Chapter 2
Chapter two
Gator
I stood on the tarmac and watched as the small private plane taxied to a stop right in front of us. As soon as the door was open and the steps were in place, I turned and opened the car door so my clients could step out.
“Thanks, Gator.” Ryan Barnes held out his hand, and I clasped it, giving it a shake.
“It was no problem. You can always call us if you need help.”
Three Bears Tactical Services had worked on more than one event in collaboration with Ryan’s company, Hart Security. Usually because we both had high-profile clients attending the same functions, but this one had been more personal, though.
Ryan’s husband, country music star Colton Montgomery, had been in town for a special charity event. Normally, Ryan served as his bodyguard, but some bad shrimp had taken Ryan out, so he’d called for backup.
“Tell Wolfe I owe him one. I swear I’ve never been so sick in my life.”
“He said it must have been bad if you were trusting Colton’s security to anyone else,” I said.
“You’d never believe I survived on tour for years without him, the way he talks.” Colton rolled his eyes, but then he smiled fondly at his husband.
“Y’all have a safe trip back to Richmond.”
“We will, and if you find yourself in our neck of the woods, hit us up. We’ll take you out for some real seafood,” Colton said.
Ryan cleared his throat and gave a little shiver. “Maybe some pulled pork BBQ or Brunswick stew. I’m not sure I’ll be eating any seafood anytime soon.”
“Poor baby.” Colton patted his arm.
“I appreciate the offer, and if I ever find myself out your way, I’ll be sure to get in touch.”
I didn’t make a point of keeping in touch with former clients, but Ryan being in the security business, coupled with the fact that Colton was very much just a regular guy, had meant this assignment had been different from the get-go.
Plus, Ryan and Wolfe had known each other from way back.
Apparently, they’d served together overseas when they were both young men.
I leaned against the black SUV I’d driven to Austin and watched while they boarded the plane.
Ryan was back to his normal self after days of feeling like death, so they didn’t really need me at this point, but I liked to finish what I started.
I waited until the door on the plane closed and then got into the driver’s seat to leave.
I instructed the onboard system to call Wolfe and then pointed the SUV towards the exit. It didn’t take him long to pick up.
“Wolfe here.” I rolled my eyes at his usual greeting. Who else would be answering his personal cell phone but him?
“Hey, just wanted to let you know that Colton and Ryan have been safely deposited at the door of Colton’s private jet. So unless you need me to do anything else here in Austin, I want to stop by my sister’s for a minute, and then I’m headed home.”
“No, we’re all good. I appreciate you taking that one last minute.”
“No problem, you know I’m always up for a road trip.”
“Will you be back in time to go to Daddy Night? Mika will be disappointed if you don’t make it.”
“Mika will be too busy hanging all over Hawk to notice if I show up or not.”
About six months ago, my friend Hawk had finally found his forever boy, and Mika had wormed his way into all of our hearts.
Ever since I took a bullet during his rescue, he’d made it his mission to make sure I never wanted for sweet treats, not that I was complaining.
My mee-maw sent me care packages from home on the regular, but they never lasted long, so I appreciated anything Mika made for me.
“True enough,” Wolfe said with a chuckle. “They’re still in the honeymoon phase. Hell, last time Mika even got Hawk out there doing a line dance.”
“I heard. Of course it happened when I was in Seattle, and I missed it. I can’t believe none of y’all recorded it so I could see it for myself.”
“Anyway, if you make it back in time, you should join us. A little birdie told me Julius is single again and that he might be there.”
“A little birdie?” I asked. Wolfe was not one for gossip, but I knew who was.
“Okay, Mika might have mentioned it to Caden, who, in turn, suggested I let you know in case you wanted to come.”
I chuckled. Because, of course, it was Mika.
But if Julius actually was single and was planning to be there, I would show up.
So far, our timing had been shit. I’d just decided to make my move when I was sent on a job in Seattle.
We’d expected it to be a short assignment, but I’d ended up being gone for three months.
By the time I got back, Julius had started dating some bigwig from Austin.
I thought I’d missed my chance because, seriously, what kind of idiot would let Julius get away?
“I should be home in plenty of time.”
“Good deal. We’ll see you when you get back.”
We hung up, and I headed towards my sister Lisette’s place.
Most of my family still lived in the swampy part of Texas known as the Golden Triangle, but not Lisette.
She made a run for the city as soon as she was old enough.
That was where she met her husband, Charles.
About a year ago, they moved from Houston to Austin, and I tried to stop by to see her and the kids any time I was in the city.
