Kennedy didn’t think that was the whole reason. The near miss had likely rattled her, too.
“When can we go?” she asked Reyes, knowing without asking that he’d accompany her there.
“Tomorrow is soon enough,” Parrish answered before Reyes could. “I want you to continue resting tonight, and through the morning tomorrow. We’ll reassess then.”
She’d never before had such close medical care. She didn’t mind being treated by Reyes’s father—as long as the medical issues weren’t anything embarrassing. “I feel much better, but thank you.”
“Tomorrow,” Parrish reiterated.
“In the meantime,” Reyes said, “I don’t want you to worry about Jodi. We have guards at the hotel.” He reached over to cover her hand. “Even if she wanted to take off, they’d stall her long enough for us to get there.”
They’d thought of everything, and it truly overwhelmed her with gratitude. Done eating, Kennedy addressed the table. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.” She smiled at Reyes, Cade and Sterling. “You’ve kept Jodi and me safe, and of course that’s the biggie.” Next she turned to Madison. “I’m in awe of your research ability, but your hospitality and kindness is appreciated, too. Thank you for loaning me your clothes.”
Madison returned her smile. “My pleasure.”
“And Bernard, the food. You are a man of many talents. I’ve never eaten so well.”
“Hear! Hear!” Parrish said, lifting his glass of wine.
Bernard nodded regally as they all toasted him.
“Parrish.” Kennedy had saved him for last, because for some reason her heart ached as she looked at him. This man had lost the woman he loved, and, instead of retreating from the world, he’d built something incredible to help others. “I owe you the most appreciation. This is all because of you. Because you cared enough to make helping others a priority.” Her eyes grew damp, and for once she didn’t care. She knew Parrish’s relationship with his children was sometimes strained; she also knew he was the most amazing man she’d ever met. “Without you and all you’ve set up, I’d have no one to turn to. Jodi would be lost. We’d have had little hope at all. For us, the world would be a much uglier place.”
Reyes pushed back his chair, and tugged her out of hers and over into his lap, where he hugged her. “She’s right.” He looked at his father, who appeared speechless. “I don’t know any other man who could have accomplished what you have.” He cupped Kennedy’s bruised cheek. “Now more than ever, I appreciate what you’ve taught me.”
“Agreed.” With his arm around Sterling, Cade said, “If you hadn’t groomed me for this job, I wouldn’t have found Sterling. Thank you, Dad.”
Madison grinned happily. “Here’s to an amazing man who reared incredible children.”
This time it was Bernard who cheered, “Hear! Hear!”
Parrish still looked flabbergasted, but he slowly smiled. “To family.”
That earned another chorus of agreement. This time, Kennedy kept silent. Already, she loved this family so much. Pretty sure she always would.
Even if she wasn’t a real part of it.
Not yet anyway, though she held out hope. Once they took care of Golly and she helped get Jodi settled, then she could figure out if she had a future with Reyes.
Anything less than a lifetime was unthinkable.
* * *
REYES WATCHED KENNEDY look around with interest. When he’d first brought her down to his suite of rooms, she’d been too zoned out to really pay attention. He’d guided her to the turned-down bed, then tucked her in. She’d given one big sigh and slowly drifted to sleep.
His heart had hurt then.
It hurt now.
Until he destroyed Golly and his entire network, he didn’t expect the ache to let up.
“This is beautiful.” Kennedy turned in a circle while looking at his living space with the couch and padded chair, a desk and PC, a bookcase and a TV on the wall. “It’s like an upscale apartment.”
“I didn’t design it,” Reyes admitted, “but I did weigh in on the choices. Same with Cade and Madison. In case of an emergency, Dad wanted us to have a place that was our own, but was also with him.”
“Your father is an astounding man.”
Seeing him through Kennedy’s eyes, Reyes realized it was true. Funny how being reared a certain way made you overlook things. Yes, his dad could be as autocratic as a general, and he wasn’t big on accepting anything less than 110 percent. But he was also supportive in ways Reyes hadn’t realized until recently.
Everything he’d orchestrated, he’d done out of love.
Loving Kennedy changed things. When Reyes thought of his mother and the tragic way she’d ended her own life, he had an inkling of what his father might have gone through. How the hell had he recovered?
Not for a single day had he neglected his children. Instead, he’d given them all a new focus for their anger and grief.
It was a new focus for Parrish, as well. Without that, he might not have survived his pain. It took a strong man to forge on as his father had done. To use his grief as an impetus for good. To effect such remarkable change.
For numerous reasons, Reyes admired him greatly—now more than ever.
He snagged Kennedy’s hand as she started toward the bedroom. Needing to hold her, he pulled her into his arms, breathing in the scent of her, absorbing her sweetness and insight. “Thank you.”
Opening her hands on his back, she stroked him. “Reyes? Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” As she’d said, she was with him. Of course he was okay. “Let me show you the rest of the place.”
Though she continued to watch him with concern, she still appropriately appreciated the masculine design of the bathroom and bedroom.
“I have a dorm-sized fridge and a microwave, but I never use them since Bernard always has something good upstairs.”
“Guess I’ll need to go upstairs for coffee.”
“Nah.” He kissed her forehead, the bridge of her nose and, lastly, her mouth. “I’ll fetch it for you whenever you want.” To keep her from thanking him again, he asked, “Would you like a nice warm bath?”
Slowly she grinned. “The way you say that, I wonder if you have more than a good soak in mind.”
“You, naked? The view alone will be worth it.”
She laughed, the sound light and easy, proving she really was recovering.