Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Claudia laughed and moved to sit down. Kennedy pulled out the chair for her, nodding a greeting at his brother. He glanced at Kate, but she was ignoring him, instead complimenting Claudia on the restaurant choice.
“I’ve definitely got my eye on the mushroom ravioli with truffle cream sauce,” Kate was saying.
“Oh gosh, I would be, too, if I did carbs,” Claudia said.
“I love carbs,” Kate said with a contented sigh. “I could never give them up.”
“The other night I watched her put a potato on top of a piece of bread,” Jack said, smiling down at Kate, who gave him a mock glare beneath the hair that had fallen across her forehead.
Kennedy picked up the menu to keep from asking if the sexy Jessica Rabbit hair was annoying her yet. Where were the headbands she used to wear? The ones that signaled practical Kate not date Jack Dawson Kate.
“They were very good potatoes and good bread. It was a time-saving measure,” Kate said, shrugging.
“Oooh, cauliflower risotto,” Claudia said, her attention on the menu. “When I was with Dior, the girls ate that constantly. You’d be surprised how much it tastes like real rice.”
“Call me crazy, but if I wanted rice, I’d eat rice,” Jack said. “And if I wanted cauliflower . . . I’d die.”
“You don’t like cauliflower?” Kate asked, turning toward him.
“He doesn’t like vegetables,” Kennedy said without looking up from the wine list.
“I didn’t like vegetables when I was twelve,” Jack clarified. “Mom hasn’t caught me sneaking broccoli into the potted plants in at least a year and a half now.”
The women laughed, and Kennedy rolled his eyes. He was thankful when the server came by to take orders for some much-needed alcohol.
They started with a round of cocktails, and when the server left, Claudia put her menu aside and leaned forward with a smile. “I’m so glad we did this. I’ve been telling Kennedy forever that we need some couple friends.”
“They’re not a couple,” Kennedy said automatically. “It’s only been a week.”
Kate tilted her head in a gesture that was meant to look innocent and confused, but he knew it was a warning. Knock it off.
He ignored it.
Jack glanced down at Kate. “Did you not tell him, sweetheart? About the engagement?”
“Nope,” she said in a loud whisper. “Not about the baby, either.”
“Hilarious,” Kennedy muttered.
Claudia swatted his arm. “Be nice.”
“Oh, he can’t help it,” Jack said. “It’s written into his older-brother DNA to be Highly Disapproving.”
“Just like it’s written into yours to be Highly Annoying?”
“When’s your birthday, Jack?” Claudia asked, clearly trying to steer the conversation to friendlier territory.
“November twenty-sixth. You can imagine my hardship over the years, having to share so much with Thanksgiving.” He put a thumb between his eyebrows, as though trying to ward off bad memories.
Kate played along, rubbing his arm. “Poor baby.”
Kennedy ground his teeth.
“What about you, Kate? Wait, no, don’t tell me. You’re a . . . Virgo?”
“Her birthday’s in July,” Kennedy said before Kate could reply. He had no idea whether that made her a Virgo or Ram, a Waffle, or whatever. He didn’t give a crap about astrology. He didn’t even know why he’d answered for her, except it seemed important, somehow, to remind everyone that of the three of them at the table, he was the one who’d known Kate the longest.
Though, that wasn’t particularly fair. Truth be told, until the night of his birthday party, he hadn’t realized how unnerving it was that she seemed to know the smallest details about him, and yet he hadn’t known she liked museums. The ballet. Chess.
Hadn’t known that she believed in love at first sight.
Kennedy didn’t like surprises and had made it a point ever since to gather whatever details he could about her. It was just smart to stay on a level playing field.
To stay one step ahead of his brother in all things Kate Henley.
“July twentieth,” Kate was telling Claudia. “A Cancer, I think?”
“Yeah, Cancer,” Claudia said thoughtfully as their waiter placed cocktails in front of them. “Surprising.”
“How’s that?” Jack asked. “I don’t know anything about the signs.”
Because it’s all crap, Kennedy thought, taking a sip of his drink. It had some froufrou name, but it was basically a slightly bitter Manhattan. He didn’t really care. It had whiskey.
“Well, Kate’s got Virgo written all over her,” Claudia explained. “Virgos are extremely capable with amazing attention to detail. Which is what makes Kate such a great assistant.”
Kennedy inwardly flinched. Claudia didn’t mean it as a slight. Kennedy knew enough about his girlfriend to know that she was never unkind. Just oblivious.
“Kate actually went to business school,” Kennedy said.
“You did?” Jack looked over at Kate, but she ignored him, staring right at Kennedy.
“What’s that have to do with the conversation?” Kate asked, her voice testy.
“I just meant that you’re not only capable as an assistant,” Kennedy said, taken aback by the fire in her eyes. “You can do anything you want to do.” I was defending you.