Taylor and Cory sat up straighter, looking at him with new respect.
“Did you have any brothers or sisters?” Taylor asked shyly.
Chris fell silent.
Taylor glanced across the table. “Aunt Pru never had any brothers or sisters, either. But she said if Uncle Micah hadn’t asked her to marry him, she’d have asked Pop to adopt her, just so she could be part of the family.”
That had Chris choking back a laugh. “Quite a tribute to this family, I’d say.”
“Or it explains why Pru was crazy enough to marry my brother,” Donovan deadpanned.
Kieran pushed away from the table. “Now you’ll all stop picking on our Prudence.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek before saying, “I baked a cherry pie. Who wants theirs plain, and who wants vanilla ice cream with it?”
“I’ll give you a hand, Pop.” Micah scraped back his chair.
As he started toward the kitchen, Cam called, “He just wants to make sure he gets the biggest piece.”
Micah chuckled. “You got that right, bro. I bet you’re sorry you didn’t volunteer first.”
While they passed out the desserts, Kate poured tea. It was, Chris thought, so normal. And yet, in his entire life, he’d never experienced anything quite like the Lassiters. They seemed somehow bigger, funnier, louder than any family he’d ever known. An entire clan of overachievers. Yet there was so much love here, mixed in with the teasing banter.
He felt a hand on his and looked up to find Bren studying him.
“Where’d you go just now?”
He shrugged. “Just thinking how much I’m enjoying myself. You’ve got quite a family.”
“Yeah.” She looked around. “I do, don’t I?”
They enjoyed their dessert and several cups of tea, before everyone began working together to clear the table. When the dishes were loaded in the dishwasher, and the pots and pans had all been scrubbed and put away, Cory and Taylor went out in the backyard to toss the basketball through the faded hoop hanging over the garage.
Kieran wiped down the kitchen counter and glanced at Bren and Chris, who were standing together, watching the children through the window.
When they turned, he arched a brow. “Something you wanted to tell us, Mary Brendan?”
“You could always read me, Pop.” She cleared her throat and glanced at her mother. “I didn’t want to worry you, but Chris insisted on bringing me here so I’d be safe.”
The entire family went very still.
Kieran knotted the dishcloth in his hand. “Safe from what?”
“There was an…incident at my apartment.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t stop now, lass. You have some explaining to do.”
“Someone broke into my apartment and…wrote a message on my door before shattering my bedroom mirror.”
Micah interrupted. “What did the message say?”
Bren turned to him. “It said this is what happens to meddlers.”
His look was so intense, she could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. “And then you found the shattered mirror.”
“Yes.”
He glanced beyond her to Chris. “I’m sure you used your connections to see that it didn’t make the news.”
“So far. Bren and I both agree that we don’t want to give this nutcase the publicity he so obviously craves. Of course, it could still be leaked to the press.”
“Yeah. It could.” Micah saw the frown on his grandfather’s face. “So this happened yesterday?”
“The day before.” The minute the words were out of her mouth Bren could feel her face flame.
“Why didn’t you come home then, lass?” The look Kieran gave her was fierce.
“Because I didn’t want all of you to worry the way I can see you worrying right now.”
“Where did you go?” Cameron looked as intense as Micah.
“I went with Chris to his apartment.”
Kieran’s gaze narrowed on the man beside his granddaughter. “So why didn’t you go back there tonight?”
“We did.” Chris kept his tone level, hoping to downplay the danger as much as possible. “But I found the security in my apartment had been breached, and decided that Bren needed to get as far away from there as possible.”
“I’m glad one of you had some sense.” Kieran wadded up the dishcloth and tossed it savagely into the sink. “A family full of professionals, and you take your safety to a stranger.”
Kate laid a hand on his arm. “I doubt that Bren considers Captain Banning a stranger, Kieran.” She’d seen the looks exchanged between her daughter and this police captain. And though she ought to be more than ready to accept a man in her daughter’s life, the truth was, she’d been caught completely by surprise. Still, she managed a smile. “And Captain Banning is, after all, as professional as anyone in this room.”
Chris gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Mrs. Lassiter.”
“I think you should call me Kate.” She crossed the room and caught her daughter’s hand. “Why don’t we go in the great room and you can give us a few more details.”
As Kate and Bren led the way, the others followed. But when Chris headed toward the door, Kieran stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
Chris paused and looked over at the old man.
“You’ve some explaining to do, boyo.”
“Explaining?”
Kieran saw his three grandsons turn back. With a look of annoyance he said, “We’ll be along in a minute. I just have a few things to say to Captain Banning in private.”
When they were alone he said, “You may not have noticed, but our Mary Brendan is a very special person.”
“Yes, sir. I’ve noticed.”
“Have you noticed, too, that her heart is a fine, fragile thing?”
At a loss for words, Chris merely nodded.
“Good. Now I’ll remind you, Captain Banning, that if our Mary Brendan’s heart should become shattered the way her mirror was, I’ll hold you personally responsible. Is that understood?”
“It is.”
“That’s good, boyo.” He dropped an arm around Chris’s shoulders, and squeezed.
Despite the old man’s age, Chris realized he had a grip like a steel vise.
