Sworn to Protect (14 page)

“You owe me twenty bucks.”

“Twenty more says they make up.”

“You’re on!”

Fuckers. Every one of them. She heard Shane call out again for her to hold up, but she kept going. Where, she didn’t know or care. Maybe she’d swing by the high school, check on a few of her juvies. Look in on Drew while she was at it, make sure he was in attendance and behaving himself.

She cared about that boy, even if she was never destined to be with his guardian. That thought hurt badly, but she wouldn’t try to change any man. He had to want to be with her, and he must be faithful. That was a deal breaker. She didn’t deserve less than what her own parents had—a solid marriage of almost thirty years.

Trust. Dedication. Love.

Daisy Callahan didn’t cling to any man. She refused to be
that
girl.

And she refused to shed another tear over that man. Really.

•   •   •

Shane stared after Daisy, mouth open.

“You’re gonna let the flies in,” Chris said. “You look shocked, though I can’t imagine why. Man, you really know how to screw things up with her, don’t you?”

“What did I do?” He was completely baffled. “She’s acting like she’s jealous of Leslie.”

“You think?” Taylor snorted. “You banged Leslie, man.”

“Two years ago!”

“That don’t matter to women. Especially when they’ve got their claws out and their sights on the same guy.”

“But Leslie’s not interested in me,” he insisted. “She just asked me to be on the committee for the police department ball this spring, and I told her I wasn’t sure I wanted to put in the time.”

Chris smirked. “Let me guess. She offered to give you the deets over lunch.”

“Well, yeah. Except she suggested dinner first, but I said lunch because that felt too much like a date.” He frowned. “Why is that a big deal?”

Both of his friends laughed, and his cousin smacked Shane in the side of the head. “Because, you big dumb-ass, she doesn’t give a rat’s hairy ass if you join the committee! She’s trying to get into your jock again!”

“No way.”

“He’s hopeless,” Taylor said.

Chris finally looked sympathetic. “Cuz, it’s a female thing. They toss out a line and use ordinary excuses, like meeting about the policeman’s ball, to reel you in. The fact that you were either stupid enough to fall for it or insensitive enough not to care told Daisy that she can’t trust you.”

“What? That’s crazy,” he protested. “I’ve never cheated on a woman in my life! I can’t help the mean little games they play with each other.”

“Sure you can, by being aware and not falling for them.”

He thought about that. Dammit, the guys were right. Leslie had been after him for a while now, wanting another round. And he’d handed her the ammunition to piss Daisy right the hell off. “Shit. What should I do?”

Chris propped his feet up. “Cancel this lunch with Leslie and tell her to find someone else for the committee, pronto. Then go to Daisy and beg. If you really want her, that is.”

With a sigh, he went back to his office and buried his face in his hands. He’d laugh if it wasn’t so damned sad. When he’d opened up to Daisy on Saturday night, he’d thought she had understood him. He’d never told a woman some of the painful things he’d shared with her about his family and their losses. How he felt. Wasn’t that what women wanted? Truth and sharing from their lover?

He’d done that and she still didn’t trust him. Disappointment squeezed his chest. He didn’t know what to do other than what Chris suggested. He’d keep trying because Daisy was worth the fight. He’d hurt her once, and it seemed she wasn’t going for a second round of heartache so easily, no matter how good in bed they were.

He’d just have to make sure she knew, once and for all, that he wouldn’t break her heart again. Because that would be the same as breaking his, too.

•   •   •

Carl pulled his ride into Johnson’s yard and shut off the ignition. The prick had better be home, because they had things to discuss.

Climbing out of his SUV, he strode to the front porch, glancing around. All was quiet out here, but that was about to change. On the porch he knocked and waited.

The door swung open, and the man stood staring at him balefully. “Carl. Whatcha want?”

“What do I want? What do you think I want, you moron?” Pushing past the man, he stomped into the living room. Frustrated, he spun to face his partner. “Has the product been moved?”

“No. Why?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and counted to ten. “Because you got two nosy teenage boys on their way out here this afternoon to paint the barn! And what’s
in
the fucking barn, stupid?”

