Page 26 of Miss Understanding

Fuck. Kendall’s uncertain gaze met mine.

“I’m sure she has other things she’d rather do,” I offered.

Allison laughed. “Oh, yeah, it’s a real happening nightlife in Tazewell on a Sunday evening. Or you know what? We could go bowling tomorrow after dinner. Chelsea has been bugging me to go for weeks, and she’d love to go with her uncle Liam.”

Double fuck.

“I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable,” Kendall started to say, but my sister was never used to hearing the word no.

“Nope. You won’t. Matter of fact, you can help me decide what to make tomorrow night for dinner. I’m not a great cook.”

“I thought we could order pizza,” I interrupted, not wanting my assistant to go to any more trouble than she already had when it came to preparing meals.

Both women frowned. “I was hoping for something better. Maybe Mexican food,” Allison suggested.

Kendall’s beautiful face lit up. “I could make enchiladas if you want to get all the fixings?”

The word enchilada made my sister practically drool. “Oh my God. Are you sure? I mean I love enchiladas, and since there isn’t a decent Mexican food place for miles, it would be amazing.”

“Yeah? Great. I’ll go by the store tomorrow and pick up the ingredients.”

Jesus. She was becoming a frequent shopper at the Food Lion in town. “Isn’t it supposed to snow?”

My sister dismissed it. “Only a couple of inches. Enough to prove you haven’t become a completely useless driver by living in LA. I’ll be sure to pick up the sides. Tequila goes at the top of the list.”

They were fast at work on items for tomorrow night’s dinner while I stewed about the intersection of professional and personal.

By the time my sister left, I swear she and my assistant were BFFs. The front door was barely closed before I started pouring a glass of bourbon. All hope of my working longer had gone out the window.

“I don’t have to go tomorrow,” Kendall said from behind me.

“It’s fine.” I took a long, burning swallow.

“I don’t think it is. You seem upset.”

“If you don’t show up, my sister will make my night hell.”

“Way to make me feel welcome.”

My annoyance got the best of me, and I turned to face her. “It’s not supposed to make you feel welcome. You’re here to work. Nothing else.”

The hurt was obvious in her expression.

“Maybe I should’ve revised my answer and been truthful to your sister when she asked if you were a dick to work for. Don’t worry. I won’t go tomorrow night. What time did you need me to start tomorrow?”

We stood there staring at each other. “Eight o’clock.”

“Fine. Good night.” She turned on her heel and walked away.

Not even the taste of my whiskey could erase my self-loathing.

* * *

I wasn’t a man who drank to excess. Having an alcoholic father had always made me cautious of becoming too dependent on the stuff. Thus the three glasses of whiskey I’d downed the night before had me nursing a hangover this morning. It was freezing in the house. Probably time to start a fire in the woodstove. Or to have remembered to put on the heat in the bedroom when I’d gone to bed last night.

I was a jackass who owed Kendall an apology. Frankly, if she had much-needed coffee ready for me this morning, I’d pledge my undying devotion.

After a hot shower, I dressed in jeans and a sweater. Looking out the window, I saw there was a good inch of snow already covering the surfaces. It reminded me of my childhood when we’d pray for a snow day so we could go sledding down the neighborhood hill instead of school. A movement shifted my gaze to the corner of the back yard. I saw a figure in olive green on the ground.