I clear my throat. "Noted. We'll stick to standard procedure then."
"Standard procedure is safest." She sighs, though something flickers in her eyes. Is she disappointed too?
We stare into each other's eyes and I feel myself tilting toward her.
Raven steps back, all business, my heart dropping in disappointment. "Mission parameters confirmed.” Ugh. “Commencing operation in T-minus two minutes."
As she moves towards the door, I allow myself a small exhale. "Right behind you, Agent Nightshade."
She pauses at the threshold, glancing back. "As always, Agent Steele. Reliability in the field is crucial."
"Couldn't agree more," I respond, adjusting my tie, wishing just once that I could be anything but. "After you."
five
ASHTON
Family love is messy, clinging, and of an annoying and repetitive pattern, like bad wallpaper.
— FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE
“Ijust want to work out without the freaking paparazzi suffocating me.” The barbell was digging a groove into my shoulders. I’d probably have a bruise tomorrow. I lifted through my legs and set it on the Smith machine. “If I have to answer whether or not he’s really single one more time…”
I was done with my set, so I stepped out and let Holden take my place.
It was spring break and I’d thought coming home for the week would be relaxing. But that’s before I’d known Ford would be there. Currently, the Dupree brothers were getting our sweat on at The Upward Dog, Silas and Lemon’s gym. And getting bombarded by the pap. They’d dogged us doublyever since Whiskey and Women won their first Grammy last month.
“Good luck with that.” Holden chuckled as he looked over at Ford, surrounded by a news crew. “I blame him for me being in the doghouse with Christy tonight.”
“Uh oh. I feel a story coming on.”
He chuckled and blew out his breath. “The kids and I were at the Tastee Freeze today, just sitting in my truck, waiting on our milkshakes. Suddenly, a pap knocks on the window. Only I didn’t know it was a pap because he was wearing a Seddledowne Stallions T-shirt. Sneaky douche. Said he’d pay me two thousand if I’d confirm the rumor that Ford is Dad's lovechild from another woman.” Holden snorted. “I gave him the bird and rolled the window up.”
“I’d have taken it. Dad could roll it off.” I could use the money.
“Yeah, but could Mom?” Definitely not. Holden shook his head, grinning. “Anyway. Later, we’re at home eating dinner and all of sudden we look over and Liam and Maddie are flipping each other off.”
My chest shook with silent laughter. “Christy’s still mad, now?” I leaned my head toward the Downward side of the gym. All the Dupree ladies were currently in a barre class, including Holden’s wife.
“Yeah. It happened right before we came here. But no worries. Your book is my secret weapon. If she hasn’t forgiven me by the time we get home, I’ll read her the chapter you dropped last week. She hasn’t read it yet.” He winked. “Please, never, ever get Jack and Raven together. Their sexual tension is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ll just be washing dishes or playing with the kids and bam!” His hands smacked together. “She’s pulling me to the bedroom to work out herfrustration.”
I snorted. “Must be nice.”
His eyebrows flicked up and he grinned. “It is.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Javen will be participating in the hippity-dippity hopefully by next week.” It was Mom’s term for doing the deed. “People are leaving in droves because they say the suspense has gone on too long.” Yeah, I was the co-author ofSpy vs Sigh. No one on the entire planet knew except for Holden, Silas, and their wives. But they were good for the secret. They’d known since day one and had never let it slip. “As soon as I can convince Austen to write the chapter. I have tried six ways to Sunday to talk her into it and she won’t.” Austen was what I called my co-author. Her full Incognito handle was Austentacious119.
“Tell Austen I’m Team Waiting Indefinitely.” Then he dropped into a squat, paused, and heaved up. “Seriously, though, when are you all going to try and get a literary agent?”
“We aren’t there yet. We don’t have the fan base. And truthfully, I don’t know if Austen will be okay with it, ever.”
“She still won’t tell you her real name?”
I shook my head. “No. And I’m okay with that.”
He winked. “’C’mon, you know you want to ask her out.”
I rolled my eyes. Austen was hilarious, witty, and had become one of my best friends. But… “She might be the ugliest woman on the planet. She lives in New Mexico, has six kids, and has zero interest in dating right now. Says she wants to focus on her career and being a mom.” I tilted my head. “With my luck, she isn’t a woman at all.”
