Page 78 of Just My Ex

Alec’s hands slap his thighs. “We all do.”

I laugh to try to diffuse this. “I admit, I sometimes wondered that myself.” I laugh again. “But I know you don’t. I know you work for the Ostlins.”

But Henry looks at me and then back at Alec. “You all think I work as a … spy?”

Alec shrugs. “How could we not think that? You never actually talk about your work, and you don’t seem to care about any of us, so it’s either you’re a big jerk or you’re a spy on secret missions.”

Henry grabs the collar of Alec’s shirt and there’s a scuffle, lots of open palms and shoving.

Celine gasps. “Okay, you two. That’s enough.” She struggles with the handle on the recliner, trying to get up.

I rush to her and place a hand on her arm. “The dizziness, Celine.”

Satisfied she’ll stay put, I step toward the guys. Henry’s got Alec shoved up against the wall.

“Alright!” I say, placing my hand on Henry’s arm. “Stop.” My voice is a low growl. “Now.”

They’re breathing heavily and one last shove by Henry followed by another shove by Alec and then they walk apart, each to their own separate corners. Oakley looks about as angry as I feel. I gather Navie in my arms and Henry shoots us a worried look.

“Interesting that those are the only two options, huh, Alec? That I’m either a jerk or work for the CIA.” Henry gives up a humorless laugh. “Well, how about this possibility? That I actuallywascontacted after I left the Army to work as an agent for the government, but I turned it down. I’d just found out Quinn was pregnant. You think I would have accepted a job like that? Working in private security for an ambassador was the only other option I had after the Army. I’d been looking for something for months before Carla recruited me for her new company. Great money, more flexibility than the government, and a great honor. It about killed me to keep things from Quinn. And it hurt her.”

“You were making a living for your family, so we can’t fault you for that.” Oakley says, her eyes burning into Alec’s when his head snaps back to look at her.

“But I could have explained more of it to Quinn. I could have been more forthright. I should have been. And I should have quit when I realized it was too much for our family.”

Gabriel walks in the room. “Whoa. Hey everybody.” He can feel the tension in the room. “You good?”

We’re silent, and I’m wondering how much, if anything, I should say about what just happened. Navie scrambles out of my arms and back to her play kitchen.

“Okay.” Gabriel’s gaze sweeps to each of us. He shrugs and then bends to Celine and drops a kiss on her forehead. “How are you feeling, Mom?”

“Fine.” She tries to brighten up to give him a smile as she blinks repeatedly. “These guys are making good progress on the photos. How was Indianapolis?”

“Things went smoothly. Dad’s pleased.” Gabriel, with his dark blonde locks, is a slightly younger, fairer version of Sebastian. There’s something about him, maybe the bone structure of his face, that is the most like Celine of all of her sons.

Gabriel comes to Henry and gives him a big bear hug, followed by me, then Oakley and Alec.

“Is this Navie girl?” He drops his head back in a laugh as she spins around from the play kitchen and comes to him, uncharacteristically shy.

I know, Navie, I know. The Tate men are too handsome for their own good.

He reaches out a hand, knowing she’s not ready for a hug. “Miss Tate,” he bows his head. “Or should I say ‘Cowgirl Tate?’”

She giggles. “Mom, I want to find a chef’s hat and coat.”

“I don’t know if Grammy Tate has that,” I say.

“Oh, I just might,” Celine says. “Gabriel, go and see if the housekeeper has something like that for her.”

“Sure thing,” Gabriel says, winking at Navie. His gaze catches on the photo in my hand. “Oh, okay. This whole killer vibe is making more sense now.” He stares at Henry and Alec.

“So, about the CIA,” Alec says.

All three women protest, most loudly, Celine. “He doesn’t! We need to let that go. Besides.” She sniffs. “I’d much rather go on believing the private security story. Seems safer.”

“It is,” Henry insists. “And it’s not a story. It’s true.”

“I thought it was interesting that Gabriel knew just by looking at this photo that that would be a point of contention between you two,” I say.

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