Page 66 of Selling Innocence
Kenz flashed me a wide smile before gesturing at the large grass lawn. “I thought we’d have a picnic for lunch!”
“Picnic?”
Her smile fell. “I swear, the food’s good. I got up early to make it…”
“I’m sure it’s good,” I reassured her, unable to handle that beaten-puppy look she gave me. “I was just surprised.”
“So you want to eat it?”
As if I could have said no to her when she looked at me with those pleading eyes. Hell, I was pretty sure she could have gotten about anything she wanted if she just gave me that crestfallen look.
“Of course.”
It turned out that big bag wasn’t just food. It also had a blanket folded up inside. She opened the blanket and spread it out on the grass, then kneeled and started to remove the food. She placed out multiple dishes, and it made me wonder just how early she’d woken to get it all done.
I’d left in order to work out, so I hadn’t seen any of it. By the time I’d gotten back, about thirty minutes before we’d needed to leave, she was already dressed, ready and with this bag.
And a smile that I now understood. How could she be this sweet? To be excited about making me food?
I glanced around the grass, checking for potential threats. Instead of any dangers, however, what I spotted were other people having their own lunches.
Some were students in groups, but a good number were obvious couples. They sat close together and shared their food, laughing and having a great time. A few were stretched out, resting. One woman leaned against her boyfriend’s arm. Another couple had a man with his head in his boyfriend’s lap.
“Sit.” Kenz patted a spot for me.
Without a way to say no, I did as she said, leaving plenty of space between us. Instead of asking me why I was acting weird, she went about making a plate of food for me.
Everything looked delicious, and I chuckled when she forwent adding any oranges to my plate. It amazed me how much she noticed, that she’d recalled I didn’t like oranges just from seeing what I ate at the house.
Someday, she’ll make a husband very happy.
Why did that bother me so much?
She handed me my plate, and I offered her a thanks before I set it in my lap.
Kenz made her own plate, then moved off her knees to sit cross legged, though the action meant she sat closer to me.
I scooted just a bit away, to put a more appropriate distance between us.
“Do I smell or something?” Kenz asked.
“What?”
“You keep moving away. It’s hot, so I’m sure I’ve been sweating, but I’m clean.”
I popped a piece of the food into my mouth, having to admit that she really did cook well. Still, her question rested between us, forcing me to address it. “I didn’t want people to get the wrong idea.”
“What idea?”
“That we’re a couple.”
“Why would that bother you? Because of the news reports about Vance and me?”
I hadn’t even considered that fact, to be honest. “No. If any tabloids got pictures, it would be easy to explain that I’m providing security for you.”
“So why do you care?”
I shifted in my spot, wondering why I had to explain this to her. “That barista saw it. I’m old enough to be your father, Kenz. If we sit close together, it might make you look bad.”