Page 60 of Night Prey
“I am.”
Malone took a moment to enjoy hearing Peggy sayour Malone. Peggy had basically adopted Malone, and it felt good. The woman had a bottomless heart that could encompass anyone in her circle and make the person feel special and included.
She shifted Asher. “And I hear Londyn Steele is working with you too. We’ve known her parents for years.” Peggy transferred her intense gaze back to Ian and slipped an arm into his. “Why don’t we sit down and get to know each other before I put lunch on the table.”
Ian looked like he didn’t know what to do, but it wasn’t like he had a choice. The steamroller of matchmaking known as Peggy tugged him to the couch and started peppering him with questions about his personal life.
Malone cast him an apologetic look but didn’t know how she could save him.
Russ looked at his wife and shook his head. “Come on now, Peg. The food will get cold.”
Sierra joined them and took Asher. “It’s time for his nap, and these guys are starving.”
Peggy held up her hands. “Okay, okay. I can take a hint.” She stood and looked at Ian. “We can sit together at lunch. I hope you like chili. I made a big pot and a batch of my famous cornbread with honey butter.”
“Sounds great,” he said, but he looked wary.
Peggy tucked her arm in Russ’s, and they went to the kitchen.
Malone joined Ian on the couch. “You don’t have to stay. We can go through the files later if you want.”
“I have to eat,” he said. “And I do like chili.”
“But you’re worried about my mother-in-law’s eagerness.” Reed handed Ian the file he’d been reviewing at the dining table. “We can help run interference, but let me say this. If she has her sights set on matching you up with someone, there’s no point in trying to fight it. You won’t win.”
Ian laughed, but Reed was serious, and Malone knew he spoke the truth. If Peggy set her sights on getting Malone and Ian together, they might well end up paired off for life. Something Malone didn’t hate the thought of. Didn’t hate it at all.
13
Ian didn’t know what he thought about the lunch. He sure saw where the Byrd brothers got their tenacity. Not just from Peggy. Russ was a sharp, intuitive guy too. One who could stop Peggy if he’d wanted to. Apparently, he hadn’t, because he settled back and simply smiled at her with a fondness Ian had never seen in a married couple. And then there were times they shared a look that held the feelings Ian was having for Malone. They’d been married for over thirty-five years and were still in love.
Was it possible to have a successful marriage? It seemed possible to Ian right then. And it seemed like something worth striving to create.
The baby had Ian’s heart filling with another feeling he’d never experienced before—protectiveness, but in a far more primal way than he felt toward anybody else.
Then there was the way Peggy’s love surrounded them all. Not to mention Reed and Sierra added another point in favor of marriage. They hadn’t been married for long, but they shared the same looks as Peggy and Russ. These older folks had been good role models for Sierra, and Reed had his parents in his life for two years longer than Malone did. He would have memories of good parenting and marriage skills. Their foster parents had set a good example too.
But what about Ian? He’d had no good role models. He not only hadn’t seen a strong marriage with his own parents, but the majority of marriages with police officers failed too. Could Ian manage the kind of a relationship he was witnessing?
He wanted to. More than anything, right now. He felt comfortable with the Byrd family. As if he belonged. He had no desire to run, which he did with his parents, who couldn’t bother to dredge up any emotion except over money.
Ian wanted to try. But first he had to make sure none of these people came to any harm and nab Olivo for the threat he’d sent. Ian needed to connect him to Junior’s murder too. And maybe connect Olivo or Snipes to the older shooting.
He changed his focus to Malone, who was holding the baby and talking to Sierra in the kitchen. Asher hadn’t slept long, and she’d swooped in to care for him. He loved seeing her with the child. Could even imagine her with his child.
Oh, man, he was smitten. More than that.
Focus.
He looked at the clock. He had an interview with the managing partner at Ground Floor Builders soon and needed to review a few things with Malone first. He held the folder up. “Mind if we get back to the investigation.”
“Here, let me.” Sierra dried her hands and reached out for her son. The baby smiled at her and giggled.
What must that feel like? Knowing you created and birthed a child, a child who adored you, who craved your attention? Magical, he suspected, but perhaps not something all parents felt. He never knew his mom and dad to be nurturing. They’d given that job to the various nannies he’d had over the years, and when he got old enough, to no one. Maybe Ian could be a good husband and father if he concentrated on doing the opposite of what his parents had done.
Malone joined him in the dining room, Reed hot on her tail. They sat while Sierra watched from the kitchen. Malone started looking through the file.
“If you’re hoping to find something in that old case file,” Reed said. “You’re out of luck. I think our best bet is to talk to the detective who worked it.”
