Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

KENNEDYAND BERNARDplayed with the cat and kittens while Reyes, Cade, Madison and their dad sat around a massive desk in the library making plans. She’d been confused at finding all the kittens there, until Reyes explained that his siblings always brought them along when they came to his dad’s house. It was a compromise that pleased everyone, most especially Bernard.

It was decided that he and Kennedy needed to meet with Jodi again, to clue her in on the players and the risks. Kennedy wanted to make sure that Jodi knew she wasn’t alone, that she had substantial backup so she wouldn’t do anything reckless.

Made sense to Reyes, although that also added the risk that his father’s enterprise might be exposed. Extra care, everyone agreed, was necessary.

Cade and Sterling would shadow them to Jodi’s place, just to make sure they weren’t ambushed. There was a good chance the goons might already know where Jodi was staying.

After all, they knew Jodi and Kennedy were friends. They’d torched Kennedy’s apartment. They’d tracked them to the campsite.

So far, they’d been pretty damned determined.

Given the go-ahead, Reyes would happily move on them now. Unfortunately, his dad and Cade disagreed with that plan. Madison insisted they needed more info first, just in case other women were already targeted or even imprisoned.

It wouldn’t do to kill the creeps without first knowing all the details.

Sterling, forever over-the-top, said, “We could use me for bait again.”

Reyes and Madison were already shaking their heads.

Cade stated firmly, “Fuck that.”

And Parrish gave her a long-suffering look. “By now, you should have realized there are better plans than putting yourself at risk. Haven’t you learned anything from us?”

Grumbling, Sterling sank back in her seat. “My way is more expedient.”

“Your way,” Cade growled, “will never happen again.”

She shot Parrish a glare. “I blame you for him being so bossy.”

He dipped his head in acceptance. “I’ll gladly take the credit.”

While they bickered, Reyes became distracted by Kennedy’s laugh. He turned to see her snuggling Chimera and one kitten, while Bernard held the other two.

The kittens were bigger now, but still undeniably cute. And he had to admit, with all the lavish attention Bernard gave Chimera, she was now a beauty.

Her all-white coat had gone from shabby to thick, and as soft as rabbit fur. Her googly, mismatched eyes—one pale blue, one yellow-green—often stared at Bernard with undiluted love and trust.

Bernard had been good for the cat. It was still a shock, realizing that stuffy Bernard had grown up on a farm and absolutely loved animals. He was too damned aloof, but with Chimera, he was a giant softie.

Of course Reyes wouldn’t take the cat away. Hopefully, Kennedy understood.

In the middle of his dad and Cade going over reconnaissance for the motel, Reyes asked, “How do you feel about having the cats here?”

The two men looked up, confused. Sterling smiled and Madison kept her attention on her laptop.

“What?” his father asked, thrown by the off-topic question.

“Chimera and her three kittens. They don’t bother you?”

“Bernard takes care of everything,” Parrish said dismissively.

“There has to be cat hair, though, right?”

“Bernard cleans after them,” Parrish reminded him, as if that explained it all.

Reyes started to mention the cat box, then changed his mind. Both his father and brother were looking at him as if he’d just announced a flight to Mars.

“Told you,” Sterling said. “Totally smitten.”

Now they all stared at her.

“What in the world does cat hair have to do with that?” Parrish asked.

Sterling nodded at Reyes. “He’s thinking of home, hearth and pets, that’s what. If not with Kennedy, then who?”

“Butt out,” Reyes told Sterling, then to distract everyone, he asked, “Any news on Jodi?”

“So far she hasn’t budged,” Madison said. “She ordered pizza, though, and that can be risky, too.”

Reyes hadn’t heard Kennedy approach until she stood right beside him. “If ordering food is dangerous, how is she supposed to survive?”

Without thinking about it, Reyes tugged her into his lap. She thought about it, obviously, given her very rigid posture. The rest of the family did, too, as evidenced by their alert stares.

For crying out loud, couldn’t a guy—

The buzzing of his phone saved him, or so he thought until he answered the call and Annette’s feminine, flirty voice said, “I haven’t heard from you in forever and I have a desperate need to see you.” The emphasis on need plainly meant sex.

