“That’s because you’re different from the other women he’s been with,” Kenny said. “I’m so glad you’re different.”

She wondered at the others.

Kenny grinned. “You’ve also got amazing restraint.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Go ahead, I’ll give you a freebie. Ask me anything, I’ve known him for years. You want to know if he snores? Yes, when he’s stressed. You want to know if he still thinks of himself as a fat loser? Yes, especially when he gets dumped by some silly woman who never understood him. You want to know if he’s easily hurt? Double yes, way too easily.”

There was something in Kenny’s eyes now, some gentle reproaching warning not to hurt his close friend and partner, and the loyalty made Summer’s throat thick. “How about I ask a question about you instead?”

“Okay,” he said, surprised.

“What’s going on between you and my mother?”

“Nothing.” His eyes behind his glasses were right on hers, and as far as she could tell, honest. “Yet.”

“What’s going to go on between you and my mother?”

A small smile curved his lips. “Truth?”

“Please,” she said.

“When this arson investigation is over, I’m going to date her. A lot. Is that a problem for you?”

“She’s seven years older than you.”

“Seven years is nothing. She’s sweet, beautiful, kind, and she cares about me.”

“Kenny.” Torn between loyalties, she chewed on her lower lip. “She cares about men. That’s never been the issue. She just never likes them for long.”

“I’m a big boy, Summer. And anyway, have some faith in the power of love.”

“Love?”

“Love,” he said firmly. “Trust me.”

Trust him. He hadn’t been the first man to ask that of her. No, Joe had the distinction of that honor.

“Do you want to know where Joe is?” Kenny asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to make him even grumpier, or turn the day around for him?”

Summer thought about that. She wanted to tell Joe how much she’d missed him last night. That she needed him. That she thought that maybe all those years ago she’d loved him as much as she’d been capable of, and it had scared her but she didn’t know why, and she still didn’t. “It might be a combination,” she admitted.

Kenny nodded. “There was just a store bombing near the Amtrak station. A convenience store. Some punk tossed an M-80 through the windows to break in. They think it’s the same punk who’s robbed three other stores this year. Joe’s working with the police, checking for evidence.”

“Can you just tell him I came by, maybe ask him to call me?”

“You bet.”