It took me a good forty minutes to make the fifteen-minute drive because traffic was horrible, but it was worth it since I saw two little faces looking out the front window watching for me when I pulled in.
I barely made it out of the SUV before the two munchkins were barreling towards me, calling out my name.
Robin made it to me first and threw herself into my outstretched arms. “Uncle Harlan, you’re here!”
“That I am, sweet pea.”
Ann Marie wasn’t far behind her, her little legs going as fast as they could before she threw herself into the hug I was already sharing with Robin.
I squeezed them both tight and looked over their heads to see Annette standing on the porch, grinning.
My mama and papa had both come from big families, but they’d opted to keep it smaller.
It was just me, Marcel, and Lisette, and with Lissy being the baby of the family, Marcel and I had both teased her relentlessly and spoiled her rotten.
Luckily, she’d found a man who treated her like a queen.
I swooped up both the girls and carried them to the porch before setting them down and wrapping her in a hug.
“How are you, Lissy?”
“I’m right as rain, Harlan. How about you?”
No one but my family called me by my given name, and about half of them had taken to calling me Gator, but not Lissy. Like my mama, she insisted on calling me Harlan, and I figured she always would.
“I’m good. Real good.”
“Well, come on in and let me get a glass of tea. How long can you stay?”
“Just a couple of hours. I have some place to be tonight.”
She rolled her eyes before she turned and pulled open the front door. “You’re perpetually single, and it’s the weekend. Of course you have some place to be.”
“None of that from you, Lissy bug. You were no better before Charlie.”
“Why, Harlan, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looked back over her shoulder and winked.
I picked Ann Marie back up and took Robin’s hand and followed her into the kitchen. As soon as we got in the room, Ann Marie plopped a kiss on my lips and then said, “Down,” before starting the wiggle. I let her slide to the floor, and then she took off around the corner, Robin right behind her.
“Well, okay then. They usually stick around at least long enough to find out if I brought them anything.”
Lissy grinned at me. “They’ll be back. They probably went to find the kitten Charlie brought home last week. I swear that man has the softest heart. All the girls had to do was give him that look, and he melted like butter on a stack of pancakes.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Don’t you be talking like he ain’t the same way with you, little girl.”
“I’m not a little girl.” She handed me a glass of tea and then motioned for me to take a seat at the bar. “So, anything exciting going on?”
“Nothing that compares to getting a new kitten. Maybe I should get one. I don’t have any animals because I’m gone so much, but I bet Mika would take care of one for me when I’m gone.”
She’d come to visit a couple of months ago, and she and Mika had gotten on like a house on fire. I think they’d even met up for coffee here in Austin one time when he and Hawk had come for the weekend.
“You always loved the cats that lived around mee-maw’s house, so you should get one, and I bet you’re right. Mika would be happy to do that. He loves that dog of his.”
“He does. Why just the other day—”
“Here, Uncle Harlan,” Robin said, rounding the corner and holding a poor little kitten out in front of her. Its lower body was swinging, and its eyes were wide. She thrust it out towards me, wanting me to take the cute little ball of fur.
“Robin, Miss Priss is a living thing, not a toy,” Lissy said as I reached out and took the kitten.
“I was careful, Mommy. I didn’t drop her.” Robin said, while Ann Marie nodded her head vigorously.
I soothed the poor thing while I watched the exchange. Robin reminded me so much of Lissy when she was little.
“I know you were, but how would you like it if someone way bigger than you held you up in the air and let your legs dangle like that?”
Robin looked thoughtful for a moment, and then her eyes lit up. “I don’t know. Uncle Harlan is big… we should try it.”
“Sure thing, sweet pea,” I said.
At the same time, Lissy said, “Absolutely not.”
“Sorry, kiddo, we gotta follow Mom’s rules.” I handed the kitten back, making sure to tuck its little back paws in the crook of her arm. “But that’s one cute kitten.”
“Come on, Ann Marie, let’s go put her back in her window bed.” The two little girls took off back the way they’d come. I watched them go and then turned back to find Lissy watching me.
“You really should get a dog or a cat or something. It isn’t good for you to be all alone.”
“I’m not alone, Lissy. I live in a building full of people who don’t know the meaning of the word boundaries.”
“Hanging out with your employees down on the ninth floor isn’t the same as having company, Harlan.”
We’d had this argument more than once, but I knew she meant well. She was happy and in love and settled in the life she’d always wanted, and she just wanted the same for me and Marcel.
“It suits me just fine for now, but I think you’re probably right. I should get a pet of some kind. I’ll think on it.”