“My point,” Parrish finally said, “is that I want you to know the difference a good woman can make to your life.”
Because his father was often cagey, Reyes wasn’t sure how to take that statement. Was he recommending Kennedy as the good woman, or cautioning Reyes that he should wait for more? “Tie the ends together for me, will you, Dad? I don’t yet know if I want to be pissed or not.”
Grinning, Parrish faced him. “When in doubt, you tend to go for pissed.”
“Might happen now, too, so a little clarity would be nice.”
“All right. I’m your father. I know you, understand you, and I sometimes see things in you that you don’t see in yourself.”
“Example?”
“You’re different with Kennedy. You care more than you realize.”
“And?”
Buffeting his shoulder, his dad said, “Relax. I’m not maligning the girl. Just the opposite, actually. I want you to know that there’s more to life than vengeance, more than righting wrongs for strangers, more even than loyalty to your immediate family.”
Whoa. When his dad decided to do a heart-to-heart, he went all in. Loyalty to family was a big one for him, which made it a big one for Reyes, too. “With you so far.”
Parrish clasped his hands behind his back and again gazed at the tranquil surroundings. “Quiet nights in the evening with someone special—you can never discount the importance of that. Having that person to talk to when things happen...” His words stopped.
Reyes could have sworn he was struggling, and he couldn’t bear it. “I get what you’re saying, Dad. You had that with Mom.”
“I had everything with her. In a very different way, Cade has that now with Sterling.” His mouth firmed. “I want that for you.”
Since that made him uncomfortable, Reyes asked, “And Madison?”
Groaning, Parrish shook his head. “Call me sexist, but no, I’m not ready to let go of my little girl yet.”
“Little.” He snorted, more to lighten the mood than anything else.
“Don’t tell Sterling I said that. She’ll eviscerate me—verbally if not physically.”
True enough. He smiled at his dad, feeling an extra sense of companionship. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
“Beyond anything I ever expected,” Parrish agreed. “And she’s perfect for your brother.”
“I know, right?” It still boggled his mind that his military-straight, control-freak brother had fallen headlong in love with a woman like Sterling. Boggled him, and made him happy as hell.
“Now for you.” Parrish gave him a level look. “Kennedy is smart, accomplished, and she quickly adapts. I looked over Madison’s notes on her, and it’s astounding how she’s moved on with her life, how she’s always thinking of others.”
“I noticed that, too. It’s like she’s fashioned her own existence to try to save others, not in the guns-blazing way we use, but by arming them with knowledge.”
“It’s admirable,” Parrish said. “I respect her, and I like her. I especially like how she watches you. If she says things are casual, don’t buy it. She’s emotionally invested, and I think she’s been through enough without adding heartbreak to the mix. If you aren’t serious about her, let her go and we’ll figure out some other way to keep her safe.”
“No.” Reyes tried not to glare, especially since he caught his dad’s meaning. Parrish didn’t want to see Kennedy hurt.
Reyes didn’t, either. The idea that he might hurt her was excruciating. Still, he couldn’t let her go.
Not now, not tomorrow or next week. Not ever?
Parrish again clasped his shoulder. “Figure out what it is you want, while keeping in mind what I’ve said. It isn’t often that a woman can upend your world, and if she does, it probably means she’s the one. Let the right one go, and you’ll be regretting it for the rest of your life.” Parrish headed for the door. “Now come inside. I’m freezing my balls off.”
Cracking a loud laugh, Reyes followed his dad. Yeah, he had a lot to think about. But first he had to find Kennedy.
Dodging the rest of the family, he searched the house until he finally heard female voices coming from the kitchen. Peeking in, he saw Sterling and Kennedy sitting together at the table, and thank God, Bernard was nowhere around.
Reyes had started to intrude when he heard Kennedy say, “He has a right to his own life. If I’m not mad, you shouldn’t be mad.”
Sterling snorted. “There’s no way you’re sleeping with him and not at least a little irked that he’s hearing from other women.”
Right? She should be irked, shouldn’t she?
Kennedy shook her head. “He’s been with me nonstop, playing babysitter and protector and everything else, so I know he hasn’t slept with anyone since I crashed into his life—though I did encourage him to.”
Flopping back in her seat, Sterling said, “Shut the door! You can’t mean that?”
“Granted, I was glad he didn’t take me up on that offer. Pretty sure my imagination would have gone into hyperdrive if I’d known he was out sleeping around.” Kennedy let out a huff. “But if he wants to talk to other women, if he chooses to arrange something, it’s not for me to interfere. Our...association is casual at best. Once the danger’s over, I’ll move on and—”
“You can’t be that blind.”
“Not blind, no. But I’m a realist. All this?” Kennedy gestured as if to encompass the entire house with everything and everyone in it. “I’m not cut out for that life and Reyes knows it.”
“Know what I think?” Sitting forward, Sterling folded her arms on the table. “I think you’re usually pretty brave, but now you’re being a chickenshit.”
Kennedy sputtered.
Taking that as the perfect segue, Reyes strode in. “Feels a little different when you’re the target of all her vitriol, huh?”
As she stood, Sterling smirked at him. “Since you’re now here, instead of off chatting with some other woman, I’ll leave you to it.” She lightly elbowed him on her way out, murmuring, “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Reyes took her vacated chair. Kennedy wasn’t quite looking at him, and color tinged her cheeks. “Sterling tends to cut to the heart of the matter, doesn’t she?”
“Maybe she doesn’t know as much as she thinks she does.”
He grinned at that. “Ah, so you’re not being a chicken? You really are okay with me making a few booty calls? Because you know that’s all it was with Annette, right? I didn’t see her in any serious way.”