Rhodey knew what people saw when they saw Tony and Rhodey together. It didn’t help that Rhodey was officially on the payroll at Stark Industries.

Rhodey was the Air Force’s liaison to Stark Industries, and everyone assumed that he was only there for the very generous pay.

When in reality, Rhodey didn’t give a fuck about the money. He had taken the job because he would get to see Tony more, with a possible hope of being stationed in Los Angeles to be closer to him.

What a lot of people didn’t seem to get was that Tony Stark wasn’t simply an employer but his brother in all but blood.

Rhodey had always wanted a sibling, but his parents passed away before they could give him one. But he got more than what he bargained for with Tony. He was often the worst stereotype of a bratty little brother.

Rhodey got front row seats to watch Tony grow up from an insecure teenager who had more mouth than sense to the man he is today.

But as Rhodey drove up the circular driveway to the mansion. He didn’t quite know what to make of this situation.

Tony was a married man.

This shouldn’t be strange since this was spouse number three, but this wasn’t a simple drunken decision. For the first time, Tony was in love with the person he married.

And while Kendis sounded fantastic and had Jarvis’s stamp of approval. Rhodey had been chomping at the bit to get stateside. He wouldn’t be completely comfortable with Tony’s new relationship until he talked to Kendis Black himself.

With a sigh, Rhodey got out of the car in his dress blues, which he hated, but he had to meet with the brass earlier about the upcoming Jericho demonstration.

Rhodey punched in the security code and watched a green light go up and down.

“Welcome back, Colonel Rhodes,” Jarvis greeted him.

“Thank you, Jarvis,” Rhodey said as he stepped through the door. “Is Tony home?”

“Yes, he is currently asleep.”

“Alone?”

“No, sir, he is asleep with Kendis.”

Rhodey’s eyebrow rose at Jarvis referring to Kendis by her first name. He was one of the first people Tony introduced Jarvis to, and yet he was still “Colonel Rhodes.” It was all so strange because what was it about Tony’s latest spouse that made Tony and Jarvis act so differently?

Rhodey sighed; he would soon find out the answer. He padded into the living room and noticed the subtle changes. The colorful cozy mystery book was on the table, the huge fluffy dog bed was in the corner, and he bent down to pick up what was a discarded bonnet.

This was not the first time Tony dated a sister. Hell, not even close. But this was the first time anyone got close enough to leave a bonnet behind.

Rhodey undid his tie and dropped his blue jacket on the back of Tony’s white sofa. He leaned back and watched as Rhodey took out his Starkpad to do some work.

The more paperwork he got out of the way now, the more he would have time to spend with Tony later. Rhodey frowned at his tablet because it seemed every time he opened up his inbox, his paperwork increased.

At least most of the paperwork was digital, and he didn’t need to lug around an actual stack of papers with him.

Rhodey got lost in his work, occasionally swearing under his breath at the acquisition forms, when suddenly he heard the door to the elevator open and a low, ominous growl.

Rhodey looked up in time to see a huge black dog with a cone around its throat stand in front of a woman… No, a feminine-presenting person dressed only in a beat-up gray Guns and Roses t-shirt and a black bonnet and nothing else.

The person immediately assumed a fighting stance, which Rhodey recognized from his own combat training.

It should have been a ludicrous sight to see this person, but it wasn’t. His instincts warned him that this person posed a serious threat.

‘Who in the hell did Tony marry?’ Rhodey thought to himself in bewilderment.

“Kendis Black, right?”

The person narrowed her green eyes at him and then relaxed as her curious gaze swept up and down his uniform. “Rhodey, right?” She asked, and he noticed her husky British accent.

“Yeah,” Rhodey said. He darted a look at the dog that hadn’t moved once, and its growl was getting louder.

“Alke, heel!”

The dog immediately relaxed but shot Rhodey a distrustful look.

Kendis coughed and pulled down her t-shirt. “Uh, I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I caught an early flight,” Rhodey shrugged as he took in her tattoos. He especially liked the medieval-style dragon wrapped around her arm. “Nice tats, by the way.”

Kendis rubbed the back of her head. “Thanks. Uh, did you eat anything?”

“I had a few rations on the way here.”

Kendis wrinkled her nose. “That will not do at all! Come on, I’m making breakfast. Most of the time, cooking is the only way I can be sure Tony eats at all.”

Rhodey shrugged and followed Kendis and her dog down the hall to the galley kitchen.

He sat down at the island while Alke sat at the edge watching him. Rhodey gave the dog a weary look.

“Don’t worry about Alke,” Kendis said. “She’s just protective, and it’s been a rough couple of weeks.”

“Uh, right,” Rhodey replied, feeling awkward. He had all these plans to ask her these questions, but they got stuck in his throat.

“You probably want to know if I am a gold digger or something,” Kendis blurted out.

Rhodey’s eyebrow rose. “It did occur to me, but Tony said you didn’t need it.”

“I have my own business,” Kendis shrugged as she took out ingredients from the refrigerator. This was another change because Tony’s fridge usually only had a few condiments and beer in it.

