Sweet Destiny

Kenyon held out his hand. “Give me your keys and I’ll get it.”

“It’s upstairs.”

He motioned with his head. “Let’s go, Doc.”

Mia felt the heat from Kenyon’s gaze on her back as she walked out of the kitchen. Although the staircase was wide enough to walk two abreast, he decided to follow several steps behind and was no doubt staring at her rear end.

“There should be a key fob under the driver’s seat. The set I’m going to give you has a special key that will open the compartment.”

Kenyon smiled, staring intently at the way the fabric hugged Mia’s hips and concluding she wasn’t as skinny as she was slender. There was no way anyone would ever mistake her for a boy because her hips were much too curvy.

“Why didn’t you carry your bag onboard?”

“I would have if I’d taken a private jet. A bag filled with scalpels, syringes and narcotics would definitely raise a red flag. What I didn’t want to do was spend my New Year’s locked up or having my medical supplies confiscated.” She peered over her shoulder once they reached the second floor. “Do you ever travel with your firearm?”

“Not as a sheriff. But I did when I was federal flight deck officer.”

Mia stopped suddenly and Kenyon bumped into her. She would’ve fallen if not for his quick reflexes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stopped like that.” The apology was breathless, as if she’d run a long, grueling race. It was hard for her to breathe when Kenyon’s arms were around her.

Kenyon wanted to tell Mia he wasn’t sorry, because it gave him an excuse to hold her, the curves of her body fitting perfectly against his as if they were interlocking puzzle pieces. “Are you all right?”

No, I’m not all right, Mia thought. Her heart was pounding a runaway rhythm, her legs were shaking slightly and her stomach muscles were tightening with each breath. She took indescribable delight in the press of his hard body against hers and the scent of his masculine cologne wafting in her nostrils.

“I’m okay.”

Kenyon released his hold when it was the last thing he wanted to do. “Are you certain?”

If she’d been her mother, Tish Eaton would’ve feigned feeling faint if only to remain in Kenyon’s arms a bit longer. Nodding and smiling, Mia said, “Quite certain. I was a little shocked, because I hadn’t realized you are a pilot.”

“I was a pilot,” he said, correcting her.

“Just because you’re a sheriff that doesn’t mean you don’t know how to fly.”

“I’m a licensed pilot who no longer flies for a living.”

“I see.”

Reaching for her hand, Kenyon continued up the staircase. “Ask me, Mia.”

She gave him a sidelong glance. “Ask you what?”

“Why I gave it up to police a town with less than six hundred people.”

“Why did you?”

A beat passed. “I missed my home and my family.”

“But didn’t you get time off?”

“Not enough. Now I work around the clock for four straight days, then I’m off for three. I can sleep in my own bed, make repairs to my house in my spare time and I can hang out with family and friends on my downtime.”

“So, flying to different cities and countries isn’t as glamorous as the travel brochures?”

“Not when you’re cooped up in a hotel room trying to recover from jet lag or get enough sleep to remain alert. When I felt as if I couldn’t sleep in another strange bed or eat another precooked restaurant meal, I decided it was time to get out.” Kenyon followed Mia into the bedroom. “It was years before Selena would allow me or her brothers to come up here.”

“Did she have a sign on the door that read No Boys Allowed?”

He nodded, smiling. “How did you know?”

“My friends had brothers who used every trick in the book to get into their bedrooms.”

“What about your brother?”

Mia eased her hand from Kenyon’s loose grip. “I don’t have a brother.”

“Sister?”

She shook her head. “I’m an only child.”

“So you’re a spoiled brat.” Kenyon had spoken his thoughts aloud.

Mia gave him a withering look. If she had been Medusa he would’ve turned to stone on the spot. “So, that’s where the questions and snide remarks are coming from. It’s because you believe I’m a snob.”

“Unless you show me differently, then yes.”

“Why? What have I said or done to make you say something so asinine?”

“When you came here for Selena’s wedding you walked around with your nose in the air. At first I thought you were probably not used to the smell of hay, but when you didn’t bother to interact with any of my relatives I knew then you were looking down on us. And, it didn’t help that you kept looking at your watch.”

Kenyon’s assessment of her left Mia speechless. He’d judged her without knowing anything about her. “You are so wrong,” she whispered.

“Am I, Mia?”

Heat that began in her chest, washed over her face, bringing with it a light sheen of moisture. She wanted to smack the smirk off Kenyon’s face instead of attempting to explain who Mia Eaton was, then decided it wasn’t worth the time disclosing why she’d been so distant that night.

She waved her hand. “Forget it. Let me get you the key.”

Reaching out, Kenyon’s fingers circled her upper arm, pulling her close. “No. I’m not going to forget it. If I’m wrong, then I want to know why.”

Tilting her chin, Mia felt the moist warmth of his breath over her lips. Their mouths were close enough where each could swallow the other’s breath. Her gaze moved slowly over sharply defined features that made for an arresting face. However, it was his steely gray eyes that pulled her in, holding her captive. He looked like a large black cat with hypnotic, luminous orbs that had the power to penetrate her thoughts and see how much his presence unnerved her. She didn’t want to find herself drawn to a man who had a woman in his life. It unknowingly had happened to her once, and Mia wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

“Selena is waiting for us.”

“Stop stalling, Mia.”

She jerked her arm away. “Right now I’m not Mia, but Dr. Eaton. If you want to talk, then we can do that later.”

Kenyon stared at her from under lowered lids. She was right. They could talk later because it wasn’t as if they were going anywhere—at least not until it stopped snowing and the roads were plowed. He nodded, acquiescing.