Walker (In the Company of Snipers #21) - Irish Winters Page 0,71
because then he’d feel responsible and think he had to do right by me and marry me, and, shit. I didn’t want to be any guy’s obligation. I’d never planned to fall in love or have kids, it just happened. But then I hated him, and, you know... Somehow things worked out.”
Persia’s brows lifted as she squeezed Izza’s hand. “No, I don’t know that. I’m twenty-nine, and sure, I’ve kissed a few guys, but there’s only been one man I thought cared for me as much as I cared for him. But he was just another ass who walked out on me. So, no. I’m not looking for love or romance. It’s not worth the pain or trouble. Life sucks, and then you die, that’s my motto. But good for you. You’ve got Connor, and it’s so obvious he adores you.”
Izza flipped her hand over and interlocked her fingers with Persia’s. “Life does not suck, girlfriend. It’s damned hard sometimes, yes, but it’s also damned great most of the rest of the time. I know that, and so do you. Don’t lie. I saw the way your eyes sparkled before. You were thinking of that man you cared about, weren’t you? Confess.”
Yes! “Nope. Nada. Not me. I’m done with the dating game,” Persia insisted, shaking her head vigorously to emphasize to Izza, and maybe to herself—and Hotrod, the ass!—that she meant what she said. “You’ve mistaken me for Ember or Kelsey or Mei Lennox, or heck. Even little Lexie. She has such a crush on her father.”
“Alex does have that effect on women.” Izza sighed. “You should see him in a tux. Oh, mama, do females heads turn when he walks by. Mmm. Mmm. Did you know he gave me away at my wedding?”
“Really? Alex? He did that for you?” How sweet. Which was not how Persia would’ve ever described her cantankerous boss, even on a good day. Abrupt, maybe. Driven, absolutely.
“He lost his first wife and daughter to a car crash years ago,” Izza said quietly. “I didn’t know him then, but I know Kelsey’s the reason he’s the man he is today. And now they’re having another baby. That was the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Hope it’s a boy.”
“I didn’t know that,” Persia murmured. “He was married before? He had another family? Wow. No wonder he looks at his wife and little girl like he does. They’re his second chance.”
“Then I’ll bet you didn’t know Kelsey had two little boys before she met Alex, but her ex murdered them,”
“Oh, my, no!” Persia couldn’t imagine. “How can they stand to be around each other? Isn’t that too much personal tragedy for one couple to overcome?”
Izza shook her head. “Not when you love each other. I think they might even love each other more because of what they’ve survived. No one understands another person better than someone who’s walked through the same kind of fire.”
Persia had no words. Alex a grieving widower? Kelsey a mother of murdered sons? Yet they seemed so upbeat and happy when they were together. And Alex almost acted nice—then.
Izza patted Persia’s hand. “The point is, we only see the tip of the iceberg, not what’s going on beneath the surface. Alex is a really good guy. He’s just been through a lot of shit like the rest of us. Give him time. He’ll grow on you. I promise.”
“Okay, sure,” was the best Persia could offer on that subject.
Despite this enlightening conversation, Alex was not the problem her brain was currently stuck on. It was that other badassed guy with blue, blue eyes. What had Hotrod been through? Was there a legitimate reason he’d up and left her without saying goodbye? Or was he just another loser who used women, then tossed them aside?
As fast as that thought crossed her mind, Persia discarded it. Yes, Hotrod had left without saying a word, but he was no slouch. No man who could swim from Cuba to Florida, was. That long-distance swim had required discipline, a shitload of endurance, and the sheer determination to never quit.
When the flight attendant came back with Persia’s flute of champagne and Izza’s three scoop sundae with extra hot fudge and a mountain of whipped cream with a cherry at the peak, conversation ceased. And that was okay. Persia lifted the champagne to her lips and sipped while she stared at the clouds beyond the window. Night had fallen, but the moon was high enough that it cast a