“Good job,” Jethro said. The woman was freaking brilliant and deserved the nickname of Q from the ragtag group. “Not for nothing, but Scott is a good guy, lawyer or not. He did get shot for Angus last summer.”
Millie rolled to her feet.“That was him?”
“Yes,” Jethro said, still on his knees as he double-checked the secondary sensor.
“All I need in my disastrous life right now is a lawyer,” she said, stretching her arms above her head and rolling her neck. “My personal lifeis off-limits.”
Jethro started and looked up at her. “That’s an optionin this unit?”
She grinned. “Yeah, but I’m not Wolfe’s best friend.”
Wolfe looked up from where he was playing with LEGOs on the floor with Trudy, his long body stretched out on the wooden floor. “No, but you’re my little sister. I think that might be worse.”
Millie paled. “When did I become yourlittle sister?”
Jethro planted a hand on the wall and gracefully stood.
Wolfe placed a pink LEGO in place on the attack tank they were making, waiting until Trudy nodded in approval before reaching for another piece. “Last summer. Didn’t I tell you?”
“No,” Millie whispered.
Jethro could almost feel sorry for her. It was probably a good thing that Scott had taken off to do some research into Gemma’s case. Jethro glanced at his watch. “Gemma? I need to run to the university for a couple of books and files to prepare for class next week.” Because it was possible the weather would keep school closed for several days, he’d need to make adjustments in his overall class schedule. “Do you want to come or just have me pick up whatever you need?”
Wolfe handed Trudy a green Lego. “We can stay here and watch Trudy, if you want.”
Trudy smacked him on the shoulder, her back resting against the snoring dog. “Maybe I watch you.”
The soldier grinned. “That’s probably a good idea. Sometimes I getinto trouble.”
Gemma faltered, her hand arounda wooden spoon.
“I’m fine fetching your materials for you,” Jethro said gently. He could understand her not wanting to leave her daughter, with all the uncertainty in herlife right now.
She steeled her shoulders. “Are you sure you don’t mind, Dana?”
Dana grinned. “No. We might as well get practice now, and Wolfe is having fun. I’ll finish up here, and by the time you guys return, dinnerwill be ready.”
Gemma handed her the spoon. “Let me go throw on a wig and get my coat.”
Jethro caught the keys Wolfe lazily threw toward him after yanking them from his pocket. “Thanks.”
“Yep.” Wolfe leaned in to study the realistic-looking tank. “I think we need more blue.”
“I’ll go warm up the truck,” Jethro said, tugging his jacket from the floor and heading out into the white world. The snow still pummeled the ground, and the wind pierced his clothing and froze his bones. January was a roughone this year.
Gemma ran out behind him, and they jumped into Wolfe’s truck, heading towardthe university.
They were quick and efficient at the too-silent school and, if anything, the snow increased while they fetched their belongings.
Soon they were back on the road and darkness was starting to descend.
Jethro kept both hands on the steering wheel of Wolfe’s truck while keeping an eye on the silent woman in the passenger seat, who didn’t look right beneath the blond wig. Now that he’d seen the real her, he wanted more of that woman. She’d been quiet and introspective during the afternoon. At the moment she sat stiffly, her hands clenched together in her lap. “Now that we have our class materials, I can take you back to the house and then go fetch my things from my apartment,” he said for the third time.
She exhaled, her chest moving. The very impressive chest he’d felt against him the night before for too brief of a moment. “No. Trudy is safe with Dana, Wolfe, and Roscoe. I know that’s true, and I have to stop hovering.” She rubbed her temple. “Do you think all parents gothrough this?”
“Just the good ones,” he said. “I promise I’ll be quick.” It didn’t make sense to go all the way back to the house and then to his apartment, but he didn’t want to cause her any more stress.
His phone dinged and he pressed a button on the dash, his phone already connected to Wolfe’s system. “Hanson.”
