Jamie. They were sitting in seats beside each other, moving to two other seats, laughing, before moving to two others. The two were getting along so well, and it was a joy to see.

This woman, his neighbor, was more than he ever expected – and he felt a twinge of guilt for keeping to himself for so long. When he and his ex-wife had split, he’d gotten the condo right away but never imagined how his life would change. It wasn’t just rumors and her requesting to be free, but he’d found out about her sleeping around. That was not something he would ever condone in his life because if you couldn’t control yourself, couldn’t respect the person you’d chosen, it was telling.

Jamie was almost… rambunctious.

She was playful, teasing, and had taken to Zachary right away – and his son was just as excited to be around her. He looked at Jamie with wide affectionate eyes, smiling, and seemed to be so happy. It made him realize just how down his son’s eyes, his very expression, had been, and he felt like a bad father for not seeing any of this before.

Candi had given up and had been so wrong for the two of them. But maybe he was damaged from the fallout, too. He couldn’t let his past, his scars, affect his son and would do everything he could to bury those feelings.

“Zachary,” he asked, interrupting the duo. “Did you see the pilot? Do you want to meet them before we take off?”

“Can I?”

“You sure can,” Kenneth replied easily and smiled at Jamie. “We’ll be up in the air shortly if you want to use the restroom or need something to drink. This is going to be a nice, relaxing flight – and I hope you enjoy it.”

“I’m not gonna lie,” Jamie said, giving him an enchanting smile that raced up his spine. “I feel like a spoiled princess right now – and it feels pretty darn good.”

“Champagne for my princess?” he asked, fighting back a smile.

“Uh, absolutely. Like you even have to ask,” she laughed. “Feel free to wine me, dine me, and treat me like I need a tiara. I am A-okay with this… all of this, Kenneth.”

“Will do.”

Kenneth walked his son to the front of the plane, and the attendant gave him a little pin that looked like silver flight wings as Zachary stared wide-eyed at the controls. He rested a hand on his son’s back and leaned toward the attendant so he could whisper.

“Could you bring us two glasses of champagne when we get in the air? My wife and I are celebrating…” he began and looked back over his shoulder to make sure Jamie wasn’t listening. She’d disappeared into the restroom at the back of the plane. “And if you have any chocolate, cookies, or anything else to surprise her with, that would be amazing.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Thank you – and an apple juice for him.”

“Certainly.”

Zachary was moving, already bored, and looking for Jamie. Kenneth followed his son back to the seats as Jamie emerged, and he swallowed. Man, she was really pretty, and that lip gloss was everything. He had never fantasized about something so silly as that, but the idea of tasting it or smearing it off her lips hit him like a two-by-four right between the eyes. Yeah, he was going to kiss his wife properly and not that little quaint peck she’d given him when they exchanged their vows.

He watched as Jamie took her seat, and Zachary sat beside her. She immediately turned to make sure he was buckled, and he caught himself reaching for the buckles at the same time. Their eyes met, and he saw her soft smile as she gave him a slow wink.

“Are we checking each other’s buckles?” she whispered, and oh man, that voice, combined with the imagery that exploded in Kenneth’s head, sent shockwaves up his spine as his breath caught, making a little noise in his throat. His knees collapsed under him, landing in a seat opposite Jamie, facing her. “Need any help?”

Everything in him wanted to say ‘yes’ just to see what she would say… and to his shock – he did. He wasn’t aware of the word escaping him until Jamie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and then her expression – oh mercy – her expression seemed to melt before him.

He sat there frozen, his heart slamming against his chest harder than any workout he’d ever performed as she moved, leaning over him, and reached down the side of the seat to get the buckle. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he would have fantasies about buckling up – but he would now. He stared at her, mute, as she fastened the belt and then met his eyes. Her brilliant, bright eyes held his dark ones.

“Thanks,” he managed to strangle out and heard her soft chuckle.

“Thank you ,” she countered, whispering, her voice just as hoarse, making him shiver as another sensation raced up his spine again. Man, just seeing her, hearing her voice, imagining that she was interested in him was doing all sorts of things to his head.

There was no way she was interested in him like that – was there? And what happens if things progressed between them from strangers to friends to something more… and what would that look like?

She hadn’t held back once – openly admitting she was marrying him for money in exchange for securing this new spot on the Wolverines. Marrying someone for money was about the lowest thing you could do, wasn’t it?

No, a little voice in his head said immediately, that would be abandoning your kid in exchange for a sports car and cheating on your husband .

Yeah, he needed to keep his head clear, his thoughts and hands to himself, because none of this with Jamie could go anywhere – even if something happened between them.

He couldn’t get emotionally involved again.

And was kicking himself later.