“Marc has told me so much about you. It’s nice to meet you, Mia.” Apart from being tall and having brown hair, Megan didn’t resemble her brother. She struggled to take Jackson out of his high chair, but he didn’t want to come. “He needs anap.”
A shorter woman with darker hair waved to Mia, a little girl in her lap. “I’m Janet, Jack’s wife. This is our daughter, Lily. She needs a nap,too.”
While Janet and Megan put the kids to bed, Nate gave Mia a tour of the house. There was the living room with its enormous fireplace of river rock. There was the two-story library with its own fireplace. There was the gym, the home theater, the sauna, and enough bedrooms for friends and extended family, all of it tastefullydecorated.
“This is the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.” Mia was just beinghonest.
“Thanks,” Nate said. “We’ve put a lot of love and hard work intoit.”
“Marc said you lived in a little cabin. I was expecting no heat, an outhouse, andspittoons.”
Nate chuckled. “Thatjoker.”
By the time they returned to the kitchen, lunch was on the table, the scents making her mouth water. A pot of chili. Salad. Cornbread.Butter.
“This looks delicious.” Mia caught Joaquin’s gaze, shared her amazement with him in a glance, only to watch himsmile.
He was used to this place. Shewasn’t.
“Have a seat, and help yourself,” Jacksaid.
Mia did just that—and had to fight not to moan, flavors exploding across her tongue. Beef. Tangy tomato. Cumin. Onion. Black beans. Beer. “This isdelicious.”
“I told you he wasn’t kidding,” Joaquinsaid.
They talked through the meal, Nate and Joaquin ribbing each other the way men did when they were friends, Janet and Megan asking Mia questions about her job. Mia was surprised at how relaxed she felt. She’d met Joaquin just one week ago and Jack only last night, and still she felt like they were oldfriends.
Only after they’d finished their meal did Jack bring it up. “I hear you’ve had a hard time of it lately, Mia. I’m sorry about that. Hunter said he couldn’t tell us everything, but I gather you witnessed some top-secret bullshit in Iraq and someone is trying to get back at you for that. He called you a hero, and that means a lot to us coming fromhim.”
“It sure as hell does.” Nate’s expression went serious. “He’s one of the most courageous men Iknow.”
Headsnodded.
Jack went on. “You don’t have to talk about what happened last night unless you want to. I just wanted you to know that you’re safe here with us. We want you to heal and relax while you’re here, so please let us know if there’s anything we can do foryou.”
Mia’s throat went tight. “Thank you. I don’t know what tosay.”
“Say you left room for dessert.” Jack got to his feet. “I baked a chocolatecake.”
“He makes a mean chocolate cake, too,” Joaquinsaid.
The cake was delicious, and soon it was Mia who needed a nap. She and Joaquin had just thanked Jack and the others for the meal and their hospitality when Jack’s phonebuzzed.
“What’s up?” He scowled. “Huh. Well, hell. Let ’emin.”
He ended the call, his blue eyes looking into Mia’s. “There are a couple of FBI agents at the gate. They want to ask you somequestions.”
Mia’s stomach dropped. Were they here about the case—or were they investigating her for divulginginformation?
Janet touched her hand to her husband’s arm. “They’re just doing theirjobs.”
Jack gave a noncommittal “hmph” and got to hisfeet.
Nate grinned. “My old man has no love for feds—except for the woman hemarried.”
Mia stared at Janet. “You’re a federalagent?”
Janet nodded, her lips curving into a smile, as if this were funny. “I’m a former FBI special agent. Jack once threw me off hisproperty.”