Page 20 of The Chase
Kurt took the bold approach.The woman was just getting more and more difficult tofindlately. And he was running out of extra cell phone numbers. He was just lucky she hadn’t filed a restraining order against him yet.
That was the one thing giving himhoperight now.
He called the number listed for the Hiller Ranch. And got right through. For a moment, he thought the woman who answered the phone was Greer.
Then she identified herself as Genny.
Greer’s older sister. The cute little pixie with glasses. The one everyone was talking about lately, after the attack at the hospital. Poor kid had almost died. That had to have terrified Greer. She adored her big sisters.
He was worried about her. No denying that. “I am just calling to check on her. Greer. She’s been hard to find lately.”
“Let me guess, she’s blocked you again?”There was a note of humor in the voice very much like Greer’s.“Maybe you shouldn’t have been a total turd to her. My sister has the sweetest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. And you broke it, you jerk. You’re going to have your work cut out for you now.”
And then the woman…just hung up on him. Apparently, poor phone manners were a family thing. Well, nothing worthwhile was ever easy, right?
Kurt dialed again. The same woman answered. “Listen, honey, I know I’ve been a total ass to your sister. But she scared me, that was all. The way I feel about her. I just really need to talk to her about something.”
“Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you.”
Why did he get the feeling that the woman he wanted was probably right there, telling her sister exactly what to say? Didn’t women do that kind of thing? Kurt was no expert on women though. “Well, can you tell her that I am sorry? That I’ll do anything to make it up to her? That I just want a chance to talk to her. To see her. To explain.”
He heard a suspicious sound that was he almost one hundred percent certain was a whisper. Yes, his woman was right there. Listening. “Ask her what she says about that. I know she’s there with you now.”
More whispering.
“She says you’ve already had your chance, you toad. And she wants nothing more to do with someone who would hurt someone for revenge against her brother. That’s just wrong and mean.”
“I know. And your brother had nothing to do with me and Greer. The exact opposite, actually. I told myself to stay away from her, but…I couldn’t resist. She pulled me right in. I just want to talk to her. Is that so wrong?”
“Greer says you are a master manipulator, and you are not getting near her again. If you keep pestering her, you can talk to her attorney. That’s our big brother George, by the way. Georgereallywants to talk to you right now. We all know exactly what you did, you big jerk.”
“I’m sure he probably does. And tell your sister, we’ll be speaking long before that. I am repainting the master bedroom. Your sister’s favorite color.”
“You think she’ll ever see it?”
“I sure am hoping. I miss her. Tell her that for me?”
“Maybe she’s right. Maybe you are delusional. It has been ten weeks, pal. Move on. Move on.”
“No. I’m just the man who is head over heels in love with your sister, who did something entirely stupid, and now regrets it. I want nothing more in the world than to have her with me, loving me again. You tell her that for me, okay? Tell her…I’m going to love her forever and spend the rest of my life making it up to her. No matter what.”
“Goodbye, you lunatic. And good luck. I think you’re going to need it.”
And damned if the little pixie didn’t hang up on him again.
15
That rat.He had no business calling her now when she was finally starting to feelsomebalance. Genny was watching her, with a questioning look on her face. “You probably aren’t going to be able to put him off forever. He sounds seriously determined. And…you are going to have to tell him about the whole Kurt-spawn and everything.”
“I don’t believe him. It’s just…revenge…or something.” And the man was relentless. He called her—or texted her—at least twice a week. She kept meaning to report him for harassment or something, but…in that secret part of herself, she almostexpectedhim to call. Just so she could hang up on him again. And Genny was right. She was going to have to tell him eventually.
“Somehow, I don’t think so. I mean, guys act stupid sometimes—when they panic.”
Great. Now Genny was the expert on romance. “Just because you and Chad are engaged or something…not all guys aregoodlike Chad and our brothers.”
“No. That they aren’t.” Genny rubbed her shoulder and grimaced. “I learned that the hard way recently.”
Greer winced. She hadn’t meant to bring that back up. She knew her sister was having nightmares about what had happened to her. “I’m sorry.”
