Page 77 of Silos and Sabotage

“Yes.” He winked at her. “I love you, Avery Bolander. I always have and always will.”

Her gaze grew dreamy. “I was talking about the snipers.”

“Oh, that.” He lightly caressed her chin. “That was my way of assuring that no more mercenaries packing guns will get anywhere near the biggest blessings God has ever given me. That would be you,” he assured tenderly. “And our daughter.”

“Ah.” She broke into a tinkling laugh. “That’s what she meant about enjoying the merger.”

“Yes. That.” He reached for her hand.

“This is the best wedding gift ever,” she gushed, giving him a joyful hug.

“I was hoping you’d feel that way.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “How about we get back to enjoying our end of the merger?”

“I would love to.” The dazed look in her eyes suggested she was only dimly aware that Ella and her boyfriend were still in the car with them.

Ella and Gage were soon back on the dock with their beach towels, waving goodbye to her parents.

“Wow!” She stared in wonder at the disappearing taillights. “What should we do next?”

“Anything you want to, apparently.” His grin was challenging. They had a security detail surrounding their security detail.

“Let’s get back to our quest for justice.” There was nothing she wanted more.

“That’s my girl.” He sounded approving. “As usual, I’ve got a plan.”

Chapter 14: Sketchy Numbers

When Gage and Ella walked into the farmhouse, Johnny and Rock were already inside. Rock was in the brown leather recliner by the sofa, watching a game of football. His feet were propped up, and his cane was leaning against the side of the chair.

Johnny took one look at Gage’s swim trunks and the swim cover Ella had pulled over her suit and started guffawing. “I’m not even gonna ask what kind of PI work y’all were up to in that getup.” He leaned back against the sofa and slung a leg over the back of it.

Gage tossed his beach towel over Johnny’s head on his way to the kitchen. “You hungry, Rock?”

“I’m always hungry, bro.”

“Me, too.” Johnny’s voice was muffled beneath the second beach towel Ella had just finished tossing over him.

She followed Gage into the kitchen. “What are you cooking?”

“Mac and cheese with hotdogs.”

At first, she thought he was kidding. When he pulled three macaroni boxes from his pantry, she realized he wasn’t. “Um, are there any other options on the menu?”

He raised his eyebrows at her. “What part doesn’t float your boat? The mac and cheese or the hotdogs?”

“Both.” Feeling very related to Creston Bolander, she took Gage on a quick detour to her pantry and fridge at the guest house. They returned with their arms loaded with supplies. They dumped them on the center island in the kitchen.

“Brown rice,” Ella announced brightly, lifting the first canister proudly.

“Does that mean it’s gone bad?” Johnny inquired politely from the next room.

She ignored his snarky comment and waved two trays of chicken tenders at him. “This will be teriyaki chicken after I prepare it, and this other stuff will go into a veggie stir fry.” She circled a hand at the remaining ingredients — broccoli, carrots, cabbage, sesame seeds, and four eggs she intended to scramble and toss in at the end.

“My tastebuds are already singing.” Johnny sat up on the sofa, looking hungry. “Gage, my man, if you don’t get down on one knee and propose to her right this second, so help me, I will.”

Instead of answering, Gage pulled a container of almonds out of his pantry, unscrewed the lid, and popped a handful into his mouth.

“He can’t.” Rock piped up from the recliner. “We made a pact when we were kids that we’d have a double wedding and get married on the same day.”

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