He smirked. “I’m good. How are you?”
She scowled. “Be serious. I know how cases involving children twist you boys into knots.”
Ben and his brothers had been known asthe boyssince they came to live with their mentor, English Barlowe. Even now that they were grown men, they couldn’t escape the moniker given by the folks in their hometown of Fire Creek, Alabama. Long ago they had learned not to care about the nickname, but escaping the effects of their pasts wasn’t as easy. They all came to English from broken homes, bringing more baggage than a bachelor like English would want to take on.
But take them in English did, and he taught them how to be men, how to fight for the underdog, and how to never let anyone take advantage of them. As a former operative for the Central Intelligence Agency known as Legend, English’s work wrecked his attempt at being a husband and father, and he walked away from his family then to protect them from any blowback from his work.
He atoned for his choice when he left the CIA by using what he learned as Legend to help those who couldn’t find help through traditional means. As the boys became old enough to understand English’s off-the-radar work, they joined him as the next generation of Legends. Ben and his brothers were business owners, but they routinely accepted cases involving people who needed help, sometimes individually and sometimes as a team.
When the cases involved children, it was hard for Ben and his brothers not to be reminded of their own difficult upbringings. They’d learned to push their emotions deep down where they didn’t affect their work, but those memories were hard to escape.
“I’m fine, Ray. And if I’m not, I know who to call. At this point, I’m not sure there’s even a case here. I figure I’ll go to Georgia for a few days, sort it all out, and be back before you have a chance to miss me.”
Reagan sighed. “Our client is very convincing, and I don’t know why, but I believe she’s right. Something is off about the boy and his father. If the man is abusing his son, I hope you bury him.”
Ben appreciated the heat behind her words. “I’ll be thorough. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. You just watch my cat and keep my brothers out of trouble.”
Reagan rolled her eyes. “Like that’s even possible. But at least I have help now since Luke and Easton have married Mel and Bailee. Speaking of marriage, I met someone the other day who I think would be perfect for you.”
Ben narrowed his eyes. “You sure it’s murder mysteries you write and not those cheesy romance novels? It seems like you always have love and matchmaking on the brain.”
In addition to managing the incoming requests for the Legends’ help, Reagan was also a successful author of intriguing whodunits which kept readers on their toes and guessing until the very end.
Reagan straightened her posture and pointed an accusing finger in his direction. “I’ll have you know that many of those romance novels are very well written and contribute to a multi-million-dollar industry. So check yourself before you call them cheesy. And there’s nothing wrong with a little romance. Your brothers found it. I think you’re past due to find yours.”
His sister-in-law had a point. He and his brothers never imagined settling down with families of their own, but then Jackson met and married Reagan. Luke found happiness with Melody, and Easton fell in love with Bailee. He even suspected English was starting to romance their family friend, Becky Lathan, who was one of the people English helped back in the day.
But romance wasn’t for Ben. He was content with the life he had. He was close with his family, and his nephews filled any need he had for kids. His freedom was something he treasured. He answered to no one and did just what he wanted. There was something to the semi-solitary life, and he wasn’t willing to trade it in for something else, even if he was happy to see his brothers start families.
“I appreciate your concern, but I have no interest in falling in love. And I can find my own dates. I’m too busy right now for more than that, so even if I agreed to let you set me up, I would only be wasting your friend’s time.”
Reagan sighed. “You know I love you, Bear. You deserve someone who appreciates the kind of guy you are.”
He smiled at her use of the nickname she gave him because of his considerable size. “What kind of guy am I?”
“Successful. Kind. Hot. You know, all the things,” she answered nonchalantly as Jax came tearing through the room with Ziggy hot on his heels.
“Jax Moore, stop running through the house!”
“Yes, ma’am,” the little boy called, slowing his pace to a half-walk, half-run.
Reagan shook her head as if saying without words that her son was hopeless. “If I had half of his energy, I could take over the world.”
Ben chuckled. “Like you couldn’t do that anyway.”
She pursed her lips as if considering Ben’s remark. “Very true. Anyway, time to go, Jax!”
“Aww, Momma, can’t I play with Ziggy a little longer?”
“Nope. Uncle Ben has to get going, but we’ll be back later to check on Ziggy. You can play with him then.”
“Okay. Bye, Ziggy.” Jax enveloped the cat in a hug, and Ben tried not to laugh at how Ziggy looked ready to run. Jax then hurried over to wrap his arms around Ben’s legs. “Bye, Uncle Ben. Be safe.”
The two words were something his family had gotten into the habit of saying to each other, and the words coming from his nephew tugged at his heart. He lifted Jax into his arms to hug him back.
“Thanks, buddy. You be good and help out your momma.”
“Okay.” Jax wiggled out of his uncle’s arms. Ben lowered him gently to the floor and watched him run ahead to the door.
