Inseparable

He smiled at her. “Why do you ask?”

“Everyone is staring at us.”

He glanced around the room and returned his gaze to hers. “They always stare at us when we dance together.”

“Yes, but this time it’s different.”

He shrugged. “You know how my great-grandmother is. She heard you’re moving in with me and has probably gotten everyone thinking that there’s more than friendship between us.”

“But why would she say something like that? Everyone knows we’re nothing more than friends,” Kenna said.

“Yes, but I’m sure she reminded them that in the beginning Syneda and Clayton had been friends, too.”

“Yes, but things between us are different. Surely they know that.”

He smiled. “They do. Don’t worry about it. They’re just trying to mollify the old gal.”

Kenna sighed softly and rested her face on Reese’s chest again. She couldn’t understand why his great-grandmother would say such a thing when everyone knew the kind of women Reese was usually attracted to—tall and slender, which was something she definitely was not.

The song ended much too soon, but instead of leading her off the dance floor, Reese tilted her chin upward to meet his gaze. His brown bedroom eyes scanned her face with concern. “Hey, you’re okay?” he asked in a voice that was so low it was barely audible. It was lower than she’d ever heard before.

She nodded and smiled. “Yes, I’m fine. What about you? Are you beginning to think my moving in with you isn’t such a good idea after all?”

“No, I still think it’s a good idea. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t let you stay with me? And don’t worry about my great-grandmother. We know the real deal regardless of what others believe is going on between us, right?”

She nodded, keeping the smile plastered on her face. Yes, he was right. They knew the real deal. He would never look at her the way he looked at other women. They would never be anything more than best buddies.

“Right,” she said, smiling. “We know the real deal even if they don’t.”

He returned her smile. “True.”

She drew in a deep breath as he led her off the dance floor, and she wondered how she was going to remain level-headed living under Reese’s roof for thirty days.

Chapter 2

A month later…

Reese leaned in the doorway with a cup of coffee in his hand and looked behind Kenna to the moving truck parked in front of his ranch house. It was a truck he knew was loaded down with heaven knows what.

He had offered to fly to Austin and help her make the drive to Houston, but that independent streak in Kenna—which annoyed the hell out of him at times—had refused his help. She claimed she needed to do things herself, since it was her way of turning another page in her life. A part of him understood that, mostly because he understood her.

“So how was the drive?” he asked, offering her the cup of coffee in his hand. Like him, she needed the caffeine, especially during the early morning hours, and it was early. At four in the morning most of Houston was still asleep, including the men who worked his ranch. Kenna preferred driving at night, although Reese had been concerned about her safety.

She took a sip, closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. She opened her eyes and met his gaze with sparkling eyes. “I hope you never lose your knack for making coffee. Starbucks has nothing on you, Reese Madaris.”

“Glad you think so,” he said, chuckling, taking the cup back from her and taking a sip himself. “There’s a pot inside, waiting for you.”

She smiled and he couldn’t help but chuckle again. Kenna was easy to please. Before walking inside she glanced over her shoulder. “Do you want me to move the truck and park it somewhere else instead of right in front of your door?”

“It’s fine right there. My men and I will unload it after breakfast,” he said, pulling her into the foyer and closing the door behind them.

She turned to face him. “Aren’t you going to work today?”

“No, I took the day off to help you get settled.” He could tell from her expression she didn’t like that. It was that independent streak again.

“You didn’t have to do that, Reese,” she said, frowning. “Remember our agreement? I don’t want to disrupt your life or your lifestyle by moving in.”

“You’re not. Now go into the kitchen and pour yourself some coffee. You’re usually in a bad mood until you’ve had your first cup.”

“I’m not in a bad mood.”

He grinned. “Yes, you are.”

Her mouth curved in a smile. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”

“As usual. And while you’re getting your caffeine fix, I’ll be in my office checking my emails. After that I’ll join you in the kitchen.” He turned and walked down the hallway, headed toward his office. Kenna’s gaze followed him as he walked away.

