Page 10 of The Chase
She had been doing everything she could for over almost a month and a half now to forget that man and what had happened. It wasn’t easy.
Yet people were talking about him now, everywhere she went. It would be a lot easier if he would just move to the moon or something. But he just wouldn’t. And he was everywhere she turned lately.
She hadn’t ever recalled running into that man around Value before. She had recognized him, of course, everyone in Value practically knew everyone else, after all. But their paths hadn’t crossed that closely since that day alongside his road.
She should have climbed in her car, locked the doors, and called Gene theinstantshe’d realized that it was Kurtland Chase walking over to her that day. Just kept as far away from that toad as possible.
Greer had known Kurt and Gene didn’t like each other, even that day. She’d been in the diner once when the two had had words. She’d overheard the argument and had just chalked it up to two arrogant men who both thought they knew everything being idiots. Now…now she realized it went deeper than that. She had never asked why. She had tried in Gene’s truck that day, but her older brother had been so angry she hadn’t really gotten a clear answer.
All Gene had said was to stay away from Kurtland Chase no matter what.
Now she wished she had pushed, or asked one of her other brothers or Gia why. Someone had to know.
Kurt had always just said he and Gene hadpersonality clashes.Then he would distract her. Usually by kissing her. Touching her. He’d played her completely.
The rat had played her. She was one hundred percent certain of that.
And the entire town was buzzing: Kurt was adopting two little girls—family, or something, who’d been orphaned and practically dropped on his doorstep. Completely out of nowhere.
Even though he’d told her he didn’t have any family left at all. That was probably another lie, too.
Kurt was good at lying. He justwas.
He’d called her and gotten through four more times since she’d told him to go eat turds weeks ago. Each time he’d said he wanted totalkto her, that if she’d just let himexplain,that there was something he needed to tell her. She’d blocked him each time. But the butthead had multiple cell numbers. He was the third-biggest rancher in Barratt County, after all.
Right afterherfamily. He had multiple phone lines.
Of course, it was about some sort of competition. He’d just been messing with her all along.
“You are preoccupied again,” a quiet voice said behind her. “You need to spill.”
“I’m just…still feeling jumpy from earlier.” And from…Kurt. That man was probably going to haunt her forever.
“No kidding. But…you handled yourself like a goddess,” Hala said, then grinned at her.
“That guy didn’t see it coming,” Ayla said, giggling a little as she sank into the large armchair in the living room. Ayla’s sister Aubrey and Greer’s sister Genny had been at Aubrey’s getting ready for a fancy fundraiser at the Barratt Finley Creek. Greer and Ayla and Hala had helped them get ready, then stayed with Ayla until Aubrey had come back.
Aubrey had been followed though. And the night…a disaster.
Greer and Genny had brought Ayla and Aubrey to the ranch for the night. Just to be on the safe side. Greer did have three beautiful big brothers who all lived at the ranch, after all. That guy wouldn’t dare show up looking for Aubrey there.
Hala’s smile faded. “I think she should press charges, though. Make sure he doesn’t do it to someone else. Not that that ever really means anything.”
Hala was speaking from experience—she’d had a guy attack her in her apartment one day, and he had somehow gotten out of serving any time for it at all. Even though Hala’s brother was now the county prosecutor. Hudson had been with the county attorney’s office then, too. Greer had never understood that. Something just didn’t add up—she’d heard Hala’s utterly gorgeous big brother say that a time or two before. Gia had said so, too.
Greer nodded. Aubrey should. A guy had followed Aubrey and Genny home from the hospital fundraiser they’d had to go to tonight. He’d been drunk and angry and saying horrible things to Aubrey, and about Aubrey that still made Greer’s skin crawl. “Maybe Gia can convince her or something. We could call Murdoch and give him the report, too.” George’s brother-in-law Murdoch was a detective with the TSP. He’d know what to do. “Or let’s get Chan to come over. Maybe she can talk Aubrey into telling Charlie.”
Gia and Genny’s bestie Chantal lived at the ranch next to Greer’s family. They’d been friends for decades. Her older brother Charlie worked with Murdoch. “Tell someone.”
“I think she’s too scared,” Hala said, softly. “Of upsetting everything. I don’t think Aubrey is as confident as she tries to portray, Greer. I think she’s just putting on a front for Ayla. Gia agrees.”
From what Greer knew about Ayla and her older sister that made sense. “I don’t think she’s ever had anyone else to depend on besides Ayla. I don’t think she knows she can. I think that’s why she’s so fierce over Genny.”
Aubrey had stepped right between that drunk guy and Greer’s sister when Genny had gotten too close. Protectively.
“Well, we’ll just make sure we take care of her and Ayla, too. Everyone needs someone. A family. It doesn’t have to be because of biology, either. I know…you Hillers have been my family ever since…the accident.”
“Before. You have always been my sister of the heart, you know. I just…now I think you should marry one of my brothers so I can make it legal, okay? You can have your pick.”
