She ached with him. She couldn’t see her mama right now, but she was healthy. Or at least Brooklyn thought she was as she hadn’t been in contact for years.
“What about your mom and dad?” he asked. “Are you close to them?”
Ah, a question she didn’t want to answer, and yet, she didn’t want to lie or blow him off when he’d been so forthcoming. “They’re very important in my life. I couldn’t ask for better parents.”
“I wish my dad hadn’t passed away.” He got a far-off look. “I think of him a lot but especially with Father’s Day coming up.”
“I can’t even imagine. That would be so hard.”
He nodded. “This year might be even worse. Reid—one of Shadow Lake Survival’s owners—has daughters who are planning a big Father’s Day celebration on Saturday. They invited all the team members, but I’m not sure I’m up for it and might skip it.”
“I could see that,” she said. She wouldn’t be able to attend an event like that and her dad was alive, just not someone shecould talk to right now. She pointed out the window to change the topic. “Oh, look. A sign for the lake. Is it a big lake?”
“It’s a decent size. Lots of good fishing.” He clicked on his blinker. “You ever fish?”
“Plenty of times with my dad when I was little. Not as an adult though.”
He made a left turn onto Shadow Lake Road. “I’ll have to take you. My mom can do a mean fish fry. She might not be able to fry the fish herself, but she can instruct us on how to do it. And byus, I meanyoubecause I can hardly make toast without burning the bread.” He grinned at her.
She laughed. “What makes you think I can cook?”
“You didn’t balk when I said the job included cooking, so…” He shrugged.
“As it happens, I’m pretty good in the kitchen but a bit rusty. I don’t take the time to cook much just for myself.”
He held her gaze for a moment before swinging his focus back to the road. “So no significant other then?”
“No, and you? Someone special in your life?” She held her breath in wait for his answer.
“Not besides my mom, my brother, and sister.”
A horn honked behind them, and she jumped. She smoothed her hands down her jeans to try to hide her unease.
He eyed her as he slowed the vehicle. “Something wrong?”
She couldn’t answer that for sure. “Tell me about your brother. You said you lived with him. I figure I should know something about the guy if I’ll be spending time with him too.”
Colin’s eyebrow went up, likely at her sidestepping. She would have to get better at keeping her secret, or he would be questioning her before the day was out.
“Dev’s two years younger than me,” Colin said. “A former Clackamas County Sheriff’s Deputy who specialized in water rescue. A real joker and pretty carefree.”
“Sounds like a fun guy.”
“He is.” Colin frowned.
“Something wrong with that?”
“No. Not at all.” He turned into a narrow opening in the trees that led to a dirt driveway. “I just wish I could be more like that, but I take things pretty seriously.”
“Yeah, me too. Maybe I’ll learn to lighten up from spending time with him.”
“Maybe, but I sure haven’t.” He gave a wry smile.
“What did you do before taking your current job?” She leaned forward to search out the front window for any sign of the Shadow Lake Survival team compound ahead but saw nothing but evergreen trees and giant hostas and ferns growing below them.
“I was an FBI agent.”
She whipped her head to look at him. “Seriously? FBI?”