The foyer opened up to a spacious living room that had a spiral staircase leading to a second floor where most of the bedrooms were located. As Kenna made her way through the dining room and into the kitchen to get the cup of coffee she so desperately needed, she took in the decor.

She loved Reese’s home and remembered when he had purchased the land for it. They had talked about it endlessly before he finally made up his mind to build his house. He had shown her the floor plans for the design of the house that his cousin Slade—the architect in the family—had drawn up. She had fallen in love with it immediately. It was a sprawling two-story ranch-style house surrounded by more than seventy-something acres of land. Reese was down-to-earth and enjoyed being in the great outdoors. He could never be happy living in a condo in Houston.

Kenna had been the one to pick out the furniture for every room. It was at a time when Reese had been out of the country working for Remington Oil. When he’d returned to the States, it was to find the house completely furnished and ready for him to move in.

In the kitchen were sleek granite countertops and sparkling stainless-steel appliances. It was a huge, spacious kitchen compared to the one she had in Austin. As she reached for the coffeepot, she couldn’t help but think about how happy she’d been to see Reese when he’d opened the door. The moment he smiled, all the problems she had encountered on the road from Austin had faded away.

She’d gotten so sleepy while driving to Houston that she decided to check into a motel to get a couple of hours sleep. Although Reese had volunteered to help her drive from Austin, she felt she needed the time alone to think. She wanted to be sure the decisions she had made had been the right ones.

She would be the first to admit she was nervous about her new job. She had gone to work for the Austin Police Department right out of college, and for the past seven years the place had practically become her home. The people she worked with had become her family and she had enjoyed being a part of that. Now she would have to start over, meet new people, make new friends, and get used to her new environment.

She knew accepting the job in Houston had been a smart move, especially since she’d be earning almost double the salary she made in Austin. The Houston Police Department hadn’t just considered her value as a sketch artist, but they had taken into account her ability to gather details others might overlook. With all the new technology, she figured it was just a matter of time before her job would be done by a computer. But there were some things computers just couldn’t do, like factoring in things that required more than just sketching a suspect’s face. Kenna was adept at obtaining seemingly inconsequential details from witnesses and victims—clues to solving crimes that might be missed. She had a way with people. And she had the ability to understand the human psyche in subtle ways.

She was good at what she did and very thorough. With Kenna, the typical three-hour interview was more than just a way to make a composite sketch. She had the ability to draw out subconscious details from witnesses that were important to the investigation. She had received several commendations from the police department for helping to crack a few cases. That was one of the reasons the Houston Police Department had wanted to hire her, making an offer any sane person couldn’t refuse.

She didn’t.

That had been a few months ago. She had come to town and found the perfect place to live. Her condo should have been ready by now, but bad weather had delayed completion of construction on the building.

Temporarily moving in with Reese had been his suggestion. And it had been a no-brainer, since she’d crashed at his place whenever she came to town anyway. She considered him family, especially after her grandmother—who’d raised her after her parents were killed in a car accident—died while Kenna was still in college. After that, the Madaris family adopted her as one of their own.

She leaned against Reese’s kitchen counter as she took another sip of coffee. The other reason for her move from Austin was to be near Reese. Although he visited her fairly regularly in Austin, the need to be closer to him had been a motivating factor in accepting the job.

It was a decision she was already beginning to regret.

She knew how she felt about him. But he didn’t have a clue, and she intended to keep things that way. Lately, she had begun seeing him through different eyes. And she knew why. This was the first time in eleven years that neither of them was involved with someone else. For her, that meant she had too much idle time on her hands and no man to keep her occupied. With Reese, she was nothing more than a dear friend, someone he could trust completely. Someone he could share anything with….except his heart.

She took another sip of coffee trying to recall just when she’d realized she was attracted to him. She’d been attracted to him since college, but her feelings had escalated when they’d taken a trip to Las Vegas together. It had been his present to her on her twenty-fifth birthday. Had it been almost four years?

