Speeding Ch. 02

Basic brother stuff, she figured, then her blood ran cold as she contemplated the last part. "Reece was an FBI Agent and you're a cop. No chance of leaving anyone behind there, huh?" She tried to make light of it, but found herself worrying about something happening to Reid.

He shook his head. "Baby, I'm a detective who just spent another day writing tickets. The chances of a crime spree in Aylesford are slim to none."

"Still." Wow, great argument, Kendall.

He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel. "You don't have to worry about me." At her pained expression, he added, "Really."

"I might not have to, but I will." Because I love you.

~*~

Helen and Roger Caufield waited anxiously for Reid and Kendall. He'd been alone for so long, they'd been worried Amy had destroyed him forever. From what Madelyn had learned from Joanne Armstrong, their son was completely enraptured by his girlfriend, and far from destroyed, but they wanted to see for themselves.

Reece and Cassandra had arrived the night before, filling them in on the last few months of their lives. The wedding was coming up in December, and Cass had designed her own gown, the bridesmaid's gowns and Helen's dress. She was thoroughly enjoying her position with Scott Mardsen, and had already had one of her designs featured in Bridal Today. Reece was still with his soon to be father-in-law's company, running security for DeMille Enterprises and liking the fact that after protecting Cassandra last year, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary happening.

Helen sat across from Reece and Cass, loving how they were so in-tune with one another. She may have been surprised when he'd announced his engagement, but to watch the two interact, it was apparent there was deep love along with the chemistry.

"Reece, dear, have you spoken to Reid? Does he know to meet us here instead of Ryder and Madelyn's?"

Reece nodded, a smile tugging his lips. "Yes, Mom."

Roger squeezed his wife's hand. "Sorry, son. Your Mama is just anxious."

"Were you this nervous when you first met Cass?" Reece asked through a laugh.

"Oh, honey, I'm always worried when I meet a new daughter."

Holding up a hand, Reece said, "Mom, don't you think you're jumping to conclusions here? It's only been a few months."

"Oh, like that's ever mattered," Cass put in, smacking her fiance on the shoulder. "We went from meeting to getting engaged in less than six months ourselves, and you know we were in love virtually from the start."

Ryder walked out of the kitchen just in time to hear Reece get dressed down by his beloved, and had to throw his own two cents in. "It took Mad and me years to declare our love and days to get married."

"My point exactly," Cass agreed with a nod, "Caufields don't waste time once they decide on a woman."

"And you're saying my brother, my cheated-on, divorced, never-had-a-woman-last-beyond-a-week-for-more-than-ten-years brother, is in love enough to join the rest of us in wedded bliss?" Reece made no attempt to hide his disbelief.

"Yes," came the reply from not only Cassandra, but Ryder, Roger and Helen as well.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Reece muttered to the room at large.