Red Zone

by Sherri Hayes

Gage and Rebecca froze.

  “Oops. Sorry.” The smug smile on Trent’s face said he wasn’t sorry in the least. “I’ll just . . .” He backed out of the room, his shoulders vibrating with mirth.

  Rebecca lowered her head and turned away, embarrassed. She tried to unlock her legs from around Gage’s waist, but he wouldn’t let her. “Are you all right?” he whispered, kissing her neck.

  “Your brother just caught us kissing.”

  Gage laughed. “Yep.”

  She looked at him. “That doesn’t bother you?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Why would it bother me that my brother caught me making out with my girlfriend? Do you know how many times I’ve walked in on my brothers in a similar situation?”

  “You’ve caught your brothers kissing girls in your parents’ house?”

  He began rubbing his hands up and down her back again. She could tell he was trying to soothe her, but it was distracting. “Not me personally, no. Chris caught Paul in his bed with Melissa once, though.”

  “Having sex?”

  “Yep. Chris said he didn’t see much, but it was enough for him to blackmail Paul into letting Chris use Paul’s car for the weekend. That and some good ribbing for a while.” He relayed the story with good humor.

  “Paul wasn’t upset?”

  “Of course he was.” Gage laughed, finally stepping back to allow her to slide off the washer. He didn’t release her waist, however, guiding her feet back to the floor. “Trent came home about half an hour later and found them wrestling in the backyard. If not for the threat of our parents coming home, it may have actually come to blows. Paul was pretty protective of Melissa. He was afraid Ma would find out and tell her parents.”

  “Didn’t they like Paul?”

  Gage shrugged. “Not so much they didn’t like him. More that Melissa and Paul were only eighteen and they didn’t want her tied down so young.”

  “Eighteen is young.”

  “Yeah, but Paul says he knew he was going to marry her, even back then.”

  Rebecca smiled. “I can’t imagine loving someone like that.”

  “Melissa was pretty special,” Gage said, sadness returning. “We all miss her.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, reaching out, feeling the need to ease his pain.

  He leaned into the hand she’d placed comfortingly on his cheek and kissed her palm. “We should get in there before they send a search party again.”

  Gage said the words but didn’t release her hand. He stepped closer until his forehead touched hers.

  “We should go,” she whispered.

  “We should.”

  They stood unmoving for several minutes before a noise in the next room caused them both to sigh and separate. With one last look into her eyes, he laced his fingers with hers and walked out to join his family.

  Chapter 19

  Rebecca was never far away from Gage for the rest of the day. His family filled the living room, taking up every available space, including the floor. After watching Gage play for the past couple of weeks, she was able to follow the game without much difficulty. She even understood a few of the calls without having to ask for an explanation.

  It was different watching a game on television than in person. One of the major differences was that she didn’t know any of the players. Getting to know Zach and Kenny, as well as running into several other members of Gage’s team over the past three weeks, made the game more personal. They weren’t just anonymous guys out there—they were Gage’s friends. To her surprise, Gage knew most of the players on both teams. She supposed that made sense. From what she and Hansen had gathered so far with the background checks, the world of professional football was much smaller than it seemed.

  As they watched the game, every so often Gage would make a comment about one of the players. Sometimes his observations were professional, sometimes personal. For the most part, however, he appeared content to lounge back on one of the overstuffed chairs with her on his lap. She’d tried to sit beside him on the couch, but he had refused to hear of it, and she hadn’t wanted to make too big a fuss in front of his family.

  If she was honest, she liked sitting with him, feeling him tense during a crucial play, or his breath speed up when the team he was rooting for was about to score. At one point, she’d twisted around to face him. “You’d rather be out there on the field playing than sitting here, wouldn’t you?”

  He’d smirked and pulled her down for a quick kiss. “You’d better believe it. Sitting here not able to do anything is torture.”

  At halftime, his mom brought in several snacks. Rebecca was still full from the huge breakfast they’d eaten, but Gage, his brothers and father all jumped at the offering. The females in the room nibbled a little at the nachos, pretzels, and chips, but none of them did more than take a few bites here and there. She was seriously beginning to wonder where Gage was putting all the food. The man had no fat on him that she could see.

  Gage was a little bummed that the team he’d been rooting for lost. He’d been friends with one of the players in college. After observing him watching the game, it was finally sinking in just how many people he knew and who knew him. Any one of the people he’d come into contact with over the years could be the person they were looking for. People held grudges for different reasons, and those reasons didn’t always make sense.

  As the second game was starting, Mary announced that dinner was ready, and everyone gathered in the formal dining room once again. Everything had already been laid out, and the table was set. All that was left was to serve the food.

  Thanksgiving dinner at the Daniels’ house was a lot like the holiday movies on television. There was a lot of talking, joking, and passing back and forth of food. Most of the conversation throughout the meal revolved around the previously watched game, and she learned that all four of the Daniels siblings had played football in high school. She shouldn’t have been surprised. They were all tall men with broad shoulders.

