Page 32 of The Plan

“He does it all the time. He was born in a barn,” Genny said. “And… your brothers are wicked hot. I suddenly think I like blond guys more than anything in the world.”

“Genesis Isabella!” Grady gasped out, looking like he was about to clutch the pearls again there at the idea. “Don’t say that!”

“But they are really super hot. So how old are they? Do they like younger women?” Greer asked. “Gia is nineteen… she’s an adult now and can date older guys if she wants.”

“And can find her own guys to date, thank you very much. Besides—" Giavonna shot a pointed look at Cam and Murdoch and Anthony. Dismissively. “I don’t like guys who punch first, talk last. It’s totally against my religion.”

“Sorry, darling. I was just supervising, anyway. I just… got hit by a spare elbow when I went to rescue Georgie-poo from Murdoch and the rose bush got me. That’s all. I am Camden Lake, the man of your dreams.” Cam bowed to her, a flirtatious grin on his beautiful face. Cam always flirted with the girls—no matter the age. He was really good at it, too. “Do you like older men? How about FBI agents? I am one of those, too. Big and strong and heroic.”

“Hero complex? So I see. And totally not interested.” Giavonna just smirked at him. This girl knew how to handle herself, no denying that.

Deputy Ward stiffened next to her. He shot Cam an appraising look that had the hair rising on Ronnie’s arms. “What field office?”

“Dallas. I currently work corruption and human trafficking cases, mostly.” Cam held out a hand to Deputy Ward. “Ronnie is my precious baby sister, obviously. Though we look nothing alike.”

Baloney. She greatly favored her brothers—except her eyes were a blueish gray and her brothers’ eyes were all their father’s mix between blue and green that all the girls just sighed over annoyingly.

Cam turned to Giavonna. “So… how do you feel about taking lonely FBI agents to dinner at the diner tonight? I will kick Anthony back home to his new bride. He’s just so boring now as an old married man. And we can just dump Murdoch in the reservoir on the way when we drive by. He’s a bit muddy and everything. Needs his monthly bath. I will even take your sisters as chaperones. You can tell me all about how wonderful Georgie is! Please?”

He smiled again. Giavonna’s cheeks turned bright red. So she wasn’t completely immune. Interesting.

“Not ever going to happen.” Grady almost growled it.

Ronnie half thought he was going to get started again. Murdoch’s knee had apparently gotten him square on. Grady looked a bit beyond cranky right now—and ready to protect his sisters from Ronnie’s dastardly brothers. Brother-pride. She just shook her head.

“No one is going anywhere,” Ronnie told them all. “Except Deputy Ward. Deputy, as you can see, this was just a case of boys acting like boys and not men. Now, we are remodeling George’shouse today. Every pair of hands is needed to get this done. So… boys… all of you… march. There is wallpaper to be stripped. Cam… quit flirting with Giavonna, or her brothers will clean your clock next. Or she might, anyway. She’s a little scarier and tougher than they are, I suspect.”

Well, they were all just standing around, with plenty of energy to spare. So… her brothers were tall men, too. That wallpaper was beyond stuck. What else was she going to do with all of them today?

It was time to get to work.

"Need me to file a report, honey?” Deputy Ward sidled closer. She forced herself to stay right where she was. This man… ick. He had no business near her, George’s sisters, or the rest of her family. Or George’s.

"What's to report? Just some men acting foolish. Apparently, my brothers have a problem with my relationship with George. I’m sure you understand. Nothing worth writing down."

"Yes ma'am." He headed for his cruiser. "Though next time, might want to take it inside. Half of Value just saw that family squabble.”

“We’re cheap entertainment,” Cam called after him. “Nice to meet you, Deputy Ward. I’m sure we’ll meet up again.”

Murdoch was on his feet now. “I seriously hate that guy. Worthless piece of?—"

Ronnie glared and looked toward the younger teenagers. It was enough. She pulled Genny up on the porch behind her. Genny was just chattering away at Anthony—and Guthrie—about her plans to go to the nursing program at FCU someday.

Mrs. Sandoval herded her sons toward their house. "Dios mío, wait until your father—" The rest dissolved into Spanish that made her boys—every last one of them older than Ronnie—wince. She had no doubt all of Value was going to know what happened here today by noon.

Good thing her parents lived in Barrattville. And well… didn’t pay any attention to what their daughters were doing, anyway.

She touched her still-flat stomach. At least their child was going to have seven overprotective baboon uncles and a father who'd just proven he could match any of them for sheer stubborn protectiveness.

Or idiocy.

She wasn’t sure which.

God help them all.

21

His chambers smelledlike old paper and that damned cheap whiskey he kept in the bottom drawer, but right now, it wasn’t doing much to settle his nerves.

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