by Sheila Kell
“I think he’s still pissed you skipped out on his wedding in Vegas,” AJ said around a mouthful.
He shrugged. “He’s a guy. They don’t care about that shit. Besides, they were already married.”
The two men chuckled, but AJ spoke. “Men don’t care, but when their wives do, men do. Rylee’s the one who was put out that you didn’t stick around.”
Trent shook his head and smiled. “I’ll kiss and make up with her when she returns.”
Pushing the almost empty bowl of popcorn away, AJ shook his head. “Do you have a death wish? You can’t keep kissing other men’s wives.”
“Hey, I kissed Megan before you two were even an item,” Trent countered jokingly, knowing that one kiss had been a big mistake that while he joked about it, he regretted it since the action bothered AJ so much.
“Enough, you two. Trent, what do you want from us?” Matt waved a finger back and forth between himself and AJ, effectively bringing the conversation back to their main reason for meeting.
“Besides fixing this goddamn table so I can look at Kelly’s file?” He huffed out a breath. “I don’t know yet.” And that kept the frustration level high.
After his reluctant admission, Emily Cavanaugh, the Hamilton family baby sister, strolled into the room. “Trent,” she squealed and raced over to him.
He’d barely landed on his feet before she launched herself at him, knocking him back a step and winding him. When her arms around his neck started choking him, he tried to peel her away. Before the accident… before finding out she was his sister… they’d always been close—not close like he and Kelly—but close.
After the accident, when he’d saved her daughter, their friendship became stronger. As one would expect in that situation.
Funny how he’d never balked at her being his sister compared to Jesse, Devon, Brad, Matt, and AJ being his brothers. Sins of the father….
Measured in intensity, Em’s embrace beat all the others he’d received from her. Obviously she’d missed him, and that made him smile. Holding her at arm’s length, his grin broadened and he winked. “Doll, you look good.”
Slapping him on the arm playfully, she laughed while redness crept into her face. “You’re still the shameless flirt.” Surprising him, she kissed him on the cheek. “Amber will be glad to see you. But—” She paused and laughed. “She still says she won’t go swimming with you.”
Hearty laughter erupted from the table, and Trent couldn’t help but join in. After taking the little girl for a scary plunge into the swimming pool at the Hamilton’s Oxford home—to save her life—he was lucky she even wanted anything to do with him. Yet at that age—what was she three or four?—they tended to be pretty smart.
“You missed her birthday.”
So, she’d turned four. Holy fuck. Had he really been gone that long? Well, he must have if Amber had a birthday. Jamie had been right; he’d missed so much by taking care of her, but he wouldn’t have given up that opportunity for the world. She’d deserved the care, especially after all she’d done to heal him both physically and emotionally.
The laughing had stopped and looking around, Em drew in her brows. “You boys look in desperate need of help. Maybe I can do something.”
With a disappointed exhale of breath, Trent shook his head. “I don’t need anything financial.” Em was their forensic accountant and was damn good at it. “I need this table working and some background. Devon said he’d pull the information when he could.” Shrugging, he almost sighed again in despair. He needed to help Kelly, and that wait didn’t sit well with him, even though nothing appeared to be urgent in her situation.
Except she was pregnant and husbandless.
She didn’t show it, but she had to be devastated at losing the man so close to their wedding. Jealousy shot through him, and he didn’t quite understand why he’d be jealous of a dead man. Still, she was alone and needed someone to take care of her, no matter what she said. One problem at a time, he reminded himself.
Locking her fingers together, Em stretched them in front of her body and then released them. “Step aside, boys.” Pushing past Trent, she leaned forward and typed on a keyboard that had mysteriously appeared. What the fuck? Devon could’ve shown him how to bring that up. Maybe he could’ve salvaged the time he’d wasted just tapping on the damn table everywhere, hoping something worked.
