Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(6)

She always crashed at his place when she flew in or out of Denver. She’d been the one to stay after he’d been released from the hospital, only leaving for Europe when he’d sworn he was fine and didn’t need her coddling anymore.

The fact that she hadn’t stopped on her way home could only mean she had something to hide.

“So you said Callie was working last night and Dillon wasn’t around. What happened? Was she hurt?”

Adam chuckled. “Oh hell, no. Not our girl. When the idiots tried to start some shit with her, she tossed one of them through the window.”

There was a note of intense pride in his dad’s voice that made Seth smile. That was one thing Seth could say about Callie. Growing up with three dads and three older brothers? She’d learned early how to kick ass and take names. She didn’t take shit off anyone.

“Lacey is thinking about retiring,” Adam said abruptly.

Seth rolled his eyes. “Dad, she’s been thinking about retiring for the last ten years. It’ll never happen. They’ll pry her stiff carcass out of the sheriff’s office at ninety.”

Lacey England was the long-time sheriff of Clyde and also Seth’s godmother. She doted on all the Colter children, but from the time he was old enough, Seth had followed her around, always interested in who she was arresting.

She’d been pleased beyond mention when he’d entered the police academy and taken a job as a police officer in Denver. None of her children had followed her into public service, and she laughingly told everyone that Seth was the child of her heart.

“No, she really means it this time,” Adam said with a sigh. “Dan’s health isn’t good, Seth. They think it’s cancer. They’re thinking of moving so he can be closer to good hospitals.”

“Oh damn,” Seth murmured. “That’s too bad.”

“She wants you to consider moving to Clyde so you can be appointed to serve out her term. There’s still two years left. You’d be a shoe-in come election time.”

“Oh Christ, Dad. You know I don’t want her job.”

“Maybe you should think about it. You’d be close to home and family. It’s a good job. Everyone knows you here. You’re a damn good cop.”

Seth held back the groan. Once an idea was planted in his mom and dads’ heads, it was impossible to sway them. They’d nag and cajole until he begged for mercy.

“It’s a good time for a change. Fresh start after the shooting. Sure, things would be calmer here, but it would be your town.”

“I’ll think about it, Dad, okay?”

Adam gave a disbelieving grunt.

A noise in the kitchen had Seth turning around to see Lily sitting at the small breakfast bar. He hadn’t even heard her come in. She looked tentative, as if she worried she was intruding.

He smiled at her then held up a finger to signal he’d only be a minute more.

“Look Dad, I need to go. I’ll call you tomorrow to check up on things. Tell Mom I’ll get up to see her before I go back to work.”

“If I tell her that, you’re going to come if I have to go down to Denver and haul you back myself,” Adam warned.

His father wasn’t kidding and Seth knew it well. “I know. I’ll come.”

“Okay, son. I’ll talk to you later. I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad. Give Mom a kiss for me and tell the other dads I’ll see them soon.”

Adam chuckled and hung up.

Seth put the phone back into his pocket and turned his attention to Lily.

Her nose wrinkled in confusion. “You have more than one dad?”

“Uh, yeah. Three.”

“Stepdads? It must be nice to have a close relationship with them.”

There was a wistful note in her voice that told Seth she thought having a close familial relationship in any context was nice.

“Not exactly. I have an unusual family.”

She cocked her head to the side for a moment as if she’d say more, but then she blushed as if thinking she was intruding.

He chuckled. “You can ask. I love my family dearly. Wouldn’t change a single thing about them, but my upbringing was definitely not typical.”

“How so?”

“I have three fathers and one mother. My mother is in a relationship with all three men.”

Lily’s mouth rounded in shock. She seemed to want to say something but fell silent. Then she glanced up at him again. “How is that possible?”

Seth shrugged. “They all three love her more than life and she loves them. She married the oldest of three brothers but she’s committed to all of them. They had four children. I’m the oldest. I have two younger brothers and my sister is the baby.”

“Wow. I mean…wow. And you don’t know who your biological father is?”

He smiled. “Nope. Doesn’t matter to them. Doesn’t matter to me. Although lots of teasing goes on now that we’re adults. Mom swears I’m Ethan’s child. What she means, though, is that I’m laid back and not a freak like my younger two brothers. Michael is more Adam’s personality though maybe not as intense. And we all swear that Dillon was hatched because no one will claim responsibility for him.”

Lily laughed. “That’s so neat. You must have grown up with so much love.”