Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
He felt every eye on him. “It’s personal. A neighbor of mine needs some help.”
They both sat back, and everyone seemed to take his statement at face value. It was good to have a reputation as a guy who helped a lot of people. It was normal for him. Nothing to look at here, Taggarts.
“What’s the good deed this time?” Alex asked. “Perhaps we can take care of it for you. I know you’ve been out in the field a lot lately, but it’s hard to send the…now that I’m saying it, it doesn’t exactly feel fair.”
Boomer shook his head. He knew exactly what Alex was talking about. “I know it’s easier for me to travel. It’s okay. Everyone else has a family.”
“You have a family,” Hutch insisted.
“I know.” Hutch especially could be touchy about the subject of family and the fact that it didn’t have to be blood. Hutch was in the same position Boomer was in. His mother was dead and his father hadn’t understood the meaning of the word. “And you all know how much I love you guys, but I don’t have a wife or a girlfriend, and I don’t have kids.”
“We all do the same job,” Hutch said quietly.
“It’s not my responsibility to take on more travel, but I’m usually okay with it,” Boomer insisted. He liked to travel. He was kind of the go-to guy if someone needed quick backup. “But this is important to me, and I’m going to ask to stay here in Dallas for a couple of weeks if that’s possible.”
“I can take it.” Michael sat up. “It’s been a long time since I went out in the field. Boomer’s covered for me more than once so I could have time with my fiancée. Besides, she and my mom won’t even know I’m gone.”
Michael was marrying Vanessa Jones, and apparently planning a wedding was a big deal. The gorgeous former actress was up at MT at least once a week to show Michael some floral arrangement or get his input on invitations, so Boomer was pretty sure she would notice.
“Mike,” Boomer began.
Michael held up a hand. “It’s fine. I’m serious. She and my mom and Nina are having a blast planning this wedding. If you’re asking for time here, it’s a big deal for you. It’s more than you offering someone a ride or watching your neighbor’s pets.”
Charlotte’s head had tilted as though she was looking at him from a different angle. It was the way a predator might consider prey. “Michael’s right. If you’re willing to even slightly inconvenience someone else, this is serious.”
Tag was suddenly watching his wife. “Oooo, what do you smell, baby? You smell a story, don’t you?”
“Who are you helping out, Boomer?” Hutch got in on the game.
“Hey, it doesn’t matter.” Theo always had his back. “He’s helping someone. Case closed.”
“Spoilsport.” Erin rolled her eyes her husband’s way.
“Does it have anything to do with why you were in the day care today?” Charlotte asked. “I was heading in to talk to Mary about helping Travis with an art project this afternoon and you were walking out. I wondered why you would need to talk to her.”
“Boomer has a kid?” Big Tag’s eyes had lit up.
“He does not have a kid,” Theo argued.
“He could have a kid,” Hutch countered.
“A secret baby.” Charlotte seemed super pumped at the idea. “I love a secret baby.”
“I don’t have a baby.” Of that he was absolutely certain. He’d been a follower of Tag’s condom advice long before Molly had become its spokesperson.
“It’s about a woman,” Liam said with his Irish accent, looking up from his tablet for the first time. Li was one of the original MT seven. The company had been started by Ian and his brother, Sean, Jake and Adam, Alex and Eve, and Li. Sean had gone on to become a celebrity chef. Jake and Adam had formed their missing persons company with Big Tag’s sister-in-law; her husband, Simon; and Jesse and Phoebe Murdoch. Alex and Eve and Li were the only OGs left with Big Tag.
He was also probably the smartest when it came to solving a problem. Li could figure out complex issues when it came to human motivation.
Boomer kind of wished Li wasn’t here now.
“Why would you say it’s about a woman?” Erin looked to her longtime partner. When she went out in the field it was always Li O’Donnell backing her up and vice versa, and had been for years.
Li pulled off the reading glasses he’d been using and set them on the table. “Well, look at him. Does Boomer usually wear a button-down shirt? No. He wears polos almost exclusively. But you know what you can’t do with a polo?”
“Stab someone,” Big Tag offered helpfully. He had his phone out and was obviously texting.