Chapter 16

The morning of drills at the quarry seemed to take forever, and all Mike could think about as the noon hour approached was getting home and putting his plan to work. One scheme involved what he and Joelle had agreed to; that they'd pretend to be girlfriend and boyfriend in order to trap and catch Mellie and Cameron in their next act of sabotage. Of course, the big question there was, would he catch and release, or catch and prosecute the pair? He hadn't yet decided.

The other plot Mike had cooking in his head, was that the fake relationship he and Joe were putting on for public consumption, would be used to draw an unsuspecting Joe, in. He'd be pretending to be blasé about their whole togetherness thing, but he'd be working like hell behind the scenes to make it real for as long as their physical attraction lasted. He was talking flowers, candy, fancy dinners. While Joe would believe, for a time, that he was being attentive for logistics—as well as for some naked-time together—she wasn't slow on the uptake. She'd soon understand he was trying to sway her into seeing him as a much longer-term squeeze; an honest-to-God, more-than-physical association that had wheels.

His musings were interrupted.

"Okay folks. That's it. Let's call it a day," Mason finally barked as they finished up with their final, mock water rescue. Drills had gone really well for the entire team this weekend. No one had messed up, and several new recruits who'd been invited along were looking good. Mason had to be pleased.

Mike stripped out of his team-issued drysuit, down to running shorts and his polypropylene shirt, grimacing a little over the accumulated sweat that had gathered on his body, but it would soon dissipate, he knew, with time.

"Mike, can I speak with you?" Mason called over as they all began packing up.

"Sure, Chief." Mike knew it had to be about Joelle. A warning, perhaps? He walked over to Mason where he was standing, and the boss drew him off to the side.

"What's up?"

Mason's face got serious. "I just wanted to tell you I'm sincere about giving your girl, Elle, all the help she needs. Not only with your situation, but with the operation she's in the middle of, too. It sounds like she's in a shitty position with her superior, and could use our help. I like her, Mike. She's obviously a standup kind of person, even if her taste in men isn't all it should be, getting involved with your sorry ass." Mason grinned.

Mike smirked back. "First of all, her full first name is Joelle, and she goes by Joe, not Elle. But that's only between you and me. She's using Elle for her cover. Second, since you know me too well, you'll understand that I'm hoping she'll be my real girlfriend before things have wrapped up for her job. If I can convince her to not only take a chance on me for the short-run, but to think about relocating so we can continue our, uh, exploration of each other, I'll be pretty damned pumped. But," his smile tipped downward, "that's all a pretty big if."

Mason didn't lose his good humor. "Not necessarily. I saw the way she looks at you." Mase shook his head. "She's not putting on an act. The woman thinks you're hot stuff." He shrugged. "Of course, there's no accounting for taste."

Mike slugged Mase in the arm, but his shoulders loosened. "You think so? That she really likes me?" Mike knew he sounded a little too in touch with his feminine side, but he couldn't help but ask the question.

Mason didn't balk. "Either that, or she's a damned good actress. And there was no need for her to act in front of us, so…yeah. Now stop making me talk like we're dishing dirt over wine, and don't blow this one because you've become a woman-hermit over the past year."

"Seriously? How do you know I haven't been dating?" Mike asked, pouting.

"Please. None of us knew you were even single, but correct me if I'm wrong. You go home every night and don't leave the house unless it's to follow up on a tip for new military shit to add to your collection, or to go to your kids' games."

"Busted," Mike said, sighing, but he didn't take offense. He had been playing his life close to home for the past year.

"And speaking of busted…" Now Mason narrowed his eyes. "If you keep anything as big as the fact of Mellie leaving from me, again, I'm rescinding our friendship. That kind of shit doesn't fly."

Mike defended his decision. "It wasn't all because of embarrassment," he began. "It happened just when you and Everlee were getting together and working out your own complicated shit. And after that? Well, you two were just so damned cute, I didn't want to rain on new-love's parade." Mike made kissy faces, which he knew would probably come back to haunt him.

Mason grunted. "Just be warned, asshole. No more going it alone. Got it?"

"Got it, Chief." Damn, Mike loved the guy.

