Justine Davis - Operation Unleashed

“For a few minutes,” he said.

Luke darted off with Cutter at his heels. As they went the dog looked back over his shoulder at his people, and Alyssa had the oddest feeling the glance was making them uncomfortable. Even the impressive Quinn, who was reminding her more of Drew with every silent moment.

“He certainly messed up those new shoes,” Alyssa said, her adrenaline-fueled relief finally ebbing and leaving her a bit shaky.

“He’s a boy,” Drew said. “It’ll happen.”

Drew had never worried much about that, either, at least, not like she did. He didn’t like waste, but he didn’t consider normal boy wear and tear on things waste. She’d been afraid of the cost of things when they’d first settled in here, he could be so intimidating, but it had been clear from the beginning that Luke was his soft spot.

“I’m a little confused,” Quinn said, looking at Drew. It was the first time he’d spoken in some time, and as Drew turned to look at the man Alyssa could see the assessing going on. It always happened with Drew, that quiet appraisal. She would have put it down to some primal male thing, except that he did it with women too, in a non-sexual way. It was one of the many, many ways he differed from Doug, who had taken pride in never judging anyone.

Of course, in the end he’d paid the ultimate price for that lack of judgment.

“Luke said his mom is his mom, and called you his dad, but said you’re really his uncle,” Quinn said.

“None of our business, honey,” Hayley said softly.

“If it’s true, no. But if Luke ran away because something more than a family spat is going on, then—”

“Oh, no,” Alyssa exclaimed. “No, you mustn’t think that! Drew would never, ever hurt Luke.”

“It’s all right, Lyss.”

Drew had apparently drawn his conclusion about Quinn Foxworth because he nodded in approval. And he met Quinn’s gaze head on.

“I appreciate your concern. Alyssa and I are married, but Luke is my nephew, technically.”

“And you’re raising him.”

“Yes. I’m the only father he’s ever known. My brother sure as hell wasn’t up to the task.”

And there it was again. Alyssa felt the old, familiar jab of pain at the cold, dismissive tone in his voice as he spoke of his brother. It was always there, it seemed, just sometimes closer to the surface, as it had been this morning, sparking the argument that had sent Luke running.

“Drew, please, not now,” she said softly, looking over to where Luke was romping with the dog, who now seemed nothing more than the perfect child’s companion.

His jaw tightened, but with a glance in the same direction, he nodded. His tone was neutral when he turned back to the pair before him. “Thank you for bringing him home.”

“Thank Cutter,” Hayley said. “He found him.” She looked at Alyssa. “He was very cautious, your Luke. Said you told him people sometimes use animals to lure kids.”

“For all the good it apparently did,” she answered wryly.

“Oh, it did,” Quinn assured her. She appreciated that. “He wasn’t about to let either of us near him. That’s why we had Cutter backtrack him here. That interested him enough to get him to come home.”

Drew glanced once more at the boy and dog, who were rolling around on wet grass as if it were a warm, sunny day. “That must be some dog.”

Hayley laughed. “We could tell you stories. But now, I think we should leave you to...resolve this.”

Drew nodded. “We need to talk to him some more.”

“Don’t you need to get back to work?” Alyssa asked.

“This is more important,” Drew said, and started across the yard to collect Luke.

“Nice that he puts that first,” Hayley said, sounding as if she were making an effort to be noncommittal.

“He always puts Luke first,” Alyssa said.

That was our deal, after all, she thought. And Drew kept it. Of course he did, he was Drew.

She’d made the best bargain she could, at the time. Her choices had brought them to the brink of disaster, and Drew had saved them. He’d promised them safety, a home, and to love and care for Luke as if he were his own. And he’d delivered on every one of those promises. Unlike his brother, Drew Kiley’s word was his bond, and he lived up to it.

And if things had changed, if she had changed since then, it wasn’t Drew’s fault. It was hers.

As usual.

Chapter 3

“That has got to be an interesting household,” Quinn said as they walked back to the park, taking the same shortcut through the trees, since Drew had told them it was a good mile if they went by road. Plus it offered some protection from the suddenly increased rain.

“Indeed,” Hayley said, looking back to be sure the reluctant Cutter was actually with them. The dog had been very hesitant about leaving his new playmate. “But Luke wasn’t scared. Of either of them.”

That had been her first fear, that the boy had run away to escape some kind of abuse. But the way he’d been with his mother, and his...uncle, had clearly negated that idea.

“No. Nervous about being in trouble, but not scared.” Quinn grimaced. “No love lost between those brothers, though.”

“No. Even with one of them dead. Sad.”

“He’s doing the right thing.”

“Drew? Yes, he is.” She dodged a low-hanging branch. “But I have the feeling things are going to be very interesting around there this afternoon.”

Cutter woofed, low and with emphasis.

“I know, dog,” Quinn said. “But we don’t mess in people’s private lives, buddy. Not what Foxworth does.”

The dog made another sound, one Hayley thought sounded rather disgusted.

“But if Luke had been afraid...” She was still fairly new to all the ins and outs of the Foxworth Foundation, and wasn’t sure exactly where the line was in some situations. And this situation was certainly unique. She couldn’t imagine they’d come across a family like this one, consisting of a boy and his mother, who was married to his dead father’s brother.

“We don’t do domestics,” Quinn said. “But if there was reason to suspect he was being abused, we would at least look into it and then turn it over to the right people,” Quinn said. “We’d never walk away from something like that.”

Hayley looked back once more. The trail through the trees had turned westward, and Luke’s home was now out of sight.

“I wonder what kind of argument’s going to break out next,” she said.

“Let’s just hope it’s out of that kid’s earshot,” Quinn answered.

With a sigh Hayley nodded. Then they cleared the trees and stepped back into the open space of the park. Rain was pelting them now, hard and steady.

“We’re going to get soaked,” Quinn said.

“I think that ship already sailed,” Hayley retorted.

“Guess we’ll have to go home and change clothes.”

She flicked him a glance, saw nothing but obvious innocence in his expression. For a guy who had a poker face that wouldn’t quit, she knew exactly what this meant.

“You just want my clothes off,” she accused, but laughter broke through in the middle.

“Damn straight,” he said.

“You go first,” she teased.

“My pleasure,” Quinn said, and there was so much heat and outright need in his voice she was surprised she wasn’t already steaming.

She spared another thought for Drew and Alyssa Kiley, wondering if they ever shared moments like this in their odd relationship. If she had to guess, she’d sadly say no. They didn’t have the air of a couple that was intimate at every possible moment. She wondered if they were at all, given the nature and circumstances of their being together.

And then they were in the car, Cutter loaded in the back where he promptly sprayed the interior with a hearty shake, and all she could think about was getting her man home and licking every raindrop off the body she knew so well.