Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run 6)

“Hello, Mr. Grady,” Beverly said, voice still polite. “How do you know Zane?”

“I’m his partner, ma’am.”

The warmth and charm that seemed to exude from Ty at all times were missing. He was being gracious, but almost cool to her. It was obvious to Zane that what he’d said about his mother in the past was coloring Ty’s behavior toward her, whether Ty meant for it to or not. But Beverly treated everyone like that. Zane figured she wouldn’t think anything of it.

“His partner?”

“Yes, Mother. And it’s Special Agent Grady, not Mr. Grady.”

“Oh, I see. I wasn’t aware you had a partner, Zane.”

Zane just smiled, not willing to give her a chance to start an old argument. She was baiting him, pure and simple. When she didn’t get the response she wanted, she turned to Ty.

“Please, come in.” Beverly indicated the sitting room to her left. “Tell me what brings you to Texas, Mr. Grady.”

“Well,” Ty said, glancing back at Zane with a furrow of his brow. He was obviously wondering how much he should say, and probably how nice he had to be. Zane waved permissively—go for it. “Zane told me his father was shot.”

“And that brought you all the way from Washington?” she asked, sitting primly in the armchair that faced the couch. “Just to see your coworker?”

“Mother, you know full well it’s Baltimore, and Ty’s not just my coworker, he’s a close friend.”

Beverly folded her hands in her lap. “I thought perhaps he’d brought some work for you. You do claim to be important to that place.”

Ty looked between them. He cleared his throat, meeting Zane’s eyes, and he pointed to the bag by the door. He held his hand against his chest, where only Zane could see it, and mimicked holding a gun. “I did bring work.”

“I see,” Beverly said, her voice still cool. “I was under the impression that Zane was to be at home with his family.”

“Ma’am, I was under the impression that he’s been at the hospital with his family. Weren’t you there?”

The change that came over Beverly’s face was like a storm cloud passing over a clear blue sky. For once, she’d been struck speechless. No one in the area had the nerve to say such things to her, and no one in the family bothered anymore. Zane knew she’d dig in the spurs any chance she got, but he hadn’t expected Ty to shoot back. The pointed words from his partner, and the quiet way Ty was standing up for him, warmed him in a way he knew he should have been ashamed of.

But he needed to curtail it before it went further. He knew what Ty’s sharp tongue was capable of, and he knew his mother. Rather than waiting for the next verbal stab, he turned Ty toward the stairs.

“Mother, I’m going to take Ty to meet Dad. We’ll talk to you at dinner. Come on,” he said to Ty.

Ty turned with him, pausing to nod at Beverly. “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” he offered as he followed Zane to the stairs.

“Dinner is at eight o’clock sharp,” Beverly called after them.

Zane didn’t slow until they reached the second story landing and the small sitting alcove that led toward a set of double doors to the outside. He stopped short of opening them and turned to Ty. “That was the first time in years I’ve seen someone do that to her.”

Ty ran his hand down Zane’s arm—a gesture he reserved for when he felt Zane needed comforting. “I’m sorry. It kind of slipped out. I promise I’ll be good.”

“It was spectacular,” Zane whispered, smiling and pulling Ty closer, palming Ty’s lower back as he reveled in the kiss. He couldn’t express in words how much Ty being here meant. “But yeah. Try to be good so she doesn’t banish you, huh? Dad’s a lot easier. And drugged to the gills on pain meds.”

“Right.”

Zane smiled as the rest of his mother-related tension melted away, and he led the way out to the porch. Harrison was sitting right where Zane had left him.

“Hey, Dad, I want you to meet someone.”

Harrison turned his head and watched them approach. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t get up,” he said, his gravelly voice even lower than usual. “This a friend of yours, Z?”

Ty waved his broken hand out by his hip and stepped closer. He held his left out to Harrison. “Ty Grady, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The difference in his tone with Harrison was night and day to his tone with Beverly.

Harrison shook Ty’s hand. He glanced up at Zane and back to Ty. “Z’s partner?”

“Yes, sir.”

Harrison smiled. “Wondered if you’d show.”

Zane blinked. “What?”

“You talk about your partner, Z. You’re closer than you let on.”

Zane glanced at Ty, surprised to feel himself blushing.

Harrison looked at Ty. “You’re playing hooky from work to be here, aren’t you, son?”

Ty smiled. “Yes, sir, I suppose I am.”

“Why is that?”

“Zane’s always there when I need him.” He met Zane’s eyes and added, “What sort of partner would I be if I weren’t here now?”

Zane grinned.

“Have a seat,” Harrison said, waving at two chairs in the informal grouping.

They settled in, and Zane began to relax. Ty had apparently passed his dad’s inspection, and his dad seemed content to let the conversation go at that. He never had been one for idle talk.

Zane looked to Ty. “Did you eat on the way here? We’ve got a few hours ’til dinner.”

“I had three peanuts on the airplane; I’m good,” Ty said, deadpan. “It really is like surface-of-the-sun hot here, huh?”

Harrison snorted a laugh. “Why don’t you two go on and get him settled in. No need to stay here until dinner.” Zane opened his mouth to protest, but Harrison talked right on. “I’m well enough, Z. You’ve been on your feet for days now. Take him and show him the ranch. Get some peace and quiet before dinner comes around and your mother starts in on you again.”

Ty looked to Zane, prepared to take his cues from Zane until he got a feel for the lay of the land. Classic Grady, studying his prey in its natural habitat before striking.

“You know what? I’m going to do that and leave you to face Mom’s wrath,” Zane said, standing up. “Ty put her in her place just now.”