But now it was stocked full of food that he was sure hit at least three food groups. There were vegetables that Rhodey was pretty sure Tony didn’t even know existed. His eyebrows rose in bemusement before he turned to shoot Tony’s new spouse a strange look.

“You own a motorcycle repair shop, right?” Rhodey asked, having done his own background check.

“Yep, Enchanted Engines.” Kendis threw him a wry smile. “I also have a substantial inheritance of my own.”

Rhodey lifted an eyebrow because his background check didn’t mention that at all.

Kendis turned and crossed her arms. It made her t-shirt rise a bit to show off her muscular thighs. And Rhodey immediately knew why Tony was so attracted to her. Kendis was fine as hell, and even though he didn’t really do sexual or romantic attraction, he could still notice that she was aesthetically beautiful.

“Yeah, I am here because I love Tony,” Kendis shrugged. “Money is not even a factor.”

“Can I ask why, then?” Rhodey asked, curious as he leaned against the kitchen island.

Kendis paused in the middle of opening a carton of eggs, and then she turned to meet his stare.

“When I first met Tony, I thought he was just a spoiled rich white boy.”

“He is,” Rhodey pointed out.

Kendis laughed. “Yeah, he is. And I went to a private school; I am used to putting prats like that in their place. I was mistaken in thinking that is all that Tony is.” Kendis paused for a beat before taking a deep breath. “He is kind, funny, generous, and he cares so much—more than what most people give him credit for.”

Her face softened as she looked down at her hands, but Rhodey could see the small, soft smile on her lips. “And he is not afraid to put in the work. If he cares about something? He will work harder than anyone else to make it happen.” Kendis turned to shoot him a rueful grin. “Did you know that he started reading relationship books?”

Rhodey laughed in disbelief. “You are shitting me!”

“Nope!” Kendis shook her head as she began to break the eggs into the bowl. “Yep, found one stuffed in the sofa one day. We are currently making our way through his stack of books.”

Jarvis reprimanded her, “I don’t think Sir would approve of you disclosing that, Kendis.”

“Rhodey is his best friend,” Kendis pointed out as she started to whisk up the eggs. “That’s the type of stuff you would tell your best friend.”

Rhodey could only stare in amazement as he watched Kendis confidently move around Tony’s kitchen. It was in that moment that Rhodey knew that Kendis was okay. It was clear that she wasn’t intimidated by Rhodey’s relationship with Tony. Hell, he could tell that she respected it in a way that a lot of Tony’s other exes didn’t.

Rhodey couldn’t begin to count the many times a boyfriend or a girlfriend accused Tony of cheating on them with Rhodey because of how Tony would drop everything for him when Rhodey needed him or how physically affectionate they were with each other.

But it was the look in Kendis’s eyes, the casual way she brought up Tony and Rhodey’s friendship, that told him that Kendis understood it in a way that only a person who had experienced those types of friendships themselves could.

Something loosened inside of him, and Kendis and Rhodey fell easily into conversation. They talked about everything and nothing, and at one point had a debate if The Eagles would advance to the playoffs this year. He shot her a surprised look.

“I’m the jock in this,” Kendis shrugged. “I like most mug…regular sports. And I’m trying to convince Jarvis to get into football.”

It took a moment to realize that Kendis was talking about soccer.

“I am still deciding on which team I should support,” Jarvis replied, thoughtfully.

“Arsenal,” Kendis immediately answered.

Rhodey made a face. “Anything but Arsenal!”

Kendis shot Rhodey a deadpan look. “Please tell me you are not a Hotspur fan because we can’t be friends.”

“No, I’m just fucking with you.” Rhodey threw his head back and laughed, “I don’t really keep up with soccer all that much.”

“Let me guess basketball and American football, right?”

Alke sat up on her feet and trotted to the door just as Tony walked into the kitchen.

“Honeybear!”

The two turned to see Tony with his hair all over his head, pillow print still on his face, and eyes droopy from the lack of coffee. But it was the brilliance of his best friend’s smile that made Rhodey hurry over to him. Rhodey grinned as Tony pulled him into a big hug.

“Hey, Tones,” Rhodey said, softly. “I missed you.”

“Missed you too,” Tony muttered.

Alke whined, and Rhodey turned to see the dog waiting impatiently for Tony to acknowledge her. He rolled his eyes, but Rhodey didn’t miss the slight curl to his lips as he patted Alke on the massive dog’s head.

Rhodey turned to Kendis, who gave the two men affectionate looks.

Tony walked over to her and kissed her lips. “I see you met my wonderful, amazing spouse.” Tony grinned at Rhodey as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Kendis laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “Stop it, you menace!”

He kissed her on the side of the head. “But I am your menace,” Tony replied smugly.

And Rhodey felt his heart fill with happiness at how smitten Tony genuinely was. He could help but grin at how easily Kendis accepted Tony’s ridiculousness and returned it with obvious love and affection.

Rhodey was man enough to admit that possibly all his pre-conceived notions and misconceptions had been wrong. This time, Tony may have actually gotten it right.