SEALED with a Kiss (Midnight Delta #4) by Caitlyn O'Leary Read Free Book Online Page B

going to do that.  Jack is going to pick us up.”
    “Would it be awkward if I was there too?  Frannie had asked me if I could do some baking tomorrow at the pantry.  She said there was a school carnival going on, and more people were going to need to pick up things at the pantry than normal.”  Sophia crossed her fingers underneath the table.
    “No, it’s cool.  Like I said, you’ll really like her.  After all, she got me an A in social studies.”
    ****
    M ason had insisted on joining her saying he could help out with the pies.  Bless his heart, he was good at many things, but baking wasn’t one of them.  As soon as they got to the food bank she suggested he help Tony and he jumped at the chance.
    Even though Jack had picked up Billy before Mason and she had left that morning, they still weren’t there.  It was odd since Rebecca only lived five miles from the school.
    Finally a grim faced Jack, a shaken Billy, and Rebecca showed up. 
    “Please don’t be mad, Mr. Preston,” Rebecca said.
    “What?” Jack turned to the girl.  “Honey I’m mad, but not at you, you know that don’t you?”
    She shook her head.
    Billy stood beside her, and she took a step closer to him. 
    “I’m mad because they didn’t provide you with a key and you spent the night outside on the porch.”
    “But you said I should have called someone—the police.  So you’re mad at how I handled it.”
    “No, he’s not.  He’s like Drake.  He has a code.  He’s being protective.  Now he’s going to go ballistic on their asses.”  Billy smiled at her, she bumped her hand against his, and he grasped it.  She held on. 
    “Rebecca, I’m so sorry I said that.  I wasn’t thinking,” Jack’s voice was extremely gentle.  “I should have realized how I would have come across to you.  Thank you for being brave enough to speak up.”
    She looked at Billy for confirmation.  He nodded.
    She smiled at Jack.  “I’m sorry for misunderstanding.”
    “There is absolutely nothing for you to be sorry about, it was on me.  I was angry, but I should have made it perfectly clear it was at your foster parents for not taking care of you properly.”
    “It’s no big deal.  What’s really important is they had the younger kids with them.”
    Sophia stepped forward. 
    “Hi Rebecca, I’m Sophia, Billy’s sister.  I have to say you’re being very generous to the people who left you outside all night.”
    “They probably meant to leave a key under the mat.”  It was clear she was covering for them.  Mason stepped up beside her.  Rebecca’s eyes got wide. 
    “Let me introduce you,” Sophia said.  “This is Mason Gault, he works with Jack.  He’s basically Billy’s older brother.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Rebecca.” Mason smiled.
    “Drake told me about you.  He said you would be mad at him if he didn’t follow the SEAL code.”
    “What code is that?” Mason asked with an easy going grin.
    “That you have to take care of women and children who are in trouble,” Rebecca answered.
    “He’s right.  If he doesn’t follow it, he’d be in trouble.”
    “I thought he might be kidding.”
    “Oh no, it’s real.”  Jack shared a smile with Mason.
    “Rebecca, there’s a place for you to wash up above the diner a couple of blocks away if you want,” Sophia offered.
    “There’s no need,” Billy said.  “Jack got her into the house.  She was able to shower and change clothes.”
    “Good man, Preston,” Mason said.
    “Rebecca, why don’t you come with me?  I need some help getting started on the pies I need to bake.  The guys can start unloading the trucks and stocking the shelves.  Do you bake?”
    “A little.”
    “That’s great.  Frannie and I can use all the help we can get.  And not from Mason,” Sophia teased.
    Rebecca looked at Billy for confirmation.
    “It’s true, she needs help and Mase sucks.” 
    “Okay.”
    “You’ll love Frannie,” Billy assured her.
    ****
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