Code Name: Nanny (SEAL and Code Name #5)(51)

Summer put an arm around her, praying she would find the right words. “That’s a good thing, honey. My sister—” The memories still clutched at Summer’s throat. “Everything was damaged from what she’d done. Her throat, her stomach, all that took a long, long time to heal. So I’m glad you couldn’t make yourself do those things.”

Audra sank forward, braced against Summer’s chest. Then she pulled away and brushed hard at her eyes. “None of my clothes fit. I’m fat and I hate it. Tracey says I’m a cow, and she’s not the only one.”

“You’re no bigger than Tracey.”

“She says—” Audra stopped. “I’m not? Really?”

“No question about it.” It was a lie, of course. Audra was trim, with merely a hint of a curve at her hips and chest, while Tracey verged on skeletal. “She’s probably jealous because you have some muscles from playing softball.”

Audra wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want muscles.”

“Sure you do. Muscles and definition are very hot right now. Women in Hollywood kill to get muscles.”

Audra digested this, then looked down at her thin arms. “What if I did want to get strong? How would I do it?”

“The best way I know is kickboxing. For speed, strength, and grace there’s nothing better. Think Chuck Norris. No extra bulk there.”

“You know that kind of stuff?”

“Enough. And yes, I could teach you how. In fact, we could start this afternoon.” Summer glanced pointedly at the empty suitcase on the floor. “Right after you finish packing.”

Audra picked at the sleeve of her jacket. “I don’t know. I don’t seem to have much energy.” She took a deep breath. “I think maybe I need to eat something first.”

Though mentally clapping, Summer forced her face to stay calm. “Probably that would help. Maybe a salad. Toast and a hard-boiled egg. Nothing heavy so that you couldn’t exercise.”

Audra jumped to her feet. “Could you ask Patrick for me? I’ve got to finish packing.” She whirled around suddenly. “Did you mean that other stuff you said, about not swimming?”

Summer nodded.

“Why not?”

Summer felt Audra’s intensity and realized a lie now could destroy the tenuous connection they had made. “It’s a long story, Audra. It’s . . . personal, too.”

The teenager frowned. “Then you can tell me when we get to the ranch. We’ll have time up there.”

Summer didn’t answer.

“It’s something bad, isn’t it? Big bad, not little bad. I told you my stuff, so I think you should tell me yours. That way it’s even, right? Mom always says we should try to be fair and square.”

“She’s right, Audra. But I’d like to . . . think about it first.” Summer stood up, smoothing her sleeve in an automatic gesture.

Then Sophy flew up the stairs with a towel around her neck and Liberace capering on a long red leash, and the subject was forgotten.



Clouds dotted the horizon as Summer watched Sophy tie Liberace’s leash to a beach chair. Audra had called Tracey about using her pool, and in short order they were heading to a big Mediterranean-style villa nearby. Something about the sunlight made Summer try to remember the last time she’d taken a real vacation.

There had been weekend trips to visit her sister in Boston, a few hasty expeditions to buy furniture for her rental apartment in Philadelphia, but no real time off.

No barefoot, sun-and-sand excursions to Antigua or St. Croix. No hedonistic retreats to an isolated Hawaiian beach. After she’d lost her father, stability and economic security had been crucial to Summer, and she had pared her life down to basics: preparing for her job, doing her job, and worrying about her sister. Nothing else mattered. There was no circle of understanding friends, no string of cast-off boyfriends. Unlike her outgoing twin sister, Summer had no people skills, because she had never made time for things she considered nonessential.

When her loneliness hurt, she simply buried herself deeper in her work.

Sophy called to her from the far side of the pool, full of trust and almost frightening honesty. Even Audra was showing signs of good humor as she splashed her sister from the nearby steps.

“Ms. M, aren’t you coming in?” Sophy kicked excitedly toward Summer, grasping a pink float shaped like a turtle on steroids.

“Not right now, honey.”

“Please? The heater is on.”

“It’s still a little cold for me.”

“But—”

“She doesn’t want to swim, Sophy. Just leave it alone, okay?” Audra splashed her sister, then darted an uncertain smile at Summer.

So she’d remembered. Summer was stunned.

“But why not?” Sophy persisted.

The sun was beating down through the big glass windows facing the beach, and Summer pulled off her jacket. To circumvent further questions, she picked up Audra’s Frisbee. “Catch this one, Sophy.” She aimed a low pass across the pool, right into Sophy’s hands. “Great. Now throw it back.” As she spoke, Summer moved backward, arms raised.

She slammed hard into Gabe, who was carrying flowers as a gift for Tracey’s mom—while he kept an eye out for anything unusual outside.