sister's eyes. He groaned. "What is it now, Tessie? What's wrong?"
She held the back of her hand to her nose. "I heard what you said in Rebecca's class. That the civilian world is dull after coming back from war."
He shrugged, not following her thought.
"You think we're dull. Is that why you won't come over for dessert? Is that why Gage never visits? The two of you are too busy on your never-ending quest for the next adrenaline high?"
Why hadn't he stayed home and pushed pins beneath his fingernails? His sister looked ready to bawl.
"I can't speak for Gage," he said. "It's just...I'm sorry." He shrugged again.
Tess stepped forward. He held out his arms, exhorting himself to give her a comforting hug. Instead she whacked him on the shoulder with her purse. "Ow!" he said. She carried one of those bags big enough to hold a circus. Including the elephant. She lifted it again, and he put up his hands. "What's gotten into you?"
"You're so dumb, that's what!" She put her fists on her hips. "How do you think you find meaning in our mundane world? You come to your family - you find your purpose with them."
"What purpose is that?" he asked, half bemused and half bewildered by her diatribe.
She made a wild gesture that had her purse swinging. "Teach your nephews how to catch a ball - David's got the bicycle down, but he hates baseball. Get to work glaring at your niece's first dates. Tickle Baby Russ's belly."
"Tess - "
"And then find a woman who you can value and love every day."
"Tess - "
"Which bring me to Jane," his sister said.
His expression must have made some sort of statement.
His sister groaned. "Griffin. Tell me you haven't ruined what you had with her."
"We didn't have anything." Just the greatest sex, the best laughs, the kind of connection he'd never found with another woman. The elevator arrived with a ping. "Get off my back, Tess."
They stepped into the empty metal box. "I thought there was some magic at the cove," Tess said. "Seeing you and Jane, I had high hopes, and with Gage exchanging letters with Skye, for a moment I even thought..."
He stared at his sister. "Gage and Skye?"
Tess waved a hand. "Forget it. Now I wouldn't wish you and your twin on any woman."
Magic at the cove, Griffin mused, as the elevator chugged upward. What a crock. And to think he'd sold Colonel Parker on the idea. Colonel Parker, who wouldn't be bringing his darling daughter to No. 9 after all. He thought of Vance Smith, the combat medic who always kept his cool. Could that last during the month at the cove he'd promised to a fatherless girl? Still recuperating from his own wounds, he'd be at the beach house in mere days.
Which got him thinking about the email he'd received that very morning. Vance himself, touching base. Griffin was still confused by it. The man seemed to be operating under the impression that the colonel's daughter, Layla, was a child, when Griffin knew for a fact she was in her mid-twenties - all grown up. Must be me who misunderstood Vance, he decided. Still, he sent the other man a silent message. Good luck, buddy.
When Griffin and his sister found the coot's room, Tess was still muttering about her twin brothers' lack of intelligence, common sense and general good manners. "That's rich, coming from you," he told her. "We never ate food with our feet."
She ignored him to greet the elderly reporter with a kiss on the cheek, and Griffin could tell she was trying to be cheerful for the invalid's sake. Rex looked pretty damn lively for someone ancient enough to be a first cousin to God, and Griffin told him so.
"They're letting me go home tomorrow," the elderly man said. "After fourteen tests and being prodded and poked more than a rodeo clown, they say it was likely dehydration."
"Well, drink some more water, you irascible antique!" But the news solidified a hazy idea Griffin had. "Listen, Rex...I'm going overseas and could use somebody to look after Private. Are you up to it?"
"Me? And that flea-bitten, mannerless, mangy canine that either pees on my bushes or tries to dig them up?"
Griffin lifted a shoulder. "If you're not interested - "
"I didn't say I wasn't interested. Someone has to take charge of that dog. I'll bet I can teach him a little courtesy."
"You manage that, you should tackle Duncan and Oliver next."