Tempting the Beauty Queen by Carolyn Hector

Author:Carolyn Hector
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-03-08T16:32:37+00:00

Chapter 7

Kenzie hated to be embarrassed, but kissing Ramon on the dance floor should have been at the top of her charts for embarrassing moments, but it wasn’t. Maybe because her friends, including the bride, cheered her on for finally succumbing to his charms. The DJ in the corner played a slow song; Kenzie didn’t know which. She barely heard the beat over her own heart thumping in her chest. The crystal ball flickered light across Ramon’s face. He smiled down at her.

“I’m digging this PDA,” he teased. “What’s wrong with it?”

The rhythm of the song set in as Kenzie pressed her forehead against the center of Ramon’s ribs. Her stilettos helped balance the height difference between them. “I don’t like the spotlight on me.”

“Says the beauty queen.” Ramon laughed, moving his hand from around her waist to tilt her chin toward him.

“Pageants are different.” Kenzie rolled her eyes. “I am proud of my tiara.”

Ramon shook his head and blew out a sigh. “What am I? Chopped liver?”

“I mean, I’m proud of holding my title as the last Swayne or Hairston—don’t get me wrong,” she boasted. “But that’s as much of my business as I want to let people in on.”

“People in town know about the guy you were dating?”

“Clearly you want to know about my dating history.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” said Ramon, stiffening.

“I’ll tell you this one time.” Kenzie moved her hands to grip Ramon’s biceps. She tried not to pay attention to how solid he felt and how weak her grip was. “Rafe is an old friend of mine. His wife died a few years ago and he was under heavy suspicion.”

“Define ‘heavy’?”

“While he was away serving our country, she was having several affairs. Rafe came back and found out but according to him he didn’t even care.”

Ramon snorted. “Didn’t care?”

“No,” Kenzie said with a shrug. “He’d been in love with another woman for a long time, so I guess his feelings weren’t too hurt and he wanted a divorce. So anyway, Fourth of July night, Rafe came home to a bloody scene and no body. He was questioned.”

“Did he have an alibi?”

“He told me he did,” she answered, recalling the story Rafe had told her. Rafe didn’t want to give up his alibi because of the person he was with wasn’t fully divorced either. He protected the woman he loved. What had made Kenzie’s relationship perfect with Rafe was that his heart belonged to another woman. At least now that lady had come to her senses. And Kenzie was happy for her friend.

Though the music continued, Ramon stopped dancing. “And you’re going to tell me you believe him.”

Something about the tone in his voice irked Kenzie. It seemed like he didn’t believe her or was mocking her. Kenzie took a step backward. She had shared a personal story about her dearest friend and he was mocking her. A piece of Kenzie’s heart ached. “Yes I believe him. Rafe at least comes through for my events.

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