Kent’s Honor (The Aegis Network: Jacksonville Division #5)

Chapter 1

1

K ent Carter glanced at his watch. Going out with the guys often became a challenge of how often he’d check the time every thirty minutes. So, for the last half hour, it was six. Being a single father hadn’t been easy. It was worse when he’d been in the military, leaving his precious little girl for weeks on end, worrying she’d forget who he was by the time he returned.

But now, the stress had become something entirely different.

“Hey.” Rex nudged his arm. “Are you seriously worried about Elle while she’s at my house with Tilly and Maren?”

“I’m not concerned about her well-being.” Kent arched a brow. “I know she’s having a ridiculous amount of fun playing mommy to Annabelle, Lucas, and Justice.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Rex arched a brow.

“My nanny has a family issue that came up last minute. She’s sending her niece over tomorrow to fill in.”

“Oh, I see.” Rex nodded, tipping his beer. “How old is this girl?”

“An adult, but not the point. I don’t know her or anything about her. I literally got the text an hour ago and we have training at the station and shit to do at the Aegis Network office all week.”

“You have to relax, man.” Rex slapped him on the shoulder. “Elle’s what, ten now?”

“Don’t remind me. She’s growing up too fast and she wants to find me the perfect wife like yesterday.”

Rex laughed. “She’s been like that since she was two.” He waggled his fingers. “Not to add any fuel to this fire, but she asked our next-door neighbor if she knew any young, nice-looking single women for her hot firefighter daddy.”

“Sweet, Jesus. She didn’t?” Kent shook his head.

Arthur leaned across the table. “Are we talking about cute, not so little anymore, Elle?”

“And how she wants to fix up her old man,” Rex said.

“Hey, I know a dozen girls who wouldn’t mind dating him,” Buddy said, waving a chicken wing in the air. “But every time I ask him to go on a double date with me, he gives me some song and dance he doesn’t have the sitter or doesn’t want to leave Elle, which I totally respect. But, dude, you need to get out sometimes.”

“What the hell do you think this is?” Kent glared.

“What I meant to say is you need to get laid.” Buddy lowered his chin.

“You’re an ass.” Kent tossed a napkin in his direction.

“That might be the case, but everyone at this table doesn’t disagree with him,” Hawke said. “I mean, not to get too personal, but how long has it been?”

“None of your fucking business,” Kent muttered. Hooking up with women had been a little easier when he'd been in the military. He could do it while deployed. It was meaningless sex and he’d never see them again.

Although, that did cause a bit of turmoil and guilt, for other reasons.

Now that he was a civilian, that part of his life was a little harder. He’d made a few friends that came with benefits over the years.

However, he’d also become bored with that kind of emotionless entanglement. None of them were the right person to introduce to his little girl. It wasn’t that they weren’t good enough. That wasn’t even the point.

“You know, you’ve got a room full of guys absolutely willing to babysit so you can find yourself a woman.” Garth raised his beer to his lips.

“I second that idea.” Duncan nodded.

“Why don’t you two idiots find your own ladies and let me worry about my love life, thank you very much.” Kent lifted his wrist.

Rex pushed his arm down and glared. “Is something else besides the new nanny issue bothering you?”

“Honestly, it’s just a combination of the new sitter situation and some things that Elle’s going through that I’m not sure how to handle.” Kent fiddled with the food on his plate. Becoming a father had been the best thing that had ever happened to him, even if it had also been the scariest. He loved Elle with every fiber of his being. She was the air that he breathed. Life didn’t matter without her.

“I can’t imagine my sweet little Annabelle becoming a young lady. I want to lock her up and throw away the key,” Rex said.

“That’s not going to solve any of that child’s boy problems.” Arthur smacked his head. “She’s already informed me and Maren that she’s going to be our daughter-we-wa, and then went into great detail in what that meant.” He shook his head. “She told me someday she was going to make me a grandpa. I damn near died laughing.”

“It’s not funny.” Rex lifted an onion ring and tossed it at Arthur’s face. “My daughter is not marrying your son. I don’t care what our wives say.”

“I don’t know,” Garth said. “They are cute-ass kids. Imagine that gene pool mixed?—”

“Shut your trap before I shut it for you.” Rex glared.

Kent chuckled. While the exchange was insanely humorous, he understood without a doubt why it got under Rex’s skin.

“Listen, man.” Rex tapped the table. “I might not have any good advice to offer with whatever Elle is going through, but I’m a good listener.”

“I appreciate that.” Kent nodded. He might as well talk with someone. “She’s always been a bit of a homebody. She worries about me and who’s taking care of me. I keep trying to tell her that her old man can handle himself. But she sees the other kids at school and all the moms coming in to help. I do what I can, which is more than most dads, but lately, she’s been withdrawn at school. She doesn’t have a lot of friends, and even her teacher has noted that when they go out on the playground, she’s either with the younger kids, by herself, or with the teacher aide. I’m worried about her.”

“What does her teacher say?” Rex asked.

“That she’ll keep an eye on her. That this is the time when girls start forming cliques and a clear popular group has been determined. Elle’s not part of it, but when I ask Elle about those girls, she rolls her eyes and tells me they aren’t the kind of kids she wants to hang out with.”

“Smart girl,” Rex said.

