All right, seemed she might have made another friend. Two out of five wasn’t bad.
“Don’t worry about the others,” Miles told her. “Eli is really protective. Once he sees you’re not a threat to anyone here, he’ll be fine. Honey, well, I don’t know what her problem is. Maybe it’s a girl thing.”
“And Ammo?” she asked, surprised by Miles’ insight. He didn’t seem to pay that much attention to things going on around him.
“Oh, Ammo, he’s just like that. Only person he likes is Zander. He just tolerates the rest of us.”
“I’m sure he likes his brother too,” she said, remembering Lochlan was Ammo’s brother.
“No, not really,” Miles told her.
Good Lord.
* * *
Zander turnedon the others as they walked in behind him.
“What’s your problem with Keira?” he asked as soon as the door closed behind Ammo, who leaned back against it.
“Still think she’s a liar,” Ammo said.
“You’re wrong,” Zander said. “She hasn’t always made the best decisions, but then, when have any of us been perfect?”
Ammo grunted. He knew Ammo would be a tough sell, but he would be the same with anyone. It wasn’t him that Zander was worried about.
Zander looked to Eli.
“I don’t trust her.”
“You don’t know her. But you won’t get to know her by alienating her.”
Eli sighed. “Get that. I’m fine with her being here as long as she’s no threat to the team.”
His gaze went to Webb, who smiled. “I like her.”
Zander grunted. Yeah, he seemed to like her a bit too much. Zander glared at him and Webb’s grin widened. He moved onto the real problem.
“Honey? What’s your issue with Keira?”
Honey looked pensive. “Do we all have to like her? Just because she’s your girlfriend?”
He thought about that. He wanted to insist that yeah; they did. But that would be hypocritical of him. He’d detested Honey’s last boyfriend. But he hadn’t been an asshole to his face. Instead, he’d just ignored him.
“No, you don’t.”
Her tension eased.
“But you can’t be mean to her. I won’t accept that, Honey. She’s mine. I will protect her, even from you if necessary.”
Resignation filled Honey’s face. “Do you care about her more than Charlene?”
“Yes, I do. What I feel for Keira is nothing like what I felt for Charlene. Keira will never leave me. She’s here forever. I need you all to get used to that idea.”
Without saying anything more, he left the room and returned to his girl.
24
“Idon’t think they look very good, Daddy Z.” She tensed, glancing around frantically to make sure that no one else was around. She had no idea if Zander wanted the rest of his team to know about their relationship.