She shook her head remembering that weekend. It was a couple months after she’d broken up with Lamont. Although she’d never told him, her relationship with Lamont ended after he’d questioned her friendship with Reese one too many times. She had warned him that if he brought it up again that would be the end of things between them. He hadn’t taken her seriously, and in the end she’d shown him she meant business.

Reese figured she needed cheering up after her breakup, and to this day she’d never told him about Lamont’s accusations. But Lamont wasn’t the only man who had thought that something more than just friendship was going on between her and Reese.

“You’re tired. I can tell.”

She glanced up as Reese entered the kitchen. A smile touched her lips. “I am tired.”

He angled his head and looked at her. “I’m going to be real upset if I find out you didn’t take my advice and check into a motel for the night when you hit the halfway point.”

She rolled her eyes. “It was only a two-and-a-half-hour drive. It was nice with no traffic. However, I did get sleepy and pulled into a motel for a few hours,” she admitted.

“I’m glad. So, do you want to go to bed before or after breakfast?”

She smiled, knowing he hadn’t meant it the way it sounded. But she could hope. “It’s too early for breakfast, and I could use a couple of hours’ sleep.”

“Go on up. Your room is ready.”

“Thanks.” She took another sip of coffee, thinking the room he was referring to was just that—her room. And it had her signature all over it. She had decorated it to her liking and it was the one she always slept in whenever she came to visit. It was right across the hall from his.

She placed the cup in the sink. “I’ll be up before the ranch hands are ready for breakfast.”

“You don’t have to. We can handle things without you. Your luggage comes in the house and everything else gets stored in the barn, right?”

“Right.”

She didn’t have to tell him that most of the stuff in the truck was what she didn’t trust the moving company to take care of. They were keepsakes—things that had sentimental value and had once belonged to her grandmother but were now hers.

“Thanks for letting me stay here, Reese.”

He glanced over at her as he poured another cup of coffee for himself. She felt his gaze and it stimulated something inside her. “You don’t have to thank me, Kenna. What’s mine is yours.”

Something stirred deep within her again and she drew in a sharp breath before nodding her head. She turned to leave the kitchen and had almost made it to the dining room when Reese called out to her.

“Kenna?”

She stopped and turned around with a practiced smile. “Yes?”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

Something in Kenna’s chest tightened and a part of her wanted to race across the room, throw herself into his arms and declare that she was glad to be anywhere he was—always. Instead she said. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”

Before she could say something else, something she would later regret, she quickly walked in the direction of her room.

Reese slid his hands down his face as he watched her leave. They were both tired, and maybe that was the reason he had picked up on the tension between them. He knew there was something going on. He could tell by the firm set of her lips and her body language.

He took a sip of his coffee and tried replaying everything that had happened since she’d arrived. For some reason he needed to clear his mind of a few things and make heads or tails of the situation. She had arrived at his door a little past four o’clock in the morning. He hadn’t been able to sleep knowing she was on the road at night and driving a rented U-Haul truck alone, so he was relieved when he’d heard the sound of the truck pulling into the yard.

Even though it took less than three hours to drive from Austin to Houston for most people, he knew Kenna wasn’t like most people when it came to driving at night. When she was tired and sleepy, she couldn’t stay awake. She had promised him that she’d get plenty of rest before making the trip, but he knew she hadn’t done that. When he had talked to her before she’d left Austin, several friends were still at her place seeing her off.

The original plan was for her to leave Austin around six o’clock in the evening. That way she would have arrived by nine o’clock that night. But instead she hadn’t left Austin until well past midnight, which had annoyed the hell out of him. He had been ready to bite her head off when he’d opened the door at four in the morning. However one look at her and he had been so glad to see that she had arrived safe and sound that he had pushed his anger aside. But now he was getting mad again.