Micah watched as his grandfather and Chris stepped into the great room. “I was just trying to convince Bren that she should let me assign her a bodyguard until this situation is resolved.”
Chris sat down on the arm of Bren’s chair and placed a hand over hers. “It’s a good idea. I’d personally feel better, but I think your sister would feel it was too intrusive.”
“Yeah. That’s what I’m hearing.” Micah ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “But intrusive is better than dead.”
That brought Kate out of her chair. “Why can’t she simply stay here until this madman is caught?”
“Because, Mom, I have this job.” Bren looked around at her family. “I can’t hide indefinitely. There’s no telling how long it will take to find this person. If at all. In the meantime, I have to continue representing my district in Congress. I have no intention of allowing this…threat to send me into hiding.”
“It seems to me,” Donovan said quietly, “that someone has gone to a lot of trouble to rock your world, Bren. Any idea who it might be?”
“My committee is looking into the use of excessive force by some police officers. One theory is that it could be a rogue cop, hoping to teach me a lesson in meddling.”
Donovan turned to Chris. “Do you agree with that theory?”
Chris nodded. “It seems reasonable to me.”
Kieran slapped a fist into his palm. “In my day men wore their uniforms with pride.”
“Even in your day there were a few bad apples, Pop.” Micah dropped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I seem to recall one or two officers who left an awards ceremony and helped themselves to a shop owner’s profits on the way home.”
Kieran’s eyes narrowed at the me
mory. “I’d forgotten. For years afterward, that shop owner cringed every time he saw a man with a badge walk into his place of business. It’s a shame that one or two troublemakers can give the entire force a bad name.”
Chris nodded. “It’s the same now. Because of a few, the rest of us are suspect.” He turned to Micah. “I really like the idea of a personal bodyguard for Bren.”
When she started to protest he merely smiled.
“So I’ve decided to pull rank and assign myself one special job. From now until this guy is caught and off the streets, you’re not going to make a move without me beside you.”
She got to her feet, her hands on her hips. “Haven’t you been listening? I can’t possibly function in Congress with a bodyguard getting in my way.”
“As I see it, you have two choices. You can hole up here in your mother’s home until we get this guy. Or, if you insist upon continuing your very public life, you’re going to find yourself stuck with me.” His smile widened. “Your call, Mary Brendan Lassiter.”
She slanted a narrow glance at her grandfather. “He’s beginning to sound suspiciously like someone I know. Did the two of you cook up this little plan in the kitchen?”
Kieran threw back his head and roared. “I’m afraid not. But I do like the sound of it.” He clapped a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “And I’m beginning to like you a whole lot more, as well, Captain Banning.”
“Thank you, sir. Then I take it you approve of my plan?”
“I do, indeed.” The old man brushed a kiss over his granddaughter’s cheek. “I think you’re going to be in very good hands, lass.”
“Men.” She turned and stalked up the stairs. At the landing she called, “I’m sleeping in my old room. Someone can find a lumpy sofa for the arrogant police captain.”
As soon as she was gone, Micah turned to Chris. “I think that may be the first time in the history of our family that the male of the species got the better of my bossy little sister.” He gave him a high-five. “You have my admiration.”
“And mine,” Donovan said with a grin.
As the others gathered around, Kate watched with a look of puzzlement. Despite the fire in her daughter’s eyes, she had the feeling that Bren wasn’t nearly as angry about the arrangement as she let on.
Unless she was misreading things, her darling Bren wasn’t just smitten. She was head over heels in love.
Chapter 12
Chris lay in the darkness, listening to the soft night sounds around him. Instead of the lumpy sofa Bren had recommended, he’d been given Micah’s old room. The sheets were crisp and clean, the mattress firm enough for his big frame and soft enough to invite sleep. Yet here he was, hours after the others had gone to their beds, still tossing and turning.
This evening at Kate’s had been enlightening. And certainly entertaining. He’d never known a family like this. No wonder Bren was comfortable working with men twice her age, wielding power with the best of them. She’d had an excellent training for the job with this bunch.
Riordan Lassiter was a legend among D.C. police. Though he’d been gone for more than twenty years, his reputation for heroism would never be forgotten in the annals of Washington lore. Maybe the younger members of the force would no longer recognize the name of his father, Kieran Lassiter, but Mike Banning had imbued in his adopted son a reverence for highly decorated cops, and Kieran had been one of them. It had been something of a shock to see a proud old lion like Kieran wearing an apron and doing kitchen duty. But after that first moment Chris had been able to look beyond the humble work to the man who still wielded power within his family. Kieran Lassiter was definitely the revered head of this family.
Then there was Kate, clearly the heart of it. She was still stunning. Not just physically beautiful, though her face was unlined and her eyes sparkled as brightly as Bren’s. There was such inner peace and beauty about her. A woman completely content with her life. Not an easy accomplishment, considering that she’d been left to raise four children alone.
