center of the table and sat down. He forked a chicken leg onto Lydia’s plate and then another one onto his. He slid the platter closer to Maya who used her fingers to grab a leg. Lydia frowned, but said nothing.
“He’s going to do his magic on my laptop.” Kenzie reached for the grilled broccoli and a baked potato.
“He’s one of the foremost specialists on internet security in the country. I heard he was asked to lecture at the War College in Rhode Island.”
“Miss E. told me that. He’s kind of cute, too.” Kenzie filled her salad bowl. Heat curled up inside her at the memory of his warm hands and blue eyes. She’d so wanted to push the tangle of blond hair off his forehead she’d had to clasp her hands behind her back.
“And he’s single,” Lydia put in with an arch look at Kenzie.
“Just because you two lovebirds are still in the throes of marital bliss doesn’t mean I have to be, too. I don’t have time for the love mojo. Besides, Scott and Nina are next up in the marriage queue.” And then probably Donovan and Hendrix. That was enough marriage for her. She wasn’t looking for that special someone in her life. Not after Sam. He’d burned her. He’d hurt her in a way she didn’t like to think about. Though the image of Reed hunched over her laptop almost made her sigh.
“I know that face,” Hunter said.
“What face?” Kenzie worked to relax the frown.
“The ‘I hate dudes’ face.”
“I don’t hate men,” Kenzie said. “I just don’t like men who think a woman’s career is less important than theirs.” Or who took credit for ideas not their own. The first time Sam had stolen one of her ideas, he’d been so apologetic she’d forgiven him on the spot. She’d tried to tell herself she loved him and he loved her, but still it seemed that every time she came up with something interesting, somehow it would end up being his idea. Until their last fateful argument.
“You sound like someone hurt you,” Lydia said.
Kenzie had confided in Nina, but had not felt as if she’d known Lydia enough to tell her. Now that she’d learned Lydia was a kind, nurturing person who wanted others to be happy Kenzie wanted to unburden her soul, but not now with Maya in the room. Maybe later.
“I was. Now I’m just angry.” Kenzie finished her salad and sipped iced tea. She refused to dwell on Sam’s betrayal.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Hunter asked curiously.
Kenzie shook her head. “Talking isn’t going to do anything.”
“It might make you feel a little better.”
Kenzie didn’t want to feel better. She wanted to feel angry. Anger motivated her. She would show Sam she would be okay.
Later, on her way out to her car, she received a text from Reed. Have some ideas I want to run past you. How about dinner?
She texted back, Just had dinner. How about a drink?
He responded. Eight in the bar.
She agreed. She would have time to shower and change into something else. She enjoyed being a cowgirl, but she didn’t want to look like one all the time. And the boots made her feet hot and sweaty. She drove back her thoughts on what she would wear that would made Reed Watson’s eyes shine with approval.
* * *
Reed waited in the bar, anxious for Kenzie to arrive. He noticed his palms were sweating. It had been a long time since a woman made him sweat. The feeling was exciting as well as disarming. A lot like Kenzie herself. A waitress appeared with a glass of wine. She set a napkin down on the table and then the glass on top of it. The stylized logo of the Casa de Mariposa decorated the center of the napkin. For a moment, he could only stare at it. He owned a casino. He wanted to pinch himself. How had this happened?
A glance around showed the bar was almost full. The chiming of the slot machines outside gave him a thrill. He owned slot machines, a roulette table, a bunch of blackjack tables, and God knew how odd that felt.
He’d met Miss E. when she’d taught a poker class in Las Vegas. He’d been fascinated by her lecture. He’d gone back several times trying to figure out the different odds of the game. Finally she’d started giving him private lessons. And when the poker tournament had come along, he’d been happy to sponsor her, certain she’d win the Casa de Mariposa. Even Lydia, who’d also sponsored her, had been surprised. And now the three of them were co-owners.
The journey from computer genius to casino owner amazed him. What was his next step going to be? He didn’t know. His whole train of thought disappeared when Kenzie walked into the bar. His breath caught in his throat. She looked stunning in dark maroon tailored pants and an ivory silk blouse. A gold chain looped around her neck and bounced against her throat as she walked. She’d swept her short hair back from her face. Her very presence lit up the whole bar. He found himself smiling and couldn’t seem to stop.
He stood as she slid into the booth. “Good evening.”
She smiled at him. “Hi, and good evening to you.” She paused as the waitress rushed to the table to take Kenzie’s order. She chose a key lime martini, which surprised him. He didn’t think she was a martini type of person. “You look like you have good news.”
Her statement dimmed his smile. “Not really.”
“What do you mean, not really?” She gave a little pout. “That doesn’t sound good.”
The way she looked at him made him want to slay dragons for her. “Where did you get this software?”
“I hired a company in Canada that came highly recommended.” The waitress brought her martini and she took an experimental sip, then nodded at the waitress, who smiled back.
“Well, fixing your program is going to mean pulling it apart down to the core and rebuilding it, module by module.”
“That’s not good news.”
He scrambled in his head trying to make the better news. “The good news is, it’s fixable. But it’s going to take time.”
She frowned at him. “How much time?”
An ache started in his chest. He wanted to be her hero and fix it yesterday. “A few weeks maybe. I won’t really know until I get started. I don’t know what I’ll be able to keep or what will need to be tossed.”
“We’ll work this out.” She took a sip of her martini. “My grandmother can’t say enough good things about you.”
“She’s made me feel like a part of your family.”
“Miss E. is good like that. Once you get the Miss E. Seal of Approval, you’re in for life with no escape.” She chuckled.
He laughed, pretty sure Miss E. wasn’t about to let him get away. “I don’t want to escape.”
“Why did you stake my grandmother for the poker game that resulted in all this?” She held up her hand in a sweeping gesture.
“Because I knew she’d win
