Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek #3)(53)

That was a surprise. “Sure. Is this about Hudson?”

“Yes, actually. I was wanting to do something for him and I need you to find a few names for me. And since I figure whatever voodoo you do on your computer generally trumps even the highest-level military clearance, maybe you could help me find the info I need.”

Drew exhaled in relief. “That’s it? He’s not hurting you or anything like that?”

“No! Of course not! I just want to help him is all.”

“Next time lead with that. You had me worried there for a second.”

She sighed. “You are getting to be more and more like the Spencer boys every day.”

Hell of a compliment. Drew had always respected each of his foster brothers. “I still have a long ways to go before I can hover over you as fully as they do.”

Her soft chuckle was her wordless agreement, warm with affection.

He grinned. It was always great to hear her laugh. For the first few years after Leo went missing, her laughter had been non-existent. Lately, he noticed she was happier than she’d been in a long time. “And to answer your question, it’s not a problem. I actually already have a file on him so I might even have what you’re looking for already.”

A brief pause and then a scolding: “Have you been snooping on Hudson?”

The fact that she sounded so genuinely surprised had him smothering back a laugh. She was the only one in his circle who seemed to forget he was a hacker.

“Lia, you’re my former sister-in-law and my foster sister. And you’ve been living like a nun for the past eight years. Of course I’ve been snooping on the one guy you’re actually serious about. I had a full workup on Hudson even before Caine asked.”

“How touchingly disturbing.”

“Does this mean you don’t want this information?” he teased lightly.

Ooh, that was definitely a glare he could feel over the phone line.

“Gabe and Max have been horrible influences on you,” she muttered.

It was actually a two-way street, but he thought it best to let his foster brothers take the blame for this one. Seeing as how his halo was so shiny and all.

“I’ll be by your shop in a few hours with the file.”



*



DREW PARKED IN the brewery side lot between Ocotillos and Desert Confections so he could run in and grab some lunch at the brewpub before meeting Lia. He was nearly at the side entrance when he heard the unmistakable sound of someone crying.

Rounding the building of the chocolate shop next door he felt a kick in the gut when he saw the tears belonging to a familiar face, now ten times prettier than he remembered the last time he saw it. She’d always been cute in a jail bait sort of way, but there was something else about her that had always drawn her to him. Even back when she’d been a freshman he had no business noticing during his senior year, she’d had a way about her.

Now, nearly two years later, she was well on her way to becoming the beauty he’d predicted she’d turn into. A beauty who was still way too young, still too sweet for him.

But like a masochistic moth being drawn to a flame that could singe him, he went over to her anyway.

Skylar’s tear-filled eyes grew to the size of saucers when he crouched down in front of her.

“Drew? Drew Lawson?”

Good lord. The way his name sounded on her lips...

He retreated back a safe step before grabbing a seat on the ground in front of her. “Hey, Skylar. Long time.”

Her jaw dropped. “You remember my name?”

“Why wouldn’t I remember your name? We talked in school, worked on some homecoming decorations together too, if memory serves.”

“B-but. You’re three years older than me.”

“And yet you remember my name.”

“Well, yeah. How could I not?” she replied instantly. Before flushing bright red.

So freakin’ adorable.

“Well, I could say the same back to you,” he tossed back. “Even when you were a freshman, you were active in everything—student government, school event planning committees, and about five clubs I never knew we even had at the school.”

“Still. I can’t believe you remember me.”

“You’re kind of hard to forget.” He caught himself. Damn, those eyes of hers were worse than truth serum. “You were always hosting all those community service projects and getting the whole school to participate,” he added in recovery.

Understanding and a twinge of disappointment he hated seeing dimmed her eyes. “Oh. Yeah. I guess I did pester you seniors a lot.”

“In a good way. You’d be surprised how jaded kids get by their senior year. You were kind of inspiring. In an intense and on-a-sugar-high sort of way.”

A genuine smile then.

She’s still in high school, he reminded himself. “So why are you out here alone crying?”

“My boyfriend.”

Dammit, but he really hated hearing her say those two words. Shocking since he had no claim to her whatsoever. “Do you need me to kick his ass for you?”

Please say yes.

“No,” she sighed. “Since he’s not my boyfriend anymore.”

Excellent news.

“You don’t sound too broken up about it. So again, why the tears?”