Maverick (The Family Simon 3)

I…” Charlie had nothing. “I don’t know. I mean, he’s never mentioned any of his family really, other than his brother. He just said that he had to go home because of an emergency.”

“Can you imagine if he is one of them? They’re like famous. Oh my God and the one brother is married to that country singer right? Donovan James.”

“I don’t know.” Charlie wasn’t big on following pop culture, not with everything she had on her plate.

But Rick had mentioned something about country music. Hadn’t he?

Ava was nodding excitedly as she led the way into Charlie’s office, where there was a television set for Connor when he was there with her.

“One of the Simon’s, the political guy got married last year to Donovan James and then Beau married that Barker girl on New Year’s Eve.”

“How do you know this stuff?” Charlie asked, irritated and not really knowing why.

“I read People Magazine when I’m at the doctor or the dentist.”

Ava reached for the remote. “Apparently one of Beau Simon’s brothers was rescued or something. I don’t know the details, other than he’d been held hostage overseas. Why in hell he was over there, I don’t know.” Ava’s eyes widened comically. “Maybe he was kidnapped for ransom or something because that family is loaded.”

“Wow,” Charlie murmured, as Ava flipped through the channels until they found one that served twenty-four hour news.

Breaking News scrolled across the bottom of the screen in bold, and Charlie turned her attention to the news anch

or as he read his script.

“Today the Simon family welcomes home one of their own. Teague Simon, a former Navy Seal, along with several men who were reportedly part of a military unit, were taken hostage over two weeks ago. There are reports that the unit was operating deep in Syria, though it hasn’t been officially confirmed. What we do know is that five of the six men have been returned to US soil, while the whereabouts of the seventh is unknown. According to an inside source, the rescue mission was launched three days ago. Teague Simon, a well-known photojournalist and brother to actor Beau Simon and to Jack Simon, a rising star in the Democratic party, has been released into the care of his family and no comment has been given at this time.”

A picture flashed across the screen just then and Charlie held her hands over her mouth. It was a photo of a bunch of guys on a beach, all of them arm in arm, smiling into the camera.

“Holy. That’s hotness overload.” Ava pointed to the man on the far right. “That looks like Rick, right?” The man in the photo was younger and his hair was longer, his body leaner, but those eyes and that mouth were unmistakable.

“I don’t know,” Charlie said, shocked and unsure.

Her cell phone went off and she pulled it from her coveralls without thinking. She fingered it for a few seconds, and when she tore her eyes from the TV and glanced down at her phone, her heart took off like a rocket.

It was Rick.

“I’ve got to take this Ava.” But her friend was engrossed in the report and Charlie hurried out to the shop where she’d have some privacy. She took a deep breath and pressed, answer.

“Charlie?”

“You sound like you need a hug.” And he did, which made her heart turn over.

“I need more than a hug, but hearing your voice is a good start.”

She had to take a moment, and exhaled slowly before answering. “I’m glad. I’m here.”

“I was going to call earlier, but there’s been some stuff going on and—“

“I know, Rick. I just saw a report on TV. I know about your cousin. I mean, I know who he is.” She swallowed. “I know who you are.”

There was a long pause and then he swore, his voice rough. “Shit, Charlie. I wanted to tell you in person. You have to know that it wasn’t a secret or anything. Not really. I’ll fill you in when I see you.”

“Okay.” Truthfully Charlie didn’t know what to think, but thinking was something she could do later.

“I know this is asking a lot, but can you do me a huge favor?”

She nodded and whispered. “Sure. Anything.”

“Hold on,” he said. She could hear him speaking to someone in the background, the sound muffled as if he had his hand over the phone. After a few seconds he was there in her ear, his deep voice so familiar and already something she ached to hear.