Forsaken Duty (Red Team #9)(13)

Addy laughed nervously and pushed him over to the next group, with the same results. Owen was wondering if all these guests had been vetted and cleared, when a boy came over to them. Addy pulled free from Owen and looped her arm through the boy’s. Never had Owen felt a separation so keenly.

“Jake, this is my very dear friend, Owen Tremaine. Owen, my boyfriend, Jake.”

All humor, all warmth, all fucking humanity drained from Owen. The boy’s eyes widened, then jumped about, moving from Owen to Addy to the furniture near them, back to Owen. He tilted his head, fighting the persistent desire to pick the boy up by his neck and escort him outside for a little chat.

Jax joined them then. He slapped Jake on the back, congratulating him, then hugged Addy. Somehow Owen became the focus of the group again. He forced a grin, which had to be one of his most terrible ever. Jax laughed and dragged him away for a beer.

“She has a boyfriend,” Owen said.

“Of course she does. She’s eighteen.”

“You could have told me.”

“What difference would it make? It’s her life to live. You don’t get to live it for her. You’re never even here.”

Owen closed his eyes. “Does she love him?”

“Fuck no. Who does at eighteen? Pull it together, O. This is what I meant when I said this was her weekend. You looked like you were going to kill the kid.”

“I thought about it. Good thing I’m out of uniform.” He grinned.

“Shit.” Jax lifted his beer and drained the bottle. “Good thing I’m here to ride your ass.”

Owen turned to face the room. “Yeah, thanks but no thanks. Don’t want you anywhere near my ass.”

Jax choked on a laugh, which made Owen feel better.

Senator Jacobs came over with his wife, Roberta. She was a middle-aged bottle blonde, with sharp eyes, a sharp tongue, and razors for nails. Owen had never liked her. Nor had Jax and Addy. She’d married the senator when Addy was four, bringing with her the dragon nanny, who was probably still around here somewhere. She was the only mother Addy ever really known, though in her case, Owen used that term lightly; she’d never been much of a mom to Addy or Jax.

Owen shook hands with both of them. “Senator. Mrs. Jacobs.”

“Oh please,” she said, “you’re old enough to call me Roberta.” She accepted a glass of champagne from a silver tray a waiter brought over. Sipping it, she looked over the room. “Our little Addy is an adult now, about to go off to college.” She looked at the senator. “How fast the time went. We’re going to be empty nesters in only a few months.”

The senator gave Owen a pained look. “I have only a few more months to be her father.”

“You’ll always be her father, senator,” Owen said.

“But she won’t need me anymore.”

“You mean home to her. She’s going to need that grounding more than ever when she moves out.”

The senator gave him a long look, then nodded.

“Don’t torture yourself, dear,” Roberta said. “We’ll finally get to take that trip we’ve been planning—the honeymoon we never had.”

Owen sipped his beer. “When are you doing that?”

“We haven’t set a date yet,” the senator said. “It won’t be before Addy’s off to school. And then I’ll need to check with the Senate schedule to—”

“Always with the excuses,” Roberta complained. “You promised me this trip.” She smiled. “Dear, I do believe I’ve earned it.”

Fear washed over the senator’s features, quickly followed by a placating smile. He reached down and squeezed her hand. “You’ve more than earned it, my love. We should just set a date and make it happen.”

Addy came over to their small group. The senator pulled her close for a hug, which she gleefully returned. “I’m proud of you, little girl.”

“Thanks, Daddy. Roberta, this is an amazing party. Thank you for putting it together and letting all my friends come.”

“Of course, darling. It serves two purposes—you get the kids and we get the parents.” Her smile was ice cold.

Owen looked at Addy to see if she’d caught her stepmother’s hatred. How could someone as kind and thoughtful and cheerful as Addy inspire such contempt?

She reached across the group to grab his hand, which he didn’t resist, and pointed a finger at her brother. “Wendelly, it’s time for the pool. Go get your suit on.”

Jax didn’t move. “Addy, I’m too old for your girlfriends. Hell, half of them don’t even look legal.”

“I know. And some of them aren’t. But they’re crushing on both of you. I know that I can count on both of you to be gentlemen around them. Please don’t be curmudgeons and ruin my fun.”

Owen grinned at him as she pulled him away. “We’ve survived worse missions…” And will again on Monday.

Jax huffed a loud sigh and followed them upstairs. The wide staircase let Owen and Addy ascend side by side. She’d stopped holding his hand, which Owen regretted. In their hallway, he and Jax disappeared into their rooms. Didn’t take long for Owen to strip and pull his Speedo on. When he opened his door, Addy was coming down the hall, carrying three beach towels. At first glance, she looked naked, but then Owen realized she’d changed into her suit as well. Her blond hair spilled about her shoulders, covering the straps of her suit. Her hair was a rich blond color with darker undertones and almost bright white highlights.