* * *
Kenna had never felt sexier in her life. She stood to the side of the dance floor at the Derby Ball in her black lace, single-shouldered Valentino and watched Will talking to some owners of different farms.
He kept glancing over to her as if making sure she didn’t disappear. The way his chocolate eyes turned almost black when he looked at her sent shivers down her back and straight to her core.
“How was your first Derby?” Mo asked as he came to stand next to her.
“All in all, it was pretty amazing. Do you have any news?”
“Yes, Ahmed got the location of where Chad was staying from Whitney within minutes. He took some of my men and tried to get him. They estimated they missed him by five minutes. He left in a hurry, though. He left some papers behind. Ahmed is reviewing them and will probably want to go over them with you.”
“And Whitney?”
“Turned over to Agent Parker just an hour ago. She was telling everything she knew to Agent Parker about her father’s involvement and also naming some other big names. Agent Parker should have some very good leads to follow now.”
“How is Agent Parker going to explain having a senator’s daughter in his custody?”
“Agent Parker? If it comes up, he's going to tell his commanding officer he was at the Derby with me, providing protection on his day off. Whitney came up to him to turn herself in. She knew he was an FBI agent from his investigation of the accidents on Will’s farm. She just couldn’t handle the guilt of what she had done to the person she loved.” Mo rolled his eyes, but Kenna could see Whitney pulling it off.
“Thanks, Mo. You weren’t obligated to help me in anyway. But I'm forever grateful you did.” Kenna leaned over and gave him a hug.
“You’re welcome. Now, I have a sleepy Paige in the limo waiting to be taken home. I’ll fill her in before she falls asleep. She wanted to remind you about your lunch tomorrow at Blossom’s.”
Kenna softly laughed. “You know, having a girlfriend suits you. Why don’t you join us tomorrow?”
“Would love to. But my father wants to parade some more women in front of me while we pretend to have a business meeting. Goodnight and tell Will congratulations for me,” Mo said as he turned and waved to Will before exiting the room.
She spotted June across the room and waved. June looked fabulous as always in a red Carolina Herrera.
“Kenna, dear. Fill me in on everything that has been going on. I see you here with Will and just now talking to the sheik.” June gave a wink and Kenna laughed.
“We better have another drink because it's one heck of a story!” Kenna looped her hand through June’s arm as they grabbed two more glasses of champagne.
She was embarrassed to admit it, but she didn't hear a word of what June said. She had filled June in on the ups and downs of her relationship with Will and the happenings in Keeneston when Will caught her eye and smiled.
He finished his conversation without ever taking his eyes from hers. She couldn’t help the appreciative glance she gave him when he walked across the room toward her in his tux.
“Excuse me, June, but I believe Kenna owes me a dance.” He slid his hand into hers as he led her to the dance floor.
“Did I mention you look breathtaking tonight?”
“About ten times, but it never hurts,” she smiled up at him.
“Come on, let’s dance.” He swept her up into the dance and held her close. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder. She should've heard the band playing Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” but the sound of Will’s whispers in her ear were far more magical.
* * *
Kenna looked across the table at Paige and smiled. She lifted her fork and took a bite of the chocolate and peanut butter pie.
“See, you can’t stop smiling! What happened last night?” Paige rolled her eyes and took a sip of sweet tea. “Miss Daisy, she won’t tell me,” she whined.
Taking an order across the room, Daisy shot her a look that threatened the oncoming interrogation.
“Thanks a lot, Paige. Now the whole town will know Will and I spent the night together in Louisville,” she said in a low voice.
“We already know that, dear. What we want to know is all the other stuff. Like about Whitney’s arrest and why Paige was being reported as Mo’s girlfriend,” Miss Daisy said as she turned the order slip over to Miss Violet.
“That’s not what I wanted to know,” Miss Violet mumbled as she headed back into the kitchen.
“Me neither,” Paige pouted.
“Well, I can answer Miss Daisy’s questions. It started three months ago in New York City...” Kenna told the story to Miss Daisy and the growing number of customers who scooted their chairs closer to listen. Even Miss Violet came out of the kitchen to listen.