“That’s me,” he said. “Had enough of the inside?”
She sighed and decided not to lie. “It’s a bit overwhelming.”
Sean gestured to the spot next to her. “Mind if I sit?”
She scooted all the way over in response, and he settled next to her.
“I’m not much of a crowd person myself, but Marlene would nail my hide to the wall if I missed one of her get-togethers. Like you, I’m pretty much a Kelly adoptee. She may not have given birth to me, but that hasn’t stopped her from arranging my life, mothering me endlessly and adding me to every family gathering on record.”
Rachel laughed. “She’s quite something, isn’t she?”
“She’s the best,” he said in a sincere voice. “But I’m more comfortable with the people I meet on the job. I don’t have to pretend to be social when I’m arresting someone, and I don’t have to worry about meaningless chitchat and how-do-youdos.”
The grimace on his face had her giggling again. “You poor thing. These things must be hell for you.”
“Let’s just say I was glad to see I wasn’t the only one running for cover. Now, if asked, I can blame my absence on you.”
“Oh nice,” she said dryly.
He laughed. “So how are you doing? Had any problems with red tape I can help with?”
She twisted her mouth into a rueful grimace. “It’s a lot easier to stay dead than it is to come back from the dead. Ethan’s tried to do everything quietly. The last thing we want is for some human interest story to be run. The driver’s license wasn’t too hard to arrange, but the social security issue is a bit more difficult.”
Sean patted her on the knee. “You’ll get it all sorted out. In the meantime if there’s anything I can do, just let me know. I’ve known you since I was in high school. You graduated two years ahead of me.”
She winced. “Sorry I don’t remember.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. You’ll get it back. And when you do, you’ll remember you owe me five bucks.”
Startled, she cocked her head to the side.
Mischief gleamed in his green eyes. “You lost a bet. You bet me Tennessee would beat LSU. As if that would ever happen.”
“Ahh, Louisiana then? I thought your accent sounded a little different.”
“Born and raised.”
He went quiet and turned sharply, a frown replacing his smile.
“Rusty, is that you?”
Rachel turned in search of the young girl Marlene had taken in. Rusty hadn’t had much to say to Rachel since Rachel had arrived home, but Nathan had hinted that she felt a little threatened by Rachel’s homecoming.
Rachel just wished there was something she could say or do to ease the girl’s fears. Marlene had been blunt about Rusty’s situation.
Rusty stepped into the garden patio area from the walkway that led to the front of the house.
“Yeah, Copper, it’s me.”
“Who was that you were talking to?” Sean demanded.
His voice had gone from congenial and teasing to complete and utter business. He might as well have been interrogating a suspect for all the steel in his words.
“I didn’t realize I had to get permission to have a conversation around here,” Rusty snapped. “Back off, donut man. I’m not drinking or smoking or otherwise taking advantage of Marlene’s hospitality.”
Sean cursed under his breath, and his fingers flexed at his side. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rusty disappeared back into the house.
“I swear that girl makes me nuts,” Sean muttered. “She’s so belligerent. I’d love to teach her a little respect plus a few manners while I’m at it. If I ever catch her talking to Frank or Marlene like that, I’ll turn her over my knee myself. Someone should have done it a long time ago.”
“That age is hard,” Rachel said, surprised by the need to defend Rusty. “From what Marlene said, she’s had it tough. Plus I’ve never heard her be anything but respectful with Frank and Marlene. Everyone else, though ...”
“Yeah, tell me about it. She really loves me since I’m a cop, and I get the impression she’s been a round or two with the police before. Marlene told me she had a record but forbade me—in true mom fashion—from running her. She doesn’t want me to be influenced by Rusty’s past. For the love of God.”
Rachel grinned at the disgust in Sean’s voice. And then she realized how long they’d been outside.
“I should probably go back in. I told Ethan I was going to the bathroom.”
“Ah, there’s the search party now,” Sean drawled as Garrett stepped outside.
“Everything okay, sweet pea?” Garrett asked as he walked over.
“Yep. Just talking to Sean and getting some fresh air.”
Garrett shoved his hands into his pockets. “You mean you’re hiding out here with this pu**y who’s here for the same reason.”
Sean grunted. “Yeah, the exact same reason you’ve run outside like a damn girl.”
Garrett grinned. “Too many damned people. Ma eats that shit up, but I swear it makes the rest of us crazy.”
“So at what point is she going to figure out we’ve fled the premises?” Rachel asked. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Marlene’s feelings.
“Not to worry. Mom is well used to having to round us up. She usually gives us ten minutes or so to get the crazed look from our eyes, and then she’ll come out all sweet-like but with a glint in her eyes you know better than to ignore.”