“I won’t have it!” the admiral bellowed as we walked out.
Quincy paused in the doorway. “End of discussion,” she said firmly. “If you keep it up, I will leave without visiting with Mom.”
That was my girl.
That shut him up. His mouth snapped closed, and he sank back into his chair, his face red. I shut the door behind us with a firm click. The info had been solid and secretive enough for the admiral wanting us to come all the way here to talk about it. But that was all he was going to get out of his daughter.
* * *
QUINCY
Kennedy puthis hand on my back as we walked down the hall to the kitchen. I was sure he could feel the shakes that rippled through me. I was so angry and frustrated with my dad, it was almost impossible not to lose my shit. But that was what my dad had wanted me to do. To burst into hysterics,to act like a girl.I’d had years of practice keeping all my emotions tamped down. Turned out,hewas the one who’d gotten riled because I wouldn’t bend to his commands any longer.
“Not flattened at all,” he murmured behind me.
I stopped in the darkened hallway and turned to face him, letting him gather me loosely in his arms. I took a deep breath, let it out. Breathed in his familiar scent. “Thanks to you,” I said softly, setting my forehead on his chest.
Kennedy shook his head. “No, it was all you, sweets.” His big hand stroked over my hair.
“Williams was your commanding admiral, right?”
While I flew SEAL teams in and out of missions, I wasn’t based with them or had the same commanding officers. In fact, the chances that Kennedy and the guys ended up in my chopper was random. It could have been any number of pilots who flew them. There had been, actually.
So I never came across Williams before. There weren’t too many admirals, so I’d heard his name, but that was it.
“Yeah. I can’t believe it. It’s Lincoln though, that I have to deal with first.” He pulled out his phone. “I’m going to text Ford right now to give him the heads up. Your dad is right. We could all be in danger.”
I swallowed. I wasn’t afraid for myself, but the thought of my team being taken out was my worst nightmare. Indi had unintentionally drawn that guy Tully to her by a simple Internet search. Having my father toss out a few sentences about a former SEAL and getting a bite from the biggest fish in the sea? “We need to get ahead of this thing.”
I stayed quiet as he typed. It was impressive with his big hands on the small screen. Only when he tucked the cell away did he respond. “Yeah. He said they’ll get started on things tonight. There’s nothing we can do from here except visit with your mom.”
This man. I dropped my forehead again against Kennedy’s sturdy chest. How had I believed him incapable of meaningful relations? He was literally showing up as the ideal boyfriend right now. He’d been with me when talking to my dad. He knew how important it was for me to visit with my mom, even for a little bit. She might have married my dad, and I wasn’t always sure why, but she was her own person, and I loved her.
“Thank you,” I said into his shirt.
He cupped my nape and dropped a kiss on the top of my head. “Your mom just saw us,” he said in a low voice.
“Oops. Let’s go.” I grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen where my mom had prepared an entire charcuterie spread.
“Can you stay and visit a little while?” My mom asked hopefully, uncorking a bottle of red wine.
I gave her another hug. “Totally. Thanks, Mom, this looks delicious.”
“I’m just going to step outside to make a phone call, if that’s okay,” Kennedy said, “but I’ll be right back.”
Mom nodded and pointed in the direction of the glass French doors that led out onto the back terrace. If it was daylight, Kennedy would be able to look down the fourth hole of the golf course.
“You calling Ford?” I asked.
“Yes. He already texted back asking for details. I won’t be long.”
As soon as Kennedy was gone, my mom asked, “How long have you two been seeing each other?”
My face heated, and I grabbed an olive from a small dish. “We’re not. I mean… it’s new, I guess. I mean, I knew him from before, but–” I waved my hand. “I don’t really know.”
“I thought you didn’t like olives,” she commented, eyeing me.
The salty, tangy flavor sat on my tongue. I’d never been a fan of them, but this one was good. I had no answer, so I shrugged.