Taking another sip of his coffee, he moved away from the counter to glance out the window. The sun was just starting to rise, which meant that the ranch hands would be up and stirring soon. Although he worked full-time for Madaris Explorations, he still maintained a working cattle ranch. His spread wasn’t as big as his uncle Jake’s or his brother Chancellor’s by any means, but a part of him would always be a rancher.

His foreman, Joe Seaborne, had been with him since he’d built the ranch five years ago. Before that Joe had worked for his uncle Jake, and he had come highly recommended. Joe was a good man and kept things running smoothly. His uncle Jake was using Reese and Chancellor’s land to expand the breeding program for his Red Brangus cattle.

He turned away from the window when he heard the key being inserted in the lock and wasn’t surprised when Joe walked in smiling.

“I saw that big truck out front. I guess that means Kenna has arrived.”

Reese shook his head, grinning. Of course most of his men knew Kenna and knew what a fantastic cook she was. Whenever she came to visit, she’d spoil them by preparing whatever they liked to eat. Even the ranch cook, Tanker Jones, enjoyed eating Kenna’s food every once in a while.

“Yes, Kenna is here, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be at anybody’s beck and call.”

Reese knew it was hard for the big bear of a man to look sheepish, but he managed to do just that. “Of course not, Reese, but I’m sure one Sunday dinner won’t hurt, will it?”

“You’ll have to ask her.” And there was no doubt that Joe would ask, like there was no doubt Kenna would prepare more than one Sunday dinner for his men. “Just remember she starts her job with the HPD in a couple of weeks. Until then she has to get settled in here.”

Joe smiled. “I understand. And speaking of new jobs, that guy we hired starts today. He’s already here.”

Reese nodded. “I’ll meet with him later. You did check him out before bringing him on, right?”

“Yes. He came highly recommended by his last employer.”

“Good. We don’t want a repeat of the last guy we hired.”

Last year a new hire ended up skipping out with Joe’s favorite saddle. Luckily they were able to catch him when the police stopped the culprit as he was speeding out of town.

Reese decided now was as good a time as any to meet with his new hire. He had a feeling Kenna would sleep longer than she intended, which was fine with him. Her schedule had been hectic the last couple of weeks as she packed up and moved from Austin to start a new life in Houston. As far as he was concerned she needed the rest, and he was going to make sure she got it.

Chapter 3

Kenna ran her fingers through her short curls once more before sliding her feet into her sandals to go downstairs. She had only meant to sleep a few hours, but a quick glance at the clock showed it was almost noon. The luggage Reese had put in her bedroom was proof that he and his men had unloaded the truck without her help.

Hearing voices outside her bedroom window, she walked over to the sill and saw Reese talking to a few of his men on the ground below. She recognized all of them except one, so she figured he must be the new guy Reese had mentioned he was hiring. He was a pretty nice looking man. But the woman in her couldn’t help but appreciate Reese, especially in the looks departments. He was eye candy of the most luscious kind, and he epitomized what tall, dark and handsome truly meant. As far as she was concerned, no other man looked as good in a pair of jeans as Reese Madaris. But then he cleaned up rather nicely too, she thought, remembering how good he’d looked at Blade’s wedding last month.

She and Reese usually talked two or three times a week. It wasn’t unusual for him to tell her what was happening around the ranch. Sometimes he’d ask her opinion about certain things and she would do likewise. Whenever there was a problem she couldn’t resolve—personal or professional—he was the first person she called. And no matter what he was doing, no matter whether it was day or night, he would make time for her.

When she saw Reese head inside the house, leaving the group of men behind, she closed the curtain and proceeded to go downstairs. But before she reached the doorway, the phone rang.

Kenna and Reese had come to an understanding years ago that their friendship gave them the right to answer the phone at each other’s place. If the caller took issue with it, then that was their problem.

She picked up the phone in her room. “Tall Oaks Ranch.”

There was a pause.

“Yes, I’d like to speak to Reese,” said a woman’s voice.

