“He was eaten up with guilt for not being there for her.” Caleb’s tone became somber. “That was a really tough time for our whole family, and we thought we might lose him, too. I credit Andi with giving our brother back to us.”
“I assumed Ashling was Andi’s biological daughter,” Boone said.
“She adopted her when she was about eight or nine months old,” Caleb said.
“Andi signed Ashling’s adoption papers at their wedding—right after the judge said, ‘I now pronounce you man and wife.’” Luna grinned.
“Yep. She slapped the paper on Jonathan’s back and had the minister sign as a witness.” Caleb rubbed his hand over his mouth. “It was pretty funny, actually.”
“Did you bring Jake with you?” Luna looked around for Caleb’s K9 partner, a beautiful Czech shepherd. “I miss that little sweetie pie.”
“Ugh.” Caleb groaned. “How many times do I have to tell you he is a highly trained, highly skilled, four-legged meat missile? Not asweetie pie.” His face contorted with disgust. “Anyway, he’s at home, watching over Dawn and Cade.”
“He’ll always be a sweetie pie to me.” Luna explained how she was terrified of dogs until meeting Jake. “From the first time I met him, he was so gentle and protective of me.”
“What brings you to Virginia, Caleb?” Boone put his arm around Luna and steered them all toward the main door.
“Cole told me about that note from Udall and I’m here to give Luna some backup,” Caleb said. “And since I’m familiar with the inner workings of the ops center, I was the natural choice.”
“Familiar with it—you designed it!” Luna said.
“I know she’s safe here on the compound, but I still feel better knowing you’ll be here, too.” Boone appreciated that Cole wasn’t taking any chances with her safety.
Of course, he’d expected nothing less from their boss.
“I’m glad you’re here, too,” Luna said.
“You kidding? I started packing the minute Cole told me.” Caleb tapped his ID to the scanner by the door, there was a loudca-thunk, and he pushed the heavy door open and stepped outside. “Threats to the family are not taken lightly.” He tugged on the door handle to ensure it was secured.
The air had a crispness to it that indicated fall was headed their way. All of the large trees surrounding the compound had begun to turn from deep green to beautiful colors of gold, red, and brown. Before long, most of them would be bare, their leaves scattered all over the ground.
They started walking up the path worn in the grass and stopped at the door to the training facility.
“I’ll just run inside super quick and get my bathing suit.” Luna kissed Boone’s cheek and dashed into the building.
“Her bathing suit?” Caleb turned from her to Boone. His brows had disappeared beneath the strands of hair hanging over his forehead, and he speared Boone with a look he couldn’t quite decipher.
“We’re headed to my house for dinner, a quick ride on the horses, then a soak in my hot tub.” Boone maintained eye contact, silently challenging Caleb to say something.
“Huh.” He looked toward where Luna had just entered the building, then back at Boone. “Just so you know—”
Here it comes.Boone prepared himself for the warning.
“I’m cool with this—with you and Luna together.” One big shoulder bobbed up, then down. “She deserves to be with someone who values her, and I sense you do.” Caleb clapped him on the shoulder. “So you can relax now, dude.”
“Luna is special, and I really care about her.” Boone loved her, but those words would be spoken to her before anyone else. “You have my word that I will never do anything to hurt her. And just for the record, I appreciate that you’recoolwith us being together because it’ll make things so much easier, but it really is her decision to make.”
There was another one of those lingering silences before Caleb said, “Good enough.”
“Okay, got it.” Luna came out of the building and held up a small tote bag.
Boone held her hand and scanned the area as they made their way to the parking lot in front of the main building. Luna’s car was sandwiched between Boone’s truck and one of the unmarked white trucks belonging to OSI.
“I’m going to be staying over at my cousin’s place while I’m here.” Caleb dug a key fob from his pocket and pressed the button. The horn honked once, and the headlights flashed on the truck. “Calliope heard I was considering staying at a hotel and threatened me with great violence if I didn’t stay at their place.”
“Yeah, one of the first things I learned about my sister is how strongly she feels about family.” Boone shared that sentiment with her.
“Well, I’d better get going.” Caleb wrapped his arms around Luna and whispered something in her ear. He shook Boone’s hand again, swung open the door, and slid behind the wheel. “See you two in the morning.”
