Jameson (In the Company of Snipers #22) - Irish Winters Page 0,11

the sly old fox grinned, as if he’d been welcomed with open arms. “Well, howdy. ’Bout time. Pleased to meet y’all.”

Not a single agent returned the greeting. Camilla looked like she had something to say, though. Alex was glad she kept it to herself. Beau might be the one who went off half-cocked most often, but Camilla’s tongue was as sharp as a razor, and twice as lethal as Beau’s. She’d calmed down since she’d married Beckam, and he’d turned into a bigger sap than Connor Maher. But Alex didn’t want to remember Bradley’s birth by what might take place if Camilla spoke her mind. She’d been another abused child. Another miracle that began when she fell in love with Beck.

Flustered, Mel ran his fingers through his beard yet again. His nervous tell. “Well, err… Guess maybe I’ll just hafta—”

“Wait!” Kelsey called out. “I’m Kelsey, Alex’s wife. Scoot over, honey. Let me say hello to my father-in-law.”

Son of a bitch! She’d spoiled the whole damned goodbye and good riddance. Yet like the good husband he was, Alex sucked in his nasty temper, ‘scooted’ over, and allowed this snake a glimpse of the woman he’d kill his dad for. Count on it.

Gritting his teeth, he said, “Kelsey. Sweetheart.” Damn, this was hard. “Mel Stewart. Mel, my wife.” And if you hurt her feelings even once, I will end you.

Of course, Mel pulled his Southern gentleman schtick out of his ass and bowed with a flourish. Brushing past Alex, he took her clean, pure hand between his grubby paws. “Nice to finally meet you, Kelsey Stewart,” he purred as he placed his dry, filthy lips on her knuckles and kissed her hand. “Always wanted a daughter. Guess I got one now.”

You’ve got nothing…

Alex met Mark’s dark eyes over the top of his old man’s gray head. The stark stare of brotherhood glowered in his friend’s hooded gaze. Alex knew his second in command would take this jackal by the scruff of his skinny neck and toss him out if Alex gave even the slightest nod. But now that Kelsey was involved… He heaved a resigned sigh and signaled Mark to stand down with one curt shake of his head.

“Can I see the little tyke since I’m here?” Mel asked. “What’d you name him?”

Tugging the blanket away from Bradley’s face, Kelsey was her usual overly-kind self, a trait Alex hated at the moment. “Of course, you can see him. You’re his grandfather. We named him Bradley Patrick, after Alex’s grandfather. Just reversed the order of the names.”

“You didn’t name him after me?” Mel pasted on his conniving crestfallen expression. “Well, darn.”

Why the hell would we?

“After your father, Mr. Stewart.” Her bright eyes sparkled as she soothed the old liar’s ruffled feathers. “Think of it this way, by honoring him, we’ve also honored you.”

Like hell. Gramps was a man worth honoring. But Mel was… nothing.

Right on cue, he groused. “Don’t seem quite fair, me being his real granddaddy and all, but…” He lifted both shoulders as if he were insulted but would get over it. “Guess it’ll have to do.”

You bet your ass it will do. You were never a father, and you’re not a grandfather now.

“Boss, we’re heading out,” Rory said, his arm tight around Ember’s waist, still standing between her and Mel.

“Thanks for the whisky. That was damned nice.”

“I left another fifth on your desk for when you get back. Enjoy these first days with your fam—”

“Whisky?” Mel nearly broke his crepey neck when he dropped Kelsey’s hand and twisted around. “You guys been celebrating without me? What kind ya got? Is it the good stuff?”

And wasn’t that just the truest picture of good old Grandpa Mel? Ignoring the loveliest lady in the world and the precious grandson he claimed he came to see, at the mere whisper of liquor.

“It’s gone,” Alex put as much sarcasm into the two words as he could.

“Oh, no, it’s not. Look, Alex. There’s enough left for one tiny swallow. Pour your dad a drink. I’d love to get to know you better,” Kelsey told Mel sincerely.

Damn it to hell! Alex wished Kelsey would go to sleep and stop sabotaging him!

When Mel beamed at her kindness, Alex knew exactly what the old goat was thinking. He’d snagged another hapless sucker.

“Later, Boss,” Zack rumbled as he headed out. He, Mark, and Libby were the last to leave. But Mark had stopped at the doorway, his head canted as he listened to whatever Libby was saying. His dark eyes