Kenna immediately knew it was Alyson Richards, Reese’s ex-girlfriend, the one he’d dated for almost a year. Everyone had assumed that Alyson might become Mrs. Reese Madaris. But a few months ago, Reese had called and surprised Kenna when he casually mentioned that he and Alyson were no longer seeing each other. Kenna had every reason to believe it had been Reese’s decision and not Alyson’s. He hadn’t given her an explanation for the breakup, and she hadn’t asked for one.

“No problem. Hold on a minute.”

“Wait! This is Kenna, right?” the caller asked.

Kenna’s mouth curved into a smile that all but said, like you didn’t know. Instead, she said, “Yes, this is Kenna.”

“Hi, Kenna, this is Alyson. Reese told me you were moving to Houston. How nice.”

“Yes, it is nice.”

“And he mentioned you were moving into a town house.”

Kenna really didn’t want to get involved in a long conversation, since Alyson had never liked her and they both knew it. “It’s not finished yet.”

“Oh.”

A smile touched Kenna’s lips. She could imagine the wheels turning in Alyson’s head. It wouldn’t take her long to figure out that she was staying with Reese until her condo was finished. “Hold on, Alyson. I’ll get Reese for you.”

“Fine.”

Kenna put the phone down and went to the edge of the staircase. “Reese, you have a call. It’s Alyson.”

He appeared at the foot of the stairs and stared up at her and smiled. She drew in a deep breath at the way his lips curved and how his dimples seamlessly appeared. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was smiling at her or if he was smiling because Alyson was calling. Of course it’s because of Alyson and not you, a mocking voice said in her head. Get real, LaKenna James. Reese has no reason to smile at you that way.

“Okay. I’ll grab it down here. Did you get some rest?” he asked.

“Yes, but you should have woken me up, Reese.”

“No, you needed to sleep. You missed breakfast, but come join me for lunch.”

“Okay.” She went back to her bedroom, and when she heard two voices on the line she hung up the phone.

Alyson Richards.

Kenna couldn’t understand why Alyson didn’t like her when she had been more than friendly to her. Alyson, who worked as an executive administrator at a local hospital, was beautiful and had everything going for her—including being the daughter of a Texas senator. The few times Kenna had seen Reese and Alyson together she’d thought they looked good together, and if they married, they would have beautiful babies. The very thought hurt, but she’d been honest about it anyway.

“If I had a man in my life I wouldn’t have time for such thoughts,” Kenna muttered as she made her way down the stairs. When she walked into the kitchen Reese glanced over at her and then said to Alyson over the phone. “Here’s Kenna, why don’t you ask her?”

She lifted a brow. Reese shrugged his massive shoulders and handed her the phone. “Alyson wants to ask you something.”

Kenna continued to hold his gaze. “Yes, Alyson?” she said evenly.

“Kenna, now that you’re moving to Houston you probably don’t know a lot of people and I’ve come up with this wonderful idea,” she said in a cheerful tone.

Was this the same woman she’d spoken to earlier? The one who’d acted cool and reserved? “And what’s that, Alyson?”

“That Reese should give you a welcome-to-town party this weekend.”

Kenna shook her head. “He doesn’t have to do that.”

“I think he should, since you’re his best friend. And I’ve volunteered to help and host it at my place. It’s more than big enough, and since it’s in town it will be convenient to everyone. Reese said it’s okay with him if it’s okay with you. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

A part of Kenna felt she should appreciate the gesture, but she had an uneasy feeling about Alyson. Drawing in a deep breath she turned her gaze away from Reese to look out the window.

She wasn’t sure why the two had split. But from the sound of things, Alyson intended to use this party as a way to get back together with Reese. There was nothing wrong with Alyson trying to patch things up, even if it was with Reese—the man Kenna loved. And because she loved him, she wasn’t about to stand in the way of someone who evidently was trying real hard to get a ring on her finger. Especially since it was a ring that Kenna would never wear.

She turned around to see Reese still leaning against the counter, watching her. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to read her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. Their eyes held for a moment before she lowered her gaze. “A party sounds like fun, but I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble.”