“Like she’d ever admit she needed help from anyone.”
He smirked. “Point taken. Maybe you know her better than I thought. But you still need to tread carefully.”
“Meaning?”
He shrugged, his hand idly stroking his son’s hair. “Meaning, I’m all for my sister dating and letting new people into her life. She needs to take some time for herself. But—”
“But not with a guy like me,” Pike said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his tone. He could only imagine what he looked like to Mr. Put-Together Dad. Like danger and bad news and all the things one tried to keep their little sisters away from.
Small lines appeared around Devon’s mouth—a restrained frown. “It’s not like that. I actually encouraged her to pursue this thing with you. But for a fling.” He looked toward the doors where Oakley had disappeared. “Flings don’t sit in hospital waiting rooms. You’re sending mixed messages, and I don’t want anyone leading her on. She doesn’t deserve that.”
Pike crossed his arms. He didn’t blame the guy for trying to protect his sister, but he wasn’t about to try to define his need to be here to a stranger. He didn’t quite understand it himself. “I don’t lead people on. I want to be here for her, so I am. Simple as that. Your sister’s a grown woman who can tell me if I’m crossing any lines.”
Devon considered him for a long moment then seemed to relent—if only a little. “Look, you seem like a decent guy. Oakley wouldn’t have let you be here at all if you weren’t. But she doesn’t need extra drama in her life. You and I both know your world is not going to mix well with hers. So don’t give her the impression that whatever you have going on is something different than it is. It’ll hurt her. And Rae.”
“Oh, Christ, is he polishing his shotgun over here?” a deep voice said from behind Pike.
Pike turned to find a broad-shouldered man with shaggy black hair and a good-natured smile rounding their row of seats. Unlike Devon’s polished camping look, this man looked ready to climb a mountain with his bare hands. He strode over to Pike and put his hand out. “I’m Hunter, Devon’s husband, and the man who’s going to save you from the third degree.”
Pike shook his hand, the grip firm. “Pike Ryland.”
Hunter tilted his head. “So you’re the fabled Pike, the drop-dead-gorgeous drummer Oakley’s seeing. Nice to meet you.”
Hearing the words roll off the man’s tongue sent Pike for a loop. “I know Oakley didn’t say that about me.”
He gave him a sly grin. “No, Devon did when he told me about you.”
Pike sent a raised eyebrow look over at Devon. “Oh.”
Devon shrugged. “It was an empirical observation.”
Hunter patted the back of Pike’s chair and looked toward Devon. “Don’t mind him. He has a wicked protective streak when it comes to his sister. I’m still trying to convince him she’s no longer sixteen.”
Pike’s muscles relaxed. “It’s okay. Family’s supposed to look out for each other.”
Though his family never got that memo.
“Oakley and Reagan should be out shortly. She’s just arranging payment and all that fun stuff.” Hunter walked over and squeezed Devon’s shoulder, the men a stark contrast to each other but somehow conveying their inherent bond with the easy way they looked at each other. “You ready? I have a feeling if we don’t get back soon, all of our new camping gear is going to be gone. I’m sure that guy we asked to keep an eye on our stuff has gone to bed by now or is currently selling our shit on eBay.”
Devon put his hand over Hunter’s and gave it a pat. “Yeah. You want to grab Lucas? My leg’s fallen asleep.”
Hunter leaned over and massaged Devon’s leg for a second then scooped up the child with ease. The scene was so sweetly domestic that it twisted something in Pike’s gut.
Devon stood and nodded at Pike, expression serious. “Get them home safe. And make sure Oakley doesn’t stay up all night hovering over Rae. Every time Rae gets sick, Oakley runs herself ragged and ends up sick herself.”
“I’m on it.”
“Or on her as the case may be,” Hunter offered with a wink.
Devon groaned. “We’re divorcing for that comment. Just so you know.”
Hunter smirked Pike’s way. “He divorces me every day. He likes the makeup sex.”
“Kid is here, Hunter.”
“Kid is snoring, Dev.”
Pike chuckled. “Y’all have a good night.”