When You're Back

by Abbi Glines

  “She said you’d get mad at Kiro and it wouldn’t help anything. She asked Grant not to call you, so Grant came to me instead. She never asked him not to tell me to tell you.”

  Damn. I had to give my brother-in-law more credit. “I need to pack and let Momma and Dad know I’m leaving. Shit! Reese has a new job. She’s not gonna want to take time off yet, and honestly, I don’t want her seeing all this shit with Kiro. It’s fucked-up. She doesn’t need to be involved.”

  “Go on and figure things out. We’ll be flying out at six tonight if you want to leave with us. We’ve got the jet.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see you then.”

  “Life as a rocker’s son sucks more than it doesn’t,” Rush said, and he headed up the hill to leave.

  I could have said he understood, but he didn’t really. He was the son of Dean Finlay. Dean had never done the shit Kiro had done. Dean had been a loving, present father—for the most part. Dean wasn’t always mixed up in some crazy shit. Rush had no idea how it felt to be Kiro Manning’s son.

  It sucked. That’s what it fucking did. It sucked. All the time.

  Reese

  When the office door opened just after two, I somehow knew it was going to be him. My entire body tensed as I looked up to meet Captain’s eyes. There was a gleam in them as he sauntered into the room.

  “Good afternoon, Reese. I have some paperwork and receipts for you,” he said, as he sank down into the leather chair closest to my desk.

  “OK,” I replied simply. I’d already resigned myself not to ask him about the concert tickets.

  “You looked like you enjoyed the concert,” he said, as if he had read my mind. Again. How did he do that?

  “It was a great concert,” I said. Although I had nothing to compare it with.

  He smirked. “You say that now. Wait until you see a band like U2 in concert. Then you’ll know what a great concert is.”

  I didn’t even know who U2 was, so I just ignored his remark. “The paperwork?” I asked, holding out my hand, wanting to get this over with.

  He chuckled. “You don’t like me, Reese. Why is that?”

  I didn’t have an answer, other than that he made me nervous. And he flirted with me. Well, I guess that was the answer. “You flirt. I don’t like it,” I replied.

  He studied me for a moment, and then his amused smile turned to something more serious as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. His face was closer to me, and the table between us felt like a safety guard.

  “I haven’t been flirting with you, Reese. When I flirt with you, you’ll know it.”

  Oh. OK. Well, what he was doing now seemed kind of flirty. But was I wrong about that? Was I assuming that his trying to be friendly was flirting? No. He had made comments about wanting what Mase had.

  “You’ve made comments, comments about me . . .” I trailed off, feeling my face grow hot.

  He shrugged. “I’m honest. I don’t worry about what others think. If I want to say something, I do. Doesn’t mean I was flirting, baby.”

  He was so confusing. I fisted my hand in my lap, totally frustrated. “OK. Well, then, let’s forget all this and get to business. What do you have for me?”

  He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a manila folder. “Here you go.” Then he stood up and headed for the door. “If you have questions, you can call or text,” he said, without looking back at me. When the door closed behind him, I sank back into my seat and let out a frustrated sigh. How had I ended up sounding like the jerk? He had been honest and turned it around to make me look like the idiot.

  Shaking him off, I opened the folder to find more paperwork and receipts than I was going to have time to handle today. I still had several things to do for Piper. She would be gone tomorrow, and I had to feed and water the horses, on top of brushing them down and cleaning stalls. Piper had recently let her stable help go because the girl had kept talking on her phone during business hours. She hadn’t hired a replacement yet.

  I had a busy few days ahead of me and needed to work late that night. I had pulled out my phone from my pocket and started to dial Mase when his name lit up my screen.

  Smiling, I answered, ready to hear his voice. “Hey, I was just about to call you.”

  “Hey, baby, I’ve got a problem. I hate to have to call you about this, but I’m packing up now and have to nail some things down before I fly out at six.”

  What? Packing? “What’s wrong?” I asked, not liking the idea of him going anywhere on such short notice.

