Page 15 of The Prey
Ryan hadto go to the restroom as soon as they were back at the prosecutor’s office, and he made that very known. Gia held him by the hand—he didn’t want to let go of her—and took him on her way back to her desk. His father had already headed for his own office, to get prepped to talk to the men from the public defenders’ office. Hudson had had a strangely shaken expression on his face—and had been a bit distracted there as they’d been leaving the diner.
She probably could have scooped Ryan up and kept him forever, and Hudson would have just nodded at that moment. She hadn’t asked questions. She just escaped when she could. Escaped the dad, not the kid.
Her suit was covered in small-kid-sized handprint syrup stains. It was a good thing she was staying in the office for the rest of the afternoon. If she’d had court, she’d be running home getting a clean suit, for sure. There was no hope for her hair—it took a while to put it up, since it was so long and thick.
And she suspected there was syrup in her hair, too.
Her silk blouse was modest enough for a day desk bound. Shayna and Jackie, the clerk, both wore similar all the time.She could pull her hair up with a rubber band, but those things pulled when she took them out.
She just…didn’t feel comfortable without her suit jacket and her hair pulled back like normal. Her battle armor mattered to her, probably more than it should.
Well, maybe it was time that changed.
She slipped her jacket off and tossed it next to her desk. Ryan was ready to go—he had plans involving his play fort his daddy had built for him, she’d heard. And he was trying to wheedle Hala into taking him out to Gia’s ranch to see the litter of puppies. Ryan Hanan really wanted apuppy.He’d told Gia all about that desire.
Hala seemed reluctant to go anywhere near the ranch today. More reluctant than Gia had ever seen her. She suspected she knew why—Grady.
Something was going on with Hala and Grady. They had probably argued; Grady had said a few stupid things last week. He could be a bit of a clueless doofus occasionally, but she adored him. He saw Hala as an extension of Greer, and had acted extremely overprotective of Greer since what had happened when she was nine. Gia suspected some of that had transferred a little to Hala.
Maybe alotto Hala, actually.
“Okay, we’ll swing by there and see if Mr. Gunn and Mr. Gene will show you the puppies. But I know the truth—you want to hang out with Calvin, don’t you?” Hala said.
Ryan shot Hala and Gia a grin that was his aunt through and through. “Yep. Goodbye, Miss Gia. Will you hug me one more time before I go?”
Of course she would. She scooped him close and twirled him just a little, to make him laugh. “Goodbye, Mr. Ryan. I’ll see you later. Count the puppies for me, okay? Make sure none have wandered off.”
He hooked his arms around her neck. “I love you, Miss Gia.”
“I love you, too, pal. Forever.” She whispered it right back. Hala was just watching them, a contemplative look in her eyes just like her brother would get sometimes. “You have fun with Calvin and the puppies, okay?”
9
“Holy hell,Hudson, what did you do to Giavonna at lunch?” Mike asked, while he and Hudson were preparing for the next meeting. “I have never seen her look likethat.”
Mike was a few years older than Hudson, divorced, with three kids around Ryan’s age and younger. Mike was the officenice guy.Everyone said so—and everyone got along well with him. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Hell, yes, he did. Both men watched her as she hugged Ryan again. Her hair was down everywhere. She wore that thin little pink blouse that showed every perfect inch of her. She looked…damned intriguing right now.
“I didn’t realize just exactly how gorgeous that woman is. Why in the hell does she hide behind the furniture here lately?” Mike asked in a tone that made Hudson want to slug him.
“Probably so guys like you…don’t realize how gorgeous she isat the office.” Hudson fought the urge to growl at a man he certainly considered a friend. “She’s a professional.”
“No denying that. But just look at her. She’s flat outhotand I never saw her quite like that before. I think maybe I was blind for a little while there.”
Hudson couldn’t help it. He growled, and looked at her. As she scooped his son up and spun him lightly. She smiled, her entire face lighting up. She was beautiful. And Mike wasn’t wrong—she was damned hot. In every way.
“I didn’t even realize she liked kids that much, Hudson. I never knew. Hell, I havethreeof them.Three.Including a cute little baby girl she can cuddle all she wants. Gia can come visit them this weekend. I’ll even feed her dinner. As long as that hair is down and she?—”
“Back off, Mike. Don’t even go there.”
Mike smirked at him, then settled into the chair across from the desk. There was a knowing, appraising look in his friend’s eyes. One that told Hudson he’d probably just gottenplayed.Of course, Mike was a shrewd man, after all. “So…that’s how the wind is blowing, then? You already knew her little secret, didn’t you? You’ve known her since she was a kid, she told me once. And isn’t that…your boy and your little sister with her now?”
“Giavonna and my sister are close friends, yes. And Giavonna helped with Ryan after we were in the accident recently. I’ve been friends with her brothers sinceshewas Ryan’s age.” He struggled hard to keep his warning out of his tone. He had been told many times before that he was a very primitive man at heart. Now he could add possessive to the list. At least where a certain woman was concerned. He didn’tlikeother men looking at her. Even for a moment. Hell, maybe he was afraid another man would see immediately what Hudson had missed…for years? “Ryan adores her.”
“But how does Ryan’s daddy feel about her? I also heard through the grapevine you…stayed with her brothers all last week? And she’s moved home recently, Shayna said. Was she there at the Hiller Ranch with you, too? Things getting a little personal perhaps? Can’t say I blame you…”
Hudson bit back the growl. “Can it, Mike. We have work to do.”
