Kace (Allen Securities) (14 page)

Kace closed his eyes.

“We rode downtown that day to play some basketball. The courts there were better than the ones near us. Johnny and I were squaring off for a match when Paul had to leave,” he said and sighed. “On the ride home, Paul passed a college girl yelling for help near an alley.”

He could hear Jessica gasp. It was clear what he was about to say.

“Paul did what he would do for anyone, he went to help.” He opened his eyes and looked at Jessica. “The girl, Lisa, we found out later, said that if he hadn’t come along, she didn’t know what would have happened. Paul was able to get behind the guy and struggle for the knife, but he just wasn’t big enough to take on the weight of a grown man. They fell to the ground, and the knife punctured his heart. The guy took off running just as Johnny and I came around the corner. Lisa called out for us to stop him. I ran to help her, and Johnny tackled the guy. By that point, other people had gathered, and some men helped hold him down until the police got there.”

Kace sucked in a breath, and his lungs hurt from the constriction.

“His father was one of the first on scene,” he said. “I’ll never forget the sound of him crying for his dead son.”

Jessica hugged him hard against her and smoothed the hair on the back of his head.

“He saved her, and I’m glad he saved her. Really,” he said. “But there are days when I wish he would have just called out. Or ran into a store to get someone.”

She kissed the side of his head as she continued to hold him.

“Sounds to me like he was truly a selfless person,” she said. “Someone who deserves to be displayed and remembered.”

She set the picture down on the nightstand and looked him in the eyes.

“I’m sure Lisa remembers her hero,” she said quietly.

Kace sat quietly, thinking over her words. It hurt remembering that day. There was no doubt about that, but not talking about him, it was almost like he never existed.

“Is that why you went on to be a cop and Johnny went into the military?” Jessica broke into his thoughts.

“I don’t think it was something that either of us planned on,” he said. “After he died, I would visit with Paul’s family. Johnny and I both did. I hated what it did to them as a family and wanted a way to make it better. Being a cop was just the right choice.”

He shrugged.

“Now Trent, Paul’s older brother, always planned to go in. When Paul died, he was nearly finished with college. He graduated and went in as an officer in the Navy and then on to be a SEAL. Now he leads his own platoon.”

He shifted her off his lap and stood after she was on her feet. Kace stretched.

“And Johnny followed him in?”

Kace stopped mid-stretch. “Johnny and Trent were never the same after that day.” He let out a hollow laugh. “I guess none of us were. But them most of all. Johnny closed himself off and would only let a few people in. He and Trent had a bond that I just couldn’t understand. Maybe it was that they both lost people so close to them.”

Jessica frowned. “But you all lost Paul. I can understand Trent, but Johnny was the same as you.”

Kace shook his head. “When we were thirteen, Aunt Donna passed away from cancer. It was fast, and no one really had much time to prepare for it, least of all her children.”

“Oh how terrible,” Jessica said.

Kace nodded. “Mom tried to help. She used to point out what did four more matter when you already had six?”

Jessica chuckled. Put that way, it wasn’t quite as crazy as it seemed.

“I don’t know how much he had thought about the military before, but the summer after we graduated high school, Uncle Gary died from a heart attack.” Kace sighed. It was a rough time during those years. It seemed everywhere they turned there was death. “After that, he just seemed to shut down. Everything was about going into the Navy and being a SEAL with Trent. Of course, it wasn’t really a stretch. Aside from Mason, who works for Reed, the other two were already serving in the Marines.”

“It’s no wonder he shut down,” Jessica said and looked to the picture. “Do you still see him?”

“Not as often as I used to,” he said. “He’ll pop in for a day or two, but he’s always on his next mission. Off somewhere he can’t talk about. Killing Osama’s cousin or some shit like that.”

Jessica put her small hand in his. “You worry.”

Her tender words struck him to the core.

“Always,” he said quietly. “He doesn’t value his life, and I know he takes more risks than he has to. I’ve seen the scars.”

She rubbed his arm. “Hopefully he’ll find peace.”

Kace nodded. He hoped so as well, or he might be going to another funeral.

