Her hands circled my waist, fisting in my suit jacket. “Thank you, Crosby. For everything.” Her voice was hoarse, barely audible over the emotion crowding her words.

“Anything for you.”

Kenna pulled back, searching my face for the meaning behind my words. I couldn’t give her that here. But I would, as soon as possible. I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Can we talk later? I can come over to The Gables.”

Kenna nodded. “I’ll be home. I’m just going to stop and get some boxes on the way. I want to declutter my house before I even think about moving into the main estate.”

I chuckled. “Your place is neat as a pin. I doubt there are more than three superfluous things in that house.”

Kenna grinned, releasing me. “You’d be surprised. My clutter is just organized.” She paused for a moment, a look of uncertainty overtaking her face. “See you later?”

“I’ll be there.” I pushed all of the assurance I could into those words, begging her to read the hope she should have in them.

“I’ll be waiting.” She pushed to her tiptoes and pressed her lips against my stubbled cheek. “Thank you again.”

“You bitch.”

I jerked at the fury in Grant’s voice, turning and instantly putting myself between him and Kenna. “You’re going to want to take a step back before you’re arrested for harassment. Or worse, assault.”

Grant glared at me, his hatred twisting his features. “That money-grubbing whore stole what belongs to me.”

Bell peeked around Kenna and me before Ford could stop her. “I’m pretty sure the only money-grubbing whore around here is you.”

“Money never could buy you class, Isabelle,” Grant retorted.

“Oh, go take a long walk off a short pier,” Bell shot back.

Ford wrapped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulders. “All right, Trouble. You’ve said your piece.”

“I don’t know,” Dr. Kipton interjected. “I was kind of enjoying watching my daughter put this greedy bastard in his place.”

Our group laughed, but Grant turned a startling shade of red. “Watch your backs. All of you.”

Kenna stiffened behind me, the tension radiating out of her muscles and into mine. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t listen, there’s nothing else they can do.”

Hotchkiss stepped forward, ushering Grant down the aisle. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

Kenna sighed, collapsing into me. “Will this never be over?”

I turned, cupping her face in my hands. “It is over. Grant is pissed, but I bet anything, come Monday, he’ll be on the first ferry out of here. If not sooner.”

She looked over my shoulder to where Grant and Hotchkiss had disappeared. “I hope you’re right.”

48

Kenna