“Don’t bitch at me, Carl! It’s your fault that useless little sperm deposit of yours came snooping around here in the first pl—”

Grabbing Frank by the front of his shirt, Carl walked him backward and slammed him into the wall, shaking the framed pictures there. “My boy was defendin’ his daddy like he ought. Which he wouldn’t have been forced to do if you could keep your mouth shut and do as I say. You dis him again and I’ll gut your fat fucking carcass from your dick to your neck. Got it?”

“Yeah,” he whispered. “Sorry.”

“You are sorry, that’s for sure.” With a last shove, he let the other man go. “Get that shit moved, and do it fast. I don’t care where you put it, just do it. Let me know when it’s done, and give me the new location.”

“You’re not gonna help me? This is your operation!”

“That’s right, I’m the boss. And you’re the lab rat, so get movin’. Call Irvin if you need a hand.”

With a last glare, Carl stomped from the house. Johnson was getting to be too much trouble. If he kept on, he’d end up right where Holstead had.

In a ditch with a hole in his head.

Daisy walked through the halls at the high school, dodging students rushing from one class to another, plus the ones hanging in groups, clogging the flow of foot traffic.

The place hadn’t changed much. Just the hairstyles and the technology. It was familiar, yet made her feel old at the same time.

The office had told her this was Drew’s lunch period, so she headed for the cafeteria. The big dining area was packed, and it was hard to tell if he was there or not. So she went down every aisle of the long tables, scanning each kid. No Drew, and she was starting to get worried when she glanced out the wall of windows to her left and spotted a familiar figure hunched over a picnic table in the outside commons area.

As she moved to the door leading outside, she saw that Drew was alone, the table he’d chosen off in a corner by itself. She hated to see him isolate himself this way. He was staring at the table, head down, the picture of misery. As she approached, a tall brown-haired boy walked up to him.

“Hey, why don’t you come sit with us? Or are you too good to be seen with us?”

Daisy recognized it for the invite it was, even if it was thrown out like a challenge.

“Fuck off, Alan.” Drew didn’t even look up.

“Dude, you’re a head case. You’ll hang with that creepazoid, but not us? Whatever, man.”

The boy returned to his table and said something, making the others laugh. Drew folded in even more, if possible. Daisy slid onto the bench opposite him and rested her arms on the table.

“Rough day?”

“How’d you guess?” At least he raised his head, giving her his attention. “Shane send you here to make sure I’m being a good little scout?”

“No, he didn’t send me. Doesn’t even know I’m here.” At his expression of disbelief, her lips curved up. “It’s true. Not
every
adult was put on the earth for the sole purpose of giving Drew a hard time.”

“There’s a news flash.” He eyed her warily. “So, why are you here?”

“I just wanted to see how you’re doing. Why aren’t you eating lunch?”

“Not hungry.”

“You should eat something.”

“Why? Are you the health police, too?”

“I just care about you, that’s all.”

Drew sneered at her. “You have the hots for Shane and you think getting close to me will help you snag him—that’s what I think.”

Her brows shot up. “That’s pretty cynical. You don’t believe anyone can like you simply for who you are?”

“Nobody ever has before,” he snapped. “Why should anyone start now?”

“Maybe if you open your eyes and look around, you’ll find plenty of people who’d like to get to know the real you, if only you’d give them a chance.”

He rolled his eyes. “Like who?”

“That boy who invited you to sit with him and his friends, for one. Why not give new friends a try?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Drew replied sarcastically. “Maybe because that same guy gave me all kinds of shit my very first day here, called me a faggot. And he hasn’t left me alone since.”

“You know what I think?”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“I think he wants to get to know you. I think he and his friends were just feeling you out, trying to get your attention. Why not say yes the next time they ask? Or better yet, just go over and sit with them.”

He was silent for a long moment, mulling that over.

“I don’t want people looking at me like I’m a freak, or worse, pitying me because of what happened to my dad.”

