“Meaning what, exactly?”
Cade loved watching his wife put his stodgy, overbearing father in his place. She managed it in her frank, no-nonsense way, and even Parrish wasn’t immune.
“Play nice, already,” Sterling suggested. “Quit trying to alienate her, because you might just alienate Reyes, too. If she’s going to be around, and I’m betting she will, what purpose does it serve to piss her off?”
Parrish gave Sterling a deadpan look. “Did I piss you off, Sterling, when we first met?”
“You and Reyes both,” she confirmed, then she smiled back at Cade. “Good thing he was worth it, or I’d have disappeared that first day.”
God, Cade loved her. From the start, Sterling, or Star as he called her, had proved to be the strongest woman he knew—with the biggest heart. She was unique, outspoken, capable, bold, and every so often, only with him, she also showed her vulnerability.
In every way, she was it for him.
Initially Cade had avoided commitment, thinking what he and his family did would be difficult for an outsider to digest.
Star had surprised him. She’d not only accepted it, she’d been excited to take part.
The woman who’d wanted to face the world alone, on her own terms, had seamlessly joined his family.
He glanced at his sister. “No talking to Detective Albertson.”
She didn’t bother to look up when she replied, “I’ll speak to whomever I want. You’re my brother, not my boss.”
Cade switched his gaze to his father, waiting for his reaction.
“Madison,” his father said silkily. “I expect you to keep your head.”
“As opposed to how my brothers behave?” She shot Cade a tight smile and then held up a hand to forestall any protests from the men. “Your sexism has already been exposed, so spare me.”
Sterling gave a small clap of approval.
“Has it occurred to either of you that Crosby might have information we don’t?”
“We are not going to involve the law in this,” Parrish stated.
Madison ignored that to say, “You raised me to balance what I give with what I take. Reyes and Cade aren’t the only ones who can ferret out details by talking to others.”
Cade sat back with a sigh. “You’re literally looking for reasons to see him again.”
“It’s a shame that I must justify those reasons, while you and Reyes just go about doing as you please.”
Grinning, Star elbowed Cade and murmured, “She’s got you there.”
Folding her hands on the table, Madison smiled at each of them. “Let me put it this way. I am in charge of research, and I expect the freedom to work in whatever way I see fit. I also expect the same level of trust given to my brothers.” Her chin lifted. “Now, is there anything else you want to say on the subject?”
Star snickered.
Cade rolled his eyes.
After sipping his coffee, Parrish cleared his throat. And, wonder of wonders, he moved past the topic of Crosby Albertson to ask, “Have you found anything on Kennedy that we need to know about?”
“Anything that would make her unsuitable for Reyes?” Madison shook her head. “No. She has a full life that doesn’t include fighting traffickers so, unlike Sterling, I can’t see her teaming up with us.”
“The way Reyes hovers over her,” Parrish said, “I doubt he’d allow it anyway.”
That earned a glare from Star. “Allow it? Get out of the Stone Age, will you? Kennedy is her own person and she can do whatever she wants. She doesn’t need Reyes’s permission, or your approval.”
“Christ,” Parrish muttered, “they’ve joined forces.”
Cade sat back and crossed his arms. Overall, he agreed with his wife—but it was fact, not opinion, that Kennedy wasn’t cut out for their line of work.
“As I was saying,” Parrish continued, “Reyes isn’t Cade. I can’t see him accepting someone with your...” He paused at Star’s dark look. “That is, he doesn’t have the same constitution to work beside a woman he loves.”
“Good save,” Cade said with a grin. “Actually, I agree. Good thing Kennedy doesn’t appear to want to join the business. Which brings me back to my question. What do you think? And don’t try to sell me on that passing interest line, either. Just the fact that he moved her in—”
“And brought her here,” Madison added while scrolling on her laptop.
“—says she’s completely different to him.”
“That might be true, but it becomes more and more difficult to keep our secrets contained when my children insist on bringing outsiders into things.”
Madison laughed. “You already knew they weren’t choirboys, Dad.”
“And you?” Star challenged. “You’ve as much as admitted that you’re going to coordinate with Crosby.”
“He’s been following Rob Golly for a while,” Madison said without much attention. Still scanning pages on her laptop, she added, “Now that I know where Golly is, it doesn’t seem fair to keep that from Crosby.”
“You’ll move cautiously,” Parrish decreed, “and you’ll keep the rest of us informed every step of the way.”
“Of course.” Madison smiled. “We are a team, after all.” She closed her laptop and stood. “But since I have all the research data, the rest of you will just have to trust me when I say that Crosby isn’t a threat to us.”
As she made a grand exit, Parrish stared after her.
Cade and Star shared a look.
Apparently, Cade thought, he’d started a movement when he fell for his wife. Now he only hoped his brother and sister would end up as happy as he was.
* * *
REYES SAT ON a boulder and pulled Kennedy between his thighs, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. Here, by the lake, a brisk breeze sent a shiver up her spine.
He kissed the side of her neck. “Want to go back to the house?”
“No, not yet.” She settled against him, her hands curling over his forearms, which he’d crossed over her breasts. “It’s beautiful here.”
“Yeah.” He’d always liked the lake. In the warmest part of summer, he and Cade had often swum in the water that seemed to be forever icy, fed by the mountain streams. “You did well with Dad.”
She turned her head so he’d see her smile. “He’s a tyrant, but I think overall he’s just concerned about you.”