RJ chuckled. “One step in, and Cooper goes down like a rock. The guy we were chasing? He just stops, turns around, and starts laughing so hard he can’t even run anymore.”
Mac shook his head, trying to suppress a grin. “Cooper was not amused, let me tell you.”
“And the best part,” RJ added, his laughter contagious, “is that by the time we caught up, Cooper was stuck up to his knees in mud, yelling at the perp to ‘come back here and take his arrest like a man!’ But all the dude did was ask him if he needed a tow truck.”
Dale laughed, the image of Cooper floundering in the mud too funny to resist. “Please tell me someone got a picture.”
He knew his brother would also love to see them. Coop and Cas had once been on the same team.
RJ grinned wider, nodding. “Oh, there are pictures. Trust me, they are going to be blackmail material for years.”
Dale shook his head, chuckling along with the rest of them. “I can’t believe I missed that one.”
“Don’t worry,” RJ said, clapping Dale on the back. “We’ll get you in on the next mud pit adventure. Just don’t forget to pack your waders.”
The room erupted in laughter again, the lightheartedness a welcome reprieve from the tension that had settled over them in recent days. Ranger sniffed the floor for crumbs, letting out several ‘woofs’, and even Mac, the fearless leader, usually themost serious of the group, couldn’t help but crack a smile at the retelling of Cooper’s antics.
“I feel for you,” Sadie said, patting Cooper’s shoulder. “I used to do things like that all the time. I was the queen of awkward situations.”
Coop smiled at her. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Now you’re the queen of sweetness.”
Dale agreed, watching the beauty blush. There were a lot of things about the woman that were sweet, including her taste.
Inhaling inwardly, he worked hard to push that thought away before memories of their hot night together had a chance to take hold. “So, what’s the plan for my dad? Is the safe house ready for him this afternoon?”
Dale planned to pack a suitcase for him when he ran next door to get changed. Then he’d return to Sadie’s to lend Mac and Cooper a hand installing the system in the house, while Dean and RJ finished up with the garage and apartment.
“Yes.” Mac nodded. “Everything’s set. Carter, Tyler, and Rylee are there and aware of your dad’s arrival. Dante and Dex are out on assignment, and you know where Sinjin and Hunter are. I got a SITREP from those two an hour ago. Everything is quiet. Property and horses are undisturbed.”
“Okay. Good.” He nodded, relief easing the tightness from his shoulders just knowing there would be several ESI agents in the building where his father would stay.
But he wasn’t as relieved about the no incidents at the ranch. He’d secretly hoped someone had tried something last night because of the two shadows guarding the place. The perp or perps would be in custody right now—or dead—and his father and Sadie would be safe.
“Talk to your brother yet?” Dean asked, lifting his coffee mug.
Dale nodded. “Yeah. This morning. I hope I convinced him to stay put and that we’ve got this situation handled.”
The men grunted.
“Yeah, Virginia Beach is a long way from Harland,” RJ said, before taking a drink.
Cooper snickered. “Good luck. Cas put the S in stubborn.”
Sadie grinned and set a hand on Dale’s arm. “He gets it from your father, although I’m pretty sure it’s a Taylor family trait.”
A round of chuckles echoed through the kitchen, then gave way to a companionable silence as they finished off their donuts and coffee.
“All right, time to get to work,” Mac said, rising to his feet along with his crew.
RJ and Dean retrieved their equipment from the front room and were about to open the back door when they stopped.
Dean’s brow furrowed, glancing out the window on the door. “Wasn’t the garage door shut when we arrived?”
Dale’s heart dropped to his boots. Dammit! His gut had sensed something was up. Why the hell hadn’t he listened to it?
Because you were in a hurry to get back inside with Sadie, his mind answered.
“It was shut when I let the dog out a half hour ago,” he informed.
