Fisher caught Shawn’s grin, noting the similarities between the boy and his sister. They had the same blue eyes and dark hair. But where Shawn was willing to smile and try new things, he knew Kylee struggled. He watched her long hair spill over her shoulder as she wiped off a tabletop.
“You like her? Want to date her...or be her boyfriend?” Shawn asked, drawing Fisher’s attention. The boy’s gaze was intent, searching. “My sister, I mean?”
Fisher looked at Cutter, then Kylee, then Shawn. He didn’t lie, no matter what. And Shawn had asked him a direct question. Seemed like the best course of action was to give him a direct answer. “Yes.”
“Thought so.” Shawn nodded. “Is that why you’re nice to me?”
Fisher almost choked on his water. “No.” He stared at the boy. “You’re a good kid. I have nephews. I have younger brothers.” He shrugged. “There are things you want to learn and do that I can help you with.”
Shawn nodded. “Making sure. A lot of times people are nice or do things because they’re after something.”
Cutter and Fisher exchanged a look.
“I guess they do,” Fisher reluctantly agreed. “But I’m not being nice to you because I like your sister. I give you my word on that.” He nodded, holding the boy’s gaze. When Shawn nodded in return Fisher added, “But I guess it can’t hurt.” He grinned at Shawn, who smiled right back.
“Too bad she won’t give you the time of day,” Cutter teased.
Fisher scowled at him.
“I’ve never seen a fella try so hard,” Cutter continued.
“People here are different. The people we knew weren’t like you. Kylee is sort of...suspicious because of that. She can’t relax. She’s still...ready all the time.” Shawn’s voice was low.
“Ready for what?” Fisher asked.
“To run.” Shawn dropped the french fries onto his burger wrapper. “It was real hard. She...she had to take care of me. This guy...” Shawn’s expression grew remote. Fisher had seen the same expression—almost a lack of expression—on Kylee’s face more than once.
Shawn took a deep breath and continued, “This guy would help sometimes. When he needed something, he’d find us. A few times, he got us off the street and fed us—someplace. But he was real moody and had a bad temper. If Kylee or I did something wrong...” He broke off, shaking his head.
“He’s the reason you two were in the state you were in when you got here?” Cutter asked.
Shawn nodded. “Kylee stood up to him, said she wouldn’t do something. Jesse didn’t like it when people told him no.”
Fisher’s blood was boiling so loud the roar in his ear was almost deafening. He stared blindly around the room, fighting the urge to react. Not that there was anything he could do about it but...
His gaze met Cutter’s. The old man’s face was fiery red.
“He was real protective, especially of Kylee. She couldn’t talk to guys—unless he wanted her to.” Shawn shrugged. “He was pretty cool with me.”
Fisher sat back in his chair, digesting everything Shawn had shared. His hands itched, the urge to punch something overwhelming.
“She likes you, Fisher,” Shawn said. “She doesn’t talk nice about anyone except you and Cutter.” Shawn grinned at Cutter.
Fisher’s heart turned over. “Guess that’s a good start.”
Shawn nodded. “Jesse said it’s best not to get attached to something or someone because then you can get hurt.” His blue eyes searched Fisher’s. “Kylee’s been hurt a lot, Dr. Fisher. Just so you know.”
Those words twisted his heart, and his temper cooled until he felt cold—then numb. Kylee was keeping him at arm’s length because she didn’t want to get hurt again. How could he show her that was the last thing he wanted? If she couldn’t love him, he still wanted to be her friend. He wanted to be Shawn’s friend, too. From the sounds of it, the two of them had been facing the world on their own for a long time. It was time they had someone watching their backs.
“Sounds like she’s got good reason to be scared of you,” Cutter said to Fisher.
“Scared of me?” The words were a whisper, full of anguish. Was she really scared of him? He remembered the look on her face that night with George Carson. Maybe he did scare her. The idea made his stomach churn.
Shawn looked at his sister. “She doesn’t know what to think of you. But she does talk about you a lot.” He glanced at Fisher. “So, what are you going to do?”
Fisher frowned. “I’m not sure, Shawn. But I get the impression she might not want anything more than friendship.”
“You ask her out yet?” Cutter asked.