Harlequin Intrigue June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: To Honor and To Protect\Cornered\Untraceable (6 page)

The resemblance through the eyes was uncanny. This kid had the Bryant family eyes. Drew's gut tied into a thousand knots. He couldn't believe it had taken him this long to see it.

The boy's father was in heaven. Or was supposed to be. Everett would've been a stepdad. Drew's mouth went dry, but he forced out the obvious question. “How old are you?”

“Almost eight.”

As the math clicked, the savory bite of eggs in Drew's mouth turned to mushy cardboard. The fresh air and warm scents of the hearty breakfast soured in his stomach as the truth hit him like a body blow. He was looking at his son.

Good Lord, he had a
son
.

They had a son she'd never bothered to mention when she tried to give him the boot last night.

“Addison, can I speak with you?”

“May I,” Andy corrected with a syrup-coated smile.

“May I,” Drew said through gritted teeth.

“Right after breakfast.” She didn't meet his gaze as she sat down and served herself.

“I don't think this should wait.”

“I disagree. Go on and eat while it's still hot.”

He set down the fork, unable to tolerate another bite.

“What's wrong?” Andy took a big gulp of milk and then dragged another bite of pancake through the river of syrup on his plate.

“Nothing.” Drew tried to smile. “Just full up.”

“Mom's a good cook.”

“I've always thought so,” Drew agreed. It wasn't the kid's fault his mother had lied to him his whole life. Technically, it wasn't her fault, either, though that line was blurred by the way she'd tried to get rid of him so quickly. Maybe, when this news had a chance to sink in, he'd stop blaming her for the emotions tearing through him.

Eight years. She'd been pregnant on their wedding day. When the hell had she planned on telling him? He wanted to believe he would've found a way to tell the army no if he'd known that detail, but in those days he'd boasted a bigger-than-life confidence. He probably would've taken the assignment anyway, knowing it had been a quick-strike plan.

Nothing quick about eight years,
he thought. She'd gone through all of it alone. Pregnancy, childbirth, Andy's first steps, first word, first day of school. Her parents gone, her fiancé—the father of her child—presumed dead. She'd done it all without any family support. No wonder she thought she could manage this situation with Everett on her own.

His hands clenched. He wanted to put his fist through the face of the man who'd overseen his torture. He'd missed too much of their lives, but if he had his way, he wouldn't miss anything from this point forward.

He studied Addi, but she was focused on her food. “You talked to my dad before. When?” With so many questions in his head, he couldn't seem to get the words out in the right order to satisfy his curiosity.

“I'll explain everything after breakfast.”

He didn't believe her. Even knowing it was irrational, he wanted to blame her for this overwhelming sense of loss. “I'm done eating,” he snapped, pushing back from the table. Andy's eyes went wide and Drew felt the shame of scaring him. “Pardon me.” He sat down again. “It's been a long few days.”

“It's okay.” Andy nodded with a wisdom beyond his years. “Did you have to drive forever in an old car, too?”

Drew looked to Addi for an interpretation.

She finally met his gaze. “I traded my car for something older for our summer adventure. Andy soon discovered how much we rely on modern conveniences like power windows.”

“I'm done,” Andy announced. “May I be excused, please?”

“Yes. Leave your dishes and go brush your teeth. We'll go exploring in a little bit.”

He slid out of the chair, then walked over to Drew and motioned him to lean down. “She lets you leave the table when you ask nice.”

The advice, delivered in a serious whisper, had Drew grinning right along with his son. “Thanks for the tip.”

* * *

A
DDISON
HELD
HER
BREATH
, her heart thudding in her chest. The ornery grins on both faces were nearly identical. It made her ache for all the moments they'd never get back. She knew he was furious with her, the army, whoever else might have wrecked his mission. And after urging him to leave last night, she knew he had to be thinking she'd never planned to tell him the truth.

“Everett isn't his father.”

“I've already said that.” And by some miracle, she'd discovered Craig's true nature before he ever could be. “Andy liked him. Loved him like a dad,” she admitted through the hurt and embarrassment. “He isn't happy with my change of plans.”

“What did you tell him?”