  “It’s Kiro. Harlow’s mom is having health complications, and Kiro isn’t dealing with it well. He’s acting out like he always does, and Harlow has been dealing with it on her own. She doesn’t need this shit. Her heart . . . well, I’ve told you about her heart. I just need to handle him. Get him calm and reassure my sister that everything is going to be OK. I’d take you, but this is going to be ugly. Kiro . . . isn’t normal. He’s a crazy fuck. But I don’t want to leave you, either. I’m having a hard time with this.”

  I couldn’t leave. I had more work than I could handle as it was, plus Piper was going out of town and was relying on me. “I have to work anyway. Piper is leaving, and I have to cover for her. Just go. Help Kiro, and keep me updated.”

  “I love you. I’m going to miss you. I’ll call every night. Momma said she’d give you a ride to and from work, and she’ll pick you up at five tonight; I have to leave for the airport before then.”

  “I love you, too. I’ll be fine. I’ll miss you, but your family needs you. Do you think there’s any way Maryann can come get me at six thirty instead? I have to work late tonight.”

  He hesitated. “Yeah, she can. I just hate the idea of you working that late.”

  I wanted to hug him tight and feel his kiss on my lips. My heart hurt already from missing him. But I wouldn’t let him know that. He had enough to deal with right now. I wasn’t adding more to it. “I’ll be fine. I just have a lot of paperwork that needs to be filed first. Travel safe, and call me when you get there.”

  He sighed. “God, I hate leaving you.”

  I hated it, too. “It won’t be too long. I’ll miss you, but I’ll be here when you’re back.”

  “I love you. So damn much,” he said fervently.

  “I love you more,” I replied.

  Mase

  We took the private jet to Florida so I could check on Harlow, but I wasn’t staying with her long. I had to get to Los Angeles and deal with Kiro. I just had to talk to Harlow first; she knew what all was going on. I also wanted to assure her that I would handle the situation right. Anything to keep her from worrying.

  Grant opened the door before I even knocked. I’d texted him that I was on my way from the airport. He looked stressed. “Thanks for coming,” he said in a whisper.

  I nodded. “Get in touch with me sooner next time, yeah?”

  Grant nodded his head toward the back of the house. “She’s out on the back porch. She’s calling Dean to check on Kiro. Lila Kate is already in bed.”

  I dropped my duffel bag onto the floor and headed back to the porch.

  I saw Harlow sitting in a chair with her phone in her hand, dangling at her side. Her chin rested on her knees. “He didn’t answer,” she said, sounding sad. She still hadn’t looked at me. She thought I was Grant.

  “I’m headed out there later tonight. I’ll find out how he is and call you right away,” I said.

  At the sound of my voice, her head jerked up, and she turned to look at me. Immediately, her eyes filled with tears. “I told him not to tell you,” she said with a choked voice.

  “He didn’t. Rush did. You should have,” I said, walking over to her, reaching for one of her small hands, and holding it in mine.

  “You’ll be mad at him. He doesn’t need that. He’s hurting,” she said with a sob.

  I knew that. And if it wasn’t for Harlow, I’d go beat his ass for acting like this. But I wouldn’t hurt my sister in any way. “I won’t do
that. I know he’s hurting. I’m going to talk to him. See if I can’t get him to see things clearer and lay off the vodka. He’s got to find another way to cope without turning to alcohol. Next, he’ll be back on drugs. Someone has to stop him, and we both know Dean can’t.”

  Harlow dropped her forehead to her knees. “He loves her so much. I can’t imagine that, Mase. I can’t comprehend how he deals with seeing the woman he loves so much lost in her own body. It breaks my heart. I want him to find a way to be happy again. He hasn’t been happy in so long.”

  If any of Kiro Manning’s kids were going to cry over him, it would be Harlow. She loved him in a way I didn’t understand. The father she knew was so different from the Kiro I was familiar with. I was thankful that he cherished Harlow. I’d hate him and completely wash my hands of the man if he didn’t adore Harlow the way he did. That was his one redeeming quality in my eyes. He loved my little sister. That was enough for me to try to stop him from killing himself with his own stupidity. “He has held on to Emily for a long time. This is rocking him. He feels like he’s losing her again. But he’s going to lose himself if someone doesn’t shake some sense into him. I won’t be mean to him, but I will force him to see the big picture. He needs that, Harlow.”

