The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Author:Jennifer Lynn Barnes [Barnes, Jennifer Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2019-05-06T18:30:00+00:00

Free hid first. We ordered Duchess and Saskia to stay by the tree and let NATO loose. Sass and Her Ladyship were not always the best of friends, but I was fairly certain they wouldn’t get into it with each other today.

“Find her,” Jude told NATO.

Our boy practically shook with glee. This time, when he followed the trail, he’d find something. We’d make sure of it. As the K9 worked, nose to the ground, Jude and I fell into silence.

“So,” Jude said finally, drumming his fingertips absentmindedly against the side of his leg. “Gabriel Cortez. Intriguing fellow.” When I didn’t reply, he elaborated. “Might I be sensing some sexual tension?”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Just tension, then,” Jude said quickly. “Right-o.”

NATO took a sharp right and began picking up speed. Jude and I hung back but picked up our pace as well.

“You have to be wondering,” I said, turning the tables on Jude and stealing a look at him out of the corner of my eye. “About Cady’s past. About what it means for you.”

Jude gave me a long, considering look. “I asked Mom about my father once.” He paused. “Just once. It was right before you came to live with us. I had formed theories, you see, mostly involving astronauts, but also the occasional space alien taking on humanoid form.”

I could see a teeny tiny Jude saying exactly that.

“She told me that she’d loved my father, and that he’d loved her, and that she knew for a fact that he would have loved me. And that was it. She neither confirmed nor denied his astronaut status, but that night, when I went to get a glass of water from the kitchen, I saw her. She was crying—not sobbing, exactly. It was more like her eyes were malfunctioning—leaking. I remember thinking that the leak might never stop.”

Even as a child, Jude would have eaten his own hand to keep from seeing Cady like that again. He never asked for more than you could give.

“I’ve been keeping secrets from you.” The admission slipped across my lips.

“I know,” Jude replied airily.

That was all it took for the secrets to come pouring out. I told him about Gabriel’s maps and notes, about kidnapping and assault. I almost told him about the conversation I’d had with Cady the night before, but I hesitated. That might not be my secret to tell.

“I think Cady would answer your question now,” I said instead. “If you asked her who your father was.”

“And that,” Jude said, “is exactly why I won’t ask. She’d answer, but it would cost her. And for what?” He tweaked the end of my ponytail. “I have all the family I need.”

Up ahead, NATO dropped to his belly, pushing his head under an old log and letting out a joyful bark.

“Methinks he doth found something,” Jude said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Or rather, someone.”

“Get off of me,” Free said, shoving NATO gently as she pulled herself out from her hiding place. “You big, slobbery mess,” she crooned, pouncing on him as she made it to her feet.

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