Page 8 of Until Presley

“Napping right now, Uncle Ham. Want to babysit later?”

“No.”

Presley pushes herself behind me, but I pull her around. “Hanna, this is my girl, Presley.” I introduce them.

I know I’m going full Walker on this girl. I gave him hell when he met Hanna. He was hooked the moment he saw her, but she took a lot more convincing. I get it now. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep this little sprite by my side.

Presley stiffens before she reaches out for Hanna’s hand. “I’m not his girl. We just met.” She tries to laugh it off, but I wrap my arm around her middle, and she melts into me.

“That’s how it works.” Hanna laughs. “I’ll be seeing you soon. We need to get the boys home and in baths before they sleep for too long.”

“Good luck with that. See you, Walker.” I wave at him as he climbs up into the driver’s side, and they take off.

Walking back to where I met her this morning, she’s quiet, and I can tell she’s going to try to deny what we both know is happening. I’ve never felt anything like this before, and I’m not going to let it go. I know what I want, and it’s her. No question.

“Ham.” I hear someone call my name as we walk toward Presley’s car.

I turn to see Julia, a nurse at my brother’s care facility. She’s asked me out a few times, but I’ve always declined. I glance down at Presley, who is staring at Julia. I look between the two women, and there’s no doubt in my mine who I’d choose every time.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” I lift her chin to meet my gaze. She nods before moving her eyes past me to where Julia is waiting. I turn and walk a row over toward Julia.

“Hello, Ham.” She blushes as she reaches for me, pulling me into a hug. I try to pull back, but she manages to wrap her arms around me and tips her head back, waiting for me to kiss her.

I disengage her arms from around me. “Julia, I’ve told you. I like you as a friend,” I say. An engine revs, and I swing around. “Fuck.” Presley’s little Beetle is pulling out of the parking lot. “I’ve gotta go.”

I run for my Jeep and take off after Presley. I knew she was a flight risk, and I let her out of my control. There is only one person I can think of who can help me, and I dial his number.

“What up?” Walker’s deep voice comes across the line.

“I lost her. Julia stopped me, and Presley got away.”

He chuckles. “Why do you think I played dirty and took Hanna’s phone?”

“I couldn’t get it. Plus, I didn’t want to come off creepy like that.”

“Oh well, brother, I don’t know what to say. Are you following her? Did you finally tell Julia enough is enough?”

“I tried. I was in the process when Presley high-tailed it out of the parking lot.”

“I think Hanna has an uncle who can help if you don’t find her. You got her full name?”

“Yes,” I say, racing through the streets, but I don’t see her. Not wanting to cause an accident, I slow down and head home. “I don’t know when I’ll see her again. I could hang out at the pier until they return. Or you could give me the contact information for the professor who hired us.”

“Nope, he won’t give you her information. He was very protective of her. He asked me if you were a safe guy.”

“Shit. What the fuck am I going to do?”

“They are going out in a week without us to retrieve the tracking satellite markers from their previous expedition.”

“I can’t wait a week!”

“Guess you’re going to have to, unless you can think of another way.”

We say our goodbyes, and he hangs up as I park in front of the garage.

I walk up the path to the front door. When I enter, I notice my mom is in the kitchen, cooking dinner. I walk over and lean down to kiss her cheek.

“How was your day?” she asks, and I shrug as I head toward the stairs.

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