“So don’t accept their pity. If they try that, give it right back to them.” He sat up, interested. “Everyone has a story, Drew. Many of your peers are going through a rough time because of all sorts of issues. You’re Drew Cooper, your own person, and you don’t have to answer to them or justify anyone’s choices but yours. Hold your head up when people speak to you, and be confident. Be honest. You’ll be surprised by the positive responses you get.”

“That’s a nice speech.”

“It’s the truth.”

The bell rang just then, and the teen got up from the table. “That’s my cue. Don’t want to be even a second late, considering.”

She stood, too. “Very true.”

He eyed her, posture tense. “See you around, I guess.”

Before he could leave, she put a hand on his arm. “I care about you,” she reiterated. “If you ever need to talk, I’m a phone call away.”

“Sure,” he said awkwardly, glancing toward the doors. He appeared ready to make a break for it. “I’ve got to go.”

The boy left, and she stared after him, worried. Drew was a great kid, but he was struggling. Even if she and Shane were done, she wouldn’t desert him.

How to avoid his sexy guardian, however, was going to be almost impossible.

•   •   •

Drew rode in the truck between Shane and Ty, casting furtive glances at his friend. There were bruises on his left arm and a matching one on his jaw. Shane had noticed, too.

“What happened to your arm and your face, Ty?”

“Fell down the stairs.”

“That’s not possible.”

That earned the cop a startled look. “How would you know?”

“I was at your house yesterday. I dropped by there to speak to your dad about picking you guys up for the repair job.” He paused. “Your house is one story. It does not have any stairs inside.”

“Doesn’t have much of a dad, either.”

After that, the ride was silent and tense. Drew knew how Shane hated to give up on someone he didn’t know how to help. Didn’t matter if he actually liked that person or not—that was how Shane was wired. He caught criminals and rescued people for a living. It was kind of cool, the guy being a real-life hero. Drew loved his dad, but . . .

Nobody ever died of not watching football.

He hated comparing the two men, even in the privacy of his mind. But Shane was a stand-up guy, and he didn’t get a lot of recognition for what he did. What you saw was what you got. Shane was kind of awesome.

Most of the time. Not that Drew was about to admit it.

All too soon, the truck pulled into Frank Johnson’s driveway. The man ambled outside to meet them, a smirk on his face. God, this was going to suck.

“You got your cell phone?” Shane asked.

Drew patted his pocket. “Got it.”

“Call me if you boys need anything.” The way he eyed Johnson as he said it told Drew he didn’t trust the man one bit.

“We will.”

“I’ll pick you both up around seven.”

“Can’t come fast enough,” Drew muttered.

Shane let them off, waved at Johnson, and drove away. It might be childish, but he wished Shane had stayed. He didn’t want him and Ty to be alone with Johnson.

In the end, he needn’t have worried. The man took them to the back side of the barn, where he’d set out the supplies they’d need to paint.

“Here you go. Need anything, holler.”

Then he was gone. Drew doubted they’d see him again—unless it was on the porch with a beer in his hand.

“How the hell do we start?” Ty asked, eyeing the materials as though they were an ancient mystery waiting to be deciphered.

“Beats me, but it can’t be that hard.” He pointed. “Rollers, paint. Dip and repeat. How tough can that be?”

An hour later, he regretted those words. His shoulders and neck were killing him from holding the roller on the rod high above his head to spread the paint. His arms were about to fall off. And still two hours to go!

“Damn, this blows,” Ty said.

“Tagging was your idea, remember?” He cut his friend a filthy look.

“Never again.”

“What, is that regret I hear?” he teased. “Ty Eastlake is actually sorry he did something bad?”

“Nope, just sorry I got caught.”

They laughed. Drew lowered his arms and rolled his shoulders. “Let’s take a break. I’ve got sodas in my backpack.”

“Dude, you rock!”

Setting their rollers aside, they found a grassy spot and sat. Drew fished in his pack and brought out two Cokes. “Brought something else, too.” Pulling out two ham sandwiches and two bags of sour cream and onion potato chips, he tossed one of each to Ty.

The boy tore into his bag and dove in, crunching. “Thanks, man. I’m starving.”

“No prob. Shane bought them for us.”

