Page 114 of Smooth Moves
“Fuck. Is she even my aunt?”
“What? Who?”
“Aunt Jane was married to Charles’s brother. Technically, I’m not related to him or Evan. And, hell, I like Evan.”
“Shut up.” Reid gave him a watery smile. “Evan is a smart guy. He and I have talked about you for a long time. He looks up to you too, you know.”
“Wait. Talked about me?” Cash wiped his eyes, still shaky but now bolstered knowing he still had Reid.
“He’s smarter than you and me combined. And you know, there’s something about the new guy at work that reminds us of you.”
Cash groaned.
“I know, I know. But Friday night, Smith showed up. And, Brother, he really does look an awful lot like you. And he’s angry at the world.” Reid paused. “That could be you if you didn’t have me.”
“Shit. You think he’s Allen’s son too, huh?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Although we just read about someone named Meg being Mom’s sister, and a woman named Margaret was Mom’s only friend before she died. You know the name Meg is short for Margaret.”
“Damn.”
Reid nodded. “And it’s too huge a coincidence that your angrier twin just happens to hate us and works at Vets on the Go!”
“Is that why you hired him?”
“Partly. And partly because he’s a big strong Marine and we needed people. He works hard. Jordan likes him.” At Cash’s scowl, Reid said, “But not that much. She did put him down when he insulted you. She put him down hard.”
Cash nodded. “She did, didn’t she?”
“Yeah. Cash, you love her, right?”
“I guess.” What would she think if she knew he was some bastard’s love child? Wait. No. He was a bastard and his mother’s love child.
“Does she love you?”
It was on the tip of Cash’s tongue to ask, “How could she?” But that would be selling Jordan short. One thing he’d learned about the woman. She knew her own mind. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
“I like her. She’s solid and cute, and she says the funniest things. Like how great the Army is.” Reid grinned, and Cash found himself smiling with him. “Talk to Jordan. She’s not a part of our fucked-up family. See what she thinks about this whole mess. And, Brother, whatever you do, don’t screw up your future because Angela screwed up your past.”
