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He knew it. “Sure. It’s part of that farm you bought.”
“You can jump the fence in the old cow pasture and follow the tractor path down to the stand. It’s right by the shoulder of Old Mill Road. Wait for me there. I’m coming to pick you up.”
“I don’t want to involve you in—”
“Tough. I’ll be there in fifteen.”
He frowned. “It’s at least a thirty-minute drive from your place.”
“I said what I said.”
Relief coursed through Ryan’s body at the prospect of Jake’s assistance. Then another thought struck him. “Wait, what if I can’t get into the structure? What’s the backup spot?”
Jake laughed. “You’ll be able to get in. Olivia kicked the lock off the door when she and Trent were on the run from the FBI. That’s actually how I ended up buying the property. The absentee landlord sent me a bill to repair the lock on that falling-down shack and I took the whole place off his hands.”
Despite his predicament, Ryan grinned. “Classic. See you in fifteen, and thanks, Jake.”
“Don’t mention it. Stay frosty.”
Ryan ended the call and crossed the dark road. Jake had said ‘jump the fence’ as if it was a daily activity. It might be for the rest of Jake’s employees, but not for him.You can do this. You dunked on Omar the last time you played one-on-one.
Hehaddunked, but he had a sneaking suspicion the old middle school basketball court near the Khan family’s home didn’t have its hoops set at regulation height. Still, how hard could it be to climb over a fence?
He slung his laptop bag across his chest, rolled his neck, and shook out his legs. It was time to find out.
2
Ridingin her brother’s giant Suburban was akin to driving around on a couch, Leilah Khan thought as she nestled against the passenger seat headrest and allowed her tired eyes to close. Leilah’s cars were built for speed, not comfort. She was accustomed to feeling every bump and curve when she drove. Ordinarily, she’d tease Omar for his SUV’s stodgy performance. But she was exhausted. Too fatigued to engage in the time-honored pastime of ribbing her sibling.
Omar, however, wasn’t too tired to needle her. “I can’t believe you’ve sunk your claws in Hayes,” he said. “Hope he knows what he’s getting into.”
She opened her eyes halfway. “My claws? What am I, a bear?”
He seemed to consider the question seriously. “No. A lion. Lioness? Tigress? Some kind of fast, ferocious feline.”
She bobbed her head from side to side as she decided whether to argue the point. But the comparison wasn’t inaccurate, so she accepted it. The rest of Omar’s statement was pure crap, though. That, she would address.
“Listen, I know Ryan’s your best friend. I’m not going to hurt him.”
He side-eyed her for a moment before returning his attention to the road. “Simmer down, I’m only kidding. Well, mostly kidding.”
“He was so worried about how you’d react if we got together.”
“I am worried. I just told you. I’m worried you’re going to break his heart.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, you doofus. He was worried you’d think it was inappropriate for him to make a move on your little sister. You know, some brothers are protective that way.”
The dig wasn’t entirely fair. Omar was protective of her. Or he tried to be, at least. She’d spent her entire life rejecting his efforts to baby her.
“Wait, wait.Hemoved onyou?I would have bet a month’s pay that you made the move.”
“Gee, thanks.”
They were silent for a few seconds, then she laughed. “I guess I did. I mean, I didn’t. But he thought I did.”
Omar raised an eyebrow. “How’s that work?”
“I reached over to unfasten his harness after the ride-along. He thought I was leaning in for a kiss, so he planted one on me.”
