Stripped Raw (31 page)

I turn towards the house, which is a mess—cups, plates, and leftover food everywhere. But it will wait until tomorrow. I undo a few buttons on my dress shirt and tear off my tie, tossing it on the banister, where I’d left my coat hours ago. I head upstairs as Kenzie comes out of Zoe’s bedroom.

She lifts her finger to her mouth. “Shh! She’s finally sleeping.”

“Everyone’s gone,” I whisper.

“Everyone but you,” Kenzie says softly.

I shrug but know the next words out of my mouth could bite me in the ass. “I’m staying,” I tell her firmly. And to my surprise, she doesn’t raise an objection. “Did you talk to Michael and Sawyer? Did they know any of this?”

“They both knew that Tessa was still talking to him. But not about the custody.”

“Brandon seemed to think they’d help him out.”

“They would for Zoe’s sake,” she says. “But they both told me that if they have to choose sides, they’re on mine.”

“That’s good,” I say.

“I just can’t believe Tessa never talked to me about any of this.” Zoe starts to cry, and Kenzie lowers her head. “She misses Tessa.”

“I’ll go to Zoe. Why don’t you try to rest?”

I head towards Zoe’s room, and Kenzie captures my hand. “I’m glad you’re here.” But just like that, she slips her hand out of mine and turns away.

It takes me a good fifteen minutes of rocking Zoe until she stops crying and falls back to sleep. This is the tricky part—putting her down without waking her up. This should be an Olympic sport, but I manage it without much trouble. A heaviness fills my chest, looking down at her sweet face. Reaching for the little bear from the zoo, I place it beside Zoe then softly close the door behind me.

The door to the guest room, Kenzie’s room, is open. Her profile comes into view. She is one strong woman. I walk towards her and kneel down. “If Zoe gets up, I’ll get her. I want you to sleep.”

Kenzie hops up. “No, there’s too much to do. I need to clean up the house and write thank you’s and. . . .”

Does she really think she can just busy herself through the pain of losing her sister? Probably so, I did the same thing for a long time. “And I’ll help you with all that starting tomorrow. Right now, you have to sleep.”

“I’m not tired,” Kenzie says, her eyes darting around the room for something to do. “I still haven’t totally unpacked.”

“Do I need to hold you and rock you to sleep, too?” I ask. “Because I will.”

A very soft smile graces her lips, but only for a second. “I loved the shoes you sent,” Kenzie says. “All of them.”

“Did you have a favorite pair?” I ask.

“The Tiffany Blue heels are still my favorite,” Kenzie says, pushing on her eyes. I really wish she wouldn’t do that. She’d feel so much better if she just let it all out.

I slide my arms around her, telling her, “I’m so sorry I missed it when you wore them.”

She slips out of my arms. “What did you say to Brandon?”

“That he was going about this the wrong way.”

“He shouldn’t be going about it any way,” Kenzie snaps. “He’s not taking Zoe.”

“Kenzie, he’s got rights,” I say gently.

“You think he deserves to be her father after what he did?”

“You know I don’t,” I say. “You know I want to raise her with you. You know I don’t want to lose her.”

“So how do we fight him?”

I like the sound of
we
. “For now, I think we let him visit. Once he gets a taste of really being a father, he may change his mind.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll do whatever you want me to.”

“You’ll take him to court?”

“Absolutely, if that’s what you want.”

“But?” Kenzie asks. “Honesty, Kane.”

“But you’ll lose, Kenzie.” She looks away from me. “Unless there’s some deep, dark secret, criminal history, abuse, or drug use, you don’t have a chance,” I tell her gently, taking her hand. “But I’ll do my best.”

“Thanks for telling me the truth.” Kenzie looks up at me, and I nod. “What about Tessa’s will? If she made me guardian, doesn’t that help?”

“Yes, it helps, but it’s not enough to get you full custody.”

Kenzie sinks to the bed. “And you’ll make sure you’ll be here at noon tomorrow?”

I place my hand on her knee. “I’m not leaving you tonight or tomorrow or the day after that.”

“Really?”

“I am not leaving you.” I think I see my words penetrate, at least a layer or two.