  The rest of the evening consisted of more football and the pies Paul and Chloe, with the help of Megan, had made that morning. Mary had waited to put the pies in the oven until right when they’d sat down for dinner, so by the time everyone had finished and cleaned up, the pies were finished cooking. Thirty minutes later, they were all back in the living room, watching the second half of what turned out to be a close game and eating warm pie. Rebecca couldn’t remember ever having a better Thanksgiving.

  When it was time to retire to bed, she was more than willing to climb under the covers with Gage. He opened his arms to her and pulled her close, this time facing him. His expression was serious. She was just about to ask him what was wrong, when he kissed her. It was one of those kisses she could feel down to her toes. She clung to him, eagerly kissing him back.

  He groaned as he pulled away, falling back onto the pillow behind him. His eyes were closed and one arm was thrown haphazardly across his face.

  Rebecca wasn’t sure of his reaction. A moment ago, he was kissing her with such gusto that she was still breathing heavily. She watched the rapid movement of his chest and was drawn by some unknown force to touch him. She reached out, but he caught her hand in midair. “Don’t.”

  She snatched her hand back. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  Before she knew what was happening, she was flat on her back with him hovering over her. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?” she asked, eyes wide. Rebecca had no idea to what he was referring.

  He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. Unfortunately, when he reopened his eyes, he caught her ogling his naked chest again. “That!” When she still looked confused, he lowered himself on top of her, his face buried in her hair. “Like you’d let me have my way with you this very second.” He pushed himself up, resting his head on his hand. “I want you, Rebecca. You have no idea how much I want you. “

  “I know.”

  “You know.” He laughed.

  He reached up and
cupped her face with his free hand, massaging her jaw. Warmth spread from where he touched, and she leaned into it, closing her eyes. Her whole body was aware of him, not just where they were connected.

  His hand snaked down her neck to her collarbone, causing her heart to once again pick up its pace. Then his weight was gone. She opened her eyes, searching for him.

  He hadn’t gone far. Gage was lying on his side beside her. Seconds later, he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her into position, spooning her. Relief rushed through her. For a moment there, she’d thought she’d done something wrong. She closed her eyes once again, sighing. She was beginning to think being in his arms was one of the best places in the world.

  Friday morning was pleasant. More than pleasant, in Gage’s view of things. He’d woken up with Rebecca’s arms and legs wrapped around him, and he couldn’t resist waking her. They hadn’t done much beyond kissing, but he had to admit it was a great way to start the day, even if it only added to his mounting frustration.

  After breakfast, his mom surprised them all by announcing that since she wasn’t the lone woman in the house, they were going shopping. Elizabeth and Megan were excited with the news and had promptly run to get changed. Chloe, when learning she wasn’t going with the women, threw a mini tantrum. He’d felt bad Paul had to deal with the fallout, but he handled it well. Gage was continually amazed by his older brother.

  Rebecca, as expected, wasn’t thrilled with his mother’s proclamation. She’d remained in her chair long after Elizabeth and Megan had disappeared to get ready. When he realized she wasn’t planning to move anytime soon, he got her attention and motioned for her to follow him up to their room.

  “I think you should go,” he said once the door was firmly closed behind them.

  She shook her head. “I can’t do my job if I’m off shopping with your mom and future sister-in-law.”

  He stepped toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “What if I promise to stay inside the house or with one of my brothers at all times? Paul is a cop, you know.” He smiled.

  “It’s my job,” she said.

  His lips brushed against hers gently. “Your job is to be my girlfriend.”

  She sighed. “You’re evil, you know that?”

  He chuckled. “Why is that?”

  She altered her position, rubbing up against him. His body took notice, and he tightened his grip on her waist.

  “Because you don’t play fair,” she whispered before covering his mouth with hers and plunging her tongue in between his parted lips. He groaned at the intrusion, greedily accepting what she was giving. It was the first time she’d ever initiated anything with him, and he was ready to enjoy every moment of it.

  Unfortunately, a knock on the door pulled him out of his lust-filled haze. He mumbled a curse at the interruption.

  “We leave in ten minutes,” his mother yelled.

  “Okay,” Rebecca replied. Even that one word seemed to require effort on her part. She was breathing rapidly, her body still plastered to his, her hands tangled in his hair.

  He rested his forehead against hers. “You need to go.”

  She nodded.

  “I promise I’ll keep myself safe while you’re gone.”

  She nodded again, her breathing slowly returning to normal.

  He felt his gut tighten and knew he needed to leave if she had any hope of getting out of their room anytime soon. Reluctantly releasing her from his hold, he backed away and walked to the door, his gaze never leaving hers.

  “Just so you know,” he said. “This isn’t done. The minute we’re home . . .” Even though he didn’t finish, he saw her eyes dilate, her hands clench. It seemed for once they were both on the same page.

  Rebecca was quiet on Friday evening after spending the day with his mom. She’d come back with a few shopping bags of her own, which surprised him. He was curious, but he didn’t ask. All he knew was that she’d taken them directly into the room and put them into her bag. It was strange, to say the least.

  On Saturday afternoon, Chris suggested a game of football in the backyard. Everyone played, even his mom. They’d stayed outside until the sun went down and the temperature dropped.

