But the more time I spent with her, the more I recognized what I would be giving up. Would I walk away just to realize I missed it all, then come right back? I wasn’t sure Kara would forgive me if I did, and that sent a pang through my chest.
After several more kisses, I finally managed to disentangle myself from Kara and headed home. The morning was nice, and though I was eager to get back to Kara, I enjoyed the scenery of the drive more than usual. To my surprise, a strange car was parked out front when I pulled up. As soon as I parked my truck in the barn and walked halfway across the yard, I smelled him.
Uncle Perry was back. Oddly enough, this time it didn’t make me angry. It seemed I had gained some perspective, after all. I knew he just wanted to make sure that I would live my best life and become the man he knew I was capable of being. If he didn’t care about me, he wouldn’t have come at all.
I had to appreciate having someone in my life who held me in such high regard. Flashes of Kara’s voice as she talked about her parents and how they didn’t even recognize her rang in my ears. Who was I to get angry at someone who was trying to help me gain access to the immense fortune my parents had left me?
So when I stepped inside and found Uncle Perry in the living room with Uncle James, I walked right up and hugged him. “It’s good to see you.”
Perry looked surprised, but he hugged me and clapped me on my back. “Things were quiet in Arizona, so I thought I would come by and see how you are doing.”
I had to admit how well it had been going, and I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. “Things are better than I ever expected. Not only here with the family, but with Kara. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure where I want to go from here, but I think my perspective has changed. I feel like I owe you both a huge thanks for giving me the kick I needed.”
Perry and James beamed at me. It seemed they were thrilled with my admission, and pride swelled in my chest. “I am so proud of you,” Perry said.
James chimed in. “Me too.”
“And you’ve just got a week to go before the first part of your trial period is up.” Perry ducked his head and tapped his fist lightly on my chest. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to fool around and fuck it up.”
I burst out laughing. “No, things are going so well with the job aspect, I don’t anticipate there being a problem.”
Perry’s face split into an even wider grin. “Son, I tell you, if things keep going this well, you might accomplish your goal sooner than we first said. This change in you, if it proves permanent…” He cleared his throat. Was he about to cry? “This change, if it’s permanent, that’s all we wanted.”
Time to change the subject before I had to get the man a hankie. “Uncle, while you’re here, I need some advice.”
He straightened up and got serious. “Of course. Anything.”
“It’s Valor. I told Uncle James about it, but maybe you’ve heard something. He’s trying to force the bite. I almost bit Kara, several times now. And neither of us is ready for that step. She doesn’t even know about Valor.” I threw up my hands. “I’m not ready to reveal this deep, dark secret yet. We’ve only been…” Why were these things so hard to say to my uncles? “Ah, intimate, for a couple of weeks now. It’s too fast. Also, I’m pretty sure Valor has tried to project his voice into Kara’s mind already.”
Perry rubbed his fingers across his stubble and furrowed his brow. “What are you waiting for?”
The answer popped into my head without any thought. And it surprised me. “Love,” I whispered. “I need her to love me first.” That was a pretty big revelation. Not just to my family but to myself.
Finally.
Valor had known all along. Of course he had.
Perry sighed and gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m not surprised, really. You don’t want her to reject you.”
James’s face registered amusement. “When did you turn into a psychologist?”
Perry puffed up with pride. “Hey, I took my job seriously. I still screwed it up, but I read a bunch of books about a child losing their parents when I took on the responsibility of raising Rico. I know I spoiled him too much,” he shot me a severe look as if that was my fault, “but I tried to help him as much as I could. Children whose parents die young often feel abandoned and have a hard time letting potential mates get close.”
My jaw dropped. His explanation made sense, and even though Kara’s parents were technically still alive, her initial reluctance to get close could be explained the same way. “That…” I shook my head. “Yeah. I think that’s right.”
She loves you.
“I know she loves me.” I answered my dragon out loud. “But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do things. She hasn’t admitted those feelings yet. I can’t do this too soon and have her freak out.”
Perry nodded. “That’s smart. Make sure she’s sure of her feelings first.”
She’ll respond better than you think.
I couldn’t take that risk yet.
Give her hints. See how she reacts.
“Valor is suggesting I allude to the truth and see how she reacts,” I relayed to my uncles.
They both agreed. “It can’t hurt,” James said. “Just see where the conversation goes and if she’s open to the idea.”
I ate lunch with Perry, but he took pity on me when I kept checking my phone. I’d told Kara I was coming home to shower and grab some