“Isn’t this supposed to be your last week at the firm?”

“It was, but I postponed when Tessa died.”

“You did that?”

“Of course.” Kenzie closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

KENZIE

Rubbing my eyes,
I look at the clock. It’s almost lunch time, almost Brandon time. I dart out of the bed and stumble down the stairs while tying my hair up on top of my head. I hear Kane talking, and Zoe giggling. He’s lying on the sofa, his knees propped up, playing with Zoe, but he has his phone to his ear. I look around. The house is totally clean. He must have stayed up all night.

“I’m doing the best I can. I can close out my accounts next week,” he says and tickles Zoe, who giggles. “I don’t think you’re hearing me. My girlfriend’s sister died, and we’re taking care of her infant daughter, so I’m not concerned about the jury selection for. . . .” His eyes catch mine. “I’ll be in next week.”

I walk over and take Zoe, giving her a little hug. “Did you sleep at all? The house is spotless. You didn’t need to do that.”

“Dimples and I got up early,” he says, tickling the baby’s tummy. “I wanted you to sleep. Feeling any better?”

I nod that I do, but we both know I’m lying. “Brandon will be here any minute.”

“I know, so I left Zoe’s diaper nice and heavy,” Kane says, causing me to laugh. I see his eyes light up. Guess my laugh still does it for him. “And I just gave her a bottle, so I’m hoping she spits up all over him.”

I tickle Zoe’s belly, making her giggle. “Let’s stir things up in there to make sure.”

The doorbell rings, and Kane gets up to answer. He glances back at me before opening up the door and letting Brandon in. Brandon walks straight for me and Zoe, his arms extended. I don’t want to hand Zoe to him. Brandon just stands in front of me like the selfish, cocky bastard he is—like he’s entitled to be here, entitled to any time with Zoe.

Kane steps to my side. “Why don’t you take her in the backyard? She likes to swing,” he tells Brandon, and I can’t help but smile. Kane is an evil genius. Brandon takes Zoe and walks out the back door. “How about something to eat?” Kane asks.

In the kitchen, I stand at the back window, watching Brandon and Zoe. It’s not that I think he’ll abduct her, but I’m just not ready to be far away from Zoe, from my last link to Tessa. Kane comes up behind me, holding a plate under my nose. “Leftovers.”

“Thanks,” I say. “I heard you arguing with your office earlier.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Kane says. “But maybe we can take Zoe for a ride later. I need to pick up some things.” He pulls at his shirt and pants, still dressed from the funeral.

“I’m not sure I want to go to that house again.”

“The house sold last week,” Kane reminds me.

“Oh, that’s right. Where are you staying?”

“Hotel,” Kane says, shrugging. “It was that or stay with Deacon or Mom and James.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I really messed up things for you,” I say guiltily.

“Well, maybe you can make it right,” Kane says, taking my hand. I don’t hold his back, though. I just don’t have the energy to get into it all, but apparently he does. “Lily was hysterical when she called me that day. I should’ve called you and given you a heads up, and I know it hurt you to see me holding her, but. . . .”

“And hearing you say you love her.”

His royal blue eyes narrow at me. He’s never looked as pissed as he does right now. “Look at me, Kenzie. Look me in the eye and tell me, in your heart, that you think I’m in love with Lily and not you.”

“I think. . . .” I pause. “I think. . . .” I try again. “I needed you, too, Kane. And, once again, you went running to her.”

“You needed me,” Kane whispers, cupping my face. “Because Tessa was in hospice, and you were about to be a mother, and your business is moving, and you were moving, and I went to Lily when she needed me, but you needed me more.”

“Yes.”

Kane wipes a strand of hair out of my face. “But you get up every day and smile and plow through life, and I forgot that doesn’t mean you aren’t scared shitless. I forgot that doesn’t mean you don’t need me. You’re so damn strong all the time, Kenzie.”

“I was trying not to let all my shit touch you. I didn’t want to overload you too much.”

“Because you thought I’d leave?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t you? This is a complete mess.”

“A beautiful mess,” Kane says. “I’ve had seemingly perfect. And I prefer my horrible sense of direction, bad taste in football teams, ass-wiggling, shoe-obsessed lingerie designer who rides horses like a wild child and blushes when she’s naked.”

