Chapter 26
“I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m going to need food if we’re going to be planning.” Ronnie slid off the barstool and rolled her shoulders. She should have stretched more when they’d gotten home but if she got moving now, then it wouldn’t be too bad. “Who wants biscuits, gravy, and eggs?”
She went to the sink to wash her hands and noticed streaks of mud going up her arm. She couldn’t cook like this. She’d shower first then start cooking. Turning around, she found that while neither of them had said anything when she’d asked about food, they were both holding up their hands.
Good.
“Small change of plans. I’m going to go take a quick shower. Get rid of this mud,” she looked down her body and saw streaks of dirt on her shirt and shorts as well, “then I’ll be back and cook. Sound good?”
“That’s fine. I’ll take my turn in the shower while you cook,” Demon said. “Then we can figure out what we’re going to do.”
He watched as she went around the corner and listened as she closed the bedroom door. He half expected Gavin to start questioning him, but he didn’t. Instead, he picked up his computer and things from the counter and took them into his bedroom.
“We can get breakfast started while she showers,” Gavin said moving past Demon on his way back to the kitchen.
“I don’t mine helping, but you’ll have to tell me what to do.
I’m kind of a disaster in the kitchen.” Demon went to the sink and washed his hands, making sure to get all the way up to his elbows, to get all the dirt he’d picked up when he and Ronnie had been rolling around in the dirt.
He couldn’t help but smile at the image the words brought to his mind.
It would have been a lot more fun to be rolling around the way he wanted to.
“What first?”
“I know you said you aren’t much of a cook, but have you ever browned meat?”
“Like hamburger? Yeah, I can do that, but don’t expect me to have any idea what to put into it other than salt and pepper.”
“No worries. It’s not hamburger and we don’t need to season it. Can you brown the sausage that’s in the fridge?”
“Sure, preference on skillet?”
“I’ll get it out for you.”
They worked in silence for a couple of minutes until there was a thump inside the wall. Demon wondered what it was, but continued what he was doing.
“Now that she’s actually in the shower and the water will keep her from overhearing us, what didn’t you tell me earlier?” her brother said from where he was doing something on the counter, Demon couldn’t tell what.
Demon turned to look at him.
“Nothing.”
Gavin snorted, as if he didn’t believe him.
“Look, I’m not saying I wouldn’t keep some thing from her if I thought it was in her best interest, but in this, there’s nothing to hide.”
“You really didn’t see anyone?”
Demon shook his head. “I was too busy trying to keep your sister from kneeing me in the nuts than taking off like a chicken with her head cut off.”
“And for some reason you told her good job on that.”
Gavin didn’t sound happy, but Demon didn’t care.
He’d meant it when he’d told her she’d done a good job.
She hadn’t known who had knocked her down, and she’d acted appropriately, at least in his opinion.
He didn’t mind a few extra bruises if she was able to fight back like that if it wasn’t someone trying to protect her.
Hell, he would have taken the knee to his balls if that was what it took to make sure she wasn’t hurt.
The sausage only had a few small specks of pink left when Ronnie came back into the room, her short hair plastered against her head, instead of standing out in chunky spikes like he was used to.
It made his hands ache to comb through it, giving it that freshly tousled look he’d come to appreciate on her.
“What are you two doing?”
“Helping,” Gavin said. “We thought we’d get things started for you, then you wouldn’t have so much to do.”
“I know you know what you’re doing, but what about him?” She flung one hand in Demon’s direction.
“Nope. I’m an utter failure in the kitchen. But I can brown meat. That’s all I’ve done here, and I did it under his supervision.” He tilted his head toward Gavin.
She sighed, propped her hands on her hips, and scanned the kitchen. “Okay. Thank you for the help, but I’ve got it from here.” She shooed them out of the kitchen. “Go shower. It shouldn’t take me long to get this wrapped up.”
Demon fetched clean clothes, shorts and a t-shirt, something he could sleep in, because unless something went really wrong, he needed to get some shut eye.
He would need to be rested when the time came to confront Jim Bob and Ronnie’s father, if they could get him.
Demon was determined to get him, because as long as he was free, then Ronnie would be in danger.
He stepped out of the bathroom, carried his dirty clothes back to where he’d left his backpack and dropped them in a pile next to it. He’d need to wash those before the next running day, he reminded himself. With that on his mind, he headed for the kitchen, and the enticing aroma of bread and meat.
“How often do you run?” he asked as he stepped into the room.
“Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, why?”
“So I know how long I have to clean those shorts. I’ll need them for the next run.”
“What’s wrong with those?” She nodded toward the ones he had on.
“There’s no where to put my holster.”
“Holster?”
“You don’t think I insisted on going with you, for protection, and didn’t carry a weapon, did you?”
Ronnie stared at him for a moment with wide eyes. “I didn’t know they made anything like that.” She tilted her head. “I wonder if they make them for women too.”
“They do. I’ve never gone looking for specific items, but I’ve seen clothing for women.
Is there something in particular you’re looking for?
” Demon wouldn’t mind taking her shopping for something like that.
The mall? He had no interest in that, unless it was a lingerie section and she was going to model for him.
But weapons and concealed carry gear, along with a few other things, he could get into.
“Nothing specific, but I like the idea. I mean, I have a permit, not that I need one here, but it’s great for reciprocity. And I don’t carry often, but I like the idea of the right gear to carry in all situations, like going for a run, or anything really.”
“They’ve got them for women. If you can’t find any locally, let me know. I’ll find out where to go for you,” Gavin put in.
Ronnie scowled at him. “You knew about these?” She scowled at him.
“Of course.”
“Why of course and why didn’t you tell me?”
“Of course, because the tech was designed for our military and other undercover agents. I didn’t tell you because it didn’t occur to me that it’s something that would interest you. How often do you carry anyway?” He scowled at her.
Demon grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, sat, then folded his arms across his chest and watched the two of them bicker back and forth.
It reminded him of the playful banter that his mom’s folks had done before they’d passed away.
He found it cute and entertaining, just as he had when it had been Nonna and Pops.