“Okay, here’s your file. Now, don’t screw it up again,” she warned. “I’ll get you what background I can. I’m able to acquire basic information easily, but anything deeper requires Devon. He hasn’t taught me all that spook stuff he knows.” She chuckled at what must’ve been a joke between her and Devon. “I need some information from you, though.”
Still staring at the table, with its picture of Kelly on a file folder, he spouted off from memory, “Brian Platt, lives in Reed Point, Montana. That’s about all I have.”
“Wow, she’s been busy,” Matt said in relation to Kelly.
He turned back to his brothers—wow, that label came off my tongue without thought this time—and speared Matt with a steely glare. Protectiveness welled inside him like an ugly monster. “Get out of her file.” Kelly’s personal information was no one’s business. After reviewing it, he would decide what to share with everyone.
Hands raised, Matt leaned back in his chair. “Just looking at the stories she’s investigated.”
Resuming his seat, Trent touched the table and spun the display toward him. With his finger, he flipped through screens, like paging through it on a computer. As long as Devon always had it set up like this, the men on the team wouldn’t mind. However, if they had to figure it out—like he had—then the table could end up being kindling. No matter Devon’s desire to bring them into the twenty-first century, the men preferred their low-tech, caveman ways. It worked, so why change it? was their philosophy.
“She likes to rock the boat.” AJ’s voice came from behind him.
Looking up, he found the man leaning over his shoulder. How had he not noticed that?
“Yeah, she does,” he conceded. If it stirred controversy, it stirred Kelly into action. He couldn’t be prouder of the work she did, but it also twisted his gut.
Em walked to the table with a printout. “I’ve got something for you to start.” She bumped Trent’s chair aside a foot. “Here.” Reaching out, she pulled up that magical keyboard again and the next thing he knew, a file—similar to the one on Kelly—appeared on the screen with Brian’s name on it. “Now,” she smiled mischievously, “don’t tell Devon, but here’s a printed copy also. I figured you’d want to take something with you besides an extra laptop.”
He accepted the papers from her, and relief whooshed through him. He stood and kissed her cheek, similar to how she’d welcomed him. “Thanks, Doll.”
She smiled. “Anytime for you, big brother.” Winking, she walked back to the computer bank.
Warmth spread through him to hear her call him that. When they’d been growing up, he’d felt like her older brother, keeping her out of trouble while her brothers ignored her.
Enough emotions for the day. The frustration close to overwhelmed him and he didn’t like being like that. Being back in control of his feelings was what he needed. He’d faced down his brothers and sister and survived. He had stuff to look into for Kelly. Good start.
With everything in printed form, he prepared to leave. Grabbing his jacket, he thanked everyone and collected his helmet before exiting through the house, giving a quick hug and kiss to Mrs. Kessler.
His phone rang, and he considered ignoring it, but curiosity rose up within him, and he checked the phone number on display. Kelly. Answering the phone, his gut clenched, knowing something was terribly wrong. Had someone gotten to her? It took him a couple of minutes to understand her through her blubbering tears. She was at the hospital. The fucking hospital, his mind screamed. Without hesitation, he started his bike and jammed the accelerator forward.
He never should’ve left her alone.
AFTER BEING UNHOOKED from a monitor to check the baby and a sonogram, Kelly slipped off the table and quickly dressed when she’d been left alone. Finished, she sat in the chair beside it meant for a guest because she couldn’t make herself get back on the table. Her hands shook. Ashley was okay. After what had happened following Brian’s death and the risk to her baby, she was nearly ecstatic things were well. However, her heart still fluttered in fear. She and her baby could’ve died. If Paul hadn’t been there…. She wouldn’t allow her mind to go there.
“Here’s your paperwork, Miss Williams,” the kindly nurse who’d been helping her said, as she reentered the room.
Being thankful they weren’t going to choke her arm again with the blood pressure cuff or worse, she sat and listened to the instructions. Her muscles already began to ache, and she wanted to get the prescriptions the doctor promised her were safe for her to take while pregnant.
After being released, Kelly told them she was waiting for a ride, so they allowed her use of the room for a few more moments. As soon as the nurse left, her bladder sent her to the restroom again.
