Page 46 of Two Steps Ahead

Weston tapped her on the nose with a smile. “Biological nephew but son by love and marriage. Families get built in all sorts of crazy ways. We don’t question it around here.”

Sheila’s eyes lit up when she saw Weston. She wiped her hands off and rushed in for a hug. “Weston, I didn’t know you were here yet.”

“We snuck in the back. Needed to shower and change before we came down.” He smiled and kissed her on the cheek before turning back to Kayleigh and drawing her forward. “Everyone, this is Kayleigh Delacruz.”

Weston made quick introductions and Sheila immediately swept her up into a hug. For a moment, Kayleigh could barely move. She hadn’t had a motherly hug from anyone but Gwendolyn in ages and she’d forgotten how good it felt.

And the fact that this woman loved Weston so much made it feel even better.

“You’re a photographer, right?” Sheila asked as she scooted back.

Kayleigh nodded.

“I thought so. I’ve seen some of your pictures. Well, come on in and help yourself. If you want, you can help us finish up dinner. We’re making everyone’s favorites. You look half starved, so I’ll even look the other way if you want to sample things while we cook.” Sheila walked over to the counter.

“You don’t have to, if you aren’t up for it,” Weston whispered.

Kayleigh smiled. “I don’t mind.”

“I just don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“No one’s pressuring anyone,” Sheila said, waving a towel at her son. “Honestly, Weston, you make it sound like I’m yanking her around by the belt loops.”

Weston seemed to quickly understand that he wasn’t going to win and stepped over the table to play with his nephew with his dad and brother.

Sheila and Tessa worked together on dinner with an ease that spoke of how close they were. Each of them had their own jobs and knew exactly what to do.

Kayleigh wasn’t a great cook but neither woman seemed to mind. They gave her jobs that suited her and corrected her with kindly teasing smiles when she made a mistake.

Everybody laughed and talked all over each other. The men set the table and constantly tried to sneak food. Everyone stopped to coo over Walker every few minutes, and the fifteen-month-old ate it up, blowing bubbly kisses to everyone.

Dinner was the opposite of the norm of family meals she’d experienced. Nothing here was formal and definitely not quiet and refined. It was overwhelming, but Kayleigh loved it.

After the meal, Weston and Kayleigh insisted on helping Clinton with the dishes while Sheila rested. They laughed and talked among themselves with Weston chiming in occasionally until Brax dropped the diaper bag on the ground at his brother’s feet.

“I’m going to help Tessa pack up the car so we can head home, so you’re on diaper duty,” he told Weston, handing the squirming toddler to his brother and walking backward out of the room. “Oh, and it’s a smelly one!”

Kayleigh and Clinton laughed at Weston’s pinched face as he stared at Walker with a mock scowl. “You just had to poop when they were busy, huh, buddy?”

Clinton leaned toward Kayleigh. “Everybody knows Brax is only out at the carhelpingso he can have an uninterrupted moment to steal kisses from his wife.”

“And because he can hoist Sir Stinks-A-Lot off on me!” Weston eyeballed the ceiling and set off for a place to change his nephew.

“I’ll admit, I can’t imagine Weston changing a dirty diaper,” she told Clinton. “Then again, I couldn’t imagine him being so lively and talkative with others either, before tonight. He’s always been so quiet.”

Clinton wiped down the rest of the counter and rinsed out the dishrag. “Weston knows he’s safe here. Knows he’s loved. He’s always going to be quieter than everyone else, but he’s opened up so much over the years.”

“I can tell he loves it here.”

Clinton looked over at her. “What about your family, what are they like?”

Kayleigh handed him the last plate and pulled the plug on the dirty water, trying to give herself time to think of an answer. Eventually, she settled on the truth. “Different. It’s been just my father and me for almost as long as I can remember. So, yeah, definitely different.”

Just thinking of her dad made her heartsick. She prayed she’d made the right choice leaving him at the hospital. “My dad’s in a coma right now. We’re just waiting for him to wake up. That’s why we’re here. Your sons are protecting him and me.”

Clinton wiped his hands off, nodding. “In that case, you’re in good hands. San Antonio Security is the best in the business. Weston isn’t going to let anything happen to you or your father. He’s a protector through and through. Always has been.”

Kayleigh nodded, knowing in her heart that Clinton was right. Weston was a natural protector and, until the merger went through, he was hers.

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