“She’s probably decided she wants a Cinderella coach and six white horses to carry Serena down the aisle.” Bonnie shook her head in disapproval. “You’ve only eaten half your soup.”
“I’m not very hungry, anyway. You two go ahead and finish your dinners. I’ll see you later.”
She wasn’t particularly displeased that Eva had summoned her, she thought as she left the apartment and headed up the stairs. For once, the woman’s timing had been just right.
* * *
Bonnie propped her elbows on the table and laced her fingers together, studying Dan across the table. “You really seem to enjoy playing with fire.”
Swallowing another spoonful of the excellent soup, he chuckled. “On occasion, perhaps.”
Especially when that fire was packaged within the enigma that made up Kinley Carmichael, he added silently.
“You’re liable to get burned, you know. Kinley doesn’t like being embarrassed.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You think I embarrassed her?”
“Well, you certainly put her at a loss for words. That doesn’t happen often with Kinley.”
“I didn’t mean to either embarrass her or render her speechless,” Dan said candidly. “I was just making an observation. And maybe teasing her a little.”
“I wasn’t criticizing. I think it’s good for her to be shaken up a little on occasion. You’re right, you know. Kinley tries too hard to stay in control. She’s done it since she was a kid, but especially since her marriage broke up. Um, you did know she was married once?”
“Yes, she told me.”
“Oh. Interesting. She doesn’t like to talk about it.”
“We didn’t get into an in-depth discussion of it or anything, but she told me she married young, that it didn’t last long and that her ex-husband decided he didn’t want to be married.”
Bonnie nodded, her expression solemn. “I wouldn’t say he broke her heart, exactly, but he hurt her.”
“I got that. Shook her confidence.”
“Yes. And she’s been determined ever since that no one will put her in that position again. It didn’t help that our brother suffered a couple of painful betrayals— one by a woman he loved, another by a man he thought was a friend. I guess you could say they both have some trust issues as a result of all those betrayals. Logan dealt with it by becoming a bit of a hermit, limiting his social interactions, such as they are, to us and a very select few others.”
“And Kinley dealt with it by staying in control. Always.”
Bonnie inclined her head in a silent confirmation.
He was a little puzzled by this conversation. “Why are you telling me this? Something tells me you don’t discuss your siblings’ personal business very often.”
“I don’t,” she agreed. “And that’s all I’m saying tonight. I just thought there were a couple things you should know if you want to get closer to Kinley. And I’ve gotten the distinct impression that you do want that.”
Did her confidences indicate her approval? “I do want to get closer to her. I mean, I know I’ve only just met her, but…well, there it is.”
“Something clicked.”
“Yeah.” He supposed that described it as well as anything. “Something clicked.”
Bonnie’s faint sigh sounded just a bit envious. He didn’t suspect for a minute that she wanted his attention for herself. He liked Bonnie a lot, but had felt no romantic chemistry with her—and he was quite certain she felt the same way about him. But maybe she was hoping to experience that click for herself with someone.
As for him—he hadn’t been looking. Hadn’t been prepared. Wasn’t sure exactly how to proceed now that it had happened to him. He only knew that he would be staying around to see where this led. And it didn’t hurt to have Kinley’s sister on his side.
Chapter Eight
Eva and her family were the last nonresidential attendees to leave the rehearsal dinner. Most of the out-of-town guests who were staying at the inn had retired early to their suites, while a few others lingered in the parlor. The catering staff efficiently cleared away all evidence of the dinner. Bonnie, Rhoda and Kinley waited to set up for breakfast; it wouldn’t take them long. Kinley hoped to be home by ten. Tomorrow would start early, and she wasn’t sure how well she was going to sleep that night, anyway. She had a sneaky suspicion she’d have some trouble clearing her mind for sleep—and exactly who she’d be thinking of as she tossed and turned in her bed.
“We should all go, too,” Serena announced after her in-laws departed. “I’m getting tired and I’ll look like a hag tomorrow if I don’t get some rest.”