Page 42 of Deadly Revenge

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For once it felt good to put Max on the defensive. Jenna waited for his explanation.

Max shifted his gaze toward the door, then back to her. “I’ve been doing the same thing with a kid in Nashville.”

She leaned back in the booth and eyed him. “I can’t believe you were giving me grief when you’re doing the same thing.”

“It’s different—Cody is a teenager.”

“And what does that have to do with the price of eggs in Russia?”

He dropped his head. “You’re right. Consider me properly chastised for meddling in your business.”

“Thank you very much.” Then she chuckled. “I can’t believe you’ve gotten involved in mentoring a kid—they make you break out in hives.”

“I was surprised myself.”

“How and when did this happen?”

He picked up the toothpick that had held his sandwich together and chewed on it. “A couple of months after I moved to Nashville, I arrested this thirteen-year-old boy. Cody Reynolds. He’d broken into a tobacco shop as part of a gang initiation, but I saw something in him. He didn’t really want to be in the gang.

“Like Levi, the dad was nonexistent but he does have a mother—a single mom who works two jobs to keep a roof over their head. She doesn’t have a lot of time for him. I talked the judge into releasing him on the condition he meet with me two days a week. Sometimes he spends the weekend at my place—my parents are crazy about him.”

Her anger at him melted. “He was looking for a family.”

Max nodded. “Then last winter, I got the flu that turned into pneumonia, and after a stay in the hospital—”

“You were in the hospital?” She hadn’t heard about that. “I’m sorry. If I’d known—”

He waved her off. “It turned out fine. I was only out of commission for a few weeks, but when Cody found out what happened, he showed up at the house and helped me out. It changed him—knowing he was helping me changed his whole attitude.”

She looked at him. “He’s what? Eighteen now?”

“Seventeen. Going into his senior year of high school. He’s the quarterback of the football team. Got a 3.5 GPA. If he can bring that up a little, I think he’ll get a scholarship to UT—he wants to be a coach and help kids like him.”

Jenna’s heart swelled. “Helping him is something to be proud of, Max.”

He shook his head. “It’s helped me as much as it has him.”

“I know what you mean. I feel the same way with Levi when I do get a chance to spend time with him.”

He chewed on the toothpick. “Are you still riding horses?”

“I am. In fact, I usually ride four or five times a week.” Jenna grinned at him. “It’s that downtime you were talking about.”

He had the grace to blush. “So, you finally got yourself a horse?”

Evidently Max had paid attention when she’d occasionally shared in the office about riding and wanting to buy a horse. “I have an eight-year-old thoroughbred. Ace.”

“Good for you. Does Levi ride?”

“A little. Ace is too much for him, but the owner of the barn where I board him has a pinto that he lets Levi ride the few times he’s been here.”

He raised his eyebrows. “He’s not afraid?”

“That kid isn’t afraid of anything. Up until now I’ve only let him sit on Patches while I lead. Of course, that’s after he brushes and feeds her ... and cleans out her stall.”

“I’m glad you’re letting him know he’s not getting a free ride.”

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