Her Kind of Hero - Cindy Kirk Page 0,52
and ugly. Now, this baby...”
Keenan’s gaze landed on Mitzi’s BMW and he smiled. “Beautiful.”
“More beautiful than me?” Mitzi couldn’t believe she’d allowed the question to slip past her lips. Dr. Mitzi Sanchez didn’t beg for compliments.
She braced herself for the slap down, a pithy one-liner that would make her feel even more foolish. Kelvin had been king of pithy one-liners. Especially if he sensed weakness.
Instead Keenan’s eyes softened. She couldn’t begin to describe the look that filled them, but it made her feel warm and gooey inside.
“There’s nothing and certainly no one more beautiful than you.” He brought her hand to his lips. With his eyes still firmly focused on her, Keenan brushed a strand of hair back from her face. “Tonight you look especially delectable.”
Just like that, Mitzi’s confidence was back and she was ready to face the evening. She and Keenan chatted easily during the drive to the social hall.
After spending most of her working hours around people who were superintense, it was refreshing to simply enjoy the evening with a man who found humor in the most unlikely things and who didn’t take himself or anyone else too seriously.
A good friend.
She thought about telling him—it never hurt to reinforce what they were to each other—but the conversation veered toward her house and when it would be completed.
“Another two weeks and you should be able to move the rest of your stuff in.”
“We’ll have to have a big party to celebrate.” Mitzi stifled a groan as what she’d said registered. We. Had she really said we?
Keenan didn’t appear to notice. “You definitely should show it off. Just make sure Bitty is locked in a bedroom. Having all those people around will freak her out.”
“She’s fine around you.”
“She’s used to me,” he reminded her. “Sees me all day and most nights.”
“True enough.” Perhaps the knowledge should have disturbed her but it didn’t.
“Tell me more about this shindig.” He turned in the direction of the community hall in downtown Jackson.
“It’s a big deal. Angela—Consuela’s daughter—will be wearing a formal gown and the boys will be wearing tuxedos.”
Keenan shifted in his seat when they stopped for a red light. “Seriously?”
“Like I said, it’s a big deal.”
He cast a questioning glance in her direction. “Did you have one of these things?”
“There was no money,” Mitzi said simply. The year she turned fifteen, her eighteen-year-old sister had been pregnant with baby number two.
Keenan nodded and she saw he understood. It didn’t surprise her. Sometimes she swore he could not only read her mind but see deep into her soul.
“Were we supposed to bring a gift?” he asked.
Mitzi wasn’t sure if it made her feel better or not to hear Keenan use the plural. She tapped the clutch on her lap with her index finger. “In here.”
“Must be small.” Keenan looked mildly curious. “What is it?”
“A necklace. A silver cross with a blue topaz in the center.”
“Sounds nice.”
“When I was telling Consuela about my upcoming hair color change, she told me Angela’s favorite color is blue.” Mitzi lifted one shoulder. “I probably went a bit overboard. Blue topaz is my favorite stone and the art deco scrollwork on the cross caught my eye.”
Mitzi realized she was babbling again, though she wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t a crime to buy someone a nice gift, the kind of gift she’d have killed to have gotten if there’d been money for her quinceañera.
Keenan pulled the car into the gravel parking lot next to the large frame building, making sure to avoid a couple of ruts the size of moon craters. “Is jewelry the gift of choice?”
“That or a Bible, prayer book or rosary.” Mitzi’s lips curved. “When I was that age I wanted anything with a blue stone. I’d also have accepted a tiara.”
He shot her a teasing look, gave an exaggerated sigh. “A princess even back then.”
Mitzi fingers curved around his hand as she stepped from the car. “A princess with no prince, no crown and no money.”
He flashed a grin. “You don’t want much.”
She met his gaze. “I want it all.”
“You deserve it all.”
For some reason, instead of making her smile, her heart swelled with emotion. She’d never had anyone accept her so fully. Not even her own mother. She shifted her gaze and rapidly blinked away tears.
He held her arm as they negotiated the gravel lot. When they drew close to the entrance, Mitzi tugged him to a stop. “We need to talk about something.”
“Okay.” Looking suddenly ill at ease, Keenan slid his hands