Page 30 of The Prey
Jason knew by the look in the older man’s eyes…exactly what to say. “Averybeautiful woman. You should go for it, you know. You’re not getting any younger.”
Walters laughed nervously just like Jason had known he would. Yes, people in this fucking place were so damned predictable. Well, that was going to work to his advantage.
He had some phone calls to make, a few favors to call in. Hanan wasn’t the only one who could screw things up for someone. Jason was going to show that bastard Jason wasn’t someone he should mess with. Actions had consequences, after all.
It was time to teach that cocky bastard alesson.Jason was going to enjoy it.
21
The Barratt-Finley Creekwas always so beautiful. Gia had been there many times before. She looked at her date for the evening. Anthony looked beautiful—big, strong, well-built, blond and just gorgeous through and through. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thank you for coming with me,” he said in that super-sexy rumbly voice of his. “I appreciate it.”
She knew the truth: the man just hadn’t wanted to come alone. He’d told her flat out that he had athingfor a woman he worked with, but she was in ‘just friends’ mode right now after some seriously bad things had happened to her in a previous relationship. That woman was at the hospital now with her aunt, who had been shot recently and was still recovering. Anthony had felt he had to be there at the fundraiser, to represent the hospital where he worked.
She didn’t mind—she really liked Anthony Lake. Now they were going to dance and enjoy the night. Forget all the negative, just for a little while.
And she was going to put her confusion with Hudson Hanan aside. It had been two whole days since they’d come face to facewith Jason. They weren’t scheduled to go back to court with him until the following week, thanks to a reschedule request.
It had been six days since the barbecue when she’d come to her Great Realization that she wasn’t afraid of at least one man on the planet. She still hadn’t figured out what she wanted to do about it. Abouthim.Hudson. Damn that man—he had her all tied up in knots, and he knew it.
SheknewHudson knew it. And liked that idea very much.
Tonight was a test run.She was using Anthony in that regard, but she didn’t think Ronnie’s older brother would mind. If nothing else, she’d do her best to enjoy tonight and forget all the chaos that had happened to her family recently.
Life had been a little complicated around the ranch the last week or so. Gia hadhad to request a change of date for their next court date with the judge—after what had happened. First to Ronnie and Greer, and the birth of two precious little Hiller babies—that Anthony called Lake Monsters, considering they were also his sister’s youngest children—and…Aubrey nearly being killed by a man at the hospital.
Gia had requested time to help take care of her family. Fortunately Judge Collins was aware of the situation, and had granted the request, moving the next hearing back.
Now, Gia was here, meeting her commitment. She’d told Anthony she would accompany him to this fundraiser and here she was. She was going to do a little experiment, if she could. See how much she trusted him, too. Or if it was just one man in particular she could let close to her. Close enough to touch.
It was purely platonic between her and Anthony, though. She definitely didn’t feel platonicwith Hudson. Damn him.
Why had he had to go and confuse her so much?
“You look gorgeous, by the way. In case I forgot to say it tonight.” There was real appreciation in his eyes that were somewhere between blue and green. Her nieces had all inheritedthose beautiful eyes. His hand wrapped around her elbow—she didn’t flinch or pull away. There was no anxiety or fear, whatsoever.
She thought about that for half a moment. This man made her feelsafe.In an entirely different way than Hudson Hanan. She felt perfectly safe physically with Anthony, although he was almost as big and strong as Hudson.
But no…fire. There was no fire with Anthony.
That told her something, too.
“Not as gorgeous as you. How’s your girlfriend?” He’d been texting someone for a moment outside the hotel. With a smirk on his face that she just knew meant he was planning something big for that woman. Gia was half-tempted to warn her. Anthony on a mission could be rather relentless, after all.
“One, she’s not my girlfriend. Yet. I live in eternal hope. Two, she’s doing as well as can be expected. Her entire family is struggling. Her aunt is Lieutenant Coleson—she’s had good days and bad lately.”
And he was worried. Anthony was good at worrying about people he cared about. Fussing. He was a good man, and always had been. She really hoped the world was filled with more Anthonys and Murdochs and Hudsons and Hiller boy types than there were the kind of men she saw on far too regular basis at the office.
Maybe…maybe that was part of her problem? The cases she worked had skewed her judgment for a few years somehow? It was entirely possible.
Anthony was definitely agoodman. His ex-wife had not appreciated that. “I’m sorry. I know her family is going through a rough time.”
It was all over the news headlines, and Gia had been following it closely. She knew the other people involved in what had happened—there had been a nasty hostage situation at hergood friend Powell’s parents’ home. Powell and her fiancé—and Lieutenant Coleson—had been caught right in the middle of it. The Colesons were also a connection of Ronnie and Anthony’s sister-in-law. The news reports were almost weirdly obsessive about that family lately.
“They are, but they have each other. They’re very close.” But his face showed his worry.
“Come on, big guy. Let’s find our table.”
