“I know people. Little shits like Caleb don’t give up. They just keep coming and coming, never know when to stop. He’s out of money, and he’s lost for now, but that just means he’s desperate.”
She didn’t seem surprised by my assessment of her cousin. “So we stay married?”
“Yes. Absolutely. And I think we decide here and now to just shelve that issue indefinitely. You know, just in case. No need to end it, really. At all. Ever.” I took another bite of my croissant, washing it down with a big gulp of coffee and watching for her reaction.
Kat smiled a little shy smile, her gaze growing soft, her eyes drawing me in. “Agreed. But then, do we live separately? Or would you . . .”
“Would I?” I prompted.
“Would you consider living, at least part time, in Boston?” She winced, like she was bracing herself for my answer.
“Absolutely.” I nodded.
Her gaze searched mine. “And we would live together?”
“I should hope so, we are married.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do.” I leaned back in my chair, giving her my serious face. “We can live together and still take things slow.”
She was chewing on her lip again. “It’ll be hard.”
“You have no idea,” I mumbled.
Her face split with a smile and she shook her head at me. But then her expression sobered. “I don’t want to live in my father’s house, in Duxbury. He used to take a helicopter into work.”
“Holy shit. You own a helicopter?”
She nodded, looking uncomfortable.
“So who’s living there now? At the place in Duxbury?”
“No one. It’s been empty since he moved to the care facility. But it’s still maintained, just like all the other houses.”
“All the other houses,” I parroted, letting the lunacy of that statement roll around in my brain.
“Yes.” Her features grew stark and she rubbed her forehead. “So many houses. Eugene has the list.”
I studied her for a beat. “Where are you thinking in Boston?”
She twisted her lips to the side. “So, I was talking to your mom—”
“We’re not living with my mom.”
“No. I agree.” She grinned. “But maybe on her street?”
I choked. “You want to live down the street from my mom?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head. “Can I think about it?”
“Of course. It would be your home, too.”
“I guess it would.” I rubbed my chin, thinking about that.
My folks lived with my paternal grandparents for their entire marriage, until my father left. My dad’s folks left the house to my mother in their will. My ma’s parents had sold their house—which had been next door—and moved to Florida seven years ago.
The neighborhood had changed a lot in ten years. Homes had been knocked over and two or three townhouses had been placed on a single lot. Managing security for a house was more difficult than an apartment building, too many points of entry. Kat was worth buckets of money and that kind of money attracted serious problems.
“You’ll need a security detail,” I spoke my thoughts out loud.
“I know.” She sounded resigned to and unhappy about it, but at least she agreed. “I was thinking, for at least the next few weeks, until we figure something out, we’ll have to move to The Langham. They keep a penthouse open for my family’s use and they’ll allow Wally.”
“You already asked the hotel about Wally?” Warmth suffused my chest at this news. She’s been thinking about this, making plans, including Wally.
She nodded, her eyes hopeful.
My thoughts drifted to the logistics of running a security detail for her. Quinn and I were out of the private security business mostly, but—obviously—we’d make an exception for Kat. Also, I needed to start planning on what would happen when the newspapers caught wind of her father’s death, which would happen any day now, and all the public interest that was sure to follow.
“I’ll need to meet with the hotel people as soon as possible. I assume the penthouse has restricted access? And we’ll need to keep the team close by, maybe a floor below, where we can have more control over your safety.”
“Agreed. I’ll let you handle those details,” she said, all professional and shit.
I cocked an eyebrow at her tone. “Oh really? You’ll let me handle the details?”
Her lips curved into an answering smile. “Security is your area of expertise, so why would I need to be involved? I trust you to handle it and keep me informed if there’s anything I need to know.”