here tonight. We’ve got plenty of room, and tomorrow we’ll probably play touch football all day long.” He adds a slow smile and pulls me a little closer. “You should be here so I can tackle you.”
“I thought it was touch.”
Laughing, he closes the space between us. “It can get pretty dirty.”
I don’t have to answer because we stop and talk to a few kids I don’t know who are from a town on the other side of Pittsburgh. And I thought Molly had a fun house. This is a whole different world—weekend parties, kids from all over the place, and a grandfather who apparently doesn’t care if they play beer pong on his pool table.
“And who do we have here, Josh?”
I turn at the sound of a man’s voice, meeting eyes the same gorgeous blue as Josh’s, only icier and feathered with crow’s-feet.
“This is Kenzie Summerall.” The way he says it, I know they’ve already talked about me.
“Kenzie.” The older man nods in approval. “Of course.” Flashing an easy, wide smile, he looks down—way down—at me. Instantly, I can see where Josh gets his gifts—his height, the build, the sort of raw masculinity mixed with charm that rolls off him. That’s hereditary, I suppose.
The older man puts a familiar hand on my shoulder, and I’m immediately at ease. Another gift. “Rex Collier,” he says, studying me like nothing could make him take his eyes off my face. It’s disconcerting, and flattering. “You were absolutely correct, Josh. She is a refreshing change.”
Josh just shakes his head, laughing. “And you thought you wanted to kill Molly?” he asks me. “How do you think I feel right now?”
Rex shoos his grandson’s comment. “Nothing wrong with honesty, young man. Haven’t I taught you anything?”
“You’ve taught me everything,” Josh says, a respectful note in his voice. “Including how to pick quality girls.”
“Indeed.” The older man gives me one more thorough inspection. “Quality, and an improvement.”
I feel my eyes widen. “Over what?”
That makes Rex laugh, wrinkling his face but not making him any less imposing or regal. “Over the ones that have their bosoms spilling out and wear makeup like Cleopatra.” He lifts a glass. No Solo cup for the king; he’s got a crystal water glass filled with something amber over ice. “I’m guessing you don’t drink beer,” he says.
“You’re guessing right.”
“Some wine? Champagne? I have a lovely port.”
I almost laugh comparing, once again, Josh’s home life with mine. “I don’t need anything,” I say. “I’m driving home.” At least, I am if that was beer in Molly’s Solo cup.
“Good call, Mackenzie,” Rex says, still smiling and somehow inching me away from Josh to a bar that takes up one whole corner of the family room.
I fleetingly wonder how Rex knows my full first name, but then he guides me to a barstool and sits in the one next to me. “My grandson likes you. He’s been talking about you for a while.”
The announcement surprises me on so many levels I don’t know where to start. So I just smile, perplexed that this old guy—I’m no judge of age, but he’s got to be well into his sixties—is even attending a high school party, let alone sharing secrets.
“Do you like him?” he asks.
I glance back to Josh, who’s already high-fiving and joking around with a few guys I don’t know.
“Yes, of course I like him.”
“Enough to go out with him?”
I laugh softly. “Are you asking for him?”
“He likes to have my blessing on these things. We’re close. You know, his parents are gone.”
“I’ve heard,” I say. “I’m sorry.” I consider adding that I know he saved Josh’s life, but I don’t want him to know I’ve been talking about the family.
He gives me a thoughtful, sad nod. “It was tragic, but I’m just glad that I am healthy and wealthy enough to make Josh comfortable and ensure that he has everything he needs.”
“Yeah, I see that he does.” I glance around, already a bit anxious to end the conversation. I can’t catch Josh’s eye and it would be rude to walk away. Plus, something tells me not much gets by Rex Collier.
“It’s not easy being an only child,” he says on a serious sigh.
“No, it isn’t.”
“You’re an only child.” He dips his head and adds, “Now.”
Oh, he knows. Not a surprise; Conner’s death was big news in Vienna, the loss of a local boy in a tragic, freak accident.
My heart stops and then breaks, as it always does. My throat starts to close in