Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)(80)

“Chloe?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m looking for Kenny.”

“Okay. I can take you to him.” Poor Kenny, dealing with a very young crush.

“Thank you,” Chloe said politely. “My mom is Bailey Voss. She works for Mayor Marsha.” Chloe sounded proud of that fact. “I’m in the Future Warriors of the Máa-zib. Angel and Taryn are our grove leaders. Kenny helped me with knots and my friend’s jewelry box.”

“I remember,” Sam said as he led her down the hall. “His office is this way.”

Sam ushered Chloe inside. “You have a visitor.”

Kenny looked up from his computer. His brows drew together. “What’s up?”

Chloe smiled. “Hi, Kenny.”

Kenny looked both pleased and terrified. “Uh, hi, Chloe. What’s up?”

Sam was about to leave when Chloe spoke.

“We’re having a barbecue this weekend and I want you to come.”

Simple words. A common and uncomplicated invitation. Only it wouldn’t be that for Kenny, he thought. Not unless he and Bailey were friends and she had a clear understanding of how things were. Sam hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but needing to know if he had to protect his friend.

“Do I know your mom?” Sam asked.

Kenny answered. “She works for Mayor Marsha. Red hair, green eyes. Tall. Pretty.”

“You know her,” Chloe said confidently. “And if you don’t, you can meet her at the barbecue. We’re going to have lots of people over. It’ll be really fun. Mom makes great cakes. Everybody likes cake.”

“What about your dad?” Sam asked, wanting to help his friend. But as the words came out, he remembered what Allison had said the last time she’d been at Score.

Chloe’s happy expression faded. “He was a soldier. He died last year.”

“I’m sorry,” Sam said automatically, thinking while that was tragic, Kenny’s problem was more immediate.

“Thank you.” Chloe looked at Kenny. “Can you make it?”

Kenny was a big guy. Well over six feet with plenty of muscle. He could run like the wind and had magic hands that could catch anything thrown at him. But right now he looked incapable of moving. He was trapped by a seven-year-old girl who had no idea what she was asking.

“Kenny’s not going to be in town this weekend,” Sam told her.

“Oh. That’s too bad.”

“Yeah, it is.” Sam motioned for her to follow him. “We need to let him get back to work.”

Chloe sighed. “Maybe another time.”

Kenny’s mouth formed a straight line. “It was nice to see you,” he told Chloe, rather than respond to the invitation.

Sam saw the girl out, then returned to his friend’s office.

“I’m sorry, man,” he said. “I didn’t know why she was here. She was here before and I figured it was a town thing.”

“Yeah. That makes sense.” Kenny shifted in his seat. “No problem.”

Sam hesitated, wanting to say more. But what? Kenny had his demons. All Sam could do was offer cover when possible.

He returned to his office, still not sure why Chloe kept coming by. Was she looking for a substitute dad? If so, Kenny was the wrong guy. He might look like a good candidate on the surface, but it didn’t go further than that. The last thing he needed in his life was a woman with a kid that wasn’t his. That would be beyond cruel.

* * *

DELLINA VOWED SHE would not freak out. She’d done more with less, she reminded herself. The fact that she couldn’t remember when didn’t matter.

“Over there,” she called out to the catering staff she’d hired to help with the event. “Stack the plates at the end of the buffet.”

She turned and eyed the flowers on display. They were beautiful and fresh. Most important, they were practically fragrance free. Few things could destroy the desire to party faster than the overwhelming scent of too many fragrant flowers.

The party was being held in the Condor Valley Winery. The main floor was perfect for entertaining. The rustic decor added charm, while the open area allowed for plenty of mingling. She’d set up the buffet along the wall opposite the tasting bar.

Pulling together Fayrene and Ryan’s engagement party with less than forty-eight hours’ notice had been a challenge but the outcome was worth it. Word had gone out to all their friends. Dellina had arranged for the catering and serving staff. Ana Raquel and her husband took care of the food and the drinks were easy. Tonight the choices would be coffee, tea, soft drinks and Condor Valley wines.

Ana Raquel came out with a large tray in her hands. It was covered with rows of tiny sandwiches. Dellina helped her place it on one of the buffet tables.

“The puffs are ready to go in the oven,” her sister said. “We’re also doing mini quesadillas. Dessert is more complicated. I wanted to do a wedding cake, but there wasn’t time, so I called the bakery and they had several undecorated sheet cakes. They’re going to do two layers with a chocolate buttercream filling for each level. We should get about four layers in total.” She shrugged. “It’ll kind of look like a wedding cake. Square rather than round, which is okay. They’ll cover it with vanilla frosting, then drizzle chocolate ganache over it. Not exactly elegant, but it will work.”