Lib Novel Page 46
Sean shrugged, happy that she was now irritated with someone else for a change. “That’s Del.”
The moment he heard the car roll to a stop out front, Sean bolted to the door. He opened it just as Emma jumped out of the car. She ran to him as he opened his arms. She came to him easily, as if they had known each other their entire lives. Of course, in the world, they only had each other. Two people who could have walked past each other on the street a year ago and not known they were related. Now, they couldn’t even think of breaking contact.
He pulled her back from him and looked at her. She had let her hair grow a bit in the last couple of months, and she had lost a few pounds. Of course, she was wearing her normal uniform for Hawaii. Board shorts and an old t-shirt. She had slippahs on.
“Uh, so, do you want to explain things?” Jaime said from behind him. There was a thread of jealousy in her tone. He kissed the top of Emma’s head, and they turned to face Randy and Jaime.
“Let’s get inside first.”
“Hey, Taylor, you want to help with your crap?”
She glanced over her shoulder at Del. “No.”
With that retort, she stepped past both Jaime and Randy into the house as if she owned it. Which, of course, she did; but no one else there probably suspected that. Randy and Jaime watched her walk away and turned back to him.
He smiled and just shook his head as he walked to the car. Del was a mess. With his nose swollen, Sean could guess just how bad it was when Del had first shown up. “Sorry about that. You must have picked up on Emma’s issues with understanding social cues.”
“Oh, so that’s why she gave me a concussion?”
“Now you’re like family—which means you deserve to know what is going on. Come on, you should hear the whole story because we need advice.”
“I think by the end of this, you’re going to owe me beyond anything you can afford.”
“For Emma, I would sign over the house right now if it meant her safety.”
Del gave him a strange look, but said nothing else as he followed him into the house. He introduced him to Jaime and Randy, then walked into the kitchen. They found Emma sitting on the kitchen counter. He had remembered the first time they had walked through the house. She had hopped up on the counter and sat cross-legged on the counter just like she was now.
“Tell me, is there a reason I had to come over here?”
Her tone was what most would call bitchy—but he knew better. He couldn’t fault her. She had been through a lot in the last six months—hell, for the last ten years since her parents died. Add in the fact that she was tired and out of sorts due to the situation, she had every right to snap at him. Still, they had to explain just what was going on because they both needed help.
“Jaime Alexander and Randy Young, this is my sister, Emma Taylor.”
Jaime blinked, then looked at Emma. Comprehension filled her gaze as she looked back and forth between them. “Oh, yeah, now I see it.”
“Half-sister, really,” Emma said with a smile.
“Yes, half-sister. And she’s the reason I was burned.”
Emma shook her head. “You really weren’t burned.”
“Listen, while I appreciate all of this, I don’t see why I need to be here.”
Everyone turned to Del. The man was beyond grumpy now, and it was hard to hide a smile at his friend’s appearance. His nose was swollen, and his eyes had been bruised in the hit Emma had given him. He was not going to be happy when he had to explain it to his team.
“I don’t understand either,” Randy said with a chuckle.
Emma rolled her eyes. “You need to be here because you’re law enforcement. Sean said you were some kind of team leader, but I’m confused by that.”
“Why would you be confused by that, Taylor?” Del asked, his tone downright nasty now.
“You were investigating my house when I got the jump on you.”
“Wait, what?” Randy said, as he studied the former Army Ranger. “Is that why your nose is so swollen?”
Del tossed Randy a look that would scare a normal man. “Shut the fuck up.”
Randy opened his mouth to argue back, but Sean wasn’t in the mood. He gave Randy a look that made his former partner shut up. They didn’t have time for crap like this.