He pulled some tissue from the box on her nightstand and dabbed her cheeks.
“Why are you still here?”
That was a question he’d probably ask himself at least a thousand times when they eventually had their first fight, if they ever had one. At the moment he couldn’t think of one thing they’d ever have to argue about.
“Because I’m not leaving you,” he said. “I’m not about to leave the woman who grabbed a hold of me like a damn tsunami until we’ve accurately assessed the damages.” He laced her fingers with his. “From my point of view, those damages are indeed great—given your family’s history and mine—but they could’ve been devastating.” He massaged the back of her hand with his thumb. “And by that I mean, those assassins sent to Paddles and Picnics could’ve hit their mark and even though we’ve just met, I’m certain of one thing. If I had lost you before I had a chance to really get to know you, it would’ve been the most traumatic moment
of my life.”
Chapter Fifteen
Coco stomped in the kitchen and stopped right in front of Kane’s chair. “Has anyone ever told you that you could fuck up a wet dream?”
“Or cause one?” Peyton came right to her husband’s aid, which was par for the course. Coco had gone up against her cousins more than once and they always stood together. They were hands-down the strongest couple she’d ever known. She shuddered to think of what she and her sisters might have to deal with if Braden and Evan, Peyton’s other two husbands, decided to pop on in and join the reunion.
“I’m busy right now, Coco,” Kane said, staring at the laptop screen like he couldn’t see what was on it as he henpecked at letters.
“Honey, let me do this for you,” Peyton said, resting her hand on his wrist.
“Peyton.” Kane thinned his lips, set his jaw, and looked like he was ready to light in to her.
She just cocked her head and in a saucy little voice, she asked, “Yes, honey?”
“Never mind,” he grumbled. “I’m almost done. Besides, the Jackson boys ought to be here anytime. Then the DTF, ATF, FBI, and every other initial-clad organization known to mankind should roll in here, too.”
“How long will this take?” Coco crossed her arms and tapped the toe of her shoe.
“Settle down, little woman,” Kane said, closing the laptop and facing her. “It’s probably safe to assume you and your boys won’t see one another again tonight.”
“My boys?” She glared at Drina when she entered the country kitchen from the other side.
“Don’t look at me and don’t give yourself away,” Drina said. “Kane, when are you going to come to town without stirring up a lot of trouble?”
Peyton laughed. “If that ever happens, you girls let me know. Because then we should all be worried about his mental health state.”
Kane smirked. “You are so spanked once company leaves tonight.”
“That was too much information,” Coco said, clicking out a short text message to Kurt, Liam, and Brandon which simply said, Thinking of you.
Peyton went to the refrigerator. Retrieving a sandwich platter with assorted meats and an array of cheeses, she set the food on the breakfast bar, retrieved some paper plates, and put out some colorful napkins.
“Well aren’t you just familiar with our kitchen,” Drina teased. “We may send Kane back to North Carolina and keep you a while.”
“Don’t,” Coco warned her, realizing all Kane and Peyton seemed to need was an invitation and they’d stay for days and days.
“I invited Peyton—not Kane.”
He seemed too distracted to care. The crackling gravels outside the kitchen window alerted them to company. The Jacksons’ dually trucks pulled in first followed by the unmarked navy blue four-door sedans and a couple of plain white cruisers.
Kane stood in the bay window, watching as everyone left their vehicles. He was acting strange, even for Kane. Then again, he was always suspicious of everyone.
About that time, Coco received a text from Brandon. Mom told you to use what you knew, your knowledge if and when you needed it. No one will fault you if you do that now or in the future.
Immediately, she received a message from Liam. Thinking of you.
Then, one from Kurt arrived. You are one hell of a sexy woman and I hope I can now call you mine.
The last message stole her breath away. If their company hadn’t just arrived, she would’ve considered running upstairs where she would’ve taken a few minutes out of her busy day to play with her lickety-split vibrator, a toy designed to bring quick vibrations to the woman on the go.