Her sons were something of legends themselves. Chris had heard of Micah Lassiter, and had watched, along with the rest of Washington, as he’d taken a bullet meant for the president some years ago, ending his career with the Secret Service. That scene had played on news shows for days after the incident. It was said that the private security company he had founded employed only the toughest former Secret Service agents, who were proud to work for Micah Lassiter. Several times tonight he’d seen Micah unconsciously rub a hand to his shoulder. He’d be willing to bet a week’s pay that Micah still suffered twinges of pain from that bullet wound.
Then there was Donovan. The way the family tiptoed around his government work, Chris had a pretty good idea what it had been. There was a feral look in his eyes that Chris had only seen in the eyes of CIA veterans.
Cameron tried hard to play the role of party animal. And with a paycheck from Stern, Hayes, Wheatley he was definitely playing in the big league. But Bren had said that her brother also took pro bono cases from among her mother’s most desperate clients. Not all heroes wore badges, Chris thought with a smile.
He shifted, wishing he could turn off his mind and grab some sleep. But no matter how he tried, he couldn’t wish away the image of Bren as she’d flounced off to bed. He found that willful, independent streak in her incredibly sexy.
He wanted her. Desperately.
The thought of what they’d shared last night had him sweating. It was torture to know that, right now, this minute, she was sleeping just a room away.
He pounded a fist into the pillow and turned on his side. At least if he couldn’t fall asleep, he could hope the night went by quickly. This was the last time Bren was going to be allowed to be out of his sight until they found their rogue cop.
Chris awoke to the most wonderful smells. Coffee, freshly ground. Cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.
He was already salivating when he slid out of bed.
There was a quick knock on his door, and Kieran’s muffled voice announced, “Your turn for the shower, boyo.”
Chris was grinning as he made his way down the hallway. A few minutes under a hot spray had him fully awake. He wrapped a towel around his waist and started back toward Micah’s bedroom. Halfway there a door opened, and he froze at the sight of Bren as she stepped from her room.
“Great suit, Lassiter. You’ll wow them in the halls of Congress.”
“Thanks.” She had to swallow twice. The sight of him dressed in only a towel had her throat dry as dust. “I hope you’re going to wear more than that. Having a bodyguard is bad enough. But having one wearing a toga will completely ruin my credibility.”
“A toga, huh?” He moved in closer. “You smell great.”
“So do you.” She’d never before known mouthwash and shampoo to be so sexy. But then, maybe it had more to do with the man than the spicy fragrance. His face was clean shaven, inviting her touch. She curled her hand into a fist to resist. And those droplets of water glistening in his dark hair had her eager to run her fingers through the strands.
“You’d better hurry. Pop’s breakfasts are important to him. He expects everyone to fuel their bodies for the coming day.”
As she started past he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “You’re all I need to fuel my body, Bren.”
At the intensity of his words she closed her eyes, experiencing a tremor along her spine. She lifted a hand to his cheek. “I missed you last night.”
He groaned. “Why didn’t you let me know? I laid awake half the night wanting you.”
Just then another door opened and Kate, dressed in a soft blue-gray business suit, stepped out. When she caught sight of them she paused for just a moment, seeing the way they stepped a little apart.
“Good morning.” She turned to Chris. “I hope Micah’s room was comfortable.”
“Very comfortable. Thank you.” He glanced down at himself. “I’d better dress. I’ll see you both downstairs.”
Bren and her moth
er watched as he hurried into Micah’s room, closing the door. Then Kate tucked her arm through her daughter’s as they descended the stairs. “It was grand hav ing you back home for a night, darling. I only wish it were under cheerier circumstances.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom.” Bren patted her mother’s hand as they headed toward the kitchen.
“I know.” Kate paused before opening the door. “You’ve always been very special to me, Bren.”
Bren brushed her lips over her mother’s cheek. “No more special than you are to me. You’re one of my heroes, you know.”
“Oh, you.” Kate was almost blushing as she looked up to see Chris coming down the stairs.
The sight of his uniform gave her heart a little jolt.
He followed them into the kitchen, then stared around in surprise.
Cameron was grumbling as he piled bits of scrambled egg and crisp bacon bits onto a piece of toast, then covered it with a second piece, forming a sandwich.
“Not good enough, boyo.” Kieran pointed his knife like a sword. “I’ll not have you eating on the run. You can afford one more minute to sit at the table like a civilized man.”
“These days, civilized men and women eat in their cars, Pop. Haven’t you heard of fast food?”
“Fast food.” Kieran spat the words like expletives. “It’s neither fast nor is it real food. Tell me one of those burger places can make eggs taste like that.”
With a sigh Cam took a bite of his sandwich. Chewed. Swallowed. Then with a wink at his sister, settled himself at the big trestle table and took another bite. “As always, Pop, you win. The only place I’ve ever enjoyed a Riordan sandwich is right here in my own kitchen.”
Chris poured himself a cup of coffee. “What’s a Riordan sandwich?”
“This.” Cam pointed to his concoction. “My dad always ate his scrambled eggs and bacon this way, stacked on a piece of toast, then covered by a second one. He always called it a Riordan sandwich.”
“Sounds good.” Chris glanced at Bren, who was passing a platter of scrambled eggs across the table to her mother.
“Sit, boyo.” Kieran turned from the stove. “Nobody leaves my kitchen without eating breakfast.”