"Now. When are you going out with Ell…uh, Joe?"

Mike grinned. "Tonight. And I have to pick the kids up beforehand, so I've gotta roll." He had his gear together. He just needed to hump it out to the parking lot.

"Uh, aren't you forgetting something?" Mason asked.

Mike looked at him blankly.

He had nothing.

"Your brake lines?"

"Fuck!" How had that slipped Mike's mind? Oh, yeah. Joelle. She'd make him forget his own name. Swearing some more, Mike fished around in his pocket for his phone, hoping he could get someone out to fix him up on a Sunday. Even knowing people, it was a long shot. Most mechanics he buddied with took weekends off.

"What are you doing?" Mason asked, tipping his head as Mike scrolled through his contacts.

"Looking for someone who'll come give me an emergency fix."

"Not necessary," Mason chuckled.

"Why? Are you going to lend me your truck?" Mike doubted it. Mase's ride was practically still in the box, and the man was obsessed with his shiny new toy.

"My truck? Hell no. But my head wasn't up someone's ass yesterday, and I might have called in a favor with a local guy I know. So… Your truck is fixed."

Mike blinked.

"But my motion sensor," he rebutted with a scowl. "How…?" Then he remembered. There had been one short incident where his alert had gone off while he'd been engaged in laser hunting. But since it had chimed in for less than ten seconds, Mike had put it down to the wind, or an animal.

"Sly one, Mason," Mike admitted.

Mase looked proud of himself. "Yup. I told Jack where your truck was, and how to disarm your sensor. Plus…he's a car guy. He easily lifted your locks and got inside your old-ass POS to pop the hood. Once he managed that, he went to work and integrated new sections of hose onto your busted lines using clamps, bled the lines, then filled your brake fluid. Now you're ready to roll, but he says not to let too much time pass; to take it to your regular guy to do a total replacement."

"Cripes, Mase. You're the best. I totally owe you."

"Just get the girl, okay?" Mason replied. "Now go."

Before Mike had taken three steps, Mason stopped him with another question. "When are you going to tell the kids about her?"

Mike didn't have to think.

"As soon as I get home. I want them to believe I've been seeing her casually, around town, for a while, and that we're having our first real date tonight. That way they'll know I'm serious about her, but won't feel like I've left them out of the process."

"Good call," Mase agreed. "Have fun." He clapped Mike on the back.

Mike shot him a huge smile, and couldn't help the joyous flutter in his chest which grew with every step he took toward the parking lot. He shouldn't be this pumped, cognizant that things with Joe could very easily go sideways, but he found that the unknown was almost as exciting as thinking he might get lucky tonight.

Amazing. A week ago, his libido had been dormant, and his idea of a good night was sitting on his couch with a beer, binge watching cop shows. If someone had told him he"d soon be actively pursuing a hot undercover…agent, if that's what Joe was, he would have told them they were certifiable. After Mellie, he'd determined he was done with women. Trust was big in his book, and his ex had tainted females for him…except for maybe the idea of a quickie every now and then. But even that hadn't panned out. With his busy schedule, and being there for his kids, he'd never found the time to even go sniffing.

So solo is what he'd figured he'd be for a long fucking time. But now there was Joe. And walking away from what "might be" with her, was the farthest thing from his mind. Joe made him crave things with a hunger he hadn't realized he missed.

Mike made it to his truck in record time, dropping his gear into the bed before getting in and starting it up. As he drove toward his parents' house to get his kids, his whole body thrummed, feeling more vibrant than it had in what seemed like forever. And that was after spending the night sleeping on the hard ground. But anticipation sometimes had that effect on him. Challenge did, too, and he was certain Joe would make him work for what he wanted. To which his reply was…bring it on.

Pulling up to his parents' place, Mike was nervous about breaking his news, but also hungry as hell. He hoped his folks would feed him some lunch. He'd had boxed cereal for breakfast, and the meager calories had dissipated with the hard work he'd done in the water this morning. Drysuit be damned, the quarry was deep and still damned cold. Speaking of which, he could really use a long, hot shower to wash off the dried sweat. But that would have to wait until he got home.

