Mental y squashing that thought, Gracie answered, “Yeah, they’re real y from a car accident.”
June clucked her tongue. “You look awful y tired, young lady. Everything okay?”
It warmed he
r to know the woman cared enough to ask. “I’m fine, real y. Just have a lot going on lately.” Boy, wasn’t that an understatement!
June pointed a finger at her, her tone turning motherly. “Are you stil working two jobs? I thought we talked about that. You need to stop letting your dad lean on you so much.”
Gracie grimaced. June always did have a way of getting straight to the heart of the matter. “I know, June. I wil , I promise. It’s just . . . hard.”
June glared at Wade and Jonas. “You’re her friends. Can’t you see she’s working herself to the bone?”
Jonas shifted, as if uncomfortable under the woman’s scrutiny. Wade merely grinned and took Gracie’s hand in his own. “Gracie tends to do what she wants, ma’am.”
June’s head shot up, pride fil ing her gaze. “That she does, that she does.”
Turning her attention back to the reason they were there, Gracie asked, “So, June, I’m curious how many employees you have. I have a friend whose daughter was looking for a job.” Wel , it was just a little lie.
“We’re a smal operation, Gracie. The two stock boys and Traci are real y al we need. But tel her to come fil out an application, and we’l be sure to keep her in mind.”
“Thanks, I wil . Two stock boys?” Gracie pointed to the guy in the far aisle, who was stil stocking canned goods. “I only see the one.”
“That’s Matt. Good kid. He’s going to school. Some sort of art program. George is the other. He’s a whiz with computers.”
Gracie’s heart sped up, and Wade’s hand tightened a fraction. She wiggled her fingers, and he relaxed his hold. “George?”
June nodded. “Yeah, George Lusk. He doesn’t work on Tuesdays. This is just a part-time thing for him. He comes in on Mondays to help with the new shipments, then every Wednesday and Friday.”
“I see.” Charlie handed her the wrapped meat and cheese she’d requested. Gracie smiled. “Thanks for the freebie, Charlie.”
“Anything for you, dear.” He looked over at Wade, noticing the way his hand was wrapped around hers. “Take care of our girl. I’d hate to see any harm come to her.”
“Yes, sir, I wil .”
After paying for the cheese, Gracie fol owed Wade back out to the truck, Jonas trailing close behind. Wade lifted her in the air and placed her on the bucket seat, then waited quietly while she scooted to the middle, making room for him to slip in behind the wheel. Wedged between the two men once more, Gracie mul ed over June’s words. Wade put the truck in gear and drove out of the parking lot. She couldn’t help but notice the way his sexy thighs flexed beneath the tight jeans he’d pul ed on that morning as he worked the clutch and gas, his powerful hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. She peeked out of the corner of her eye and realized Jonas was every bit as pensive, every bit as on edge.
Both men’s demeanors had changed as soon as they’d left the store. In that moment, Gracie could so easily see why they’d decided to become soldiers.
“So, what did you think?” Gracie asked, desperate to break the tension-fil ed silence.
Wade gripped the wheel harder. Gracie was very much afraid he’d rip the thing right off the dash if he weren’t careful. “I think I’m going to see what I can find out about Lusk,” he snarled. “I want to look into Matt, too, but I don’t think he’s our guy.”
Jonas slung an arm over the back of the seat and looked over at Wade. “And we should fil Detective Henderson in, too. Maybe he can do some digging.”
Wade didn’t reply. Instead he asked, “Are you busy tomorrow, Jonas?”
Jonas grinned, but it wasn’t a pleasant look in the least. “Free as a bird. What do you need?”
“After I get Gracie to work, you and I are going to see what else we can find out about George.”
Jonas winked at her. “You got it, man.”
Gracie didn’t like the sound of that. What exactly did Wade have planned? “Find out more? What are you planning, Wade?”
Wade sent her a hard look before turning back to watch the road. Gracie shivered. There hadn’t been any warmth in his eyes. He was cold, lethal, and appeared ready for battle. The transformation startled her.
“There’s nothing to worry about, baby. Jonas is going to work his magic on the computer. We’re going to see what we can dig up about both guys. I’m going to do a little surveil ance. If George is our guy, we’re going to need to find some proof. Something to connect him to you.”