Page 103 of Made of Steele
“Did you do the restoration work?” Drew ran his hand over a curved fender.
“Yeah, me and the girls.”
Drew spun to look at Teagan. “You like to restore cars? You didn’t say when I told you it was my hobby.”
“The subject got changed, and then it never came up again. I like to work on the engines, but I’m not keen on bodywork or interiors. Mackenzie loves doing the interiors, and Ryleigh helps with bodywork.”
Drew looked at Hugh. “You have other vehicles?”
“A few. Got a big garage out back.”
Drew turned back to Teagan. “I don’t have room to work on vehicles at my place, so I keep them at my mom’s. I’m refurbing a ’65 Mustang right now. Or at least I was before I went undercover.”
Her eyes lit up. “I haven’t worked on a car in years, but I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
Hugh held out the keys. “Want to take it for a spin?”
“Are you kidding? Absolutely.” Drew whipped the keys out of Hugh’s hands before he changed his mind. He glanced at Teagan. “You coming with me?”
She frowned. “Can’t. I have to finish my chores.”
“I can do them for you,” Hugh offered.
“Seriously?” Teagan gaped at her dad. “I think I’ve only heard you say that once in my entire life and that’s when I had the flu.”
“I know you’re running late from helping your gran and grandad this morning. I’m proud of how you pitch in all the time. How you run the company. Of you.”
Teagan threw her arms around her dad, and the man blushed as red as his pickup.
“And you’ve only ever brought home a guy for Christmas once in your life.” Hugh extracted himself from the hug. “You should spend it with him.”
“Still, I feel very honored that you would do my chores.”
“Now don’t go making a big deal of it. Don’t tell your sisters, or I’ll be doing chores all day.” He looked at his watch. “Tree cutting time in forty minutes. Don’t be late.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “And let my sisters and cousins rig the drawing? No way.”
She circled her arm in Drew’s. “Let’s get going before my dad changes his mind.”
Drew liked this day already, and it had just begun. He knew there would be other surprises, but would there be any as life-changing as the way he felt about this woman at his side?
The forested area smelled like pine and fresh air, something Drew didn’t get much of in the city. His year undercover in a dirty business left this country air somehow feeling fresher and more tantalizing. He could easily see Teagan and her family as she was raised out here with grandparents Drew could only have fantasized about.
He’d lost both grandfathers before he was walking and his grandmothers in his elementary school years. Then his dad. His mom’s mental breakdown. Was it any wonder he felt the way he did about loss? Didn’t give him a good reason to hide behind the feelings, but gave him a good reason to be reluctant to form any future attachments.
He hopped out of the utility vehicle driven by Teagan’s Uncle Gene, their other teammates, Peyton and Mackenzie, piled out of the back seat. The family, along with fiancés and boyfriends, had split up into three teams of four, leaving his mom, Teagan’s grandparents, mother, and aunt back at the house where they would select a winner.
The teams had one hour to find a tree, cut it down, and have it mounted in the tree stand at the assigned house or they were disqualified.
Two utility vehicles holding Teagan, Bristol, Nate, and Brent raced past them, yelling slurs on Drew’s team as they passed. Drew had barely had time to meet the other men, but looked forward to getting to know the fellow law enforcement or prior law enforcement guys.
“Are you going to just stand there staring?” Gene shouted. “C’mon. We have a tree to find and only fifty-five minutes to do it in.”
“I’ll grab the tools.” Peyton ran to the back of the vehicle.
“Follow me and try to keep up.” Mackenzie grinned at Drew.
She took off at top speed, likely born from years of playing in these woods and from prior tree hunting. Gene came behind them, and Peyton, carrying an ax and hatchet, caught up.
