Page 19 of Fighting His Fate
“I’m not with you, I’m with the babies.”
He cocked his head. “Whatever dress you want to put on a duck, sweetheart. It’s still a goddamn duck.” He looked away. “That’s our ride.”
Sure enough, the distantthump-thump-thumpof a helicopter could be heard approaching. He got out and quietly closed his door, and she did the same.
“Why didn’t you tell him?” he called over the vehicle.
Her stomach knotted tightly at his question. She was here to help Toby and Theo. There was no shame in that. But there was shame in the attraction she felt toward Brett. She was standing in a field with this man, two babies nestled into the backseat, about to fly into Manhattan in a helicopter. He knew damn well why she hadn’t told her boyfriend, and it irked her to no end that he was rubbing it in her face.
The helicopter was getting closer, and she raised her voice to be heard over the noise. “He wouldn’t like me hanging out with you. He’s seen you in action, just like I have.”
“Seen me in action. What the hell does that mean? You act like I’m running a stud service out of our driveway. I’m just a regular guy who lives next door and has a few female friends over every once in a while.”
It was her turn to laugh. She got closer so she could be heard, walking around the truck. “A few female friends. Do you actually believe that, or is that just a line you’re telling yourself? Because I know better. I see the skid marks in the driveway. I see the empty beer bottles on the deck railing, day after day.”
“So I enjoy a few drinks and a little female companionship, and you appoint yourself judge, jury, and character witness. Is that right? You don’t know anything about me, princess.”
Her stomach fluttered at the nickname, and she sneered. “Don’t call me that.”
“Nurse Ratchet it is, then.”
“If I’m Nurse Ratchet, you’re the crazy guy getting electric shock therapy.” She was yelling to be heard over the noise, the absurdity of her statement and their argument in general both striking her at once.
The chopper landed. Brett held up his finger between them and yelled in her ear, his voice barely audible, “He was the only one in the whole damn book who wasn’t crazy. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” He opened a door and took out a car seat.
Damn it, he was right. She’d forgotten that part. She moved back to the other side of the truck and grabbed the other car seat.
“Keep your head low,” he barked, gesturing for her to duck.
“I know!” She’d been around plenty of helicopters on the helipad at the hospital. She climbed into the chopper and turned to him. “We need the car seat bases.”
“I’m on it.”
She picked up a pair of headphones, relieved when the noise instantly diminished, then started when a male voice spoke directly into her ears. “Good morning, ma’am. I’m Dire.” She spun around, finding a beefy hunk of muscle with dark sunglasses waving to her from the front of the cockpit. “I have to say, what a pleasure it is to finally meet Champ’s wife.”
11
The chopper flewlow over the foggy landscape, the day dark and stormy, lights standing out as if it was dusk. The babies were strapped into their car seats between Grace and Brett, her eyes fixed on the view out the window as her thoughts turned inward.
Brett couldn’t be married. He’d lived next door to her for more than a year, but she’d never seen the same woman twice, nor heard mention of a wife. He must be divorced, but why would his coworker be completely unaware of such a big change?
It was weird, to say the least. She couldn’t picture him as a husband, one half of a pair. It didn’t go along with her vision of him as a selfish, egotistical prick.
Come on, Grace. Be honest with yourself. You haven’t thought badly of him in quite a while.
Her pulse sped up as she remembered the feel of his palm on her inner thigh. She definitely hadn’t been finding him lacking in that particular moment. On the contrary, she’d liked him far too much.
She cursed her ridiculous and inappropriate attraction to this man. What was it about him that made women melt like butter?
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Yes, that’s exactly what she should do. When they returned from this jaunt into the city, she would make sure Brett had everything he needed to care for the boys and quietly make her exit. Get that wall back between them where it belonged. Get back to her life with John.
Her throat clenched at the thought of her boyfriend. Would he be upset with her for helping Champion and not answering his call?
Only if you tell him you could feel Brett’s touch zing all the way up your leg.
She pulled out her phone and texted him. CAN’T TALK RIGHT NOW. I’M HELPING A FRIEND. MIGHT BE A COUPLE OF DAYS. LOVE YOU.
