Singed by Desiree Holt, Allie Standifer Read Free Book Online

brother-in-law, so yep, I guess it is my business.”
    River looked down at the mouthy redhead. “Is there a point to this or are you torturing me for shits and giggles?”
    He pretended to wince when she punched his arm then Kasey got on with her agenda. “Kendra’s been hurt more and deeper than anything you and I could understand. So here’s the deal. If you want her, really want her, with rings, kids and the minivan, then you need to fight face to face.”
    He could picture Kasey’s words so easily. Coming home after his shift to find Kendra with a baby on her hip, a smile on her face and takeout on the counter. Yeah, he wanted it fucking complications and all.
    38
    Singed
    No one ever said falling in love would be easy, right?
    “What do I need to do?” he asked, resignation and determination filling his voice.
    Kasey gleefully rubbed her hands together like a demented evil minion. “Leave it all to me, River. All I need you to do is call Ken up for dinner. Tell her you’ll pick her up at six thirty. Dress in a suit and tie.”
    “Kasey, suddenly I’m feeling a little bit uneasy with this.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you’re in charge.”
    * * * * *
    Kendra carefully flipped her cell phone closed. “I agreed to have dinner with him.”
    “That’s good, right?” Kira asked, cleaning up the donut evidence from the table and counters. “We talked about this, Ken. If you don’t let go of the past, Sean’s going to own and dominate your future. He was an asshole. It’s time to get over it and him.”
    “You’d think it’d be easier, huh? I mean logically I know everything he said was crap, but I still can’t help but feel maybe he was right on some points.”
    “Then you’re stupid and you don’t deserve River. Cut him loose and let him find some other woman who won’t be afraid to open her future to him.” Kira stuffed boxes into the black trashcan with an angry shove.
    “Whoa, don’t get all warrior woman on me.” Kendra backed up in an act of mock fear, her hands raised, palms out. “I’m just thinking out loud anyway. It helps me sound the crap from the truth. Crap always sounds stupid aloud and truth never changes, right?”
    “Something like that, I’d guess. Now let’s talk about clothes. What are you wearing? How slutty and will underwear be involved?”
    Kendra looked over at her cousin with her curly brown hair and whiskey colored eyes. “You know, for someone on a sexual high horse you sure are pushy with my love life.”
    39
    Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer
    Kira only laughed and maneuvered Kendra down the hall to the bedroom. “You know what they say, ‘Those that can, do. Those that can’t teach.’ So call me Yoda and follow my wisdom, grasshopper.”
    Kendra giggled and allowed herself to be prodded and pushed by a cousin who danced too close to the insanity branch in their family tree.
    Maybe her family was right. Sean had controlled her life too often and too long.
    River deserved a chance and she owed it to them both to give him one.
    * * * * *
    Low music played through a discreet sound system as River toyed with his glass of white wine. The empty dinner plates had been taken away, dessert refused and now an awkward lull fell over the table.
    He couldn’t believe this was him sitting across from a beautiful woman with his tongue tangled in knots and his brain scrambled with need and desire. He never had trouble wooing women, then again no other woman had ever mattered as much as this one.
    “Thanks for agreeing to come tonight.” His voice sounded too stiff and formal.
    “Thank you for asking me.” Kendra sounded just as uncomfortable as he did.
    Crap, why wasn’t this working?
    “Kendra, I feel like an idiot sitting here walking a verbal minefield. Let’s get our cards on the table.” He signaled for another bottle of wine and turned back to his date.
    “The first time I saw your face my heart stopped. I couldn’t breathe, my pulse went all freaky and black