  By Sunday morning he was more than ready to go home. He’d loved the time with his family, but whatever this was with Rebecca, he needed to figure it out, and that wasn’t something he could do with his parents and brothers so close. Rebecca’s sister knew the score, so that was different.

  As he was bringing their things downstairs, conversation in the kitchen drew him in that direction. His mom, dad, and Paul were all sitting at the table with serious faces. “What’s happened?”

  They all looked up.

  “It’s nothing,” Paul said.

  Rebecca, Megan, Elizabeth, and Chloe chose that moment to enter the kitchen. They’d all come from the basement and were laughing boisterously. When they noticed the grim expressions of those already in the kitchen, they sobered.

  “Something wrong?” Elizabeth asked.

  Paul glanced at his daughter but didn’t say anything.

  “Chloe?” His mom spoke up, getting his niece’s attention. She quickly ran to her grandmother’s side. “Can you do me a favor and run upstairs? I left a bag of goodies on the dresser in my bedroom for you and forgot to bring it down. Do you think you can be a big girl and go get it?”

  Chloe didn’t give a verbal answer but took off down the hall and up the stairs.

  Once she was out of earshot, Gage leveled a pointed gaze at his brother. “Now, what’s going on?”

  Paul ran a hand over his head before looking at everyone’s expectant faces. “Chloe’s grandparents—Melissa’s parents—are moving up to Fort Wayne.” He sighed. “I knew it was coming. I just didn’t think it would happen this quickly. I thought Chloe would at least be in school before they left.”

  “So what does that mean exactly?”

  “It means I have one week to find someone I trust to watch Chloe when I work. Cindy and George lived right down the street, so I could call them no matter what time of the day or night it was. My work schedule isn’t exactly normal.”

  “Did they just call you this morning?”

  He shook his head. “No. Cindy told me when I picked Chloe up Wednesday afternoon.”

  “And you’re just telling us now?” Gage couldn’t believe his brother would withhold information like this.

  “I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s weekend.”

  “So you need . . . what?” Megan asked. “A babysitter?”

  “What I need is for Cindy and George to stay put for at least another year. Barring that . . . ideally, a live-in nanny? I don’t know. I have no idea how I’d swing it, though. I just can’t see a babysitter wanting to get woken up at three in the morning when I get called out to a crime scene to come stay with Chloe.”

  “I can do it.”

  Everyone turned to look at Megan.

  “What?” she asked. “I’m available. Chloe and I get along. I think it’s perfect,” she added cheerfully.

  No one said anything until the sound of little feet on the stairs forced everyone to glance at the doorway.

  “I’ll go see if Chloe wants to watch some cartoons before you go,” Elizabeth said, ducking out of the room.

  They all waited until they heard the television turn on and the sound of tiny cartoon voices.

  “You’d really be willing to pack up and move to Indianapolis?”

  “Sure. Why not? I need a change of scenery anyway, and it will give you time to find the right person without having to worry.”

  Gage glanced over at Rebecca. He wanted to see how she was processing this new development. To his surprise, she wasn’t looking at Megan. Her focus was on Paul. His brother, however, wasn’t paying attention to her scrutiny.

  At first, Gage didn’t understand Rebecca’s expression. Then he thought about what he knew of Megan. By her own admission, she always fell for the wrong guys. Was Rebecca wor
ried something would happen between her sister and his brother?

  He looked from Paul to Megan, but he didn’t see it. Sure, Megan was pretty. Paul, however, hadn’t looked twice at a woman since his wife died. At least, as far as he knew. Either way, Gage doubted Rebecca needed to worry.

  Paul’s chair scraped against the tile floor as he stood and walked over to where Megan was standing near the door. He looked down at her, his face not betraying any emotion.

  Megan squarely met his gaze.

  He reached out, offering his hand. She glanced down.

  “Okay,” Paul said.

  Megan smiled.

  “Okay,” she said, taking his hand.

  Chapter 20

  “Have you lost your mind?” Rebecca asked her sister the minute she managed to get her alone.

  “No.”

  “Are you sure? Because from where I’m standing, it sure looks like you have.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Megan said, removing her arm from her sister’s grasp.

  Rebecca threw up her hands, frustrated. “You just agreed to move in with a man you’ve known for all of three days.”

  “Three and a half.”

  Rebecca rolled her eyes.

  “Look,” Megan said. “I don’t know what the big deal is. It’s not like I’m moving in with him exactly. I mean, I am, but I’m going to be taking take of his daughter. It’s not the same.”

  “You don’t know him.”

  “And neither do you.” Megan stood defiant, hands on her hips.

  Before either sister could say anything more, Chloe ran into the room looking for Megan, effectively putting an end to their conversation.

  To Rebecca’s dismay, Megan jumped into her new arrangement with both feet as she always did everything. She and Paul sat down at the kitchen table, Paul no longer looking miserable but optimistic, and discussed the details of Megan being Chloe’s nanny. It sounded straightforward, but Rebecca still didn’t like it. Her sister was vulnerable at the moment, and Rebecca didn’t know enough about Paul to feel comfortable leaving Megan in his care.