Keeping Her Close

His mom had met Owen a couple of times when Kyle had brought him home with him on leave. But that had been years ago; she didn’t know him well. To his knowledge, she hadn’t been aware that Owen had been in a relationship. Kyle didn’t mention the association now because it would be a lot to explain without revealing Harper’s parentage. “Need to know” was ingrained in him right along with his sense of loyalty. Like a lot of habits that had kept him alive in his military career, he doubted he’d ever break that one either.

As it had too often since he’d been here in Pacific Cove, it struck him once again how little his family knew about him. Understandable to a degree, considering the circumstances of his career. The sad part was how little he knew about them. He’d been a terrible son to his mom and an even worse brother to Mia. He hadn’t even come home for Mia and Jay’s wedding. A fresh twist of regret and guilt tightened his chest.

“That’s great news! Isn’t that great news, Mia?” His mom, at least, didn’t seem to hold it against him. She tried so hard to make him feel like he belonged. Too hard, Kyle thought. He didn’t deserve to be forgiven so easily.

Kyle watched Mia in the kitchen beyond pouring a cup of coffee. Ten years in the military, eight of those in Special Forces, numerous life-and-death missions, and his big sister still made him nervous. As kids, they’d never had a great relationship or even a good one for that matter. Now, as an adult, Kyle understood why. Their dad, William Frasier, now deceased, but who they’d only recently learned was not Mia’s biological father, had always favored Kyle. Worse than that, he’d basically ignored Mia.

On an unspoken level, Kyle had known it was unfair, but he’d worshipped his navy officer father, so he’d never questioned his dad’s unequal treatment of his kids. Partially because, painful as it was to admit, he’d been the one to reap the benefits. He regretted that, and especially the wedge it had driven between him and Mia. Kyle wanted to fix it, or at least make it better; he just had no clue how to go about it. He wasn’t sure it was possible.

Mia entered the dining room and sat at the table opposite him. “That is good news,” she said in a tone that told Kyle the words didn’t equate to how she really felt. “Congratulations. But, when you start at Dahlia, you’ll be gone all the time anyway, right? So basically, it will be like you’re still in the navy.”

“Not exactly,” he said, even though his stomach pitched at the truth behind her words. He’d figure out a way to make it work.

“Dangerous assignments where you spend weeks or months overseas,” she intoned wryly. “Yeah, totally different.”

“I’ll be paid a lot more, and I’m out of uniform.” That sounded lame even to him.

“So, you’re doing it for the money?”

Kyle was grateful for the military training that kept him from reacting to his sister’s challenging stare. There didn’t seem to be much they could discuss without disagreeing. “I couldn’t make anything even close to what I’ll be making at Dahlia anywhere around here.” That was another evasion. The truth was that he didn’t really have an answer to Mia’s question, other than he and Owen had planned this for years. From the time Owen had left the military, they’d begun discussing it. They’d wanted to work together again, and maybe someday start their own business. Owen had been gearing up for it already, planning, waiting for Kyle to join him at Dahlia. Irrational as it was, he couldn’t shake the notion that if he’d started at Dahlia sooner, Owen would still be alive. The day before the accident, when he’d called, Owen had once again said how much he wished Kyle was with him. Bottom line, he felt compelled to take the job. Just like he did where Harper was concerned. The obligation, the drive to somehow make this right, was something he couldn’t explain.

He hadn’t realized how much Harper represented unfinished business until he’d seen Dr. Bellaire. The thought had only intensified when he’d met her face-to-face. Now it felt like his duty to make sure she’d be okay, to give her the tools to stay safe. To be happy. From their conversation the night before, Kyle could see she was hurting, no doubt dealing with her own regrets and grief. Fate, in the form of Dr. Bellaire, had given him an opportunity to ease his conscience by helping the love of Owen’s life, and he was going to take it. Owen would want him to. He owed it to him.

Mia was frowning, and Kyle knew she was gearing up to counter his argument. Jay saved him, strolling into the dining room with Duke, his fluffy camel-colored cat, in his arms. Kyle could hear the cat purring from several feet away. Coastie, Jay’s Brittany Spaniel, and constant companion, trotted beside him looking every bit as intelligent and vigilant as Kyle knew her to be.

Jay smiled at Kyle. “Hey, there’s our hero. Just saw the story on the news again this morning.”

Kyle gave his head a shake of bemused exasperation.

“Heard you got the job,” Jay said, and Kyle appreciated that his brother-in-law understood that he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Not that he ever had. “Welcome to the civilian life of the gainfully employed.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Sucks for me though—no more free labor.”

“Not exactly free.” Kyle had been filling most of his days by working with Jay on construction jobs. Ironically, he now knew his brother-in-law, whom he’d only met a month ago, better than he did his sister. “I appreciate you guys letting me bunk here.”

Jay waved off the thanks. “I have an old Coast Guard buddy who works for Dahlia. I’ve heard the pay is outstanding.”

Mia let out a quiet sigh.

Kyle nodded at Jay. “It is.”

“What’s outstanding pay?” Lanie, Jay’s sixteen-year-old sister, strolled into the room.

“Kyle’s new job with Dahlia International.” This came from Levi who, enviably, had finished his omelet and moved on to a bowl of fruit.

“What is that, like a florist?” Laney gave Kyle a doubtful frown. “Retiring from the military is one thing. Taking up flower arranging is altogether another. That’s a total waste of your soldiering skills, Uncle Kyle.”

Kyle laughed. Soon after meeting him, Laney had started calling him “Uncle Kyle,” declaring that she’d always wanted a “cool uncle.” Kyle had no idea how he’d passed the cool test with these teens, but he already adored them both.

Levi chuckled and answered, “Dahlia International is not a florist, Lanes. It’s the fourth largest military security and intelligence contractor in the world. Kyle will be working security detail.”

In the short time, Kyle had been in Pacific Cove he’d been continually amazed by Levi’s maturity and intellect. Studious, thoughtful, responsible, he reminded Kyle of Mia when they were growing up. He even wanted to be a veterinarian.

Hands on hips, Laney gave Kyle the stare-down. “So that means you’ll still be in combat-type situations, right?”

Kyle tried not to smile. Laney, on the other hand, was more like him: confident, adventurous, athletic, but also fearless in a way that might border on reckless if not kept in check. She’d quizzed him relentlessly about his life as a SEAL. No matter how much he downplayed combat and tried not to glamorize it, Laney remained fascinated. Just like he’d been by his dad and all things military.

“Not as much,” he answered carefully.

“I still wish you’d teach me how to handle a firearm. Jay’s not comfortable doing it.”

Mia’s frown deepened. Laney’s interest in military life, and with him, seemed to irritate Mia.

Laney often talked about joining the military or law enforcement, with the FBI or CIA as her ultimate goal. Kyle thought with the years of life experience college would bring, she’d be an excellent candidate for the profession.

“That’s because a professional instructor would be best. There are classes you can take.”

“Yes! A class is a great idea.”

Mia went wide-eyed and pinned a glare on Kyle.

Yep, it was entirely possible he’d worn out his welcome. The timing seemed right to get out of Mia’s hair, not to mention that it would be nice to have his own space at Harper’s, even if it was only temporary.

“Hey, Annie Oakley,” Nora said, stepping out of the kitchen and grinning at Laney. “You want pepitas in your omelet?”

And ham. Unlimited access to bacon and ham would also be a bonus.

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