Page 29 of The Chase
“My step-sister’s, actually. She and their father passed away recently. They live with me now.”
“I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I’m Hala Hanan, Mr. Chase. I teach kindergarten at the Value Elementary.”
That meant she’d be the girls’ teacher someday. Then her last name registered.
“Hudson’s sister?” Gene’s attorney was a big ox of a man, standing a good six-six and weighing three hundred twenty pounds of solid muscle. He made Kurt feelpetite.
This woman was a little elf-looking thing whomightbreak one ten.
“Yes. I’m also Greer’s best friend since kindergarten. So I knowallabout what happened.Everything.All the details. Greer is in the backyard. I can go get her.Ifyou promise not to be a jerk.”
“Nonsense,” a female voice said from behind her. “He can come in, as long as he promises he’ll behave himself. There is plenty of food. Mr. Chase, do you promise not to do anything to upset my daughter today?”
Greer’s mother was right there. Watching him like she could see his every sin. Judging him. This woman—his brother had lived with her before. Inthishouse. While Kurt had been so far away in another corner of the state.
“Yes, ma’am. I just need to talk to her. I’ll be on my best behavior. I have to set a good example for these two, after all. I’ve mended my ways. I swear.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Then she was leading him into the backyard. Where the rest of the Hillers and their guests waited, ignoring her son’s protests behind them all the way.
22
Her mother sayingher name got Greer’s attention from where she was talking with Ayla. Greer turned—to look into intense brown eyes in a far-too-handsome face.
No. Not today. She had actually been having fun today. She’d been flirting with a hot blond doctor she’d known for ten years. She was happy.
Kurt stood there, that precious baby girl strapped to his chest, and the older girl by the hand. He knelt down and said something to her, and she took off across the yard, toward the other collection of preschoolers and toddlers, and the inflatable lawn toys they had.
Bailey Addy, the sheriff’s wife headed to Kurt’s side. They were friends, she’d thought he’d said before. As was the sheriff. The sheriff held his baby in one arm and shook Kurt’s hand with his other hand.
Bailey nodded, and took off—after Kurt’s little girl, her own toddler in her arms.
Then…Kurt was coming right toward Greer. A sleeping baby girl attached to his chest.
Greer wanted to do one thing—but she knew better than to even try it. Her mother would probably clobber her if she made a scene in front of her family’s guests.
“In my experience,” Aubrey said, next to her. “It’s best to meet trouble likehimhead on. Get it over with. I can stay with you, if you want?”
No. Greer had to face him by herself. Time to stop being a wimp. “I’m going to deal with him myself.”
Greer started across the yard toward the man who had changed her world completely.
The ass actually reached for her. He wrapped his fingers around her elbows and just held her right where she was.
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you. I really need to talk to you.”
“Why? So you can tell me more lies?” He still wore the ridiculous baby carrier over that ridiculously fit chest of his. He jiggled the baby until her eyes drifted closed completely. And looked…perfect…while he did it. The toad. “I don’t trust you one bit.”
“Can we go inside and talk? It’s a bit loud for her out here. She’s been a bit fussy, from an ear infection this week.”
She shot a look around. All of her visible brothers were watching. Genny and Chantal and Ayla and Aubrey, too.
Grady and Hala were arguing by the corner of the back patio. Hala was practically blocking Grady with her own body. No doubt he wanted to shred Kurt right now. He had always despised Kurt. And had been insanely protective of her…since that day.
She should have listened to Grady when he’d gone on and on about Kurt, going back as far as high school. But were Grady’s hands really on Hala’s rear end right now? That would cause a sensation—especially if Hudson saw.