She rubbed at the place where Craig's engagement ring had been. “You have to know this now?”

“I think I've waited long enough.”

“Oh, please. That's bu— baloney,” she corrected, glancing toward the bathroom. Appetite gone, she gathered dishes into a stack in front of her. “You walked back into my world less than twelve hours ago. Hardly a display of patience worthy of praise.”

“You weren't going to tell me.” His brown eyes were full of hurt and betrayal, but she refused to accept it as her sole responsibility.

“I told you plenty of times. You just weren't around to hear it.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Watch your language.” She glared at him. “And lower your voice. He doesn't need to hear us fighting.”

“We wouldn't be fighting if you'd been honest with me.”

“Like you've been so honest living in Detroit without so much as a note when you came home? I've never lied to you. I've never had the chance.”

“What about last night?”

She shook her head. “I didn't lie.”

“You sure didn't volunteer the information.”

“I was in shock,” she said in her defense. “The primary reason I let you stay last night was so we could talk about this today.”

“Right.” His glare would've sliced through steel, but she found herself equally infuriated with him. “When did you know?”

She knew what he was asking, but she made him clarify, just to buy herself a little time. “Know what?”

He stood up and in two strides he was towering over her. Pinned between his solid chest and the sturdy sink, she didn't feel the least bit threatened. No, her heart thrilled at his proximity and she inhaled his masculine scent. The woodstove had nothing on Drew when it came to creating heat.

“When did you know you were carrying my child?”

“Our wedding day.” The memories came rushing back. With all the excitement of getting married, she'd barely had a moment to think about when and how she'd tell him. At the reception? Over strawberries and a single sip of champagne in the honeymoon suite? She remembered wanting to tell him before the morning sickness gave it away. “I did the test that morning.”

Drew studied her, but she didn't know what he hoped to find. There was no reason for her to lie.

“I'm ready!” Andy came running in, shoes in one hand, ball cap in the other. “Can we show Drew the gator slide? Do you think the turtles will be out?”

Drew stepped back, his scowl vanishing as he knelt down to look Andy in the eye. “Have you seen any of the swamp by boat yet?”

“Uh-uh.” Her son's eyes lit with excitement. “Mom said she'd teach me the boat later. Are you gonna take me out?”

Drew nodded. “If your mom says yes, I'll take you both out.”

She had to fight the tears that threatened. How many times had she wished for this very thing? For Drew to see his amazing son, to be a part of Andy's life. Then she remembered what had brought him to their hiding place, what had dragged him away from his new life in Detroit. “Drew and I have a few things to talk about. Then we'll see if the boat is still an option.” He'd been home for more than a year and hadn't so much as called to check on her. She wasn't about to hop in his boat and pretend nothing had gone wrong.

Andy's happy expression bottomed out. “You really mean it's not an option.”

“No. I mean there's more to consider than a simple yes or no. Drew might have other things to do.”

“Uh-huh.” Deflated, Andy plopped down to put on his shoes. “Can we at least go see the gator slide?”

“Yes,” she said with more enthusiasm than she felt. She turned to Drew. “Do you want to clean up first?”

“I think a gator slide takes priority.”

She appreciated his understanding of Andy's impatience. “Let's head out, then.”

Andy led the way down the steps and pointed out everything he'd learned about the swamp. It seemed as though every sentence began with “Nico said” or “Mom told me.” Thankfully, Drew seemed content to listen, giving Andy his full attention and giving her space to come to terms with this latest upheaval.

Walking through the quiet swamp beside Drew, the first and only man she'd loved with her whole self, was a miracle in itself. But how could she make him understand and bridge the gap between them, not knowing where his side began? And how would she ever explain to her son that his father had fallen back into their lives like an angel from heaven?

Andy gave a cheer when she agreed to let him climb a tree. Drew gave him a boost, then stepped back to watch.

“I'm not leaving you out here alone,” he said for her ears only, his tone firm. “Everett won't stop searching. You're a liability to him.”

“I took precautions.”

“While that's great, it doesn't change anything. You need to trust me to bring you in safely.”

