And then, he’d turned around and broken her spirit. He’d pushed her away with an excuse that made her doubt herself and sink deeper into insecurity. He hated that he’d done that to her, but he hadn’t had a choice. What he’d learned after his sister’s death would hurt her far more than the demise of their relationship had.
Striker only hoped the plumber saw the same exquisite beauty—inside and out—that he did. He prayed he’d encourage her to find her dreams and follow them, and help her know that no matter what had happened in her past, she could overcome the hurt and fear.
He walked over to the kitchen window and watched as she hugged her friend again and again, crying tears of happiness while a smile lit up her face and warmed his heart.
He turned around and saw Razor studying him.
“A blind man could see how much you love my sister-in-law.”
“She’s better off without me.”
“Good thing you gave her the choice,” Razor added, leaving Striker standing alone in the kitchen when he went out to greet Mercer and his wife.
As he told Razor before, if he had, she would’ve told him it didn’t matter. She would’ve told him that she’d stick by him no matter what, even if it meant they couldn’t have the family they’d so often talked about.
The first time Aine had asked if he wanted to have children, he told her he didn’t think he’d make a very good father. His lack of having his own in his life, had made him wonder if he would know how to love a child in the way a father should.
She said she worried about the same thing. Her mother was a recovering alcoholic who hadn’t spent much time with her or her sister when they were growing up. They spent their youth at boarding school and rarely saw their mother or father, even for holidays.
Striker remembered that the more she spoke, the more he knew she’d make a fantastic mother. So often, her personality, the way she treated people, even the way she smiled, reminded him of his Aunt Dorothy. That she’d never had children was a tragedy he couldn’t impose on Aine. Any child would be fortunate to have her as a mother.
“You remember Mercer,” said Razor, coming back into the kitchen with their friend and colleague.
“Of course I do.” Striker shook his hand.
“I haven’t been gone that long, Raze,” said the man those in the intelligence world knew as Eighty-eight.
“Feels that way. More so for those three though,” Razor added, pointing at Aine, Ava, and Quinn. “Lots of luck getting your wife’s attention now, man.”
Mercer smiled. “I’ve had her undivided attention for months. I can share.”
Striker, on the other hand, hadn’t had Aine’s attention, and he found himself craving it, no matter how much he knew he shouldn’t.
When he looked over to where the three women sat in the living room, she turned her head, and their eyes met. The smile she gave him settled over him like the warmest blanket. He wished so much he could accept the love she so freely gave him, but he couldn’t. He loved her too much in return to do that to her.
—:—
“You look fantastic,” Aine said to Quinn, hugging her for the tenth time.
“Thanks. I feel fantastic.”
“Tell us about everywhere you’ve been. God, it feels like we haven’t seen you in years,” said Ava.
Quinn laughed. “On one hand, it feels as though we were just here yesterday, and on the other hand, I agree with you. How are Penelope and Tara?”
“They’re planning to be here for Thanksgiving.”
Quinn clapped her hands. “The tribe will be back together again. We haven’t been since Ava and Razor’s wedding. By the way, didn’t you and Striker get together?”
“It was short-lived.”
“Really?” asked Quinn, looking over at Striker. “He can’t take his eyes off of you.”
“We’ll tell you more about that later, when we’re alone,” said Ava.
Quinn looked back and forth between her and her sister. “I’m intrigued.”
“Maybe you can help us solve the mystery.”