“Awesome.” Again Sterling offered a high five, and unlike Reyes, Kennedy accepted, reaching up to smack her palm to Sterling’s.
“Before everyone joins us, I’ll give you a fast rundown on the family, beyond what you already know, I mean. That way, you’ll be better prepared.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“First, Parrish tries to be snooty, but he’s not so bad. Just stare him down. He respects that.”
Kennedy could easily imagine Sterling employing that tactic. Her? Not so much. “Reyes told me a few things about him.”
Snorting, Sterling said, “The brothers are a little biased when it comes to their dad. He’s heavy-handed, and they’re not the type of guys to take kindly to that. Cade was more open in his rebellion, to the point he skipped out and joined the military. Reyes hung around and just became an annoying ass.”
The insult pricked Kennedy’s temper. “He’s not.”
“Not to you, maybe.”
Okay, yeah, she’d witnessed herself how Reyes baited not only Sterling, but Cade also. “Well, from what I’ve seen, you bring some of that on yourself.”
“Oh, for sure.” Sterling grinned. “Part of the fun of being in this family is getting Reyes riled.”
Unable to resist, Kennedy conceded with a smile.
“Now, Bernard, well, he’s the sweetest, but he’s also a tad pompous. He takes the whole butler-slash-assistant-slash-chef thing way too seriously, complete with his nose in the air and pretentious manners. Only time I’ve seen him rattled was when he and Reyes were battling over the cat.” Sterling chuckled. “Reyes never had a chance. Bernard was so cute, cuddling the mama cat, loving on her kittens. It was something to see.”
The more Kennedy learned of Bernard, the more she understood why Reyes had let him have his way. “We were actually supposed to share responsibility for the cat.”
“Yeah, well, that’s one instance where I can’t blame Reyes. When you get to know Bernard—heck, when you see him with Chimera—you’ll know what I mean. Now, the kittens, they got divvied up. One for me, one for Madison, and one for Reyes.”
“There’s no kitten at Reyes’s house.”
“I know.” She smirked. “Bernard is holding out on him, claiming Chimera will be lonely if she doesn’t have at least one playmate. With how busy Reyes is, he hasn’t pushed it.”
Probably a sound arrangement. Kennedy was honest enough with herself to admit she couldn’t care for a cat now anyway. She didn’t even have a home.
The despondent sigh escaped her before she could stop it.
Sterling bumped her again. “I know stuff is rough right now, but Madison’s unearthed some phenomenal info. Things are moving along.” She slanted a look at Kennedy. “You’re not in a hurry to leave Reyes anyway, are you?”
In a hurry, no. Still, he had a right to the life of his choosing. “I’ve imposed on him for so long already.” If they could get the danger sorted, then she could regain her independence and if, at that point, Reyes was interested, he could let her know without the sense of obligation guiding him.
“Eh, these guys love playing the big macho protectors. Reyes is probably getting off on it.”
“Ahem.”
Going rigid, Sterling winced.
Kennedy looked back to see Cade grinning, Reyes frowning, Bernard utterly unperturbed, and a very handsome older man rolling his eyes.
Parrish, she assumed.
Regaining her aplomb, Sterling turned and said, “Deny it, Reyes. I dare you.”
“And ruin your fantasies about me?” Far too intently, he approached Kennedy. “Hungry? Bernard says he’s outdone himself.”
“I said no such thing,” Bernard replied as he took steaming dishes from a rolling cart and set them on the large round table. “It goes without saying that I always do my best. Today is no different.”
Parrish caught her gaze and somehow held her captive. She couldn’t blink, couldn’t look away...
Sterling came to her rescue. “Dude, stop trying to intimidate her. She’s been through enough.”
At that, Parrish glanced at Sterling. “Already defending her? Why am I not surprised?”
“Because you know I’m awesome like that?” She winked and dropped into a chair.
Cade touched Sterling’s hair as if endlessly enthralled by her, then he took the seat beside her.
Reyes pulled out a chair for Kennedy, and once she sat, he started to do the same, but Parrish beat him to it. Somehow he got around the table without her noticing, then he crowded in, boldly claiming the chair beside Kennedy. She now had Sterling on her right, and Parrish on her left.
Narrowing his eyes, Reyes grumbled but moved on, choosing to sit directly across from her.
“Where’s Madison?” Kennedy asked, trying to act unaffected by the musical chairs.
“My daughter gets lost in her research.”
With the food now on the table, Bernard said, “I’ll let her know breakfast is served.”
Once he’d gone inside, Reyes chuckled. “Boy, he’s really turning it on today, isn’t he?”
Cade said, “He’s out to impress.” Shooting his father a look, he added, “Unlike some people.”
“I don’t need to impress,” Parrish stated. Turning slightly in his chair, he held out his hand to Kennedy. “Since my son doesn’t see fit to introduce us, I suppose I’ll handle it myself. Parrish McKenzie. And you’re Kennedy Brooks.”
Like she didn’t know who she was? “That’s right.” She accepted his handshake, not at all surprised that his hand was as big as Reyes’s. She got the impression that this older McKenzie was every bit as capable as his sons, just a little more seasoned. “You and Cade share a similar look.”
“It’s true.” With a final, gentle squeeze, he released her hand and slid his napkin from a bronze napkin ring. “Madison and Reyes have their mother’s coloring.”
“But still your height,” Kennedy noted. “Or was she tall as well?”
“She was...” Parrish hesitated as he looked inward. A smile touched his mouth. “Average height, I suppose, but she often appeared taller because she had such presence.”
“Then I suppose they inherited that from her as well.”
He gave her an odd look.
It occurred to Kennedy that she’d just made it sound like the senior McKenzie didn’t have that same presence. Trying to recover, she tacked on, “And from you as well, of course.”