When We Met (Fool's Gold #13)(73)

Taryn was about to glare at Kenny when she realized how much Chloe had been talking. Usually she was the shy one but not, apparently, around Kenny. Interesting. He was a big guy. Tall and broad, with massive hands. People were often nervous around him. But not these two.

“Tell me about your knot experience,” Taryn said. “Can you help?”

“Oh, I can,” he said, grinning at her. “I used to be an Eagle Scout.”

“I know what that is,” Layla said. “My brother wants to be an Eagle Scout.” She wrinkled her nose. “But he said he wouldn’t help me with my knots.” Her lips turned up at the corners. “He’s mad because he snuck out to be with his friends last weekend and I told.”

Taryn nodded at Kenny. “Still want to mock the FWM?”

“I wasn’t mocking,” he said as he walked to her desk and sat in one of the chairs. “But I’m impressed with your tracking skills,” he told Layla.

“He goes out the window at the end of the hall,” Layla told him. “It’s right by my room and the floor creaks really loud right there.”

“Sounds like he deserved to get caught. Did he get in trouble?”

Layla nodded. “He’s grounded.”

“And pouting,” Kenny said. “Otherwise, he would have helped you.”

Both girls giggled.

Kenny held out his hand for the rope. Chloe passed it over. They told him what they were trying to do, and faster than Taryn would have thought possible, he’d twisted the rope into place and handed it back to them.

“Wow,” Chloe breathed. “Can you teach us that?”

“I can.”

Taryn sat back in her chair and watched as Kenny slowly went through the steps of the knot. The girls watched and nodded, and then each of them repeated his actions. She noticed that both of them crowded closer and closer until they were leaning against him. Chloe seemed especially smitten, watching his face when he talked and smiling up at him as if he were some kind of superhero.

When they’d mastered the knot, they thanked him and left. Taryn waited until they were gone to thank him.

He shrugged. “No big deal. Happy to help.”

“You were good with them,” she said. “They liked you.”

Kenny’s blue eyes gave nothing away.

“You’re great around kids,” she continued, watching him carefully as she spoke.

“Forget it,” he said flatly.

“Kenny, you need to get over it.”

“I have.”

“No, you haven’t. You’re ignoring what happened. You don’t talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

He got up and left. Taryn sighed, not sure how hard to push him. Everyone had things from their past—she knew that better than most. But she hated to see Kenny avoiding getting involved because of what had happened before. It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t right. But it also wasn’t her problem to solve.

* * *

DESPITE THE QUICKIE wedding Dellina had pulled together with what Taryn would guess was maybe fifteen minutes’ notice, she still managed to get the clothing exchange organized in a matter of days.

The soon-to-be finished retail space at Paper Moon had been cleared of all construction equipment. The new carpeting was in place, as were most of the fixtures on the wall. Temporary racks held hanging clothes, while large tables were covered with sweaters, bags and shoes. There was even a display of costume jewelry. The dressing rooms were clearly marked and several mirrors had been set up around the room. Music played through hidden speakers.

All the clothes had, per the invitation, been delivered in advance. There were notes attached to most of them. Things like “I wore this once. Not sure why I bought it.” Or “It shrank in my closet, which is weird because I never wore it.”

Against the far wall was a mobile bar and buffet. Mostly finger foods easily eaten while shopping, along with a constant supply of girlie cocktails.

Taryn had been hoping to get ten or fifteen women to come to the exchange, but there were at least twice that many. Several were unfamiliar, but Isabel quickly made introductions. It didn’t take long for the noise level to start climbing.

Madeline was in charge of the exchange. She suggested pieces to different people and offered to find matching shoes or bags.

“She knows about the outfits for Bailey, right?” Taryn asked in a low voice.

Isabel nodded. “I got her a suit but also bought her a dress.”

Taryn stared at her. “Why?”

“I thought it would look good on her. It’s navy, with a jacket. She can dress it up or down. Take off the jacket and it’s a nice dress for dinner out. A suit is more limited. This is Fool’s Gold. Where is she going to wear a suit every day? But a dress can be worn a lot of different places.”

Taryn nodded. “You’re right. I’m just so nervous.”

She’d left the shopping to Isabel. The other woman already had her credit card number on file. What were a couple more purchases?

“Holy shit, Taryn, what size are you?”

Pia Moreno stepped out of one of the dressing rooms wearing one of Taryn’s castoffs. The purple dress looked great until Pia turned and Taryn could see the zipper was about three inches from closing.