Page 86 of Target Acquired
Buzz gave them a thumbs-up. Butler sighed.
“I’m going to help her in the storage room a bit, then we can figure out the rest of the day.” He followed Kenzie into the storage area and smiled. “It’s almost empty. What will you do with the space?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’m thinking about moving my workout room up here and turning the basement into a little Airbnb or something now that I have the separate entrance you guys put in. It’s already got the bathroom down there and space for a small kitchenette.” She shrugged. “Just a thought.”
“That’s a great idea.”
She walked to the trunk and ran a hand over it. “This was Grandma Betsy’s. When we moved her out, she brought me in here and said she’d put some stuff inside that I might find interesting. I just haven’t had a chance—or made the time, really—to go through it.”
“You want to do that while I tackle this box?” He set the nearest one on the card table.
“Sure.”
She flipped the latch on the trunk and lifted the lid.
KENZIE LOOKED into the trunk and drew in a soft breath.
“What is it?” Cole asked.
“Her wedding dress. It’s in plastic and perfectly preserved.” She ran her fingers over the pearl-covered front.
He walked over to look down. “How awesome. Now you don’t have to go buy one.”
She shot him a look. “Um, I wasn’t looking for one.”
His cheeks went red and he huffed a laugh. “I didn’t mean now. One day, though. Don’t you want to get married?”
She wasn’t going there. “Maybe. I don’t know. When I was a teen, I told my mother I was never getting married for a lot of reasons. Not much has changed since then.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
She tapped his chin to close his mouth. “Stop. Why do you look so stunned?” When he didn’t answer, she frowned. “Why? Do you want to get married?”
“Yep. Sure do.”
“What happened to you’re not looking for romance?”
“I still have dreams like anyone else. I just . . . have to get past some stuff. Doesn’t stop me from enjoying an evening out with someone.”
She paused. “Tracy really did a number on you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah.” The flush in his cheeks faded and a sadness she’d never seen before flashed across his face. “I hate to admit it, but she did. I know not everyone is like her, but it’s hard letting your guard down after something like that.” He shrugged. “I just have to figure out how to trust again. I think the right person will help me overcome that.” He smiled. “But yeah, I’d like to get married, have a family. Just don’t know if or when that will happen. Doesn’t stop me from wanting it, though.”
“With the right person.”
“Of course.” The look in his eyes sent her heart thudding, and that was the last thing she needed. Right?
But she had to admit the thought of Cole married to someone other than her made her stomach hurt. She cleared her throat. “Well, I wish you luck in the hunt for the right person.” She went back to the trunk and spotted an old book. “Speaking of a hunt. Look what I found. It’s a journal. Maybe my grandmother’s?” She let it fall open carefully, noting the pages had yellowed and become brittle with time. But they were perfect and still readable. “Wow. I can’t wait to read this.”
Her work phone pinged. Cole’s did too. He grabbed it. “We’ve got a call.” He raised a brow. “At the abandoned mental hospital.”
She set the book on the card table for later. “Let’s grab the gear. I’m ready.”
With Cowboy at the wheel of Dolly, they left her home and headed toward the hospital. Butler groaned. “I hate places like this.”
Kenzie shook her head and bit her tongue.
“Okay, folks,” Cole said, “looks like drug dealers have moved into the hospital and there are reports of shots fired. Officers are en route, we’re simply backup in case of trouble.”