  She sniffled and nodded as she wiped at a stray tear that rolled down her face. “I love him,” she said softly.

  I reached over and pulled her into a tight hug. “I know you do. And because you do, I’ll do everything I can to save him from himself.”

  She clung to me, and we sat there like that until her quiet sobs died down. When she pulled back, she used her sleeve to clean her tear-streaked face. “Where’s Reese?”

  Reese. I’d had to leave Reese. I hated leaving Reese behind. I needed her. “She has a new job, and her boss isn’t going to be there tomorrow. She has to fill in for her. And honestly, I don’t want Reese to be there to see Kiro in his current state.”

  Harlow gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry you had to leave her.”

  I was, too. I reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Harlow’s ear. “I miss her. I won’t lie. But right now, Kiro needs help. And for you, I’m going to make sure he gets it.”

  Harlow sighed and sank back into her seat. “He loves you, too, you know. He’s proud of you. He doesn’t say it, but he’s proud of the man you became. That you’re not like him.”

  I wasn’t like him because I was raised by a good man. I didn’t say that to Harlow, though. I just nodded, because that was what she needed.

  She laughed and reached over to squeeze my hand. “You’re agreeing with me because you don’t want me upset. You’re as bad as Grant. I know you don’t believe it. I don’t know if you ever will. But I know Daddy. I know he loves you.”

  I smiled at the sound of her laughter. That eased the tightness in my chest some. “I just want you to promise me you’ll stop worrying. Don’t cry. Rest, enjoy Lila Kate, and give poor Grant a break. The man is worried sick over you.”

  Harlow glanced back at the house, and a sweet smile touched her lips. “I got lucky with him. He’s wonderful. He makes everything in my world brighter.”

  Good. “Focus on that, then. The bright shit Grant creates. Just stop worrying.”

  Harlow laughed again, and I felt much better about her. I could leave her and deal with Kiro now, knowing she was better and her mind was at ease.

  The door opened, and Grant stuck his head out. “Did I hear her laugh?” he asked in a hopeful tone.

  “Yes, you did. I bring the magic, man. You could take lessons from me,” I said, standing up. I walked over and pressed a kiss on top of Harlow’s head. “Love you.”

  She squeezed my arm. “Love you, too.”

  Grant walked over to her, and she stood up to cuddle against his chest. He began caressing her back and tucked her head under his chin. “Thank you,” he said, looking at me like I’d just solved all the world’s problems.

  “Call me no matter what she says next time. No reason for her to worry. She’s stubborn, but you can be more stubborn. I’ve seen it. I was there when you stood at a hospital door, refusing to move until your wife came out of that room alive.”

  A moment of fear and then relief flashed through his eyes at the memory. “Noted,” he replied.

  Harlow grinned at me. “You’re teaching him to gang up on me.”

  I shrugged. “When it’s about your health and happiness, little sis, I’ll do whatever the hell I have to do. And so will he.”

  Harlow pressed a kiss to Grant’s chin. He turned his attention back to her, and I was suddenly invisible. I had started to tell her I was leaving for Los Angeles when she turned to look at me. “You aren’t leaving tonight. You’re staying the night and seeing your niece in the morning. Then you’re eating breakfast with us. I want some time with you before you take off to deal with Daddy.”

  I wanted to get back to Reese, but I was also exhausted, and she was right—I should see Lila Kate first. I nodded, and Grant chuckled. “What?” I asked him.

  He smirked. “It’s fun to see that she has you wrapped around her little finger, too.”

  I would deny that, but I loved Harlow, and it was hard to tell her no.

  Besides, if I saw Kiro while I was exhausted, I wasn’t going to do any good. I could make Harlow happy and be productive when I finally dealt with him.

