Kevin's eyes slid up toward his mother's, then back to Nathaniel's. He sidled closer and leaned toward Nathaniel's ear.
Does she like it?
Nathaniel clamped down on a chuckle and answered solemnity with solemnity.
Yeah, she does.
After a long breath, Kevin nodded.
Okay, I guess you can kiss her if you want.
I appreciate it.
He offered Kevin a hand, and the man-to-man shake had the boy's chest swelling like a balloon.
Thanks for taking me today.
Kevin took off the captain's hat.
And for letting me
wear this.
Nathaniel dropped the hat back on Kevin's head, pushed up the brim.
Keep it.
The boy's eyes went blank with shocked pleasure.
For real?
Yeah.
Wow. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Look, Mom, I can keep it. I'm going to show Aunt Coco.
He raced upstairs with a clatter of sneakers. When Nathaniel straightened again, Megan was eyeing him narrowly.
What did he ask you?
Man talk. Women don't understand these things.
Oh, really?
Before she could disabuse him of that notion, Nathaniel hooked his fingers in her waistband and jerked her forward.
I've got permission to do this now.
He kissed her thoroughly, while Delia did her best to snuggle between them.
Permission,
Megan said when she could breathe again.
From whom?
From your men.
He strolled casually into the parlor, laid Delia on her play rug, where she squealed happily at her favorite stuffed bear.
Except your father, but he's
not around.
My men? You mean Kevin and Sloan.
Realization dawned, and had her sinking onto the arm of a chair.
You spoke to Sloan about... this?
We were going to beat each other up about it, but it didn't come to that.
Very
much at home, Nathaniel walked to the side table and poured himself a short whiskey from a decanter.
We straightened it out.
You did. You and my brother. I suppose it didn't occur to either of you that I might have some say in the matter.
It didn't come up. He was feeling surly about the fact that you'd spent the night with me.
It's none of his business,
Megan said tightly.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. It's water under the bridge now. Nothing to get riled about.
I'm not riled. I'm irritated that you took it upon yourself to explain our relationship to my family without discussing it with me.
And she was unnerved, more than a
little, by the worshipful look she'd seen in Kevin's eyes.
Women, Nathaniel thought, and tossed back his whiskey.
I was either going to