Page 82 of Target Acquired
“And you were able to get ahold of Butler?”
“He answered my call, surprisingly enough. Guess being the boss still pulls some weight. Anyway, he was on board, believe it or not. Reluctantly, and the last one to agree, but he did.”
“Hm. Well, if he’s the one trying to kill me, I can’t see him going against the team and looking too obvious.”
“He’s been very vocal about how he feels about you on the team, so this just makes me wonder what he’s up to. But at least with him close by, we’ll be able to keep an eye on him.”
“I suppose.”
“So, that’s settled. What’s next?”
“Cleaning out the storage room and ordering a pizza?”
He nodded. “We’ll get enough for James and Cowboy too.”
“Perfect.”
When the guys got there, the pizza arrived seconds later, carried by Kristine. When Lainie and Jesslyn and the new detective, Nathan, joined them, Kenzie smiled. She should have known. This was what they did for one another. What they’d done for Lainie when she’d needed it and now they were doing it for her. She had her people, and that knowledge finally sank in. It was almost more than she could process. So she smiled through the threat of tears. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“I do,” Cole said. “Who wants to bless it?”
Once they’d stuffed themselves on pizza, Cole shot Lainie and James a sideways look. “Anyone up for a game of Scrabble?”
Kenzie’s eyes widened and she groaned. “Why would you even bring that up? You know she’ll win. She studies the dictionary.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think she’s been too busy planning a wedding to worry about all that.”
Kenzie looked at a radiant Lainie and grinned. “All right, I’m in. Jesslyn?”
“Why not? We can team up and work together. I’m on Lainie’s team.”
Laughter rang out and Kenzie pulled in an emotional breath. She really needed to get herself under control. What in the world was wrong with her? She never cried. Crying had gotten her mocked by her father and brothers. Crying never solved anything. But happy tears? Maybe that was okay.
She glanced in the direction of the storage room and decided that it could wait. She’d rather play Scrabble, even though she’d probably get beat.
As though her thoughts were prophetic, she leaned back two hours later and threw her hands up. “I give. Lainie is still the champion.”
“Hey,” James protested. “I helped.”
She laughed. “If you say so.”
He kissed his fiancée’s forehead and grinned. Then turned serious. He nodded to Cole, and Cole nudged Kenzie. “Can we talk in the sunroom?”
“Sure.”
Kenzie followed them, ignoring the questioning looks from the others, but over his shoulder, Cole simply said, “Business for a moment.”
Jesslyn shot her a thumbs-up and the others aimed themselves toward the kitchen. Kenzie knew it would be spotless in no time.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I spoke to Commander Hill and we have a plan,” James said.
Oh boy. “Okay.”
“Your house is the new HQ if you’re up for it.”
“Um . . . sorry, what?”