Page 97 of The Secrets She Keeps

Gunnar obliged, reminding himself he couldn’t just demand answers from the family inside. He hadn’t even heard any of them mention Heather’s brother-in-law when he’d been there before. As far as he’d known, the man wasn’t in the picture.

Gunnar had thought he was dead.

Apparently not.

“DNA samples came back,” Gunnar said, pulling little Raine up on his hip. She was such a sweet little girl. He’d like a daughter, with Powell’s big brown eyes and perfect wicked grin, if that’s what the baby was. Or a little boy, like Jago, who was eyeing him suspiciously right now.

It was starting to sink in fast that he’d have one of these little creatures of his own in September.

“Again…what about?” Miguel asked.

“We have the DNA results back from Heather’s clothing, and we have questions,” Daniel said. “It has revealed a few surprises.”

No damned kidding.

Before anyone could say anything else, the front door opened, and Coleson women tumbled out. There were Colesons watching now, including some of the ones Gunnar was looking for.

“Commander Butthead McKellen,” Summer said in that rich, smooth voice of hers. Gunnar would admit it—if he hadn’t had it bad for Powell, he could see going stupid over Summer Coleson too. Summer had that samesomethingabout her that Heather did. That drew men.

Wars were fought over women likeher.

Of course, he had yet to meet a Coleson woman who wasn’t just like that.

“I am beginning to think you have bad taste in friends, Detective Erickson,” another Coleson woman said. The gremlin. Hope was there, hair in two shaggy pigtails again. She was up, moving, but she looked exhausted. “Miggy’s kids are really cute, so we’ll let him in. This time.”

“Mama!” the baby yelled from Miguel’s hold, reaching. For Hope. She’d done that the last time Gunnar was there, as well. “Mamamamamama!”

“Mama Hope. That is so flipping hilarious,” another Coleson said, but Gunnar couldn’t see which one. They just sort of swarmed them all—to get to the kids.

Summer took the baby from Miguel. “I’ve got her, Hope. You, no carrying, remember.”

“I can hug first, right?” Hope reached for the baby. “She still has her little hat on, and the overalls are so wicked cute. Hi, baby girl. I missed you.”

“Mamamamamama.”

“She likes the hat. Jago wanted to dress her in the overalls. Rain picked out the shirt and shoes,” Miguel said. “You shouldn’t be up moving around too much, brat.”

“The doctors in my house said I couldifI took a nap after we brought Heather home, Miggy.” Hope said, glaring at him. She glared at Miguel a lot. Gunnar had noticed. “I slept for two whole hours. Not that it is any of your business, dude. Why are you here again?”

“I am here to keep an eye on your sister—and you—until Heather feels better. She never should have left the hospital. And I’m beginning to think you need a dozen more keepers.Bothof you do.”

“Dude, have you seen how much a stay in Castle FCGH costs? I understand why she checked out of that hotel.” Hope glared up at Miguel.

“AMA.” He glared back. “She should have stayed.”

“Three nurses, two doctors, and a hovering Cara in a pear tree. We have her covered. Who made you a Heather keeper, anyway?”

“Someone has to keep an eye on the two of you. I suspect it’s a lifetime job.”

“He does have a point, Hope. He does have a point,” Cashlyn said.

“Wait a minute?” Daniel said, drawing Coleson attention his way. Coleson evil eyes, mostly. All five of the women out there stopped what they were doing to glare at Commander Butthead. “She checked out against medical advice?”

“Is that relevant?” Cashlyn asked, sniffing derisively in Daniel’s direction.

“What am I thinking? Of course, she did. She’s the most stubborn woman on the planet. Of course, she did.”

“Heather is on the top five Stubbornest Colesons on the Planet list, you understand. Crispin, Heather, Megan, Summer, and, well, apparently, I have made that particular list, oddly enough,” Cashlyn said, shrugging. “We argued with her to stay and take advantage of the not-so-wonderful food there—but, well, I don’t know if you gentlemen realize this, but TSP health insurance isn’t that great. And Heather does have two baby Colesons to support—those small human things just aren’t cheap, I’m afraid. And her previous Wilson-induced bills are already drowning her, as it is.”

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