Page 53 of Hot Damn
“Hey, Hawkeye. Whit tells me you’ve lost your mind and want to add another kid to your bunch for the night,” I say when we’re close enough I don’t have to shout.
“Hey! Yeah, the twins are loving hanging out with her and asI’ve dragged them away to this ‘godforsaken hell’ away from all their friends, I figure I should at least help them out when they find a new one.”
“Godforsaken hell?” I ask with a grin.
“Cassidy’s words. She’s the one I’m having the most trouble with.” He glances around to make sure his little sister isn’t close. “If it wasn’t for the fact I know this is the best thing for all of us, I’d pack up and go back to Minnesota.”
“You know if you need help with anything you can call me. I might not have had three kids to deal with at your age but I had Whit so I might be able to offer some advice on things.”
“Thanks. Gem’s been a huge help. She’s the reason I’m ducking out of here early. She knows the little one doesn’t sleep at all if she’s not in bed by nine.”
“Need help getting everyone to the car?”
“Nah, we’re good. Gem’s on her way. She just needed to tell Oakley something.” Chase looks at the twins talking excitedly with Whit. “You letting her come with us? I’ll make sure she’s up and ready for school.”
“Yeah. But I’ll swing by in the morning and pick them all up. I want to speak to the principal anyway.”
“Oh? Whitney’s not in trouble, is she? She seems level-headed to me.”
“No. There was an incident with her car while we were away and he helped her. I just want to thank him in person.”
“Ah, right. Okay, well, I’m good with that plan if you’re cool with it.”
“I am.”
“Here’s Gem now.” He tips his chin to indicate someone behind me.
When I turn around, I’m shocked by who he’s referring to. I thought Gem was a nanny or babysitter or something but it’s Natalie Redding. GM of the Rogues…and the name clicks.
I have no idea when Chase started calling her that or if he doesit all the time and I’m not sure I want to ask although my curiosity is definitely tripped.
“Beckett. Do I need keys or anything for Whitney to collect her car?”
“Ah, no, I’ll come by Chase’s in the morning and pick all the kids up for school.”
“Are you sure? It’s no trouble driving to your house then home,” she assures me in her no-nonsense manner.
“I’m sure. I’ve got some business at the school in the morning and I’d rather let Ray and his man have the house to themselves right now to work out what I need to update the alarm system.”
“Did Detective Clark call you yet?”
“No.” As if her words conjures him, my phone rings with an unknown number. “This is probably him.”
“Take it. We’ve got Whitney handled. If you come a little earlier in the morning, I’ll have some breakfast for you and I’m sure she’ll need clothes and her school bag.”
“Shit. I didn’t think of that.”
She waves me away with a hand and says, “Answer that, bring her things tomorrow morning. I’m sure we can find something for her to wear tonight and that’s all she needs.”
“Are you sure?” I bounce my gaze between them as my phone continues to ring.
“Of course,” Natalie says with a smile.
Chase gives me a chin lift before he heads over to his siblings and Whit.
“She’ll be fine, and it’ll be good for her to spend some time with some of her Rogues family.” Natalie cocks her eyebrow in a way that says don’t argue, you know I’m right.
Holding up a hand, I chuckle. “Okay, okay, I get it. We need to make the effort to build connections.”
