Cold Shadow (Cold Country #2)(21)
"Well, that in itself is a problem. You see, I'm staying at the local big house and I have no way to get back. At least not without causing some sort of ruckus that could get me arrested for trespassing and breaking and entering. Natalie was going to pick me up over at that flea-trap motel around six, but as you can see, I'm not there."
And almost as if it Drew summoned her, Nathan's cell phone rang and Natalie's frantic voice could be heard over the line. "Calm down, Nat, Drew is here with me. Yeah, there was some trouble, it wasn't his fault. Go on home. Yeah, I'll drive him home. I love you too. Okay, tomorrow before Mama and Emma leave for Florida."
"Wow, is she psychic or what?" Drew said in a smart-ass tone.
"Here, asshole." Nathan tossed him his keys. "Blue SUV in the back lot. Try not to get caught sneaking into it or your cover will be blown. I'll be out in about twenty minutes. After I call Greg Daniels and tattle on myself."
Drew pocketed the keys and as Nathan watched, he fell back into character, slicking his hair back, he smiled a lopsided grin that stretched the piercing making it move on his lip. "Hope he doesn't ream your ass too hard," he said in that accent he did way too well before he walked out, whistling tunelessly.
Half an hour later, Nathan finally made it out of the office. The sun was still high enough in the sky to say it was still early, but at nearly seven, it wouldn't be for much longer. Damn, he hated spending that much time inside when there were things to do outside. He'd missed his evening swim with Emma and probably dinner as well. He made it to his SUV dimly aware that the motor was running. The door locks clicked as he stepped up.
"Shit, Drew, I forgot you were out here." Cold air blasted him in the face when he opened the door.
"So how did the Sheriff take the news that you roughed up Deputy Dawg?" Drew said from the back seat where he lay stretched out, his eyes mere slits.
"Taking a nap?" Nathan threw his bag into the driver seat and leaned over to look at Drew who smiled languidly, one hand on his belly scratching idly around his exposed navel.
"Didn't sleep that well last night. All that peace and quiet, you know. Besides, I had to get up early to go to work." He yawned and his stomach growled. "Dude, I'm starving, what are the chances we can get some dinner?"
"I'm sure Mama has something waiting. Probably another Boston Cream Cake or something for her favorite young stud." Nathan laughed when Drew turned pink. "I think my Mama has a cougar crush on you there, Preacher Boy."
"Next time some asshole decides to kill you, remind me not to come running to your rescue, will you?" Drew leaned up on one elbow, his shirt fell open showing more bare chest than Nathan was comfortable with. "Of course, if it means more food, then I rescind that. I'll save you anytime if it gets me cake."
"Shit, Drew, you are just a little bitch, aren't you?"
"When it comes to food, I'll be anybody's bitch. Speaking of food, are we gonna drive, or are you just gonna sit there talking to your backseat?" Drew hitched his lip again, his tongue easing out to tease one of the metal loops. "Oh, shit, better get rid of these. I don't want to terrify the kid."
Nathan waited while he removed the three piercings, and normal, upstanding Agent Walker took the place of the street kid named Preacher, mostly. Now that he knew what he was looking for, he could see the holes in Walker's skin. Funny that he never noticed before. "More like you wouldn't want to give Quinn ideas. Okay, any more ideas."
Drew just grinned and lay back down in the seat while Nathan put the truck in gear and headed for home.
Chapter Six
This lack of sleep thing was going to kill him, Drew decided as he yawned in the car on the way into the steel plant. Natalie watched him silently from the driver's seat. She looked as if she wanted to ask him something but was staying quiet, which for her, probably meant trouble was brewing.
"Whatever is brewing in that beautiful head of yours, please just say it and get it over with." He sighed as she glanced at him a third time.
"You are sort of bitchy in the morning, you know that?" She smiled to soften the words.
"I'm just tired. Not sleeping well. Sort of afraid of the kid, and your Mom is stuffing me with too much rich food."
"And lusting after my brother isn't helping any."
"I'm not lusting after Nathan, Jesus, Natalie."
"Then it's Quinn this time? Come on, Drew, I see the way you watch them together. Whether you know it or not, there is some serious naked longing in your eyes. You need to forget him. Get a boyfriend or something, baby, because I won't let you mess up his life now that he is finally happy."