If only it were that easy. “Stay and play bodyguard if you have to. I understand why you feel you should, especially now, but I'm not going anywhere close to a government agency while Everett's loose.”

“Then I hope Nico brought you enough supplies for three.”

In all her fantasies of a real family vacation, Mama Leonie's swamp shack had never entered the equation. This was outrageous, yet, as she watched Drew advise Andy, as he encouraged their son, something about it felt absolutely right. It scared her nearly as much as it pleased her.

She reminded herself to stay firm. She couldn't allow the echo of her past feelings for Drew to color the tough decisions now. Thanks to time and circumstances, they were different people now. Even if she trusted that what she felt in this moment was real, she couldn't give in to emotions he might never return.

Chapter Seven

“What's a perm-a-meter?” Andy asked as Drew's footsteps faded down the steps and away from the shack.

Addison stirred the pot of gumbo simmering on the top of the stove. They'd eat as soon as Drew returned. “Perimeter.” She waited while Andy practiced the word, praising him when he said it correctly. “A perimeter is an outline of an object or area. If you drew a line around the table, that would be the table's perimeter.”

“Huh.”

She nodded, smiling to herself. The whole day had been one question after another as Andy absorbed everything Drew said and did.

There were definite similarities, beyond the eyes and the fascination with comic books. Both Drew and Andy enjoyed exploring. From climbing the tree to watching fish ripple under the water of the swamp to spotting the various birds, they couldn't seem to get enough of their surroundings. Or each other.

“Why does Drew have to check it?”

So far, she'd only told him Drew was a friend, but she knew that wasn't going to satisfy her curious son for long. Or Drew. She dreaded bedtime when she couldn't use Andy as an excuse to avoid the hard conversation Drew was determined to have.

Why couldn't it be enough for him to know Andy was his? She didn't want to share her son. Anyone could look at Andy and know she'd been doing quite well as a single mom. Swiping the back of her hand across her forehead, she hated how childish that sounded.

Her emotions were twisted in agonizing clumps and she had no idea how to loosen them. There had to be a way through this mess so things could become smooth and familiar again. She took a deep breath. They were adults. Two reasonable people stuck in awkward circumstances. No one's fault, though a small, petty part of her wanted to blame him. If not him, then definitely the army, but that was a useless exercise that would only make her bitter.

Even as her wedding day fell apart, she'd understood why Drew had accepted the unexpected assignment. It made her feel like a horrible person to stand here wishing he'd stayed in Detroit. Not forgotten, but definitely part of her past.

Until this debacle with Craig, she'd done pretty damn well. As a mom and as a corporate attorney. She didn't need Drew and his sense of duty and honor throwing another wrench in her life plan.

“Will Drew stay with us for the whole summer adventure?”

Addison feared that was exactly what would happen. “He'll be with us for a while. I'm not sure how long.” It would be impossible to outrun him, but she hadn't yet given up on finding a way to make him leave.

“I like Drew.”

“I'm glad. He's a good person,” she added. It made her ache to hear how much her son wanted a father. She'd done her best to instill a sense of his father in Andy, to let him know his dad loved him, but she was discovering a memory—even a heroic one—was a poor substitute for the real thing.

“He watches you.”

Addison's pulse skipped. “What do you mean?”

“When you aren't looking he stares at you.”

“Well.” She didn't know what to say. “He keeps an eye on you, too. As our friend, he wants to be sure neither of us gets hurt.”

“By alligators.”

She nodded, laughed a little. “That's right.” But she needed to prepare him for the worst-case scenario.

“I'm too big to be alligator food.” Andy puffed out his chest. “Drew said so.”

How had she missed that conversation? Addison ruffled Andy's hair, seeing the baby he'd been despite how much he'd already grown up. She knew she'd never recover if anything happened to him. She braced for an irritable reaction. “While I agree with Drew, that's no reason to forget safety.”

“Safety's why I won't be alligator food.”

“Oh, that is good news.”

“Can we eat?”

“Just as soon as Drew gets back.” She checked her watch, thinking of the twenty-minute time limit. The bag was by the door, a black-duffel reminder that trouble could fall on their heads at any minute.

