Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(21)

Nathan nodded because he’d been just as convinced as Swanny had been.

A cool breeze blew in from the lake, and Nathan turned his face up to catch the sweet scent of honeysuckle. He loved it here. To experience such peace after being in such unimaginable stress was disconcerting almost.

“Well, what do you say we don’t make any life decisions for the next day or two at least,” Nathan said with a smile. “You got a place to stay? I’m thinking the biggest decision we need to think about is what beer we want and whether we’re going to run out.”

Swanny grinned. “Now you’re speaking my language. I booked a hotel in Paris and drove over the lake to find you.”

“Cancel the hotel. I’ve got better accommodations here.” He gestured at a tent toward the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake just beyond the frame of his house. “If you don’t mind rustic, plenty of fresh air and all the beer you can drink. Ma has made it her mission to make sure I never starve, so we can count on routine deliveries of food.”

“Home-cooked food and beer? And they say you can’t get to heaven without dying.”

Nathan sobered. No. But you could certainly go to hell without dying. He shook away that thought and then stood.

“Let’s go get your stuff and check you out of your hotel. We’ll stop by the store, get what we need, and we’ll spend a few nights under the stars.”

Swanny got to his feet. He stared out over the lake for a minute and then turned his gaze to Nathan. A smile softened the harsh lines around his eyes. “Yeah. Sounds like a plan.”

CHAPTER 10

SWANNY sat back in his chair with a groan. “That was the best meal I’ve had in a long time, Mrs. Kelly.”

Nathan’s mom beamed as she got up from her seat to start clearing the table. She stopped by Swanny and patted him on the cheek.

“You have to call me Marlene. Or Mom. Or Ma. Really. You’re family, so Mrs. Kelly just won’t do.”

Swanny had the same befuddled look on his face that most people did when encountering the storm that was Nathan’s mother. He looked torn between bemusement and wanting to hug the woman.

It had taken a lot of persuading to get Swanny to agree to

have dinner with the Kellys. He was self-conscious about his face, but then Marlene blithely ignored the scarring. She kissed, patted and otherwise made it a point to let Swanny know she didn’t care. He’d instantly become another of her children.

“You boys want to retire to the living room and have a beer? There’s a baseball game on,” Frank Kelly said. “Leave the dishes, Marlene. I’ll get them later.”

Nathan grinned. His dad still treated them like they were…boys. His boys. No matter how old they got. They were still the children of Marlene and Frank Kelly no matter what.

Joe tossed down his napkin and rose. “Beer sounds good. Baseball sounds even better.”

Rusty smiled impishly and darted a glance toward Frank. “Yeah, beer sounds great!”

Frank gave her a get-real look. “Very funny, young lady. You get lemonade.”

“Hey, I’m eighteen now!”

“And?” Marlene asked.

Rusty rolled her eyes. “And it means I have three more years until I’m legally allowed to imbibe.”

Marlene nodded approvingly. “Now you’re getting it.”

Nathan stood, as did Swanny, and they started to follow Frank and Joe into the living room. Rusty waited until Marlene had left to go get drinks then hurriedly rose and touched Nathan on the arm.

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked in a low voice.

Nathan frowned but hung back after motioning for Swanny to follow Nathan’s dad and brother.

Rusty looked a little nervous and hesitant, neither of which were qualities usually attributed to her.

“What’s up?” Nathan asked.

Things had come a long way in Rusty’s relationship with the Kellys. His brothers to be specific. But Nathan had always been more…understanding…so she naturally gravitated toward him more than his siblings.

Another of Marlene’s strays, Rusty had been taken in at the time when Rachel had been rescued and brought home after a year of being thought dead. The family situation had been volatile at best, and Rusty had added tension. She’d been defensive, bratty and sullen, but over time she’d earned her place and now she was as fiercely protective of the family as any natural-born Kelly.

“Look, I wasn’t supposed to ask you this. I mean Marlene and Frank didn’t want me to pressure you. I’m supposed to back off and let you breathe and stuff.”

Nathan lifted an eyebrow. One would think he was a hair from barking at the moon in full werewolf gear.

She hurried on in a rush. “But I really want you there. I mean like more than everyone else. Not that I don’t want everyone else there too, but it would be really great if you could make it as well.”

He put his hand on her arm. “Rusty.”

She quieted immediately, and her cheeks reddened.

“Just spit it out. Where do you want me to be?”

“Graduation,” she mumbled. “It’s this week. I would have said something earlier, I mean I didn’t want to just spring it on you like this, but Marlene didn’t want me to pressure you—”

“Of course I’ll come.”