I started to argue that the son of a bitch had kids to think of and responsibilities, but I stopped, because Reese’s face flashed before me. I’d found her. She had changed my world, and even after such a short time, I knew she was my future. What if I lost her? What if tomorrow she was gone? How would I cope? Could I ever heal from that?
“How is he with her?” I asked, needing to believe that Kiro could love like that. Even still, I wanted the man who gave me life to have some redeeming qualities. I’d grown up believing he had none.
Harlow smiled, and her eyes showed so much emotion. “He treats her like she’s precious. The most important, most precious thing in the world. He brushes her hair and tells her stories of their past. He calls her his angel. It’s . . . it’s beautiful. I wish he’d had a chance to live life with her. I think we’d both have grown up with a very different kind of father. Maybe even Nan would be different because of it.”
Could loving someone destroy you that completely? I’d never thought so deeply about it, but more than once, I’d wondered if Kiro had a soul. I watched the way he lived and wondered how my mother could have made such a massive mistake sleeping with that man even once.
But if he’d lost his soul when he’d lost his future with Emily, then it made him less of a monster in my eyes. It made him human—not the rock god the world knew but a man who had loved with his entire being and lost that love.
“He loves us. He loves you. He’s proud of you. I heard him telling Emily . . . my mom . . . about you the other day. Apparently, my mother loved you, too. He was telling her what a fine young man you’ve turned into and how proud she’d be of the little boy she had adored. He doesn’t show emotion well, but Emily is his heart. She’s his only link to happiness. I want her here with him.”
I’d never had Kiro tell me he was proud of me. I swallowed the emotion that tightened my throat and nodded. “OK. Then come outside with me. Enjoy your daughter’s party. Let’s celebrate life. Yours and hers.”
Harlow grinned and walked over to wrap her arms around my waist. “You’re another reason I love Dad. He gave me the best brother in the world.”
My eyes didn’t sting with unshed tears.
Well, maybe just a little.
Reese
Blaire got us each a Mai Tai from under the cabana and led me over to a couple of lounge chairs. She pointed at the rock waterfall. “You don’t want to miss this.”
I turned my attention to the waterfall as I took a sip of my drink. Nate Finlay was on top of the rock again, but this time, he was holding the hand of an older man. Even without the slender, muscular body covered in tattoos and the gold bracelets on his arms, I knew that man.
“Dean Finlay,” I said. I had known he would be here, but seeing him like this was not something I expected.
“Yep,” Blaire replied in an amused tone.
Nate yelled “Go!” and both of them dove into the water.
“He’s been trying to get Dean to flip with him, but Dean won’t do it. Said he’d break something important if he tried.”
I laughed, thinking of how funny it would be to see Dean flipping off a rock waterfall.
“You took my chair,” a deep male voice said behind me. I recognized it instantly.
I wasn’t sure if I should look up and meet his gaze or what. I still couldn’t figure out why he was even here. I kept waiting for Mase to notice him and say something, but he never did.
“Be nice, Captain. If you want to join us, you can have that seat.” She pointed to one on the other side of me.
Captain? But I thought his name was River Kipling. Neither of those names sounded like Captain.
“Reese, this is my brother, Captain. He’s a smart-ass one hundred percent of the time,” Blaire said.
Her brother? What?
“Not a smart-ass, Sis. Told you I just say what I’m thinking. I don’t beat around the bush. No point in wasting breath.”
Blaire let out a chuckle and rolled her eyes. “He’s actually a nice guy once you get to know him.”
I had met him before, and I disagreed about him being a nice guy. But the guy I met had lied about his name.
“I, uh . . .” Should I tell Blaire I had met him before?
“What she’s trying to say is she’s met me already. We were at the same party my newest business partner was throwing. However, I introduced myself as River Kipling.” He turned to me. “That’s my given name. Captain is a nickname.”
Blaire’s eyes widened as she sat up straighter. “Really?”
I nodded. I wanted to add that he was an ass then, too, but I didn’t. I liked Blaire. I didn’t want to insult her brother.
“Your boyfriend been dancing any more with his cousin?” Captain, River, whatever his name was, asked.
I really didn’t like this guy. I managed a tight smile and shook my head no. Although they had gone horseback riding and to a cattle auction together. I had told Mase to do both in hopes that I could win Aida over as the laid-back girlfriend, but it didn’t do any good. She still glared at me or shot me triumphant little grins whenever she left the house alone with Mase, like she had won some sort of competition. It was incredibly weird.
“I’d watch that,” he said. “I asked Hawkins about them, and he said Aida wasn’t really Mase’s cousin. She’s his stepfather’s niece, and she’s also adopted. Girl looks like she has her eyes on your man.”
“Captain, that’s enough. Mase is very taken with Reese. She’s moved to Dallas to live with him. And the way he watches over her is the same way Rush watches over me. Don’t go giving her things to worry about.”
I appreciated Blaire’s words, but if what Captain said was true, then . . . was it possible Aida felt more for Mase than just a family bond? Did she want more? I cringed at the thought. That would be so messed-up if it were true.
“You ain’t seen his cousin,” Captain said in response to Blaire’s remarks. “Long blond hair, all legs and curves. She’s something to look at.”
What the heck? Was he trying to scare me? And why did this man dislike me so much? I hadn’t done anything to him. From the moment I met him, he’d been rude.
“So, Reese, what do you do out there on a ranch all day?” Blaire asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
Other than have sex with Mase, walk around, and clean, I did nothing, really. I needed to do something. I didn’t like living off Mase. I wanted to make my own money, and I wanted to get my GED. It was something I planned on talking to Mase about when we got back. I needed a plan for life.