Page 21 of Hung Up on the Hacker

“That’s wonderful.”

The two slipped into small talk, and Cash turned his focus back to his work. At least until the bell over the door jangled, and a woman’s voice rang out. “Hey, Baby. Do you have my order ready?”

Something in the air changed, sharpening Cash’s focus.

Jonah called out, “Sure, Mom. It’s in the back. I’ll get it in just a minute.”

The new guy turned toward Jonah’s mother, Rebecca. As she caught sight of him, her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

He grinned, and suddenly there was a touch of East Tennessee drawl in his voice. “Hey, Rebel. It’s good to see you.”

So much flickered over her face before she rushed over to wrap him in a hug. “Oh, my God. What are you doing here?”

He hugged her back, and Cash didn’t miss the old intimacy in the gesture. “I came to check on your boy, to see how he’s doing now that he’s retired.”

She pulled back, blinking in surprise. “You know my son?”

He seemed to consider his reply. “I was his commanding officer for a number of years.”

Rebecca paled.

Why should that be an issue?

“How did you know he was mine?”

The captain laughed. “It was impossible not to. You stamped yourself all over his face. And, of course, he’s a Ferguson.”

Jonah cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. What the hell is happening here? You two know each other?”

Cash could read the struggle between respect for his CO and the desire to protect his mother.

Rebecca laid a hand on the captain’s shoulder. “This is Grey.”

Jonah turned disbelieving eyes on Grey. “You? You used to be skinny as a rail and have a ponytail?”

Yeah, the man had military written all over him. Cash couldn’t see it either.

“He saw some pictures of us from back in high school recently,” Rebecca explained.

“I did have a life before the Navy.”

At the statement, she stiffened, her hand falling away. Some kind of history there. One Cash was banking that Jonah didn’t know.

Rebecca turned her attention back to her son. “Baby, if you can get my order. I really need to get going. I’m gonna be late.”

Jonah hesitated, clearly trying to decide what all this meant, but ultimately, he nodded and headed back into the kitchen.

A shield was up in his mother’s expression when she turned back to the visitor. “Well, it’s been great to see you, Grey. I’m glad to know you’re doing well.”

“I’m retired, actually.”

“Oh?” Jonah’s mom definitely didn’t need to play poker. A blind man could’ve seen the interest there. Or maybe that was just Cash, with all his training in how to read body language.

“Yeah.”

Jonah emerged, handing over a box. “Here you go.”

She kissed his cheek. “Thanks, sweetie.” Her eyes drifted back to Grey as she turned toward the door. “I’ve gotta go. You take care.”

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