  Reese

  Last night, the bed was lonely without Mase. I’d finally managed to get some sleep, but it wasn’t enough. I’d woken up yawning. Before Maryann got there to pick me up, I fixed a large pot of coffee and put it in the thermos that Mase usually used.

  I heard Maryann’s truck pull up and quickly grabbed my lunch and the thermos. Running out to the truck, I realized it wasn’t Mase’s mom driving but Major. I opened the passenger-side door and stuck my head in. “Are you my ride?” I asked, making sure he hadn’t just shown up looking for Mase.

  His grin always looked like he was keeping a big secret. “Yep. Maryann had to help with some complications with a calf. She told me to give you a ride.”

  I climbed in and put my things down on the seat beside me before buckling up. “Thank you,” I told him.

  “You’re welcome. But I’ll be completely honest here. She promised me biscuits and gravy, so . . .”

  I laughed. Mase was always complaining because Major ate all of his momma’s food. From what I’d heard, Major didn’t have much of a mom, so I kind of felt sorry for him. But then again, he had slept with his last stepmother. Maybe he didn’t deserve my sympathy.

  “Talked to Mase?”

  “Yes. He called last night when he landed in Florida to let me know he was going to see Harlow.”

  Major let out a long sigh. “That family is wack.”

  Mase was a celebrity’s kid. Life wasn’t supposed to be normal. But apparently, it was worse than I had realized. “He seems worried,” I said simply.

  Major glanced over at me before he pulled out onto the main road. “He is worried. But he’s only worried about Harlow. If it wasn’t for Harlow, he wouldn’t give a shit about Kiro. That man may have given him life, but he’s not Mase’s dad.”

  I had to agree, though it made me sad to think that he didn’t have a relationship with his real father the way Harlow did. Kiro had missed out on knowing this wonderful man he’d helped create.

  “So how’s the job going? Liking it? Ready to quit?”

  I opened my thermos and yawned. “I like it. Piper’s really great to work for.”

  He nodded. “That’s good. Sucks you couldn’t go with Mase, though.”

  Yes, it did suck.

  “You reckon he’s gonna pop the question soon?”

  Pop the question? Huh? I frowned and put my thermos down. “What question?” I asked.

  Major looked at me like I was joking. Then he laughed and held up his left hand. “ ‘Will you marry me?’ That kinda question.”

  Oh . . . Oh! I hadn’t thought of that yet. Sure, I was planning on my future wi
th Mase, but this wasn’t something I was expecting anytime soon. We had just started living together.

  My silence made Major chuckle. “Guess not,” he replied.

  I looked over at him, wondering what he expected me to say. Luckily, he was pulling up to the Stouts’ ranch, and I could end this conversation soon. Once he drove up to the stables, I’d be free. I had no answer for him other than that I doubted it.

  When his truck came to a stop, he turned to me. “Just out of curiosity, is that silence because you don’t want him to ask you that question or because you think he doesn’t want to ask?”

  I decided to take a page from Captain’s book and be honest. “I think he isn’t ready. We’re still kind of new. If he was really ready to marry me now, he would have asked already. I think he wants to wait until we’ve been together for a while.”

  Major nodded and then shrugged. “Maybe,” he said, then tipped the front of his cowboy hat at me, much the same way Mase often did. “Have a good day, Reese.”

  I got out of the truck fast before Major could think of any more nosy questions.

  Two hours into work, I had drunk my entire thermos of coffee and was working on a new cup from the coffee pot in the office. I was kneeling on the floor, looking for a file that Piper had called for, when the door to my office opened, and in walked Captain.

  I was not going to be rude today. He had said he wasn’t flirting with me, so I wasn’t going to be so defensive. We would be working together for a while, and I needed to find a way to do that without feeling I needed to keep my guard up. Besides, I wasn’t normally a rude person. It was hard to do.

  In light of my new attitude, I gave him a smile. “Good morning,” I said. I could see the surprise on his face. I wasn’t going to let him say something “honest” and mess this up. “I’ve got to look for a file for Piper, then I’ll help you with whatever you need.” I went back to hunting for the file.

  “Did I walk into the wrong office?” Captain asked.