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A voice in the background could be heard. “Is that Tate? Tate, honey, how are you?”
Tate chuckled and looked at Lara. “Lara, meet my mom, Sophie Vickers.”
“Hello, Mrs. Vickers.”
“Please call me Sophie. Tate, how are you getting on there in Glen Hollow? We’ve been reading the reports.”
He smiled at Lara and felt his cheeks heat.
“We’re getting along alright. Still working on the BRR issue. That’s why I’m calling. The BRR has targeted Lara. They have broken into her bakery four times in the last month. The last time was last night. No damage, except maybe the lock. I’m wondering if you can spare a couple of operatives to come down here and help us with additional security until we can get things settled.”
“I think we can manage that. I know any one of them would gladly come down to see their kid. What are you up against, so I know who to send?”
“Mostly, and this is sensitive, Lara’s father is a sheriff’s deputy here. But he’s gone soft on the BRR. As in, there’s something weird going on with him and them. Lara doesn’t know what it is, and we haven’t figured it out yet. We’ll install a generator here in the bakery today. That should keep her security intact. But I’d like someone here with her during the day. She’s with me at night. And Spencer is slightly impaired with his foot until he heals.”
He watched Lara’s cheeks turn a beautiful shade of red. He brushed the back of his forefinger down her heated cheek and winked at her.
His mom spoke so fast it made him laugh. “I’ll come down there.”
His parents whispered to each other, and he grinned at Lara as they listened, but couldn’t hear anything specific.
“How about your mom and me? Will we do?”
“Yes. We’d love that.”
“What do you need us to bring?”
“More security cameras. A few generators. And, can you see if RAPTOR’s cyber unit has some crack software for us to ferret out a worm the BRR installed in business point-of-sale and messaging software? We’d like to kill that worm.”
“Okay. We’ll see what we can gather. We’ll be down there tonight.”
“Thanks, Dad. Love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, Tate.”
His parents whispered again, and he ended the call just as Lara was about to say goodbye. “They wouldn’t hear you, baby. Mom’s got her mind made up, and I’d bet my dad is ambivalent about coming down here.”
“Why?”
“Because this is my operation. He’s always been that way. He lets me do what I need to do. I always know he’s there for me. It’s how I became the man I am.”
She stood and sat on his lap. “I love the man you are.”
Her lips touched his instantly and while he enjoyed kissing her, she’d just said she loved him. Well, she said she loved the man he is. Did that mean him? Does she love him? Was he supposed to say it back? Was this getting murky?
Chapter38
She meant to say he was a great man. They’d molded a great man, and she loved that. She did. But it was too soon to know if she loved Tate. Wasn’t it? So much had gone on she didn’t even know what today was, let alone if she loved someone.
She pulled away from his lips when she heard her phone ring and stood from his lap.
“This is Lara.”
“Hey, it’s Shianne. Are you open today?”
“Yes. I’m open. I just got here and have nothing fresh baked yet.”
“Okay. Can I stop in? I want to show you my dress for the ball.”