Shit. Here he was, his entire family watching him, Kennedy on his lap, and one of his regulars on his phone. Or rather, Annette had been a regular, until Kennedy had moved in with him.

“Hey,” he said, stalling while he tried to think.

Sterling, who was always perceptive, cocked a brow and grinned at him. “It’s a woman,” she decided aloud.

Knowing he wore a deer-in-the-headlights expression, Reyes wasn’t surprised when Cade said, “Probably.”

He really wanted to blast them both, but he had Kennedy slowly twisting around to frown at him and Annette impatiently waiting.

He cleared his throat. “Just a sec, doll.”

Even Madison looked up at that point, disapproval plain in the set of her mouth.

Right. Bad choice of endearments, but damn it, it was what he always called Annette. Habit and all that.

Before he could explain anything to Kennedy, she gave him a tight smile and jolted off his lap. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

Reyes watched her stride out of the room. Where she’d go, he didn’t know. The house was big enough that she might lose her way if she wandered too far.

But then Sterling muttered, “Asshole,” in his general direction and went after Kennedy.

Well, hell.

Annette said, “Catch you at a bad time?”

“Actually, yes.” Avoiding Cade’s gaze and ignoring his father and sister, Reyes stood and, undecided where to go, headed out of the library and around to the foyer. That didn’t seem private enough, so he stepped outside and pulled the door shut behind him. “So.”

“C’mon, Reyes,” Annette urged. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

Out of the three women he generally saw for casual hookups, Annette was the most affectionate, yet none of them were demanding. Of course, he usually saw each of them a few times a month.

After he’d gotten Kennedy settled in his place...well, he hadn’t given other women a single thought. That realization made him frown.

Annette, Cathy and Lili didn’t want anything other than convenient sex, which was why they worked out so well for him.

Until Kennedy.

Damn. He’d changed without even realizing it!

Disgruntled by that realization, Reyes said, “Sorry, but tonight is out.”

“When, then?” Her voice grew a little more strident. “Or is it just that you’ve lost interest in me? If that’s the case, hey, tell me now and you won’t hear from me again.”

See, this was why he avoided relationships. This crap was awkward. He started to go the route of “it’s not you, it’s me,” but Annette was sharp and she’d see right through that.

Maybe honesty was the way to go. Why not? “Actually, I’ve met someone and she’s occupying all my time right now.”

Silence. Long, heavy silence.

Followed by...laughter?

“What the hell, Annette?” Pacing, Reyes walked along the considerable length of the covered front porch, barely aware of dropping temps or the increasing wind.

“Oh, my God,” she said around continued hilarity. “I almost peed myself.”

“It’s not that funny.”

She went silent again, then snorted. “Don’t tell me you’re serious?”

Slowly Reyes blew out a breath. Snapping at Annette made him feel like a jerk. In a less annoyed tone, he admitted, “Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are.”

“More like blindsided, but... Congrats?”

“It’s not all that,” he muttered. Or was it?

“All right. Then when it ends, give me a call. Pretty sure I’ll still be free.” With another chuckle, she ended the call.

When it ends?

Why did everyone keep bringing that up? Kennedy was always trying to figure out when it’d be safe for her to move on. Now Annette, too?

Eventually it’d have to happen, right? He hadn’t changed that much, and for sure his vocation would stay the same. Kennedy wasn’t Sterling. Even if he wanted something more with her, something...permanent? He couldn’t see her accepting the family enterprise.

She had an idea of things now, but he doubted she understood the scope of it all, or the fact that hunting scumbags and freeing victims was the focus rather than a side job. Everything else centered on it.

Besides, she’d made it clear already that she wasn’t looking for anything permanent, either.

He thought of her expression when Annette had called. He’d label it a mix of hurt and disappointment. Her gaze had looked distant, her smile forced.

Could that be jealousy? Or just discomfort over the situation?

He was so lost in thought he didn’t hear the front door open and close until his father said, “Staying out here won’t solve anything.”

Reyes turned, caught his father’s enigmatic expression and shrugged. “Just finished my call.” He shoved the phone back in his pocket. First thing, he’d get hold of the other women and make sure they knew he was out of commission for the foreseeable future. He didn’t want to go through that awkwardness again.

Parrish leaned against a stone pillar. “Anything important?”