Jessica laced her fingers with his. He liked the intimacy they shared.

“Is Trent’s dad still a policeman?”

Kace shook his head. “Retired last year and driving his daughter Anna crazy.”

He grinned. Anna was tough, but the last he had seen, she was ready to throttle her dad. College and dealing with a retired captain was pushing her patience to the limit.

“Dinner,” his mom called down the hall.

“Yeah, quit whatever you’re doing and come eat,” Cage hollered down the hall.

“Cage!”

He chuckled when he turned to see Jessica’s horrified look at the door.

“It’s fine,” he said. “Everyone knows the house has paper thin walls.” He winked at her. “Cage knows firsthand.”

Jessica grinned. “Maybe I should ask him about that,” she said.

Kace laughed out loud. “I knew there was a reason I love you.”

They froze.

Hands still locked, he could see her pulse pick up in her neck and cursed his poor timing. He hadn’t meant to let it slip this way, but there it was, and there was nothing he could do.

“Ah, well,” Jessica fumbled. “We should get to dinner.”

His heart twisted as she slipped away from his grasp and into the hall. He had really hoped she might.

Kace took a few deep breaths and swallowed the lump in his throat. It didn’t matter. He would just have to love her until she was ready.

Chapter Fourteen

Jessica sat uncomfortably next to Olivia. There were so many people. She didn’t understand how they managed to run so many conversations at once without losing where they were. It didn’t help that she was trying to avoid the elephant dropped between she and Kace.

He loved her.

She thought he might take it back or laugh it off, but, if anything, he seemed to be waiting. Her stomach twisted. Guilt ate at her. She was sure she felt it for him, but saying those words out loud just made her cringe.

It was too soon. They had just started something, and yet every time she thought about him saying it, her heart beat wildly in her chest.

Olivia nudged her side, and she jumped.

When she looked around, several people were staring at her.

“Jessica runs a club,” Kace said to his mother.

She smiled at him, grateful for the save. Heat boiled between them, and she had to look away, so she could catch her breath.

Jessica looked back to Olivia who was eying her suspiciously.

“Do you have any siblings?” Marilyn went on. If she was aware of the tension on their side of the table, she hid it well.

“I have a sister,” she said and smiled. “Victoria is going to school to be a grade school teacher.”

The older woman smiled back.

“What about you?” Marilyn asked. “Do you like running the club?”

Jessica thought for a moment. “Well I like doing the finances,” she said. “I’m not fond of the long hours to late nights, but there isn’t much for someone who doesn’t have a degree right now. It pays well at least.”

“Have you thought about taking some classes?” Reed asked. She was surprised he would wade in.

“Right now, paying for Victoria’s schooling has me nearing my limit,” she said and shrugged. “Maybe when she’s out.”

“Speaking of the club,” Olivia said with a smile. “How are things going?”

Kace squeezed her thigh, and Reed shot Jessica daggers over her friend’s head.

She smiled. “Fine. A little crazy recently, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Kace chuckled next to her. She could practically see the steam coming off Reed.

Jessica cocked an eyebrow at him and turned her attention back to Olivia.

“So tell me all about the appointments for the baby,” she said and rubbed her friend’s growing belly.

Olivia beamed from ear to ear as she talked about hearing the heartbeat and watching the baby on the ultrasound monitor. A piece of her ached for happiness like Olivia and Reed shared. He placed his large hand on her stomach and began to rub.

Jessica smiled. It was nice.

She jumped when a chubby hand reached out from under the table to push away Reed’s hand. For a split second, she thought she’d stepped into some sort of horror story.

“No touch, Uncle Reed.” A sweet-faced child poked his head from under the table. Seconds later, another head popped up, but this one was a girl.

Both had large brown eyes. The little girl stared with interest at her, but the boy was fixed on Reed.

“Looks like you’ve got competition.” She grinned at Reed.

“Mason, call off you attack son,” Reed called down the table.

A tall man stood at the end of the table, his dark hair much like his cousins, the same clear blue eyes. He seemed tired, and if the dark circles under his eyes said anything, he hadn’t slept well in some time.

