The Darkest Hour (KGI #1)(49)

“Thank God you’re home with us,” Marlene murmured against her hair.

She drew away and then kissed Rachel’s cheek. Her hand stroked down her hair, and she gave Rachel a watery smile.

“You’ve monopolized her enough, Marlene. Let her breathe a minute so I can hug my daughter.”

The gruff voice made her jump, but she immediately relaxed when she saw Frank Kelly step to Marlene’s side. She smiled tentatively up at the big man, and to her surprise his face crumbled and big tears rolled down his wrinkled cheeks.

She stared in shock as he put his arms out to her. He didn’t move to her as Marlene had done, and maybe he was worried she’d reject him or was afraid.

As anxious as she was, she wanted to comfort him.

After only a brief hesitation she walked into his hug and wrapped her arms around his waist. His admonishment to Marlene to let her breathe made her smile. He was squeezing her so tight she could barely pull air into her lungs.

She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. Old Spice after-shave. Made her think of grandpas. Leather and the overwhelming smell of comfort. Home.

“Hey, no hogging.”

Rachel opened her eyes to see a grinning face close to Frank’s shoulder.

“Which one are you?” she asked.

His teeth flashed in a wider smile. “I’m Joe. The good-looking one.”

Unable to resist, she smiled back just as Frank released her. Joe tugged her into his arms and lifted her up.

“Hey, knock it off, dumbass,” Ethan growled.

Joe ignored him and twirled her around. As she stared into his eyes, a memory as dizzy as he was currently making her skittered through her mind. Just a brief glance. But it was Joe, standing nervously in front of her. He was younger. Same short haircut, but he was in uniform. Army fatigues. Boots.

Her brow furrowed as she sought to hang on. Joe carefully eased her down, and she blinked as he stared at her in concern.

“Hey, you okay? Sorry, didn’t mean to get carried away.”

“You asked me out,” she blurted.

Joe cast a nervous glance over at Ethan then grinned at her. “Yeah. Well not lately.”

Sam stepped forward, and she willed herself not to flinch.

“You remember him, Rachel?” Sam asked.

She raised a hand to her brow and pressed over her right eye, suddenly aware of the slight throb. Ethan’s hand slid over her shoulders and he massaged, a silent message of support. Reminding her of his presence. She sank back against him, tired but unafraid. She may not remember these people, but she couldn’t refute the love in their eyes.

She stared up at Joe again, searching the vague images for something that made sense.

“You were standing in front of me. You had your uniform on. And you were nervous.”

Joe smiled. “Hell yeah. I was asking a gorgeous woman out.”

She tilted her head. “Did I accept?”

Joe adopted an exaggerated crestfallen expression. “No. You let me down easy, though.” He clutched his heart and staggered back a step. “I recovered. Eventually.”

She chuckled at his antics. Then her gaze flittered to the man she now assumed had to be Nathan. He stood back, a slight smile curving his lips.

“You don’t look alike,” she said.

“Thank God,” Nathan muttered.

“Yeah, I got all the looks. He got . . . Well he didn’t get much,” Joe said.

Nathan rolled his eyes then shoved by Joe. “Got a hug for me?”

She went willingly, her unease gone. His body shook with emotion, and she realized that despite his and Joe’s back-and-forth, they were as affected as the rest of the family.

When he let her go, she stepped back, putting enough distance between her and the rest so that she could study their faces.

“I really do have a family,” she said in wonder.

Pain flashed in Ethan’s eyes. She hadn’t meant to hurt him. Why had her words hurt him?

“Yes, sweet pea,” Garrett said. “You have a family. You have all of us. Warts and all.”

Ethan moved to her again. His hand slid over the side of her neck and then up to cup her jaw. His thumb grazed restlessly over her cheek, and she tilted her chin so she could look into his eyes.

“Are you okay, baby?”

Everyone else seemed to disappear. His face lowered precariously close to hers. He hadn’t kissed her yet. Not as a husband. He’d been so careful with her. Understanding.

She licked her lips at the same time she realized she wanted him to kiss her. Here. And then her gaze skated sideways to his family all standing there. Watching.

She ducked her head and took a step back, Ethan’s hand falling away. But she reached out to catch it, wanting to maintain some semblance of contact with him.

He smiled and laced his fingers with hers then pulled her against his side.

“Are you hungry?” Marlene asked.

Ethan chuckled. “Ma’s answer to everything. Food.”

Marlene harrumphed, but her eyes twinkled. “You didn’t turn down a hot meal.”

“I’m no idiot.”

Donovan spoke up. “Hey, if she’s not hungry, I am.”

Rachel turned in the direction of his voice. He smiled and nodded, but he kept his distance almost as if he knew how overwhelmed she was.

“You’re the quiet one, aren’t you?”