When she’d spoken with him, Trent had not been happy. No way would she tell him that she thought it might be intentional. She had a hard time wrapping her head around that because there was no reason someone would kill her. They had everything of Brian’s, except for the baby. No. That was stupid. Maybe it was an accident like it appeared. Just because she liked to find conspiracy theories didn’t mean one existed in everyday life.
After taking care of business, she blew her stuffy nose that had clogged with too much crying when she told Trent she needed a ride. Leaning forward, her hands on the edges of the porcelain basin, she took in her puffy eyes and red nose. She’d been so concerned for her baby, she’d turned into a blubbering mess with the doctor first. The man probably thought she’d lost her mind. Then again, he’d seen plenty of pregnant women, and Kelly imagined they’d freak out too if they’d been hit by a car and then passed out. The doctor had described it as a “tap.” He wasn’t even freaking there, but he’d downplayed her hysteria. Men.
A pounding sounded on the door, startling her. Turning around, her hand over her rapidly beating heart, she heard, “Kelly, get out here so I can see you.”
Excitement bubbled up. He’d come. She knew he would since she’d pleaded with him about not having a ride, but still, he’d come. She wrenched open the door. “Trent.”
“Come here.” He stood right outside the bathroom doorway, in her hospital room.
With no shame, she threw herself at him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Dropping her head to his shoulder, she cried… again. How could she have not cried herself out already? It was plain ridiculous that she’d cried with Trent, yet she couldn’t stop the flow of tears. Relief at having the man she loved there for her did wonders for her nerves.
“Shh… it’s okay. I’ve got you.” His low voice, the rumbling in his chest, soothed her weary emotional bank.
He kissed her temple, and her pulse rate increased sending warmth flooding her body.
“You”—she sniffed—“you ca–came.” As if by magic, saying the words—mangled as they’d been—began to clear her head and right her emotional purge of tears. Pulling back from him, she sniffed again. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess.” Stepping backward, out of his arms, she went into the bathroom to pull some tissues from the dispenser and without embarrassment, blew her nose.
With his arms folded over his chest, Trent eyed her up and down, making her feel like he was doing his own exam. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.
“I’m just bruised. The doctor says I’ll be sore on my right thigh and hip for a bit.”
“And the baby? Is she okay?”
“She’s okay.” Thank God.
“Are you ready to tell me what happened?”
With a heavily burdened sigh, she asked, “Can we just go home and talk about this later?” She almost felt the juvenile need to cross her fingers behind her back to assure he’d agree to leave it for now and just take her back to where she felt safe. Although, after the break-in, she truly didn’t feel as safe as she had before.
“I’ve got my bike.” With his thumb, he pointed to where she knew the parking lot resided. “Are you up for it? If not, I’ll get us some wheels.”
Hands firmly on her hips, Kelly narrowed her eyes. “You will not get us some wheels, Trent McKenzie. I’ll ride, and if I couldn’t, we’d get them legit.”
With a look of feigned innocence, Trent put his hands up as if in surrender. “Did you think I’d steal them?”
“I think based on the look in your eyes when you saw me, that you would.”
“For you, I’d do anything.”
If only that anything meant you loved me like I’ve always loved you.
PLANNING TO CARRY her out, Trent had backed off when Kelly got testy with him about how they’d leave the hospital. Concern already swam through his system at her being hit—even if it had been just a glancing blow—but he couldn’t fix it, and that tore at him. Hell, he’d had a hard time with the hospital not keeping her overnight. She was pregnant for fuck’s sake. They couldn’t go so lightly on her care.
Bundled up, she had demanded he take her home so she could have a hot bath—which she had. He’d run the damn thing—with all her cherry scented bubble bath—to ensure she didn’t have to do anything that might make her feel any pain or discomfort. He’d even lit candles because he knew women dug that kind of shit when they relaxed. Almost chuckling now, he guessed offering to undress her and place her in the tub might’ve gone too far.