“I’m sorry, Kane,” I say. “I guess I was expecting you to leave me at some point, and I panicked.”

“I love you, Kenzie, and I’m sorry I gave you the slightest reason to doubt that.” He leans down, his eyes locked on mine.

“Shit!” Brandon yells, coming in the back door, holding Zoe out away from his puke-covered body.

I purse my lips together, trying not to bust out laughing. Kane nudges me playfully in the side and takes Zoe from Brandon. “How was Daddy time?” I ask.

Brandon looks up from his shirt. “Since Daddy got puked on, think I’ll come back tonight and take my daughter out to dinner.”

“We never agreed to Zoe leaving the house with you,” I snap.

Kane finishes wiping up Zoe’s face, asking, “Do you have a car seat?”

“Well, I’ll buy one.”

“Do you know what kind?” Kane asks.

“I suppose you do,” Brandon barks.

“Yeah, I do.” Kane pulls me to his side and holds Zoe on the other hip. “You can come here for dinner, feed Zoe, bathe her, get her to sleep.”

“Or I can just take her right now,” Brandon says.

“No!” I cry, taking Zoe into my arms. “You can’t take her, Brandon.”

“He must’ve told you by now that you aren’t going to get custody. You’re only dragging this out. She’s my daughter.”

“Why do you even want her?” I yell, going all in. “You wanted to kill her.”

Brandon lunges at me. “You bitch!” Kane pushes me and Zoe behind him, throwing his arm across Brandon’s neck, forcing him back and pinning him against the wall. “I just wanted to save Tessa,” Brandon says with tears rolling down his face. “I wanted to save her. I love her.” Kane releases him, and Brandon sinks down into a chair. “I thought once I left, she’d understand how serious her illness was. I thought she’d agree to treatment. We could’ve had other children, but there was only one Tessa.”

“Then why’d you leave her?”

His chest starts to heave, and I take a small step forward. “I never intended to divorce her. I thought I’d leave, and she’d see things my way, but instead she filed for divorce. Once I realized she wasn’t going to change her mind, I begged her for forgiveness. I begged her to let me come back, but she wouldn’t let me. She had you.” He looks up into my eyes. “You took my place.”

“I didn’t. . . .”

“You took her to the doctor. You went to Lamaze. You were in the delivery room. You helped her name my daughter. And you helped her
die
,” he bites out. Kane and I exchange a glance. I know what Brandon is saying is true. I’d filled his shoes. “I should have been there for all that. I wanted to be, but Tessa wouldn’t speak to me. The only reason she didn’t sign the divorce papers was because of the insurance. She didn’t love me anymore.”

I hand Zoe to Kane and kneel down in front of him. “Yes, she did, or she wouldn’t have let you near Zoe.”

“That was the best day of my life,” Brandon says. “She called me out of the blue. I remember because it was the day you did that television show with that asshole morning news guy.”

Kane says, “That’s my stepbrother.”

“Wait? That’s the day she called you?” I look up at Kane. “That’s the day we met.”

“Yeah, she called me around lunch time and asked if I’d like to see Zoe.”

I stare out the window, wondering what about that day would have prompted Tessa to call Brandon. Sales were up despite the interview. I’d met Kane. Things were good. Zoe lets out a little squeal, and everyone looks up at her happily gnawing on Kane’s chin. He just shrugs.

“She looks happy with you both,” Brandon says quietly. “That hurts.”

“Can you tell me why you want her?” I ask.

“Because it was Tessa’s wish and because I’d do anything, give anything, to make her happy, even if it’s too late. But mostly because I love her. I want a chance to do better than I did for Tessa.”

“Come by tonight. Kane and I will go out, and you can go through her nightly routine with her,
here
.”

*

KANE

I drive like
a bat out of hell to get to my hotel quickly, knowing Kenzie doesn’t want to be gone very long. She’s already checked her phone fifteen times since we left. Kenzie is one tough nut to crack. I felt myself getting choked up listening to Brandon’s pain, how he felt he had to choose between his wife and his child. No way anyone comes out a winner in that situation.