Oh God.
There went any hope of sneaking into town, getting the bad guy, and sneaking back out again. She thought she’d be home free and clear so to speak, especially after calling her mom yesterday and finding out that her parents were going to the lake for a long weekend.
Jackie flipped back in her seat as Zan parked. He must have felt her nervousness, or heard her racing heart because he laid a hand on her thigh and squeezed encouragingly. “Don’t worry about the general. He might come across tough as nails, but he’d never hurt you.”
Oh. Hell. Zan was going to kill her.
Left with no other option, Jackie reluctantly climbed from the SUV. Someone was dancing a jig in her belly, and they were having a grand time. When Zan reached for her hand she grabbed it, pulling him to a stop when he would have marched her to her doom.
“Zan, wait. I have to tell you something.”
His brows drew together and he tilted his head, those eyes so clear and focused on hers that she gulped. “It’s okay, angel. The general’s not going to eat you.”
“The general’s not who I’m afraid of,” she muttered.
He was steadily dragging her closer to the front door, unaware of her inner turmoil. “What?” His confusion only made her feel more guilty.
There were three steps to the stoop and she dug in her heels on the first step. “No. Wait.”
Before she could say anything else, the front door opened to reveal a distinguished gentleman, completely human, in his early seventies. His thick gray hair that was once as blond as to be white, was cut short, his back and shoulders ramrod straight. Not one whisker showed on his weathered face and his ice blue eyes were clear and bright, and focused directly on her.
Jackie gulped again.
The imposing man spoke before anyone else could. “So this is the little doctor that caught our Zan’s eye.” He harrumphed. “Good looking tidbit. Must be smart if she’s a doctor.”
Jackie felt a familiar smirk curve her lips.
“Sir,” Zan began on her behalf.
“Quiet boy. So, you speak tidbit?”
She felt Zan stiffen with annoyance at her side, knowing he didn’t understand the old man’s odd comments. But Jackie did. After all, he’d always called her tidbit. “I do indeed, General, sir.”
He harrumphed again. “General is it?” He sent her that one-eyed stare that she loved so much.
And she lost it. She grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, I do miss you grandpa.” And she ran the rest of the way up the stairs and into his open arms.
“Grandpa?” She heard Zan’s shocked whisper behind her, a grunt of surprise and someone whistling. Then a flash of shear power that caused her skin to prickle. Oh, yeah. Zan was so not pleased.
“What’s this I hear about you tangling with that nasty Shider character?” The general released her after a huge bear hug.
“I’m not tangled with him, Grandpa. He’s tangled with Zan and, well. Um.”
He touched the tip of her nose with a finger. “And you’re tangled with Zan.”
It wasn’t a question. “Um. Maybe.”
“Hmmm.” She could practically see the wheels turning in his head. “You could do worse and God knows that boy couldn’t do better.”
Jackie blushed, feeling the love this man never hesitated to show his family. “You’re prejudiced.”
“I’m right.” He looked over her shoulder at the sound of fist meeting flesh. “What’s this?”
Jackie turned, half afraid at what she would see. What she didn’t expect was Zan and Scott grappling. It only took the general a second to understand what was going on. “I figured you hadn’t told Zan about our relationship, but I certainly didn’t expect him to take it out on Scott.”
She bit her lip, wincing when Scott’s chin caught the upside of Zan’s fist. “No.”
“Hmmm. Looks to me like Scott checked you out behind Zan’s back, the sneaky little bastard.” Jackie shot her gaze to her grandfather’s, mildly shocked. He peered down at her. “It’s what makes him a good soldier, despite his juvenile ways. Watch this. Report!”
Jackie nearly choked as all three men jumped to attention, legs spread, and arms at their backs.
Zan stepped forward, the wild energy easing as he reigned in his beast. “Sir.” He shot her a simmering look before directing his eyes back at the general. Jackie took a step back and behind the older man. Not in fear from Zan but because she could feel a bubble of laughter rise in her throat. Though she had a feeling Zan couldn’t wait to strangle her the second he got her alone, realizing just how much Zan had emulated her grandfather back on the front porch of Kaylie’s home tickled her to no end.