27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter twenty-seven
Peter
Over the next few days, we continued to get information regarding the fallout of the attack on the Dallas compound.
Lukas’s phone rang while we were working in his office, and a smile appeared on his face as he glanced at the screen and then tapped on it. “Hey, Li. What’s up?”
“Don Dallas just left.”
He immediately tensed up. “Did the visit go well?”
“Yeah. He was amazing to chat with and gave me more praise than I know what to do with. But Lu, I hope you’re sitting down for this. Not only did I see Jensen Maloy be sweet with Beth, but I also got a--”
“Who in the world is Beth?”
Lianne paused for a moment. “Oh. Beth is Wesley Backnoff’s significant other. She came with Don Dallas to thank Dante and Avery for treating her like an equal during the extraction mission, but not before totally fangirling over your painting of Dad in the lounge.”
Lukas blinked rapidly as he processed the information. “I… That sounds like quite a meeting.”
A lighthearted chuckle came through the speaker. “It was. Did I mention I got a favor from Dallas?”
A stunned laugh burst out of Lukas as he shook his head. “No, but that doesn’t surprise me too much, considering everything you did to help him out. Anything else I need to know about so you can stun me all at once?”
“I think Gage is getting more attached to the woman he saved than he wants to admit. I’m not saying something is happening there, but there’s no denying something is happening there.”
Lukas and I stared at each other, eyes wide in surprise, before he let out a breath. “Okay.”
“You can let me know your observations when you're here in a couple days.”
A few mornings later, Lukas stood in the main kitchen, waiting for Quinn, and looked up from his phone when I walked into the room. “I’m still stunned to see Gage showing this much interest in a woman.”
What? “Did Lianne send an update?”
He smirked. “No, Ryan did. Apparently, Gage and Sunny went on a date to his favorite restaurant the other night.”
The combination of being pleased, stunned, and proud on Lukas’s face had me confused. “And?”
“He kissed her.”
I glanced over at him, confused. “And this is a big deal?” What am I missing, and why is this news? Gage and I had worked together, but the man kept his personal life secret, and I respected that.
“Yes, and no.” Lukas slid his phone back into his pocket and leaned against the edge of the counter.
“Between how disastrously his last relationship ended, being justifiably overprotective of his sister after she almost died, the crippling guilt of my dad dying ‘on his watch,’ and being as much of a hardened workaholic as Ryan is, I wasn’t sure if he was ever going to date again.
” He let out a sigh. “I’m looking forward to finding out more about this woman.
I’m curious if she’s had the same effect on him as Ellen had on Ryan. ”
“Or how Quinn affected you?” When all he did was roll his eyes, I chuckled. “Tell me you weren’t also a somewhat hardened workaholic before her.”
“Oh, he’s still a workaholic, but he has more incentive to be a tiny bit softer and keep more manageable hours. Don’t you, handsome?” Quinn breezed into the room and kissed Lukas on the cheek. “You ready to go?”
He turned and smiled at her. “I do, and I am.”
After Cole headed out with them to take them to the airport, I let out a small sigh. Everything was as it should be. Phil was spending the night with Chelsea and her family, Cole was going to do the overnight at the lodge once he was back from the airport, and I had the evening to myself.
By the time I finished making an early dinner and settled in downstairs to watch a movie, Cole let me know that he dropped off Lukas and Quinn at the airport. Everything was as it should be: peaceful and quiet.
Too quiet.
My thoughts shifted to Hummingbird and how few distractions they likely had access to. Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled out my phone and took a picture of the leftover pizza I was eating for dinner.
Shield:
A minute later there was a response, with an image of a grilled cheese sandwich attached.
Hummingbird:
Shield:
Hummingbird:
Shield:
I finished my piece of pizza by the time the next message came in.
Hummingbird:
An idea popped into my head.
Shield:
Hummingbird:
Shield:
Hummingbird:
I let out a sigh.
Shield:
Hummingbird:
Well, now I have to.
With Lukas and Quinn out, I could easily make a small roast and take some to Hummingbird. No one would be the wiser, especially if I got Edith on board with me.
Shield:
Hummingbird:
Shield:
Hummingbird:
For the next two hours, we messaged back and forth while watching the movie. I couldn't remember enjoying Christmas Eve this much since the last time I was home.
I was heading to bed when my phone dinged.
Lukas:
Peter:
Lukas:
Lukas:
Lukas: