Return of the Prodigal Son

  “Yeah. I know the feeling.”

  The front door slammed and Andi Brady cupped her hands to her mouth to shout, “Cory!”

  She was startled to see him standing with Donovan. “Oh, thank goodness. I was worried.”

  The boy’s tone hardened. “I told you not to worry about me.”

  “I try. But I just can’t help myself.” She smiled as she walked closer. “If I’d known you were with Mr. Lassiter, it would have put my mind at ease.”

  “Don’t you remember? He said we could call him Donovan.”

  “Sorry. I forgot.” She glanced at Donovan. “We were just going to eat. Will you join us?”

  As he began to shake his head in refusal, she added quickly, “Nothing fancy. Just hot dogs on the grill in the backyard. We’re eating on the picnic table, because we haven’t unpacked the kitchen boxes yet.”

  Cory’s mouth turned down in a frown. “I said I’d do it tomorrow.”

  Andi touched a hand to his arm. Just a touch, but he jerked away as though burned.

  She sighed. “I’m not trying to lay blame, Cory. I know you said you’d do it tomorrow. For now the outdoor grill is just fine.”

  She turned to Donovan, struggling to keep her smile in place, though it was an effort. “Want to join us?”

  He tried to remember if he’d eaten all day. The only thing he could recall was an apple. And that had been hours ago. But more important than the offer of food was the fact that Andi Brady was wearing a pair of shorts that displayed her long, long legs, and a shirt tied at the midriff. He’d have paid an admission fee just to sit and stare. “Okay. As long as you’re sure it’s no trouble.”

  Cory brightened. “We’ve got plenty of hot dogs. We bought a whole package in that little store in town when we drove up here last night.”

  Andi nodded her agreement. “You two go around back and I’ll be right out. I have some potato salad in the fridge.”

  Cory led the way up the driveway and around to the back of the house. Andi had covered the old wooden picnic table with a colorful red-and-white cloth, and had cleverly set the paper plates and napkins in a clear plastic case with flatware on top to keep them from blowing away. She’d filled a crock with ice and cans of soda.

  “You want a soda?” Cory popped the top from a can and took a long drink.

  “Thanks.” Donovan did the same before looking around. Though the Brady family had only been here a day, it already looked different. When he’d had a tour of the house before buying the property, it had looked tired and a bit worn. Now, with curtains at the windows, and the back porch as clean as the front, the house seemed to have a festive air. Especially with the wonderful aroma coming from the grill. It had Donovan’s mouth watering.

  “Here we are.” Andi stepped out on the porch carrying a round serving bowl.

  “I’ll take that.” Donovan was across the lawn in quick strides.

  By the time she set foot on the bottom step, he was reaching out to take the bowl from her hands. As he did, Andi felt the quick flash of heat when their fingers brushed.

  Knowing her cheeks were burning, she turned away, muttering, “I’ll get the mustard and ketchup.”

  “I have them, Mom.”

  Andi nearly ran over little Taylor in her haste to escape.

  “Thanks, honey.” She took them from her daughter’s hands and carried them to the table, grateful for the few moments to settle her nerves. “Well. Looks like we have everything we need.” She tucked a stray curl behind her ear and busied herself at the grill.

  Minutes later she passed around a plate of hot dogs in buns. “Help yourselves to the potato salad.”

  Seeing Taylor struggle to open her soda can, Donovan held out his hand. “I’ll do that.”

  The little girl lowered her gaze until she seemed to be watching him through her lashes. It was something her mother did, too, and he found it oddly endearing.

  “Here you go.” He popped the top and handed it back.

  “What do you say to Donovan, Taylor?” Andi stood with her hands on her hips.

  “Thank you, Donovan.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Daddy always did that for me.”

  Out of the corner of his eye Donovan saw Cory’s quick frown. “Yeah. Dads are good at that. And for lifting heavy things.”

  “He used to lift me onto his shoulders at Cory’s soccer games so I could see over the crowd.”

  Donovan gave her a smile before turning to Cory. “You play soccer?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “You decided you didn’t like it?”

  “Yeah.” The boy busied himself drowning his hot dog in ketchup and relish.

  Though he didn’t elaborate, Donovan thought there might be more to it than just giving up on the sport. Recalling what Champ had said about his nephew, he found himself wondering if some of the team members had given the boy a hard time about his father. It could be the reason for the silent treatment.

  He absently took a taste of potato salad and looked up in surprise. “This is good.”

  Andi’s cheeks turned almost as red as her daughter’s. “Thanks. It’s one of those things I love making in the summer.”

  “And one of the things I love eating.” He helped himself to more.

  Andi touched a napkin to the dab of mustard on her daughter’s chin. “Are there any places of interest I might want to show the children while we’re here?”

  “Depends.” He picked up his soda. Drank. “If you’re looking for history, there’s plenty around. You can tour the battlefields, either alone or with a group. Plenty of historic homes, as well. Personally, I tend to ignore the tourist things and concentrate on simpler things.”

  No surprise there, Andi thought. This wasn’t a man who would mix with a busload of tourists, unless there was a compelling reason.

  Aloud she merely said, “Like what?”

  He shrugged. “These woods are full of surprises. Deer. Raccoons.” He winked at Taylor. “Woodchucks and woodpeckers.”

  Despite her shyness, the little girl giggled behind her hand.

  Andi looked unconvinced. “Couldn’t we get lost?”

  He grinned. “It’s a possibility. But before you start out, you fix a few landmarks in your mind. My place, up on the hill, would be a good one. Or a particular rock formation or tall tree. Then you note where it is in location to where you’re headed.” He glanced across the table. “I think Cory could probably be trusted to take a few treks into the woods without getting himself lost.”

  The boy shot him a grateful look.

  “I don’t know.” Andi rubbed at a spot on her temple, where the beginning of a headache was making itself felt. This move to a strange place, and the stress of unpacking, had added to her tension. “I don’t think I’m ready to let Cory go off by himself in a place he’s never been before.”

  “There you go again.” The boy exploded with anger, pushing aside his plate as he leaped to his feet. “Why can’t you trust me with anything?”

  “I do trust you, Cory.” Andi’s own meal was forgotten. “It’s just that I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t make it home. We have no family here. No friends to turn to.”

  “I’d rather be someplace where nobody knows us than to be surrounded by friends who call us names.” He started toward the back porch.

  Andi got to her feet. “You didn’t eat a thing, Cory.”

  “I’m not hungry.” The boy stomped up the steps and let the back door slam behind him.

  In the silence that followed Andi turned to Donovan, her cheeks flaming. “He wasn’t always like that. It’s just since—”

  She looked defeated, and Donovan realized she was struggling to hold herself together. Little Taylor studied her mother with a mixture of sadness and fear.

  To distract the little girl, Donovan pointed to a spot at their feet, where a colony of ants was attacking some crumbs that had fallen from her plate. “Will you look at that.”

>   When Donovan knelt down, the little girl squatted beside him.

  He pointed. “Those are the worker ants. It’s their job to haul those giant crumbs down long tunnels to their warehouse.”

  “They have a warehouse?” She looked up at him with those big eyes that could melt glaciers.

  “That’s right. And lots of different places for all of them to eat and sleep. Every one of them has a job to do. Some are probably already breaking down those crumbs into food for everyone.”

  “The way Mama does for me?”

  He nodded. “And some are still hauling the heaviest of the loads.”

  “I bet those are the daddies.”

  He smiled his agreement. “And then there are some down there unpacking from their last home.”

  He could see Taylor trying to decide if he was serious or having fun with her. When she glanced up at her mother and saw that the smile had returned to her eye, she dimpled. “You’re teasing, aren’t you, Donovan?”

  He winked. “I can see that you’re a very smart little lady.”

  “I’m not a lady. I’m a little girl.”

