In truth he’d never really thought about it. More little Kings to worry about. But they’d be part of Jenny. How could he not adore them?
“I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful uncle,” she said, answering her own question. “I can just see it now. Every time you visit you’ll shower them with ridiculous gifts we will never be able to match when you leave. And you’ll be the most overprotective influence in their life. I’ll be able to sleep in peace, knowing that when my daughter tries to sneak out to get her first tattoo you’ll call down S.W.A.T on her to bring her home.”
“You think so, huh?”
She gave him a one-armed hug. “You were an excellent parent to me and you were a kid. You’ll only be better with any new kids that enter the family.” She poked his chest. “I’d like to be an aunt, too, you know.”
“I don’t think that’s in the cards.”
Jenny made a face. “Just wait. Someday you’ll meet someone incredible, and spending the rest of your life with her will be all you can think about.”
“What if I already screwed that part up?” he muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing, Kit. Are you hungry?”
“Starved. I’m so not a fan of airplane food.”
“I agree with you there.”
The car pulled up, and he held the door open while she crawled into the interior.
“So tell me more about the wedding plans,” she said as they pulled away from the airport.
“Everything is set,” he said. “Flowers are confirmed, menu fixed. I’ve got a minister ready to marry you and a full guest list to fill seats. You just have to show up.”
“That’s amazing,” she said. “I knew you guys could handle everything.”
He swallowed hard. “We’ve left the music and rings to you, though.”
“Perfect. Matt has a friend whose band will play, and as for the rings…” She held out her hand. “Check out my engagement ring. There’s another band that will fit into it after the wedding.”
He took her fingers in his, examining the small diamond that sat upon her left finger.
“Don’t even think of offering to upgrade it,” she warned. “It’s all we could afford right now, but I love it.”
“I was going to say it’s lovely,” he said. “Perfect for you.”
She took her hand away, smiling at her ring. “Matt is perfect for me.”
Again a stab of pain ripped through him.
Jenny dropped her hand and grinned at him. “I’m so excited to try on my dress. It looked gorgeous online. You’ve seen it, right? Does it hold up?”
Visions of Allison in the dress filled his mind. “It’s breathtaking,” he said.
“Oh good. I hope it wasn’t too much to ask Allison to try it on for me. Will she be going with me tomorrow?”
He cleared his throat. “Actually, Ali’s no longer with King Enterprises.”
Jenny snorted. “Very funny.”
“I’m serious.”
The humor slid off her face. “What did you do?”
“Why do you assume the problem was me?”
“Because I’ve watched that woman fawn over you for years. There’s no way she’d just up and leave.”
“Well, she did. She wanted a less stressful job.”
Jenny shrugged. “Okay, I can see that. But the wedding stuff was always above and beyond. Isn’t she still going to be involved?”
“No.”
“What did you do?” she repeated.
He huffed in annoyance. “It’s none of your business, Jenny.”
“The hell it isn’t. Allison is the only woman I’ve ever seen crack that shell of yours. She’s been some sort of weird hybrid for years now. Half your employee, half your girlfriend.”
He jerked as if he’d touched a live wire. “We were nothing of the kind.”
But Jenny was watching him with shrewd eyes filled with a wisdom he wouldn’t have credited her with a year ago.
“You slept with her,” she said.
“I’m not discussing this with you.”
“Who left who?”
“What does it matter?”
“Dammit, you broke up with her, didn’t you?” Jenny whacked the seat in front of her. “How can someone as smart as you be so dumb?”
“Just because you don’t work for me doesn’t mean you can take that tone.”
She rolled her eyes. “What are you going to do? Ground me?”
“My relationship with Allison isn’t any of your business.”
Sadness filled her eyes. Sadness he knew had been mirrored in his own on more than one occasion. “Isn’t it?” she whispered.