The boys ate and sipped their sodas for a few minutes.

“Your cop seems okay.”

“Yeah. He’s cool.”

“Wish my dad was more like him.”

That was the most honest statement he’d ever heard Ty make. He eyed his friend. “Why weren’t you at school today? Because he hit you?”

The other boy shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”

Something else occurred to him. “You must be sore after getting knocked around like that. I can take over the painting for today if you want.”

“Nah, it’s not so bad. Besides, one of these days I’ll be big enough to hit back. Then it won’t be a problem anymore.”

Drew wasn’t so sure that was the answer, but he said nothing. He didn’t have to endure Ty’s life. Who’s to say what he’d do?

As they ate, Drew could’ve sworn he caught a whiff of something. Frowning, he sniffed his sandwich, but it was fine. The odor tugged at his memory, and he realized it was the same one he’d smelled the night they’d tagged the barn.

“You smell that?”

“What?”

“A weird smell. Kind of like weed, but not.”

His friend sniffed a few times. “Yeah. Wonder what it is?”

“I dunno. But I was thinking it sure doesn’t smell like animals. Why would a guy who’s not keeping animals have such a nice barn?”

“Come to think of it, you’re right. There’s not a single cow or horse to be seen.” He studied the barn. “Wanna look?”

“No. That’s how we got in trouble before.”

“Then why’d you bother to bring it up?” Polishing off the rest of his meal, Ty stood. “Come on, let’s take a quick look. This time we’re supposed to be here, remember?”

“Outside the barn, not inside.”

“He didn’t say we couldn’t stretch our legs, right?”

The guy was relentless. Ty wandered casually toward the barn. With a sigh, Drew stuffed the remains of their food into his backpack and tagged along. One day, the spaz was going to get them into a bigger mess than they could get out of.

Ty walked to the end of the barn where the two large double doors were located. Of course, they were clearly visible from the house, and Drew had no doubt Johnson was watching them even now. Probably waiting to drop on them like a snake from a tree branch the second they screwed up again.

Pushing hard, Ty slid the door open just enough to let them in. Once they were inside, Drew saw why the owner wasn’t too concerned about their presence. The place was pretty much empty, though not quite.

“Bummer,” he said to the other boy. “Nothing but a few tools and some junk.”

“It does stink like ass, though.” Ty wrinkled his nose. “What the hell has he been doing in here? Burning a combination of weed, rubber, and turds?”

“Seriously.”

They drifted apart, examining what little junk there was. Drew was about to leave when something caught his eye. There was a large bare spot at the far end of the barn where some items had been sitting. There were impressions in the dirt, then scrape marks, as though whatever had been there was dragged out through the far doors. Nothing interesting.

“This was a bust,” Drew told his friend. “Let’s get out of here before we choke.”

They went back to their job, and managed to get almost the entire back wall painted before Shane came to get them. Drew started to mention the odd stink, but they got to talking about Shane’s day and he eventually blew it off.

Wasn’t like it was all that important, anyway.

•   •   •

It turned out that the boys got the painting done during the week. Unfortunately, Shane knew it was time to face an even worse task.

He needed to take Drew to pack his stuff from the mansion.

It was going to be a horrible, emotional task for both of them, but it had to be done. There wasn’t any sense in putting it off any longer. Shane let Drew sleep until nine, then knocked on his door. When there was no answer, he opened the door and saw the boy sound asleep, curled on his side.

“Drew?” A muffled response was his only answer. He went over and touched the boy’s shoulder. “Hey, buddy, rise and shine.”

“Ugh.”

He smiled a little. “Get up, we’ve got some things to do today.”

“Go away, Shane.”

“I will, soon as you get up.”

With that, the teen sat up, peering at him blearily and scowling. “I’m up already. Jeez.” He yawned. “What the heck’s so important, man? It’s Saturday!”

“Come eat breakfast, and I’ll tell you.”

“Breakfast?” A glimmer of interest became a smile. “I smell bacon.”

“The universal lure for sleepy teens everywhere. I’ve got pancakes, too. Up you go.”