Kiss Me (Townsend Legacy)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

T aehyun

“And your ankle hasn’t swollen up or anything?” Liza asks Tania who’s seated at our breakfast table next to the spacious window, overlooking the resort’s slopes.

Her leg is propped up on a wooden chair over a pillow with her crutch leaning against it. She’d insisted that she didn’t need all of that, but I reminded her that she needed to keep it looking real.

“It’s completely fine,” Tania answers, her phony smile planted on the lips that I spent hours kissing last night.

“I thought you were going to return at some point yesterday, at least to take the pain medication, but I didn’t hear from you. If I’d known where …” She breaks off and looks over at me. “Do you need your pain meds?”

“I’m great, Liza. Please, don’t worry about me and go enjoy your time here. Did you ever sign up for those ski lessons?”

I don’t miss the way Liza’s eyes dart across the room. A grin crosses my lips when I see that waiter with the red hair looking over at her.

What neither of them knows is that I’m aware he’s not just a waiter or regular staff member here at the resort. Something tells me, though, that Liza will soon find out, if she doesn’t already know.

“I’ll pick up the medication,” I say, interrupting the two women’s back and forth. Both glance over at me—Tania from her seated position and Liza from her spot standing across the table.

“I’ll grab the pain meds and anything else she needs for the next few days.” Because yesterday while Tania and I spent the day together, I made the decision that I’m not letting her out of my sight until my time here at the resort is done.

“A-Anything else?” Liza questions.

“Yes,” I answer.

“What if your dad calls me?” she asks Tania directly.

In business, I’m a man known for my patience. Dae and I both are. We can wait months and even years until the perfect opportunity arises.

But as I stand here, glaring at Tania’s assistant, I sense my patience waning. Right then, I make a decision.

I head in the direction of the red-haired waiter.

“Can I speak with you?” I ask as I pass him, moving to a part of the dining room where no one’s seated.

“Is there a problem with your meal, sir?” he asks like the perfectly trained staff of this exclusive resort he is.

“Yes, it’s a bit crowded.” I look over at Liza and Tania before pulling out my wallet. Opening it, I pull out five-hundred dollars.

I still keep cash on me for situations just like this.

“We both know this is nothing for you,” I tell him as I discreetly hand him the money. “But use this to take her …” I pointedly look over at Liza, “somewhere nice or to buy her something. Whatever the hell you do, just make sure to keep her occupied for the next few days.”

“Sir, I-I can’t.” He pushes the money way but his attention drifts over to Liza. Even a man with no situational awareness whatsoever couldn’t miss the longing in his eyes.

“Drop the dutiful employee act. You and I both know who you are. And I don’t care, nor is it any of my business. But she,” I nod toward Tania, “is my business, and she,” I look at Liza, “is getting in between me and my business. Take this.” I stuff the money in the pocket of the black apron he’s wearing.

“Add it to whatever allowance daddy gives you and use it to show her a good time.”

His face reddens but it’s not in embarrassment.

He’s pissed, which actually makes me like him slightly.

“I don’t need your fucking money,” he says, glaring.

“I know. We’ve already established that fact. But you’ll take it anyway and help me get rid of a nuisance.”

“Don’t call her that.” The bass in his voice makes me like him even more.

“Already defending her.” I smirk. “That’s a good sign. Have fun.” I toss him a nod before turning and starting to head back to the table where Tania now sits alone.

Unfortunately, my pathway becomes blocked by my cousin.

I give him a slight nod, “Hyung,” I greet.

“You’re up early,” he says, looking me up and down.

“And?” I say by way of reply before attempting to step around him. “Move.”

“You hate getting up early.” His tone is unapologetic.

“I’m turning over a new leaf. Will you get the hell out of my way,” I gripe when I try to move around him. The son of a bitch is behaving like a brick wall for some reason.

Over his shoulder, I watch as Kennedy moves to the table where Tania sits. She’s holding Kyle and Riley Townsend’s infant daughter in her arms.

“When did you become a father?” I ask Dae.

He spins to face his wife. Even though I see his profile, I don’t miss the smile he, likely unknowingly, flashes.

“We’re babysitting our niece for the morning while Kyle and Riley take Eve out to one of the harder slopes.”

He doesn’t even look at me as he says this. He’s too busy staring across the room at Kennedy. Anyone with a pair of eyes can tell he’s picturing his wife playing with their own baby.

Cute as it is, I take it as an opportunity to move around him to head back to my woman.

Wait … when the hell did I start thinking of Tania as mine?

I shake my head, which must also pull Dae out of his stupor because he quickly moves in front of me, blocking my view of the woman I’m trying to get to.

“What was that about?” He gestures to something over my shoulder.

On a sigh, I peer behind me to see the red-haired waiter I was just speaking with. He’s not watching me, though; he says something to Liza.

A small smile spreads across my lips.

“That was me making sure I get what I want.”

“And what is that?”

My gaze shoots across the room to Tania. She’s making silly faces at the baby in Kennedy’s arms, making the infant laugh.

“What the hell was that?”

Dae’s question brings my attention back to him. “What?”

“Don’t what me,” he counters. “You just had a look.”

A frown forms on my face, and I wave his comment off. “I don’t have a fucking look. Is there anything else you want from me? I’m hungry.”

“Hungry for what?”

Unconsciously, my gaze lands on Tania. “Food. What else?” I ask even though I continue to stare at her.

“I fucking bet. Just be careful,” he warns.

“About what?”

He rolls his eyes in frustration. “Don’t give me that. I know whatever it is you did to get that world class athlete to spend time with you this week could come back to bite you.”

“You doubt it was my dazzling, handsome face that did it?” I narrow my gaze. I’m far from ugly.

Not to mention Dae and I look uncannily alike for being mere cousins. But that could be because our fathers were identical twins.

“No, but I do know this is the same woman who turned you down months ago. I know, in fact, since you bitched about it for so long because you’re so damn used to getting what you want that you couldn’t imagine a woman you’re interested in turning you down.”

“You make it sound like I’m a spoiled brat. I know what I want and I go after it.” I poke his chest with my finger. “A trait that’s served us both well over the years, I might add.”

He nods only after he smacks my hand away.

“I also know you’re not above using somewhat unethical methods to get your way.”

“Says the man who had a tracker installed on Kennedy’s phone, hired private investigators to track her movements, and threatened her boyfriends before ever even formally meeting her.”

He gives me a small smirk. “It’s exactly for this reason I’m warning you. We’re cut from similar cloth. Whatever it is you’re holding over her head, just make sure it doesn’t come back to bite either one of you in the ass.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were concerned for my well-being.” I press my palm against my chest. “I’m touched, cousin.”

“Saekki,” he says, calling me a bastard in Korean. “I’m only advising you because if you upset Tania, you run the chance of upsetting my wife this Christmas, and for that I’d have to kick your ass.”

“Why are you threatening your cousin before you’ve even had breakfast?” Kennedy asks, coming up behind Dae while holding Kylie, her six-month-old niece.

Dae kisses her forehead before pulling her into his arms. Baby and all. “Just warning my cousin to keep his mind focused on what matters.”

I snort. “Like I’m the one who ever loses focus.” I take little Kylie’s extended hand and wiggle it, making her laugh. “Cute kid.” I glance between the two of them. “You two should consider having one.”

With that, I leave the two of them and make my way over to Tania.

Though I don’t show it, I can’t shake his warning about not having what I’m holding over Tania coming back to bite either one of us in the ass.