Chapter Thirty-seven
Blake started breakfast for everyone the next morning, showing off his cooking skills. Pleased but not surprised, his helper, Charli’s grandpa, knew more about cooking than he’d ever learned from the culinary shows on TV he sometimes watched.
The two worked together, he cooked the bacon and eggs, while John whipped up some of the best blueberry waffles he’d ever tasted.
The five of them sat around the breakfast table, pretending a nonchalance that soon became real. Poppa John, as Charli called him, told stories about the old folks at the lodge that had them all laughing, and the relaxing atmosphere did more for their morale than anything else could have.
Soon, after tidying their places, the girls decided they needed to catch up on some homework since Charli refused to let them go to school. And Charli retreated to the gym off the master bedroom, declaring she needed to work off the two waffles she’d devoured.
Left alone with the person he most wanted to question, Blake opened the conversation. “John, I hope you’re willing to help me understand Charli better. She’s beautiful, great with the girls, and a cop I’d be proud to have on my team, but there’s a definite hand’s off signal that blares whenever I try to get close to her.”
John chuckled. His good brown eye held a conviction that threw Blake for a loop. “Hell, son, she can recognize a hound dog when she sees one.”
Taken aback, not sure if he should be offended, Blake questioned, “What do you mean, hound dog?”
“You know blasted well what I mean. A playboy, woman’s man, operator, call it what you will. You’re a high flyer, boy; you’ve got your ATP pilot’s license, no doubt about it.”
If John didn’t have a big grin on his face, Blake would have been insulted. He sensed the man teased, but with a serious streak of intention, letting him know he was no man’s fool.
“Charli’s got baggage like most women today. But her baggage is hers, not mine to share. I sense it matters a great deal to you so I’ll not tease anymore. Just know this; my girl can smell a fake from a mile away. The fact that she’s let you get close goes in your favor.” John narrowed his eyes and his tone hardened. “If you’re her match, then you better treat her right. Man to man, you mess with her and I’ll shoot you where you dangle, see if I don’t. Now tell me how you’re going to keep those girls safe from that scumbag who wants them dead.”
Before Blake formed a comeback, his cell rang, and it was the ring tone for a call he had to take. “Thanks, John, for being honest. I’m not playing around with Charli, so you can put your gun away. I’m in so deep; no other woman will ever satisfy me now.”
“I know. That’s why I never punched you in the nose when I first entered the house. I may be blind in one eye, son, but I see real good out the other.”