Page 28 of Grissom
“They’re here!” Luke announced at the top of his lungs, damn it, breaking what for Grissom, had been a life-changing moment.
Most guys would’ve panicked and jerked away from Tuesday, distancing themselves to protect their manly image at the cost of hers. Grissom stayed where he was, facing her with his arms around her. One glance at his boys told him all he needed toknow. Luke was focused on getting to the front door before his brother did, but Tanner’s eyes were wide with surprise. He’d seen his dad kissing Tuesday, and the kid was grinning like a lunatic. Precisely what Grissom needed—encouragement from the six-year-old little man in his life.
He pressed a more casual kiss to Tuesday’s temple and whispered, “Looks like we just got caught, love. Do you mind?”
She gave her head a slight shake and whispered back, “Not at all. I love your boys with all my heart, Grissom. I think they saved me at the same time I saved them.”
He had to agree. “Funny how love works. They’ve been saving me for years.”
Luke was at the door by then, not quite able to reach the knob and half turned around to make sure he beat Tanner. Reluctantly, Grissom released the miracle in his arms and told his youngest son, “You know the rule, Short Stack. I answer doors.”
“Yeah, only Dad,” Tanner taunted in his know-it-all, big brother voice.
“But I wanna see Uncle Walker first!” Luke squealed, bouncing at the still-closed door. “I know it’s him! I already seen Aunt Persia! I don’t hafta look out that teeny hole like Daddy does. I seen them out the window, and they wanna come in and play with me!”
Grissom made short work of that argument, swinging Luke off the floor and onto his shoulder. “What’s the rule?”
Luke growled. “You hafta look out that stupid, tiny little old hole before anyone kin even open the door and come in, even when I already seen who’s out there.”
“And why do we follow rules in this house?”
Another grumpy growl percolated out of Luke. “So nobody can never steal me or Tanner again. Not never.”
“Very good,” Grissom praised his youngest troublemaker. “Hey, since you’re sitting high enough to see, why don’t you look through the peephole and tell me if Walker and Persia are still there. Look carefully. We don’t want to let any trolls inside.”
Luke and Tanner both giggled, but Luke tipped obediently forward, slapped both hands beside the peephole, stuck his nose to the door, and grumbled, “I don’t see nothing. Oh, wait! Yeah, I kin see Uncle Walker, but not Aunt Persia now, and—Oh, Daddy! Uncle Harley’s hairy eyeball’s staring at me. He’s here, too. Let me down! I wanna get down!”
Swinging his excited youngest over the top of his head but then tucking him under his arm before Luke could wiggle away, Grissom entered the security code into the panel behind the door and opened his home to his friends. Sure enough, not only Uncle Walker and Aunt Persia were there, but Uncle Harley, Aunt Judy, cousins Alex and Georgie, as well as Uncle Maverick, Aunt China, and cousin Kyrie. All TEAM members were called aunts or uncles, and Grissom made sure his boys addressed them respectfully.
“Come on in,” he told his visitors. “Got someone I want you to meet.”
As soon as he cleared the door, Maverick spied Tuesday standing back from the now-crowded entry. Off came his Stetson, he nodded politely and said, “Sure good seeing you here, ma’am.”
She shrugged almost apologetically. But when Maverik headed toward her, Grissom made short work of the distance between that tall, lanky cowboy and his woman.His woman, damn it. “Folks, meet Tuesday Smart,” he said, marching to her side and snagging her by her waist. “Tuesday, you already met Maverick, and—”
“And I’m China, his wife, and this is Kyrie, our daughter.” China was dressed in her usual, western shirt over jeansand cowboy boots. Kyrie sported jeans, boots, and a t-shirt advertising her kitten sanctuary. They both had the same long hair trailing like ebony ribbons down their backs.
The lanky guy with the Texas twang followed the Carsons with, “Harley, ma’am.” He tipped two fingertips to his forehead in respect. “This pretty lady here’s my better half, Judy, and those two monsters are Little A and Georgie. Boys, hats off, and remember to use your inside voices, understood?”
Both boys doffed their cowboy hats and answered, “Yes, Dad.”
Oh, yeah. Little A. That was Harley’s son’s nickname, not just Alex. That’d be too confusing, and Grissom didn’t need to be more confused than he was. Little A was the quieter twin who’d answered politely. Georgie was the opposite, prone to cause trouble, just as prone to roughhouse no matter where he was. He’d said the right words, but his answer carried a ton of mischievous sarcasm.
Judy’s dark red hair was pulled back in a no-nonsense bun at the nape of her neck. Of the four Mortimers, she was the boss and Harley knew it. Within seconds of his introductions, Tuesday found herself surrounded by Persia, China, and Judy, all jabbering at once, like women do. Made Grissom’s heart swell seeing how quickly these wives accepted her.
She might not realize it yet, but she’d just been adopted into the highest order of sisterhood. TEAM sisterhood. Nothing stronger in the world.
Chapter Fifteen
Tuesday hadn’t felt this much at home in a very long time. Not because Grissom’s house was filled to the brim, though it was. He and the men were on the porch, no doubt talking about work, sports, or other guy things. Tanner and Luke had run for the master bedroom with Maverick’s daughter and Harley’s boys, where they were no doubt absorbed in some video game. Harley and Judy’s boys were fraternal twins, one named after Harley’s father, the other after Alex Stewart, which told Tuesday how close Harley and his boss were.
Tuesday felt at home simply because the wives had migrated with her into Grissom’s kitchen. She’d overheard Harley ordering pizzas as soon as he’d arrived, with extra-large everything. She’d only intended to fix a vegetable tray to go along with all that greasy, cheesy sausage and pepperoni. But China, Judy, and Persia had taken over, and now a fruit tray was also in progress, and steaks were definitely off the menu.
While China washed the bags of carrots she’d pulled from Grissom’s refrigerator, she explained how Persia used to work for the CIA, DEA, and a couple other federal agencies, before she’d wised up and joined The TEAM.
“Which is why she’s so quiet,” Judy teased, slicing two bunches of celery into petite finger lengths on a bamboo cutting board. “She’s afraid she’ll spill top-secrets if she starts talking.”
“Then she’ll have to kill us,” China stage-whispered.
