Page 14 of Crossing Lines

“This smells great, Wayne.” Anna sat down beside me and tried to steal a piece of bacon. I slapped her hand away.

“Get your own!” I shoved an entire piece in my mouth and glared. She had the nerve to laugh at me. That broke my composure, and I grinned as I tried to chew, swallow, and not choke.

“You girls are worse than the children.”

“We are still someone’s children…” I grinned.

“You know what I mean.”

I snickered. I did know—he was too easy to rile up sometimes.

“I’m starving,” I said honestly.

Daddy set a plate down in front of Anna and then one by the chair he was to sit in. Glasses of juice were already on the table, so we all dug in. Breakfast was silent for a bit, then I heard Daddy clear his throat. I glanced at Anna who had her brows drawn down. Uh oh.

“You have no idea how long Tracey and Chipper will be gone. Is that right?”

I shrugged as I finished chewing my mouthful. “They said hopefully in a day or two. It’s been two—three now.” I tried to remember all of that chat, but I was a little high at the time. I knew he hadn’t messaged me that they’d be longer. Huh. I wasn’t sure what the case was, but I wouldn’t panic. Those two knew their jobs. They’d been handling bail jumpers well before I came along.

“I think until they come back, you should come stay with me. This way I can make sure you’re eating and not smelling up your room.”

Anna snorted, choking on her mouthful.Heifer.I glared. They really thought they were funny.

“I’m more than capable of taking care of myself…” I began, trailing off when I looked over at him. His jaw was set, his glare in full force, and his cheek was ticking. Yep, all signs that Wayne Malone was about to put his foot down. No one, and I did mean no one, ever argued with this man when he looked like this and actually won. I’d learned that as a teenager. My backside also remembered what arguing would get you. “Okay, Daddy. I’ll come stay with you…on one condition.” His brow arched.

“And that is?”

I smiled over at him. “That we have a family game night. All of the boys, Shana, and Anna. The kids too, obviously.”

“Done. Anna, darling, call your husband and tell him. He can tell Peter. Everyone is to be at my place tomorrow night for game night. Six o’clock.”

“Let me guess, it’s not a request?” She chuckled at his big grin.

“You got it. It’s been too long. Everyone’s grown and doing their own thing. I think it’s a great idea, princess.”

“Thanks, Daddy. I can’t wait to whoop their butts at Poker. Jerks.”

“I have a feeling this is going to turn out to be World War Three.”

Anna and I laughed. Daddy knew his children well. We were all competitive, and it usually was me and Carter against the big jerks. It made things more interesting that way. I was the undefeated champ atMonopolyalready. Tomorrow night, it would be Poker!

“Sissy.”

I grunted when the bed dipped. “What, squirt?”

“Tracey has been calling your cell for over an hour. Please answer him. He’s messaging me now since he knows you’re here. I’m trying to study.”

I sighed and held my hand out. Carter put my phone in my hand, and I pulled it to my face. Trace’s name popped up so I hit the button to accept.

“Why are you harassing the kid? I was asleep.” I sounded like an 80’s pornstar, so I cleared my throat. Carter saluted me and walked out of my room, shutting the door all but a crack.

“I just needed to hear your voice. How do you feel?” I shrugged. What could I say? ‘I’m a depressed sack of bones, moping at my daddy’s house until my man finishes work and comes home.’ Well, I could have said that, but I didn’t.

“I’m sore, tired, and missing you. All is peachy. I can’t brush my hair, so that means I can’t be left alone. Daddy made?—”

“I talked to Wayne this morning when I got a signal again and saw your message. I’m sorry I left you like that. I should have stayed…we didn’t expect this to take so long. We’ll be leaving from here in a few hours, and the drive back is going to be tricky. We should be back in a couple of days.”

“See, if I’d been there, it wouldn’t have taken so long,” I said, grinning. He felt inclined to let me believe that and chuckled. “I miss you.”

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