The gun was purple, but it didn’t make it any less menacing. It almost looked like a toy as it lay resting on top of folded papers and pictures. Deven was frozen. If she looked away would that trigger something? Was it loaded? What the hell was Kennedy doing with a gun?

Deven’s fingers quivered as she gingerly sat the lid back on top, only able to release a staggering breath when the weapon was out of view.

“Sis, what are you doing in here?” Kennedy entered, her eyes panning the room. “I thought I told you to take it easy since you’re lugging around precious cargo.”

Deven snatched her gaze from the box and looked to her sister. “Ken, why do you have a gun?” she asked. She saw something, she wasn’t sure what, flicker in Kennedy’s eyes before her sister glanced down to the box between them, the flaps still open to reveal the closed shoe box. As if remembering, Kennedy lifted the shoe box and carried it to the closet.

“It’s just for protection,” she assured her. “Don’t worry, it’s not loaded.” Kennedy put the box on the shelf and slid it to the far corner, then she turned with an apologetic smile. “I didn’t know you were going to be in here.”

“I wasn’t—I didn’t mean—I was just . . .” Deven blew a breath, not sure why she still felt uneasy. It was perfectly normal for a young, beautiful woman in the city to have a gun. She was right. She could never be too careful. “Sorry.” Deven’s smile was colored with embarrassment at her overreaction. “I finished the kitchen so I thought I would help you with your office. But I see you have other plans for this room.”

Kennedy laughed and did a little turn to eye the clothes again. “Yeah, I decided to make this room my walk-in closet.”

“What’s wrong with the closet in your room?”

“It’s not big enough.” Kennedy shrugged and stepped out of her red-bottom pumps. “I figured I could add some shelving and some built-ins”—she pointed against one of the walls—” probably some bench seating over here. What do you think?”

Deven nodded, picturing the finished product with maybe a little mood lighting to calm the space. “I like it.”

“I have a contractor coming this weekend to take measurements. I want to get it done before I go out of town.”

“Where you headed this time?”

“Puerto Plata,” Kennedy said simply and made no move to elaborate.

Deven picked up on the dismissive tone, which she knew was indicative that the trip was probably for reasons other than work. And since Kennedy wasn’t always transparent about her cosmetic surgery, Deven could only assume that was the rationale. Though she didn’t see what else the woman could do to look even more gorgeous than she already did.