Page 11 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

“That’s… venting?” she snickered.

“Yes. Talking it out. Saying it out loud to see if there’s something that stands out. Sometimes just hearing it again helps or provokes something from the listener.”

“Okay.” She grinned. “Whatever you say.”

“So, Rip.” Kenzie prodded, changing the subject, “He’s a good guy. Not what I expected.”

“He is a good guy,” Coy answered, scanning through a file.

“Also seems to have a thing for Dev.” Kenzie nonchalantly said, peeking over the top of her file to see Coy’s reaction.

“I’ve noticed. Not going to happen.” Coy said, seeming unaffected by her observation.

“Except, I think Dev wants it to happen. Have you seen the way she looks at him? I mean, since she shot him.”

“Yep. Noticed that too.” Coy dropped his file, turning his full attention to Kenzie. “He’s ten to fifteen years older than her. What can they possibly see in each other or have in common?”

“Do they have to have anything in common? There’s the whole opposites attract thing.”

“They are as opposite as it gets, Kenz. He’s over six feet tall, the size of a damn tank, built like one, goes through life like one, and the long hair and tat’s… Don’t get me wrong, his look is badass, but…”

“But Dev is five foot nothing, petite, proper, scholarly…”

Coy snapped his fingers, “Exactly. Glad I’m not the only one who sees it.”

“Oh, I think everyone sees it. Devyn isn’t exactly subtle with her feelings, and the way he protected her, even from you yesterday, was somethin’.”

“You noticed that too, huh? He had her out there without anything to protect herself with. What was he thinking?”

“That she didn’t need anything but him to protect her.” Kenzie shrugged and grabbed another file. “And he did a pretty good job of it.”

“They don’t make sense. They’re like, leather and lace.”

Kenzie broke out in laughter, “Leather and lace? Are you serious right now?”

“Laugh all you want. You said opposites attract –– there’s a major opposite for you. They’re never going to happen. Not if I can help it.”

Kenzie continued to laugh, “Coy Stone, if there’s anyone more headstrong and determined than you, it’s your baby sister. Good luck with that leather and lace thing.”

“She has her whole life ahead of her. I don’t want her to give it all up for… a guy. Especially that guy.”

“I thought you said he was good people.”

“He is. The best. He may not look like it, but he’d give you the shirt off his back, even if it were all he had left. They don’t make them like him anymore. Loyal, dedicated, determined, a real justice seeker.”

“Just not good enough for your sister.”

“Exactly.” Coy shrugged, tossing a folder into the discard file and grabbing another one.

“I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it’s her choice.” Kenzie said, “Besides. Look at Dillon. She married the President, of all people. She’s more the leather, and he’s the lace or something like that, and they work. She didn’t have to give up her career.”

“Ran may be fancy now, sitting in that fancy office in that fancy white house, but at his core, he’s just like us. He served his country and grew up a rancher. Not a fair comparison.”

“They are still as opposite as can be, Coy.”

“Dill’s different, though. She was already grown and had a fully established career before she met Ran.”

“Devyn may be just starting out in her career, but she took on law school. That’s a pretty big feat. May as well already be a full-blown career.” Kenzie rested her head on Coy’s shoulder. “You realize your baby sister isn’t a baby anymore, right? Not even close. You’re going to have to let her do whatever it is she wants to do. Not interfere. Support her choices whether you like them or not.”

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