“I’m fine. I promise.” I had to be. There was no other choice. I’d get through this just like I’d gotten through everything else in my life to date.

Caelyn headed for her siblings, and I turned to face Kenna. Her arms were crossed under her chest, and her brow had a slight arch to it. “Don’t bullshit me, Bell. How are you doing?”

I sighed, flicking a brief glance at the bar. Ford was grinning at a woman, and his forearm flexed as he handed her some sort of fruity concoction. I forced my gaze away. “I honestly don’t know. I’m all over the place. I feel like a bundle of exposed nerves.”

“Bell…” Kenna lowered her voice so that no passersby could overhear us. “If this is too much, you can quit. We need a secretary at the accounting firm. Come work with me.”

The idea of sitting behind a desk all day made me cringe. And the thought of leaving the Hardys in the lurch made me physically nauseous. “I can’t. I’ll get through this. Promise.”

Kenna scowled in Ford’s direction. “Fine. Come on, I need a drink.”

I smiled at the floor as we headed to the bar. Kenna made her way to an empty stool as I rounded the counter. “What’ll it be?”

“Vodka soda with a lime, please.”

“Coming right up.” I reached for the Grey Goose, my pour automatic and precise, the gift of having done this for so many years.

“Come on, Brown Eyes. You can be a little more exciting than that.”

I stifled a giggle as I watched Crosby scoot over a stool, beer in hand. Kenna’s eyes narrowed on him. “Kenna. My name is Kenna. One word, five letters. Is it really that hard to remember?”

He grinned at her, and I had to admit, it was devastating. “Everyone calls you Kenna. I need something a little more original.”

She rolled her eyes as she took the vodka soda I handed her. “I’d hardly call Brown Eyes original.”

“Fair enough. I’ll keep working on it.”

“Please don’t.”

I couldn’t hold my laughter in anymore. “You two are worse than an old married couple.”

Kenna turned her glare on me. “Like I’d ever stoop that low.”

“You wound me.”

I felt his energy before I heard his voice. It was heat and a faint buzzing. I kept my gaze focused straight ahead.

“Hey, Kenna.” Ford rested a hand on the bar. It was at least six inches from where mine was placed, but I still had to fight the urge to pull away, to step back, to flee and never look back.

“Ford.” Her voice was cold, the tone generally reserved for those who had hurt someone Kenna loved. Oh, shit. “I’m surprised to see you here. I thought for sure you’d have bailed again by now.”