Page 36 of Queen of Diamonds
“Get your mouth off my sister.”
They jerked apart, and she glared at her youngest brother. He winked, letting her know he was messing with them. Ignoring Alex, Rand turned his attention to the meat on the grill.
“Dude, you know what you’re doing? Have you ever even had a hot dog?” Alex said.
Rand tilted his head as he stared down at the hot dogs on the grill. “Once, when the chef was sick.” He smirked at Alex. “Mother boiled some.”
Her brother stared at him in horror. “She boiled them?” At Rand’s nod Alex put his hand on her arm, giving her a push. “Go visit the others. I have some serious grilling lessons to give this boy.”
She lifted her brows, silently asking Rand if he was going to be okay, getting a smile and a nod. Trusting that Alex would play nice, she joined her sisters-in-law. “Sorry I didn’t come say hi right away.” She settled in one of the lawn chairs.
Taylor glanced over at Rand. “You were where you needed to be. I was surprised to see him here. We’ve invited him over several times since he lost Zoe, but he always refused. It’s hard for him to be around children.”
“Understandable,” Lauren said, rubbing her belly as if soothing the baby nesting inside. “I don’t know if I could be if something happened to mine.”
Madison kissed the forehead of the baby sleeping on her shoulder. “It slayed me when my father was killed, but I think I’d lay down and die if something happened to Michael.”
“I think you’re good for him, Kinsey,” Taylor said, her gaze alighting on Rand. “That you were able to get him here speaks volumes.”
They watched as Nate ambled over to the grill. Kinsey rolled her eyes when he bumped his shoulder against Rand, sending Rand sideways. “They need to stop picking on him.”
Lauren grinned. “He can take it.” She turned curious eyes to Kinsey. “So, you and Rand, huh? How’d that happen?”
“I don’t know if there is a me and Rand, but I really like him. He seems to think that he’s not in a good enough place right now to have a relationship. That it wouldn’t be fair to me.” Nate strolled over, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Big brother isn’t helping by going all macho and warning Rand away.”
The Gentry wives all laughed. “Insider info here,” Taylor said, still chuckling. “Your brothers are the equivalent of mama bears and tend to get overzealous in doing their job of safeguarding those under their protection. That now includes you.”
Nate nodded. “Damn straight.”
“I wasn’t finished, babe. What I was going to say before being interrupted, take their protection when it’s needed, but ignore them when they try to tell you what’s best for you.”
When Nate growled at that, Kinsey couldn’t help her laugh. “Good advice.”
“Now go away, husband. We’re having girl talk here.” Her gaze roamed appreciatively over Nate. “And you’re obviously not a girl.”
“Thank God,” he said with a dramatic shudder. “I was sent to tell you that the burgers are done.”
Taylor stood and put her hand on Lauren’s shoulder. “You go sit. Madison, put your son in his crib, then help Court round up the girls. Kinsey, go make sure Rand doesn’t sneak out on us. Nate, you can come help me with the potato salad and stuff.”
“She’s a bossy girl,” Nate said, shooting Kinsey a wink.
“I don’t think he minds at all,” Kinsey said, watching him sling an arm around his wife as they walked away.
Madison chuckled. “I don’t think there’s another woman in the world he’d let boss him around, but he loves for her to. She’s also the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Your brother never smiled before her.”
Every time she heard something like that about one of her brothers, she wanted to cry.