“We didn't wait for Craig to eat with us.”

“Sure we did.” At restaurants.

“Did not.”

She aimed a raised eyebrow at Andy. “I know you're hungry, but—”

“Hungry isn't a reason to be rude,” he finished, plopping his head on his hands. “I worked up an appetite.”

That conversation she remembered. “We had quite an adventure today. What was your favorite part?”

“Climbing the tree. Next time I'll go higher.”

Not if she had anything to say about it. “What did you see?”

“More trees, just like Drew said I would. But you and him looked really small from up there.”

She smiled, giving the gumbo another stir. “I guess that's fair. You look pretty small from over here,” she teased.

“Hey!” Andy said when the joke sank in. “I'm getting bigger every day. I'm almost eight.”

“All right, big guy, get down three plates and set the table.”

It all seemed so normal to set a table for the three of them. She checked her watch, hoping they wouldn't have to run before they had dinner. Her pulse rushed for a split second at the first sound of boots on the steps.

“It's me,” Drew called before the second footfall.

Andy raced to the door and held it open. “Hurry up. I'm hungry.”

“Andy,” she scolded.

“It's true.”

“You held dinner?” Drew walked in and gave the table a long look.

She nodded, tried to smile.

“Let me wash up.”

She stepped back from the sink. The small shack had felt roomy enough when it was just her and Andy. With Drew, it felt cramped and she was too aware of him. Maybe they should eat out on the porch. It would be cooler than in here with the woodstove, but before she could suggest it, Drew and Andy were settled at the table.

“How's the perimeter?” Andy asked, taking his time with the new word.

Drew glanced up at her as she served the gumbo.

“A learning opportunity,” she said.

“The perimeter is fine,” Drew replied. “This smells great.”

Addison didn't miss the immediate change of topic.

“Craig doesn't like gumbo, but you have to eat what you're served,” Andy said.

“His loss,” Drew said. “Your mom's gumbo is one of my favorite things.”

“Really?” Andy's eyes went wide.

Drew nodded, filling his mouth with a big spoonful. When he'd swallowed, he set his spoon down and applauded. “Just like I remember. How'd you manage this out here?”

“Nico was determined to give his mother all the amenities, even if they're decades out of date and rough around the edges.”

“She didn't have a summer house, did she?”

Addison peered at Drew, tamping down the swell of doubt. If he thought they were in immediate danger, they'd be on the move with that black duffel bag by the door.

“This is her summer place.”

Drew's gaze roamed across the room, as if he were taking a visual inventory. “Should I save room for dessert?”

“We have some ice cream in the freezer outside.”

“We do?” Andy stared at her. “You said we ate it all.”

“I said we finished the chocolate. Nico brought more and I wanted to surprise you.”

“Sneaky,” Andy said with plenty of admiration.

It was the highest form of praise from her son these days. “Can we eat it outside?”

“We'll see,” Drew replied.

Addison let it go. Though she felt he'd overstepped, she wasn't going to say anything with Andy watching them so closely.

“What does that mean?”

Drew paused, a bite of gumbo halfway to his mouth. “I meant it would depend on how things go.”

“Huh. Okay. With most moms it means no.”

“Are you an expert on moms?”

“Pretty much. Me and my friends talk.”

Drew's eyebrows arched as he struggled to keep a straight face.

“When my mom says it, it means she wants time to think so she won't have to change her mind later.”

Drew's brown gaze locked with hers. “Good to know.”

Addison managed to eat most of her portion of the gumbo while her son and his real father chattered about guy stuff. The reality slammed home, leaving her reeling. Given a choice, she would have all her nights just like this: a family dinner, aimless chatter, happy faces.

“Are you full? Mom?”

“Hmm?”

“You stopped eating,” Drew said gently.

“Oh. I'm fine, thanks.” She pushed her chair back from the table. “Who wants dessert?”

“I think I'd like to wait. Who's up for a boat ride?” Drew suggested.

“Tonight?”

“It could be fun.”

She shook her head. “It's too close to dark.”