“Sorry. Tommy, be nice.” He smiled, and she couldn’t help but smile back. “Sarah is taking acting classes, so I’ve got the kids.”

Jessica watched as several people exchanged glances. No one seemed particularly upset she wasn’t there. In fact, she was fairly certain she heard James whisper hallelujah and Cage laugh.

When she looked over, Marilyn was staring daggers at the two.

“That’s no problem, dear.” She shot a look over to Reed. “If you can’t handle a three-year old, how are you going to handle a baby?”

Reed blushed and looked hopelessly between his mother and Olivia.

Everyone turned to Olivia when she started laughing. She pulled the little boy on to her lap. The sweet little girl made her way over to Jessica and scrambled to sit on her lap.

“I think those pregnancy hormones have made her crack,” Cage said to Reed.

Olivia turned to Jessica and wiped her eyes. When she had calmed down, she winked at Jessica and then turned back to Reed.

“Well now seems like a good time to tell them,” she said. She held up her left hand and giggled. “We’re getting married after the baby is born.”

Jessica reached over and hugged her friend, squishing the children between them. They all giggled when she pulled back.

“That’s fantastic news,” Jessica said to Reed and Olivia.

She watched as the happy couple embraced others in the family. The sweet little boy was back in his father’s arms. He stopped to stand next to her.

“Lucy,” he said to the little girl on her lap. “How about you come sit with Daddy?”

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around Jessica.

“I want to sit with Pocahontas,” she said and ran her hands in Jessica’s hair.

She heard Kace laugh loudly beside her.

“You think I look like Pocahontas?”

Jessica looked down at little Lucy as she nodded. She grinned at the sweet little girl.

“I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever had,” she said. Jessica looked up to Mason and smiled. “We’re good.”

“You be a good girl,” he said and went back to his seat at the end of the table.

Kace leaned over. “He looks like he could use a good sleep,” he mumbled in her ear.

She nodded. In fact, the children looked like they were due for a good sleep.

Lucy snuggled further into her. Kace moved his chair next to hers and put the girl’s legs on to his lap. She sighed and closed her eyes.

Jessica watched Lucy sleep peacefully on her lap and leaned on Kace. It was so nice to have someone to lean on. She sighed when his arm wrapped around her.

* * *

She felt a tug on her arms and jolted awake.

“It’s okay, babe. Let Mom have Lucy,” Kace said in her ear, his voice rough.

Her eyes blinked into focus, and she saw Marilyn’s smiling face.

Jessica smiled back and passed over the sleeping girl.

“Sorry,” she said.

Marilyn shook her head. “Glad they are getting some sleep.”

She nodded over to where Mason was sleeping on the chair in the corner. His head lulled to the side, and he breathed heavily.

“Would you help me get her in bed?”

Jessica stood and stretched. When she turned to Kace, he was standing quietly behind her.

“I’m just going to get something,” he said quietly.

Jessica nodded and followed after Marilyn to a bedroom on the first floor. Tommy was curled up under the covers. She chuckled at how cute he looked, even when he wasn’t threatening burly men.

She pulled back the covers and moved out of the way as Marilyn placed Lucy next to her brother. They snuggled closer to one another, and she smiled at the pair.

Marilyn stood next to her and ushered them into the hall.

“They are so precious,” Jessica said when the door was closed.

“It’s been hard for them recently with their mom gone all the time.” She glanced toward the dining room. “Hard on all of them.”

Jessica nodded and watched as Kace walked out to the front porch.

“You’re the first woman he’s brought home, and I can see why. He’s different with you,” Marilyn said quietly. “We didn’t know if he’d ever find someone. He can be hard to get to know.”

Jessica turned and stared at her.

“Kace has had a hard time since Paul,” she said. “I’m just glad to see him happy for a change.”

Marilyn smiled at her, and she felt the love of a mother. Not just for him but her as well. It rocked her.

“You stay safe out there,” Marilyn said and wrapped her in a warm hug.

Jessica struggled to keep her tears back. It had been such an emotional day.

She walked out the door and found Kace waiting, the picture from earlier in hand. He gave a wave to his mother and ushered Jessica back to the car.