The guys quickly got themselves sorted out and they were once more walking toward their vehicles. They passed groups of hikers every couple minutes, and Elodie was glad they’d gotten up early to beat the crowds. Her stomach growled, and she realized it was close to noon.
Without her having to ask, Scott dug out a granola bar and handed it to her.
Smiling, Elodie sighed in contentment. She was truly happy. Her life wasn’t perfect, she still had a pretty damn big cloud hanging over her head, but right now? Walking in the mud with these six men and being treated as one of the team? She was content.
Chapter Sixteen
Mustang stood under the gazebo and watched as Elodie stood with Jag at the grill and helped cook their burgers. She’d done exceptionally well that morning, and he’d been relieved she seemed to have a good time. He’d taken a risk with the hike, but had chosen a relatively short and non-strenuous one, and he’d loved seeing the way she laughed and talked with the guys.
“She’s good people,” Midas said as he stood next to Mustang, drinking a bottle of water.
She was. Definitely. “You think she’ll be all right when we head out next week?” Mustang asked.
“Yes,” Midas said without hesitation.
His immediate response made Mustang relax a fraction.
“Pid’s been monitoring Paul Columbus and all his capos and everyone is where they should be. In New York.”
“That doesn’t mean they can’t call in a hit man or send a soldier to do their dirty work,” Mustang said. It was something they’d talked about in the past, and it had bothered him ever since.
“True. But at the moment, Paul is floundering as the head of the family. Sounds like he’s got his hands full with Jerry Columbus trying to take over. I’m not saying he’s given up, because a man like that never forgets someone who betrays him. He’s also not going to want to admit that he let Elodie escape his grasp; it’ll make him look weak. But I’m thinking at the moment, her whereabouts are still a mystery to him.”
“Elodie didn’t betray him,” Mustang said harshly.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I know she didn’t, but that’s not how he’ll look at it. She was an employee of the Columbus family, and they’re expected to always obey whatever the boss says. And she directly defied him by refusing to poison that food. He’s not going to want to let that go.”
Mustang nodded and took a deep breath. “Right. I know.”
“Good. Do we have any estimation on how long we’ll be gone for this mission?”
“A week. Maybe ten to twelve days.”
“She’s gonna be okay, Mustang,” Midas said. “She’s smart, doesn’t take chances, and was able to get away from him on her own for months.”
Mustang nodded again. His friend was right. Elodie wasn’t stupid. She was extremely cautious, and she was doing everything possible to stay under the radar. He hated having to call her “Melody” when they were in public, but he understood why it was necessary. They spent a lot of time together in his apartment. Watching movies, cooking, making love, and simply enjoying each other’s company. She didn’t seem to need a lot of social interaction and he knew that was helping to keep her safe.
“Burgers are ready!” Jag called out from near the grill.
Mustang moved closer, as did his teammates, and they all filled their plates with food. He took a bite of his hamburger—and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head.
“Holy shit, Jag, this is fucking amazing!” Aleck said with his mouth full.
“Yeah, what’d you put in this?” Midas asked.
Jag shrugged and gestured to Elodie with his head. “Wasn’t me. When I went upstairs to the condo to grab the meat, Elodie was tinkering in the kitchen. That’s the result.”
Mustang beamed as his team praised Elodie and begged to know what she’d done to make the hamburgers taste so good. He’d been giving her space all day, wanting her to get to know his friends, and for them to know her. He’d been ready to step in if someone overstepped their bounds or made her uncomfortable, of course, but he’d been thrilled to see that Elodie could hold her own when the teasing got a bit intense.
“You guys are acting like you’ve never had a good hamburger before, jeez,” she said with a shake of her head.
“I thought I was a pretty good griller,” Pid said between bites, “but seriously, this tastes like we’re at a five-star restaurant.”
Elodie laughed. “Well, I was a chef at a five-star restaurant once upon a time,” she told them.
“Damn, Mustang, you better watch out or I’m gonna steal your girl,” Aleck told him.
“Not a chance, Aleck,” Mustang retorted, deciding it was time to reclaim his woman.
He wandered over to where Elodie was standing near a table filled with condiments and snacks. The second he got close, she put her arm around his waist and leaned into him, making him feel damn good.
“If you guys really want to know the secrets to a good burger, it’s pretty simple. A thumbprint in the center of the formed patty, use salt and pepper only to season, use high heat, and definitely don’t squish them down while they’re cooking. You should only flip them once; just let the heat do its thing and stop messing with the burger once it’s on the grill. And when it’s done, you have to let it rest, let the juices redistribute throughout the meat. If you cut into it right away, or bite into it, the juices will go everywhere and make everything soggy. Oh…and mix the cheeses you use. American and cheddar are fine, but I used Monterey jack to give it a bit of a bite, and muenster.”
“Aleck had muenster cheese in his fridge?” Midas asked in mock astonishment.
“Yes, I did, asshole,” Aleck said. “I might like peanut butter sandwiches and tuna, but I grew up eating at country clubs, so I developed a taste for good food. Not the slop you guys eat all the time.”
Mustang smiled as the banter flew back and forth between his friends. He leaned down and kissed the top of Elodie’s head. “Having a good time?” he asked quietly.
“The best,” she told him. “I really like your friends.”
“Good. Because I have a feeling after these burgers, your presence is going to be requested at any get-together that has food. Not that they only want you around because you can cook or…I mean, because you’re a chef, but…oh shit. I’m gonna stop talking now before I put my foot any farther in my mouth.”
She chuckled. “It’s okay. I know what you mean. And honestly, it’s fun to cook for friends or with you. I’d lost my love of cooking for a while. Making meals for a crew of twenty or for patrons in a restaurant isn’t the same. It gets monotonous quick.”
“I can imagine. You thought about what you want to do when this Columbus business is over and behind you?” he asked.
“No.”
Her answer was short…and almost bitter sounding.
“El?”
She sighed and looked up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just…I can’t think past today. I have no idea what my future holds, and the last thing I want to do is plan for something and then be disappointed when I have to give it all up and run and hide again.”