Mike strode up the walkway, his steps feeling light. He felt almost buoyant. Would his family see a difference in him? If they did, it might be the opening he needed to tell them about Joe, uh, Elle. He guessed for a while he'd have to refer to her by her working-handle in case word got out.

Which it would. His wasn't a very small town, but it certainly felt like it sometimes where gossip was concerned.

"Hey Mom." Mike gave his mother a kiss on the cheek as she opened the door. He hadn't knocked, but his mom was uncanny like that. It was almost as if she could sense his presence. "How were the kids?"

She smiled at Mike. "Are they ever a problem? Dilly helped me clean out some cupboards I'd been meaning to tackle, and Tim spent most of his time playing video games with your father."

"With Dad?" Mike questioned with a raised brow. His father wasn't one for Fortnite or Minecraft, although he could sometimes be tempted by something retro like Pacman, Donkey Kong, or Frogger.

"I know, right?" she smirked. "It was some game you used to play, I think. Grand Theft Auto?"

Mike laughed. He hadn't had his hands on that one in a while. It might be fun to revisit it. But that wasn't on his current agenda. His plans for Joe and himself tonight would put any kind of screentime on a back burner.

"So is that where my offspring are now?" Mike asked.

"Nope. Right now, they're both out back in the vegetable garden, helping your father weed."

"Good. I'm glad you put them to work. It sounds like they had a good time," Mike said as he stepped into the house. "I don't suppose you have lunch ready?" His stomach chose that moment to growl.

"Reuben sandwiches, all set to be seared on the panini maker. I figured you might want something after your busy weekend."

"Thanks, Mom. You know me too well."

"Well enough to see that there's a little extra jaunt in your step," she observed, astutely. "Want to share?"

"How about I tell everyone together when we're sitting down to eat."

"Oh! There is good news, then," she grinned. "Should I guess?"

Mike snickered. "I don't think you could come up with this one if I gave you all day. It's pretty…unexpected."

"Must be a nice promotion or a raise," she said, turning to walk toward the kitchen, because clearly she couldn't resist testing her smarts.

"I said I'd give you deets once we're all together, so don't go poking," Mike teased, coming up behind her to watch as she put the first of the sandwiches on the grill.

"Fine," she allowed. "Then make yourself useful and set the table."

"Yes ma'am," he sassed, saluting her. "You want chips, too?"

She nodded. "Grab a bag or two out of the snack cupboard."

"You got it."

It didn't take long to have all the Reubens heated and melty. Mike opened the back door and raised his voice to call his father and the kids. "Lunch is ready."

"Saved," Tim yelled, getting up off his knees and brushing them down.

Dilly scoffed, following suit. "Like, you've barely done anything." Sure enough, the pile of weeds in front of her was easily twice as large as Tim's.

"Now, now. You've both been a huge help," Mike's dad interjected, clearly signaling an end to the bickering. "Go wash up."

The three headed for the house while Mike walked inside and snagged an introductory sandwich for himself, downing half of it before it hit the table.

"Huh. It's a good thing I made extra," his mother said.

"You always do." Mike grinned around a mouthful, swallowing in appreciation. "Delicious, Mom."

"Save some room. I made chocolate cake for dessert."

Mike, with his belly getting comfortable, gave a groan of pleasure, putting the rest of his partially eaten Reuben on his plate. "I'll limit myself to two of these, then," he vowed, although he might be hard pressed to keep his promise. His mother's cooking, rocked.

Once everyone was seated and filling their mouths with good food, Mike's mother piped up again. "So Micheal. What's your good news?"

"You have good news, Dad?" Dilly questioned, her eyes showing interest.

"I, um, do. Sort of," he prevaricated. Now that it was time to spill the beans, he was a little nervous. He even felt his cheeks, and the pate of his head, heating.

"How do you have sorta good news, Dad?" Tim asked, making no show of slowing down after his first sandwich. "It either is or it isn't."

"Well, it's good news for me. I just don't know how you guys will take it."

"Just spit it out, Dad," Dilly ordered, ever the pragmatic one.

"Okay. You asked for it." Mike drew in a breath. "I've been sorta seeing this woman, and… I've asked her out on our first date tonight."