Kyle winked at her.“They’ll steal every pickle in the jar,andthey’ll drink the juice.”
Paul took a sip of lemonade and met Vanessa’s curious gaze.She wasn’t paying attention to Kyle’s cute exchange with Emily.She was staring at Paul’s mouth in a way that gave him an instant, gut-punch memory of what they’d done this morning.
“How is it?”she asked, arching a brow.
“Delicious,” he said, though he’d barely registered the taste.He was too busy rememberinghertaste, and the slippery heat of her against his tongue.Judging by the flush on her cheeks, she understood his reference.
Kyle rose to his feet and cleared his throat.
Vanessa turned to Kyle with a bland expression.“What are you boys up to this afternoon?”
“We’re going fishing,” Paul said.
“The south side has some nice spots,” she said.“Not too crowded.”
“We’ll check it out.”
“Have fun.”
They took their lemonade to go.As Paul walked alongside his brother, he tried to wipe the dopey grin off his face, without success.Vanessa had been immune to Kyle’s charms.This was a pleasant first.
“So,” Kyle said.“How long have the two of you been fucking?”
Paul’s smile faded.He felt the sudden, overwhelming urge to knock the cup out of Kyle’s hand and shove him into a tree.They were out of earshot, but they weren’t out of sight.He couldn’t start a fistfight without gaining notice.“We’re not fucking.”
“Bullshit.”
Paul sipped his lemonade and said nothing.It was actually pretty good.Sweet and tart and cold.
“You’re going to blow your cover.”
“You’re not my handler, Kyle.I don’t answer to you.”
Kyle didn’t care for this distinction.“I might not be your handler, but I’m your brother, and I made the arrangements for this safe house.If you screw it up, I have to start over.You’re supposed to be chilling out, not banging the sheriff’s daughter.”
Paul frowned at the abrupt change in Kyle’s attitude.A week ago, his laidback brother had dismissed Paul’s worries about Vanessa and encouraged him to enjoy the view.“Is something wrong in Houston?”
“No,” Kyle said, and drained his own cup.“Not really.”
“What is it?”
“We lost track of Aiden Mendez.”
Paul gave him a sharp glance.“How?”
“I don’t know.It’s not my task force.They think his father sent him across the border until the heat dies down.”
Aiden Mendez was the younger brother of Angel Mendez, the man Paul had killed two months ago.The Mendez family was part of an organized crime ring that specialized in armored vehicle robbery.Paul had encountered the pair by accident.Their getaway car had been damaged and they’d been in the middle of a carjacking.After Paul had shot and killed Angel, Aiden had fled the scene.
“Good thing I’m hiding out near the border,” Paul said.
Kyle pinned him with a withering look.“He doesn’t have any idea where you are.He probably doesn’t even knowwhoyou are.There’s no need to change locations.Let’s just proceed with caution.”
“Fine,” Paul said.
Kyle studied him in taut silence.
“We both know Miguel Mendez is the bigger threat.”