“This coming from the guy who was Mr. Popular wherever he went.” Kent narrowed his stare.

“Yeah, but Tilly struggled with shit like that. She didn’t always fit in with the kids at the country club or the rich girls at our school. They could be mean and often picked on Tilly,” Rex said.

“I can’t imagine anyone making fun of her. I wouldn’t dare for fear of getting a high heel in my shin.” The first time Kent had met Tilly, she’d marched onto Rex’s boat, and a few weeks later, they were married.

Craziest thing, but looking at them now, it made perfect sense.

“Elle can talk with adults. Most kids her age don’t know how to do that,” Rex said. “It’s a gift that will serve her well as she ages.”

“I know.” Kent didn’t need anyone to tell him what a unique daughter he had. She was intelligent, resilient, and had a big heart. But that didn’t stop him from losing sleep over how she preferred to spend time with him than making playdates, unless of course that friend’s mom was single. “I want her childhood to be normal.”

“It’s as normal as it can be.” Rex slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a great dad. You’re always there when she needs you. And she has her crazy band of uncles.” Rex squeezed. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but having a lady in your life wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Elle.”

“I’m not going to bring women in and out of her life. It will only confuse her and ultimately hurt her, especially if she gets attached, which she does so easily.” Kent had been having this discussion a lot lately with what seemed like everyone. His nanny, Jackie, brought it up all the damn time, especially when he asked her to take Elle for the night, so he could meet up with one of his friends with benefits.

God, that sounded awful.

“Look, man, I understand your concern. I do. But she’s the one leading the fight. Maybe you should listen,” Rex said.

The waitress came by with the check. Finally, he could get the hell back to his daughter and stop with the chatter. He shouldn’t have said anything to begin with.

“I’ll call Maren and have her meet you at your place with Elle,” Arthur said. “Should take her about the same amount of time to get there.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He tossed in a couple of twenties. “I’ll see all you assholes tomorrow.”

“Drive safe,” Buddy said, waving his hand over his head.

Kent made his way to the parking lot and his prize possession.

His Harley.

Outside of his daughter, it was his favorite fucking thing in the world. Riding it was almost better than sex.

Although lately, he wasn’t even sure he knew what sex was anymore.

He flung his leg over the seat, lifted the kickstand, and turned the key, revving the engine. Music to his ears.

Easing out onto the main road, he took the corners tight, but not too fast. While he loved his bike, and he didn’t wear a helmet, at least in the state of Florida where it wasn’t required, he wasn’t reckless. He drove the speed limit. Followed all the rules of the road and didn’t do anything stupid.

At least not in his book.

But, as his mother often reminded him, he did live his life on the edge. He had two risky jobs. One with the Aegis Network and the other as a firefighter.

Before that, he’d been in the Air Force. Although he’d had one foot out the door four years ago when Arthur approached the entire team about a unique opportunity.

It took all of ten minutes for him to arrive at his house. No one had the kind of funds that Rex and his wife had. But Kent’s financial situation was always a struggle. He’d grown up dirt poor and his parents couldn’t help him at all after high school. Whatever Kent wanted to do, it was on him and he completely understood. He didn’t expect a handout and he certainly wasn’t afraid of hard work.

Once in his driveway, he opened the garage and eased his toy—about the only thing he’d ever treated himself to—into the garage of his modest home. He lived about a half hour from everyone else, tucked away in a neighborhood that needed a lot of tender loving care. The homes were all in need of major repair. Some more than others. But it was a safe neighborhood. One that he didn’t have to worry too much about his baby girl. And it was in an excellent school district because he couldn’t afford a fancy private school.

Headlights flashed as Maren’s SUV pulled into the driveway. She opened the driver’s door. “Perfect timing.”

“I’d say so,” he said. “How was your night?”

“Wonderful. Tilly and I didn’t have to lift a finger. Your daughter did everything except change diapers. I’m sure she could handle it, but Justice is at the age where he grabs his willy and runs away, thinking it’s funny if something comes out of it.”

He burst out laughing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t find that funny, but I do.”

“Yeah, well, Arthur thinks it’s hysterical, and it doesn’t help.” Maren shook her head.

Elle stepped from the rear passenger side. “I tried not to crack up, Daddy. Really, I did. But when he peed all over the kitchen floor and slid across it like he was on ice skates, it was kind of hard not to.”

Kent covered his mouth.

“It’s okay. Go ahead. He’s passed out cold and can’t hear a thing.” Maren wiggled her fingers. “Come give me a hug, Elle. Thanks so much for entertaining Justice and Annabelle so your aunt Tilly and I could have a grown-up evening.”

“Anytime.” Elle gave Maren a big hug. “I love playing with them.”

“Thanks for driving her home.” Kent waved before looping his arm around Elle. “Time for you to get washed up and ready for bed.” He kissed her temple. She was getting so tall.

She glanced up with big doe eyes. “Did you have fun with the guys?”

“We had a blast.”

“Did you meet any women?” She waggled her brows.

He ruffled her head. “It was boys’ night. There was none of that. Now get ready for bed. When you’re done, we can play a quick card game.” He sighed, watching his daughter, who wasn’t a baby anymore but wasn’t a teenager yet, race up the porch steps.

She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, Elle.” He patted his chest. That right there was why he got out of bed every morning.