Bluegrass State of Mind(46)

The partygoers moved aside allowing Mo and Ahmed to walk directly to Kenna. Taking a quick glance around the room, she saw heads leaning together and hands rising to cover mouths as the gossip and speculation spread like wildfire. She caught the scowl on Will’s face right before Mo made it to her side. Determined to show Mo and Ahmed that these folks were good people, she refused to let go of the Rose sisters and pushed them forward.

Raising her voice to courtroom level, she met Mo’s hesitant eyes. “Mo, Ahmed, I'm so happy you could make it tonight! This party wouldn’t be complete without two of my best friends here to share it with me.” Giving the sisters a nudge, she started introductions. “Mo, Ahmed, these are the famous Rose sisters. I'm staying at Lily Rae’s bed and breakfast. And Daisy Mae and Violet Fae own and operate this cafe. Ladies, this is Mohtadi Ali Rahman and his chief of security, Ahmed. They were generous enough to give me a wonderful study break and have promised to be one of my first clients now that I can legally practice.”

Mo and Ahmed gave identical bows of their heads to show their respect to the elderly trio. “Ladies, believe me, this is entirely my pleasure. My cook from France came in to the cafe when we first moved in. He had your bread pudding with bourbon sauce and has been trying to recreate it ever since. Please, do me the favor of calling me Mo. So much easier and less formal. In my life, I have had too much formality. I enjoy being able to, how do you say it, let my hair down.”

The ladies gave each other a look. Through wordless communication only seventy years of sisterhood could form, they turned in perfect unison and smiled. Kenna felt some of the tension leave the room as the obvious acceptance of the Rose sisters was won.

“Well, young man, you should just send your cook over to visit me. I'd be glad to show him how to make it. Is your cook a single man?” Violet asked, looking eager all of the sudden.

Mo chuckled, “Yes, Madam, he is. You must excuse the French. They are a paranoid lot. I am afraid he would never have presumed you would share such a treasure so freely. I thank you.”

Impatiently waiting for him to finish his conversation with her sister, Daisy jumped in as soon as possible. “More importantly than your cook, are you single?”

“To my parents’ despair, I am.”

Kenna looked away from the group when she sensed Will approaching. Will came to stand behind her, placing a hand on her hip, his fingers applying subtle pressure that sent a suggestive blush up her neck and to her cheeks.

“In fact, I tried my hardest to win Kenna’s hand but am content with losing her to someone who has such obvious feelings for her.” She noticed the slightest tilt of Mo’s head in Will’s direction and felt Will relax behind her. “Luckily, I am blessed with her friendship in its place.”

Kenna felt Will shift behind her as she saw him extend his hand to Mo. "Will Ashton, it's nice to finally meet you." Mo took Will's hand and shook it. Kenna knew this was the closest Will would get to changing his beliefs toward Mo. It wasn't what she had hoped for, but at least his estimation of Mo hadn't gone down. This meant she still had some time to change his mind.

Miss Lily cut into her strategic planning and reached out to grab Mo's arm. Before Kenna could blink, Ahmed had moved directly in front of Mo to protect him from the attacking little old lady. Just as quickly, she saw Ahmed realize Lily was just reaching to take Mo's arm and wasn't a potential threat. At the same time, the sisters sucked in an air of protest. Ahmed took Miss Lily's hand and brought it to his lips.

"I just had to introduce myself to the wonderful lady taking such good care of our McKenna. She has told us so much about your wonderful establishment." He looked Lily right in the eye and let loose with a full smile. This elicited another gasp from the ladies for a totally different reason. When Ahmed smiled, it tended to cause women to faint on the spot. And being in the South, Kenna was sure the women would swoon with grace and elegance.

For the first time in a month and a half of being with Lily, she had seen her blush. Good manners soon took over and Miss Lily got herself under control. "Well, shut my mouth, aren't you sweeter than apple pie! And are you single, too?" Not even waiting for Ahmed to answer, she placed her hand in the crook of his arm and reached around with the other arm and placed it in Mo's arm. "Well, boys, we'd better do something about that. Let me introduce you to some of my friends." With that, the Rose sisters took Mo and Ahmed away to break ground and start the process of building them up in the community.

Later that night as Will walked her back to the bed and breakfast, Kenna couldn't help but feel slightly at peace. She knew it wouldn't last, though. Her thoughts turned back to the cold night just a couple of months ago when her boss had called her in the New York apartment. Now she realized it was a ploy to find out her location. She shivered, despite the warm spring night. Will mistook the shiver and put his arm around her as they walked up the hill. She knew she should stop right now and tell Will all about what had happened and why she was here. But every time she talked herself into it, she couldn't force her mouth open. There really was no good reason to remain silent on the issue, but she just couldn't stir up the courage. Maybe it was because she still hadn't worked it all out in her mind yet. Or maybe it was the fact that she was used to being on her own and taking care of her own problems. Either way, her mouth stayed shut as they walked up the stairs and onto the porch. Her secret would stay another day - hell, who was she kidding, at least a week.