“Nah.” Glancing at the door, he said, “Sorry for the interruption.”

“You’re distracted. That’s dangerous.”

“I’m not,” he denied. Hell, even if he was, Reyes knew his training would take over when necessary. Like muscle memory for a fighter, his reactions had become instinctive. He was damned good at what he did, and beyond that, he would do whatever it took, however he needed to do it, to protect Kennedy.

Damn it, his thoughts had just circled back to her again.

Parrish didn’t press him. “Cade will leave soon to check out the motel.”

He didn’t want to, but Reyes said, “I could go with him.”

“Sterling is going. It won’t be too dangerous since they’re only going to scope out the egresses, the security cameras and the outlying area, and see if there are any guys on watch.”

“Makes sense.” His dad was reluctant to admit it, mostly because he worried for her, but Sterling knew what she was about. The lady had ingenuity galore, was a little too brave, and her instincts were pretty spot-on; however, she wasn’t always as cautious as she could be.

“You,” Parrish said with emphasis, “need to talk to Kennedy. Whatever your personal situation might be, work it out. Now that we’re involved, we’ll be seeing this through to the end. But she’s still an outsider and if she gets resentful and talks, it puts us all at risk.”

“She wouldn’t.”

Parrish studied him intently. “You’re sure of that?”

“Hundred percent.” It was a weird thing to realize how much he trusted Kennedy. “I doubt it’s necessary, but I’ll emphasize to her the need to keep things private.” After he soothed her temper—and after they spent a few hours in bed.

That is, if she was still on board for that. It was never a good idea to make assumptions with women.

Never a good idea to keep one waiting, either, especially when her imagination might be in overdrive. “Where is Kennedy anyway?”

“Off with Sterling still.”

Yeah, that didn’t reassure him. He wanted to charge off to find her, but his dad was still giving him the stink eye, so he waited, doing his best to act like a man without a care.

Parrish walked to the end of the porch, his gaze off in the distance. “We’ll get snow soon.”

“You think?” He gave the darkening skies a critical glance.

“They’re predicting a few inches, but if it turns into more, it could hamper us.”

For some reason, Reyes found himself scowling. “Something on your mind, Dad?”

His father, still a big man with a strong physique, relaxed a shoulder against the stone pillar. “Your mother would have been proud of you, Reyes.”

What. The. Fuck. Reyes looked around, but no, there was no one else to hear, so he rubbed the back of his neck and stepped closer. “You think?”

“She loved each of you equally.” He glanced back. “Cade included.”

“I know, Dad.”

Cade might be a half brother, but no one in their family had ever made the distinction. He was a McKenzie, plain and simple.

Turning his gaze to the horizon, Parrish said, “Even before Cade went away, you were a wild one. Always too daring, always too quick to challenge.”

More uncomfortable by the second, Reyes wasn’t sure what to say. But he sensed his father needed to talk, so by God, he’d man up and listen. “I was a shithead.”

A crease in Parrish’s cheek told Reyes he was smiling. “That you were. All cocky bravado and such a know-it-all. So different from your reserved brother and your studious sister.”

“Mom used to accuse me of giving her gray hairs.”

Parrish laughed. It was a rare sound these days. “I miss her every single day.”

“I know.” Standing at Parrish’s back, Reyes put a hand on his shoulder.

A full minute passed in companionable silence while the wind worsened and the temperature slowly dropped.

“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.”

“Just when you had an itch?” she asked, mocking him.

It seemed easiest to just come clean, so he said, “I slept with her, and with Cathy and Lili and, when the opportunity presented itself, a few other women as well. We had an arrangement. They didn’t want anything other than sex, and neither did I.”

“Yet she called you.”

“Because I haven’t...had an itch recently.” He dipped in before Kennedy could guess his intent, and put a firm smooch on her lips. “These days, I’m only interested in sleeping with one woman.”

She fried his ass by saying, “I guess there’s something to be said for convenience.”

Sitting back, Reyes scowled. “Now you’re just trying to piss me off.”

“No, I’m being serious.” Leaving her seat, she went to the window to gaze out. “If I’m honest—”

“Yeah, let’s try that.” He stared at her proud shoulders and saw her stiffen.