  “Well then, I guess I’ll have to call you a lady in training. How’s that?”

  Taylor thought about it a moment, then giggled. “Mama, am I a lady in training?”

  “Yes, you are.” Andi was surprised at how quickly her headache had faded.

  Just watching her daughter relax in Donovan’s company had made all the difference. For these few moments Taylor had forgotten her extreme shyness around strangers. For that Andi was grateful.

  Now if only someone would work a miracle on her son, as well.

  Donovan pointed to the table. “Taylor, why don’t you gather up the paper plates, and I’ll carry in the rest.”

  Andi was on her feet at once. “There’s no need. I can take care of this.”

  Donovan touched a hand to her shoulder. “You did the cooking and the setting up. Sit here and enjoy the sunset. Taylor and I will have this cleaned up in no time.”

  Andi sank back down on the wooden bench and watched as Donovan charmed her little girl. Within minutes he and Taylor disappeared inside. When they returned, Taylor was giggling.

  Andi’s head came up. “What’s so funny?”

  “Donovan said you won’t have to wash the potato salad bowl, Mama.”

  “You mean he already cleaned it?”

  “Uh-huh.” Taylor giggled harder. “He licked it clean.”

  Donovan gave her a look of mock anger. “You promised not to tell.”

  “I couldn’t help it.” She put a hand to her mouth to stifle more giggles.

  “I guess I’ll know what to make if you ever agree to come to dinner again.” Andi got to her feet and drew her daughter back against her, wrapping her arms around her as she did.

  “I’m a sucker for potato salad. And that was the best I’ve ever eaten.” Donovan looked into two pairs of honey-colored eyes, and felt a strange stirring. “Thanks for having me to dinner.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope you’ll come back again.” Andi nudged her daughter. “Don’t you want to say goodbye to Donovan?”

  “‘Bye,” Taylor called.

  “Good night, ladies. Or should I say lady and lady in training?”

  As he walked away, Donovan heard the trilling of laughter carried on the soft summer breeze.

  It was, he realized, one of the most pleasant sounds he’d heard in these woods since he’d moved in. In fact, this entire evening had been surprisingly pleasant. With nothing more than a hot dog on the grill and a can of soda, he’d had a grand time, thanks to the Brady family.

  They were an interesting mix. Cory was hurting. No doubt about it. That defiance was all a cover for the pain.

  Donovan cringed. He ought to know. He’d spent a lifetime masking his pain the same way.

  As for Taylor, she may be painfully shy, but once she warmed to strangers, she was just fine.

  So was her mother. It was obvious that Andi was feeling the strain of coping with life alone. She’d looked so sad and lost when Cory lashed out at her, Donovan had wanted, more than anything, to wrap his arms around her and tell her that it would be all right.

  Not a good idea, he realized. He was going to be investigating her husband’s business practices and poking into dark places that could cause this family even more pain. The last thing he needed to do was to get personally involved.

  Still, when he’d briefly touched her while taking that bowl from her hands, he’d felt a sizzle through his entire nervous system.

  He chuckled in the darkness. He’d definitely been away from civilization too long. Put one pretty female in front of him and his hormones went into overdrive.

  What he needed, to get Andi Brady out of his mind, was a long bout at the computer, delving into the workings of the mind of the international criminal.

  Chapter 4

  Donovan stared at the computer screen and absently picked up the cup beside his keyboard. He was surprised that the coffee was cold. Hadn’t he just poured it a few minutes ago? Or had it been more than an hour ago?

  He glanced at the window, amazed to see that it was already daylight. How was it possible that the night had slipped away so soon? Apparently, he’d been more absorbed in his work than he’d realized.

  Before he could return his attention to the monitor, he caught sight of a blur of movement near the edge of the woods.

  Standing, he pressed a hand to the back of his neck as he strolled to the window for a better look. He recognized Cory, sporting a denim jacket and a backpack, just stepping into a stand of evergreens. The sight of the boy had Donovan smiling. It looked as though Cory had managed to persuade his mother to give him some space after all.