Considering the fact he wanted to hold and love her, it’d been the right idea, just the wrong time.
While she soaked, he’d opened the file Em had given him. Brian’s father owned a huge stretch of land in Montana. Nine thousand six hundred acres worth close to nine million dollars, if he chose to sell.
Kelly had shared that Brian had been in Baltimore on business. At their ranch, they bred horses so that could be the reason Brian had been in town. They offered a few sportsman vacation packages so he could’ve been lining up more business. He wished he knew. Even though he hated to admit it, Kelly being almost run down, like Brian, firmed in his mind that Brian’s death wasn’t an accident. Neither was Kelly getting hit accidental.
He needed to decide what to do about it. Figure out what he could do about it.
After resting, she’d corralled him into catching a cab with her and going to Babies R Us. She’d wanted to go before she got too stiff and the pain sunk in deeply. He hadn’t been keen on her leaving the house at all, but he had to trust her knowing her body. He’d watch out for the threats while they put together her gift registry for an upcoming baby shower the women she worked with planned to throw for her. The concept of wedding registries had reached him, but he had no idea they did this for babies. Probably a smart idea to keep from getting two cribs or some shit like that.
“So,” the retail worker told them, handing Kelly a handheld scanner, “it’s all set up. You just scan the item you want and if you want more than one, scan it again. If it’s something you want in abundance, such as ten onesies, just let me know, and I’ll fix it for you.”
Trent didn’t know what the fuck a onesie was or why a baby would need ten, but Kelly smiled and nodded so it must be something normal. If he planned to help Kelly—and he did—he’d best get spun up on this shit.
When the retail assistant left them alone, Kelly turned and winced.
He rushed to her side and touched her arm. “Kelly, are you truly okay?”
With what appeared to be feigned nonchalance, she waved her hand as if that was supposed to indicate everything was okay. It was not fucking okay. She’d almost been run down by someone brave enough to swipe her in a government parking lot. Thank the fuck that corrections officer had been there to grab her.
With a reminder to call security at the courthouse, Trent had to get the security footag
e to see if they could identify the asshole driver. Without Devon to do the techie stuff, and Jesse to pave the golden way, he wasn’t holding his breath on getting to see it without a fight. Maybe if he used his “father.” No. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I ask Blake Hamilton for anything.
“Oh my God,” Kelly said. “Look how adorable.”
Even his insides did a little flip. He accepted the tiny shoes from her. Was a baby really that small? Awe struck him hard. In his mind, he saw Kelly holding an infant this small and looking glorious. He gulped at the warmth flowing through his body.
Breaking into his vision, she scanned the tag on the little white shoes. “Ashley must have a pair of those. Although I know they won’t fit her for long,” she rambled on, and he still stood holding the tiny footwear. The kid didn’t walk anywhere at that age. Why shoes?
Sure he’d never figure out merchandising, he shrugged, sat them back on the shelf and moved over to little outfits with snaps on them. Looking at the label, he almost laughed. So this was a onesie. Still, why did a kid need ten? He picked up one with pink flowers on it. “Don’t you need some of these?” he asked, then jokingly added, “Ten maybe.”
With a bright smile, she came to his side and scanned it. “This one is so cute.”
Pride swelled in him that she’d approved of his choice. That made him want to dig more. To do more for her and Ashley. This would be the best damn baby shower ever. He’d make sure of it.
After scanning more than ten of those onesie things, they moved onto diaper bags. Who knew they were so large? What kind of crap did a baby need? Boy, he was out of his element on this, and he knew it. But, he’d find his way. For Kelly.
Kelly held up two bags and looked at him quizzically. “What do you think? This one”—she lifted a smaller paisley looking one—“is the size I’d like. But, this one”—she lifted a large one with pink bottles, rattles, and ribbons on it—“can carry everything.”
How the fuck should he know the answer to this question? He should’ve called Megan to come help with this. She’d just had a baby. She’d know what to get.