“Being honest,” she began again, “it’d be less awkward for me if I know you aren’t with anyone else. But Reyes, I meant what I said. You’re doing enough for me as it is, and if you prefer to—”

“Just so we’re clear,” he interrupted in a voice gone low and dangerous, “I’ll be fucking furious if you think to sleep around somewhere else.”

She spun to face him, her brows up in surprise, not in the least alarmed at his tone. In fact, she smiled. “That’d hardly be possible when I have to stay glued to you for safety reasons.” The smile twitched. “I can’t see you trailing along for that errand.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“And I wouldn’t presume to invite someone else into your house, so—”

Son of a bitch. He shot out of his seat and advanced on her. “I don’t want anyone else, so for me it’s a moot point. For you, if you’re thinking of—”

Laughing, she pressed against him, her arms sliding around his neck, her body flush to his. “I’m glad.”

“Glad?” He didn’t understand her at all.

“Glad that you don’t want anyone else.” The smile softened. “Sterling is right. I was being chickenshit.” Then she laughed again. “How could you think for even a second that I’d want another man with you around?”

“I’ll admit I was stymied by the notion.” While she snickered, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kept her right there, as close to him as possible—where she belonged. “I can’t promise to have all the answers, babe, but I know this isn’t convenience for me. I don’t want it to end just because the danger does. I want a chance to see where it takes us.”

The humor faded away, replaced by something nearing satisfaction. “That sounds serious.”

“Feels serious, too.” He nuzzled her temple, pressed a kiss to her brow, then another to the bridge of her nose, and finally planted one on her sexy mouth, long and hungry and probably inappropriate for his father’s kitchen.

But hey, it wasn’t every day that he spilled his guts out.

When he let up, Kennedy put her forehead to his chest. Around faster, deeper breaths, she whispered, “Count me in as long as you promise to let me know if you change your mind.”

“Done.”

“And FYI, when it’s safe, I definitely need to get my own place.” When he started to protest, she spoke over him. “It’s the only way we’ll both know for sure.”

“I already know I don’t want us in separate places.” Now that he’d had her with him, he couldn’t imagine any other scenario.

Sleeping alone? No, thank you.

Quiet dinners without their conversations? He’d pass.

Missing her pre-coffee zombie impression? Mornings wouldn’t be the same.

“Uh-huh,” she said. “That’s why you spent so long talking to your caller?”

Ah, there was a definite edge to her words, and damned if he didn’t like it. It meant she wasn’t as blasé about sending him off to other women as she pretended.

Turning her own phrase back on her, he said, “FYI, I wasn’t talking to Annette that whole time. In fact, my conversation with her was short and sweet, consisting of me saying I was off the market, and her laughing her ass off at me.”

Kennedy frowned. “Why, exactly, did she laugh?”

“Because the idea of me being in a relationship is hilarious as fuck, I’m guessing.” He kissed her again for good measure. “And there you have it. You’re so special, so sexy and unique, you have me doing things out of character.”

Her expression went through several changes, caught somewhere between displeasure and hope. Finally she sighed. “I don’t understand you.”

“Makes two of us.” He grinned. “But I’m coming to grips with it, so I hope you do, too. By the way, I took so long because Dad cornered me on the front porch. He gave me a real heart-to-heart, the gist of which was that I shouldn’t screw this up or I’d be regretting it the rest of my life. So here I am, trying to figure things out and, truth, Kennedy, I’m not getting a whole hell of a lot of help from you.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t want your family to pressure you.”

Laughing, he stepped back and snagged her hand, drawing her out of the kitchen. “That’s what you took from all that, huh? For sure, you’ll keep me on my toes.” The humor swelled within him. They had a looming situation of life-and-death proportions, and still she made him laugh. There couldn’t be another woman like Kennedy anywhere. “C’mon. Let’s go home.”

“And get naked and do all those amazing things again?”

“Now you’re talking.”

“I just need a few minutes to say goodbye, and to give Chimera and her babies one last hug.”

Kennedy might not realize it yet, but she already fit in with his family. She didn’t need to be a computer geek like Madison, or a fighter like him, Cade and Sterling. She fit because of who she was, not what she could do.

His family liked her. He more than liked her.

Was she the one for him? It was sure starting to feel that way.