  Stretching, Donovan made his way to the bathroom. A long hot shower was just the ticket to ease his cramped muscles. He shaved, then stripped and stepped under the warm spray. A short time later he stood over a box of clothes, debating whether to dress for the day or try a few hours of sleep. He decided the day was simply too inviting to be wasted in sleep. He pulled on clean denims and a light-blue T-shirt and reminded himself that he would soon have to consider doing a load of laundry. But not today.

  He walked barefoot to the kitchen to see if he had any food left in the refrigerator. The last banana had turned black, and he tossed it into the garbage. That left a single apple. He polished it on his pant leg as he walked from the room.

  A knock on the door had him hurrying to open it. Andi was standing on the porch with little Taylor behind her.

  “Well. Good morning. Come in.” As Donovan stood aside, he caught the look on Andi’s face when she spotted the boxes littering the floor. “I’ve been…ah…meaning to unpack one of these days.”

  “Yes, well…” She knew she was staring, but she couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from the mess. There were boxes everywhere. Clothing tossed over every inch of furniture, and even scattered about on the floor. There were cartons of books spilling over tabletops, desktops, shelves. There were bags, boxes and canisters crammed with photographs. There were storage shelves littered with binoculars, cameras and electronic gadgets of every kind.

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Donovan, but I’m worried sick about Cory. He was gone when I woke up. He left me this.” She held out her hand. In it was a slip of folded paper.

  Donovan unfolded it and read, then glanced at her. “What’s the problem? It says he’s going for a walk.”

  “At dawn?” Her voice trembled. “He knew I’d forbid him to go. That’s why he left before I was awake. But that doesn’t excuse him. Donovan, Cory doesn’t know anything about this area. He thinks he’s all grown up, but he’s only nine. If anything happened to him…”

  “Hey, now.”

  He closed his hands over her upper arms and squeezed gently. As he had the previous night, he felt the sizzle of heat that caught him by surprise before he quickly lowered his hands to his sides. Touching Andi Brady was definitely dangerous. He’d have
to remember that in the future.

  “I saw Cory going into the woods less than an hour ago. Why don’t you let me go after him?”

  “He has an hour head start on you. He could be anywhere by now.”

  “An hour’s not a problem. A day or two might be cause for alarm, but an hour’s just a walk in the park. I’ll find him.”

  Something in the way he said it had her looking at him more closely. The things her brother had speculated about Donovan Lassiter’s secretive work came rushing back. She had visions of a man being dropped by parachute at night into a foreign country and left to survive by his wits alone. At this moment she could almost believe such things about him. “You…won’t tell him I sent you?”

  “Not even a hint. Cory isn’t the only one who feels like exploring the woods. He can’t blame me if I happen to run into him, can he?”

  Seeing that she wasn’t convinced, he touched a hand to hers. Just a touch, but the heat was there, as strong as ever. This time he was prepared for the punch. “Go home, Andi. I’ll find him.”

  She took a deep breath and caught Taylor’s hand as she headed out the door.

  As she walked down the steps Donovan called, “Andi?”

  She turned.

  “I know you feel that he’s testing your patience, and he is. But he’s also testing himself. So relax. He’ll be just fine.”

  She nodded before turning away. But the worried look on her face told him she wasn’t convinced.

  With a camera strapped around his neck, Donovan stepped into the coolness of the woods and took a moment to get his bearings. Then he started walking. Anyone who saw him would think he was admiring the new spring growth as he stopped to study the pale-green ferns, and noted beside them the footprints heading south. A short time later he paused to touch the bough of a stately pine, and removed a denim-blue thread that had been caught on the bark. When he came to a stream he followed along the banks until he reached the top of a steep drop-off. The water tumbled nearly a hundred feet to a pool far below, surrounded by more evergreens.

  Donovan spotted Cory sitting on a rock, his knees drawn up, his look pensive.