They walked out of the office, and Parker instructed Elizabeth to contact the deputy asking for overtime to come in and work Reese’s shift, because there was something important they had to take care of.
* * *
Reese sat in Parker’s tiny kitchen, staring at his cousin, as he poured a jigger of bourbon into each of two glasses and handed him one. He touched his glass to Reese’s, then downed the amber liquid in one swallow. “Drink up.”
Putting the glass to his mouth, he tossed back the smooth liquor. “That’s nice.”
The lines around Parker’s light-brown eyes crinkled when he smiled. “It is nice. Now that I have your attention, we need to talk about a few things.”
“What about?”
“Your baby’s mother. How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”
“How do you know about this?” Reese had answered his question with a question.
“Her mother told me.”
“So now we’re involved with mothers.”
“Edwina told me everything, Reese. She told when and how Cherie met this Campbell dude and what he did to her. The man was nothing but a predator-in-the-making when he set his sights on a fifteen-year-old girl, seduced her and took her virginity, and then set out to make her his mistress. A week after he returned from his honeymoon, he came sniffing around her like a dog. He’d convinced her to have their love child, then turned the tables on her to give up the baby because his wife couldn’t have kids. Do you realize how devastating it must have been for her when he strong-armed her to give up her baby? Even though he couldn’t have Cherie, he still was connected to her because of their son. The man’s obsessed with her, and that’s why he came here to see if he could get her back, unaware that she’d moved on and was now carrying another man’s child.”
Reese ran a hand over his face. “Why didn’t she tell me this?”
“Maybe she was afraid that you would reject her, or she was waiting for the right time to tell you. Edwina told me that Cherie had told Kayana and Leah about everything. She trusted them, but felt she couldn’t trust you, Reese. And she was right because you walked out on her, like the man who fathered you walked out on your mother. Even if their encounter had been a one-night stand, he could’ve contacted her to find out if he’d gotten her pregnant. Don’t let history repeat itself, Reese. I know you love the girl, and she loves you, so let go some of that stiff-necked pride, and stop that flipping texting and talk to her.”
“What’s up with you and Edwina?”
“I asked her to move in with me.
“No shit!”
“Yes,” Parker confirmed smiling.
“What did she say?”
“She said yes, but only if I marry her.”
“Will you?”
“Of course, fool. I’ve waited fifty-five years for a woman that makes me laugh and not take life too seriously, and you think I’m going give that up? Yes, I’m going to marry her and use my GI benefit for the first time to buy a house because this place is too small for two people.”
“You don’t have to do that, Parker. I told Cherie that, when we marry, I’m going to move in with her and that you can have my house.”
“Stop messing with me, Reese. You know I love your house.”
Reese smiled. “I know. That’s why I’m giving it to you. Why not keep it in the family?” He pushed back his chair. “Now drive me back to the station house so I can pick up my truck and drive over to the island. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it, little cousin. Let’s go.”
* * *
Reese cursed under his breath when he pulled up in front of Cherie’s house to find Graeme’s Range Rover parked in the driveway. He’d hoped to find Cherie alone, but it was too late to turn around. Getting out of the pickup, he walked up to the porch and rang the doorbell. The inner door opened, and Kayana glared at him through the glass.
“What do you want?”
“Open the door, Kayana.” She must have heard the threatening tone in his voice because she unlocked it.
He brushed past her and stalked into the family room to find Edwina and Leah sitting next to Cherie, sipping from cups of hot liquid. The scene reminded him of another time when he’d come to her home to interview her about her attacker, and the two women had flanked her like lionesses protecting a cub. But they’d added another lioness to their pride, and it was Edwina’s narrowed gaze that nearly unnerved him.