Drew made a show of looking out the grimy front window. His big frame, so close, tempted her to touch. Years ago, it would've been her pleasure—and his—to reach out and kiss him, to take his hand, to share an embrace. Not now. She crossed back to the table, telling herself it was more safety precaution than retreat.

“We could do s'mores.”

“In the boat?” Andy bounced on his seat.

“Not in the boat. Fire and boats aren't a good combination. But maybe we could find a spot and build a fire.”

Now she knew he was up to something, or more accurately, she assumed he'd found something on the perimeter check. “Andy, go brush your teeth and get your things together.”

“I'll brush after s'mores. Before bed...” His voice trailed off at her stern look. “Yes, ma'am.”

Addison snatched the dishes off the table and carried them to the sink. “What did you find?”

“Trouble,” he said. “Could be locals, or not.”

“Then they followed
you
,” she snapped. “Lead them away and we'll be fine.” It was a lousy argument and they both knew it, but she wasn't going to just follow anyone blindly anymore. Not even Drew.

“You promised to let me do my bodyguard thing.”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes as she took out her frustration and scrubbed the dishes. “You're sure we have to move?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Where?”

“I'll find us something.”

“Uh-huh. Put out the fire in the stove and let me call Nico.”

“That's not smart.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Not smart is wandering through the swamp at night without a destination. I'm making the call and we'll leave as soon as we clean up everything here.”

“Addi, we need to go now.”

“If there was time to eat, there's time to put this place to rights.”

Together they had things almost done when Andy came out of the bedroom. “The toothpaste will ruin the s'mores,” he complained, sticking out his tongue.

With a sigh, she stepped outside to radio Nico for suggestions on where they could go for the night.

* * *

D
REW
LOOKED
AT
his son, feeling a little less awkward with each conversation, but it was still strange knowing he'd missed everything up to this point.

“That toothpaste taste will fade by the time we find the perfect place to build a campfire,” Drew said.

“How do you know what's the perfect place?”

“I'll tell you on the way.”

“Why do we have to leave? I like it here.”

“Me, too.” Drew made a show of looking around. “It's pretty cool.”

“It's a swamp fort. On stilts,” Andy said.

“Should we make a bet on whether our next stop is on stilts, too?”

Andy frowned thoughtfully. “You can't put a campfire on stilts.”

“Why not?”

“It wouldn't be camping.”

“Ah.” Drew dragged out the sound. “Good point,” he noted. “What would it be?”

“Silly. If the campfire's on stilts, you can't reach it to roast marshmallows for s'mores.”

Drew laughed. “You sure know a lot of stuff.”

“Yes, I do.”

Drew heard the porch creaking as Addi approached. “Did you get all your things out of the bedroom?” she asked her son.

“Most of it,” Andy replied.

“Well, let's take it all, just in case.”

“In case of what?”

“In case someone else needs to have an adventure here. It's not very big. They'll need room for their stuff.”

“Okay,” he grumbled.

They might as well take it all, Drew thought. Since she didn't seem to be in any hurry to cooperate with his advice. He gathered up the few items Addison had unpacked and put them in the small suitcase while Andy picked up the last of his possessions and stowed them in his backpack.

“Hey, what's that?” Drew asked, catching a glimpse of a familiar color scheme.

“My new Captain America comic book.” Andy held it out. “Wanna see it?”

“Sure.”

Drew sat on the bed, the mattress sagging, so Andy could watch him flip through the pages. “This is the new one.”

“Uh-huh. I saved my allowance and Mom took me to get it. We read it every night.”

“Is Captain America your favorite?”

Andy nodded. “Unless I'm mad.”

“What do you read when you're mad?”

“Incredible Hulk!” He hopped off the bed and made a growling sound as he imitated the famous green monster pose. “Hulk, smash!”

“Wow. Remind me not to make you mad. You're scary.”

Andy burst into a fit of giggles.

“Let's roll out,” Drew suggested.

“Hey, that's from
Transformers
,” Andy said.

“Sure is.” Drew wanted to scoop up Andy and tell him the truth, but Addi insisted on waiting. It was all he could do to hold in the news until she was ready.

They returned to the kitchen, and Addison's pale face worried him. “Did Nico have any ideas?”