Chapter 7
Greer was still feeling edgy. It had been weeks since she’d done something stupid, but she just couldn’t seem to escape mention of Kurtland Tyson the Toad Chase, no matter how hard she tried.
For one thing, her sister had told her Kurt had been the biggest donor to the hospital tonight.
Genny didn’t know what had happened between her and the rat—Greer didn’t have any intention of telling her either.
Now she was at her family’s ranch, with all of her besties and her sister’s bestie—and her sister, Genny.
Gia was on her way—and so was Chantal, Genny and Gia’s bestie.
They were going to have an old-school slumber party and…
convince Aubrey to call the cops for what had happened tonight.
Genny was trying to get the bleeding stopped on Aubrey’s arm again now.
It had been bleeding for at least two hours.
Greer had more important things to worry about than Kurt.
Even if he had texted her a week ago, asking her to go with him tonight. The man texted or called at least twice a week. She just ignored him every single time.
She was not going to even think about Kurtland Chase tonight.
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 the instant she’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 had personality 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 just was.
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 to talk to her, that if she’d just let him explain, 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 after her family. 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.”
“It would have to between Gunn and Guthrie, then. And Guth is too old for me. But talk about hot, hot, hot. They all grew up so pretty—even the butthead one. And well…Gunn would drive me crazy in a week. We both know that.”
“Gene?” Thirteen years older than Hala, that wasn’t too bad, right?
Except…Hala was probably way more mature.
And Gene could be a bit hard to handle for any woman.
He needed one with a fiery temper who would call him out the moment it was needed.
Hala would make a great mom to Greer’s nephew Calvin though.
She was already a great mom-substitute for her own nephew, Calvin’s bestest friend in the world Ryan.
“No…while that brother of yours is very hot, beautiful, sexy, etc., etc., and I do mean that completely—I would murder him in an instant the first time he turned…stubborn. I think he has a thing for Chantal, anyway. Just look at him.”
Hala was far more stubborn than Gene, though.
Greer kept that part to herself. But…Gene was running his hand over Chantal’s back.
Teasing her by playing with the end of her braid.
And there was definitely something in the way he was watching her.
It didn’t really surprise her, considering what had happened to the two of them recently.
Greer still woke up panicking that they hadn’t been found in time.
That Gene and Chantal had been killed that day.
She had to remind herself that Chantal was okay, safe. Nothing was going to happen to her again. Gene had definitely changed since then, too. He wasn’t glaring at Chantal like she was his mortal enemy any longer, either. So that was a good
She looked at Hala and whispered. “I think those two are beautiful together.”
“No kidding. But…look at those two over there. Talk about beautiful people. Wow.” Hala tilted her head to where Guthrie was taking care of Aubrey at the kitchen island.
They were far enough away they couldn’t hear what Greer and Ayla were saying.
But she saw what Hala meant. There was just something about Guthrie and Aubrey…
“They would be so beautiful together. So sweet. But…Hala, that just leaves Grady for you, if Gunn’s out of the running.”
Hala pretended to gag as she looked at Greer’s big brother. That man just stood off to one side looking at them all like they were aliens or something. Crowds had never been easy for him—especially in his home territory. But at heart…Grady was probably her most sensitive brother. Her sweetest.
To be honest, she could see him and Hala being together. They were both just genuinely good, kind people. They just…happened to bicker with each other constantly whenever they got in range.
Greer had never quite figured out why. Her mom had said recently the two of them would figure it out between them one way or another, now that Hala was going to be around more, since she’d moved back to Value.
Her mom had promised she was going to see to it.
Her mom was up to something where Hala was concerned. Greer just couldn’t figure out what.
Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it.
Kurtland Chase Enterprises.
Of course; way to really ruin her night.
Hi, honey. Just texting to see if you were okay tonight. I heard about what happened to your family and Chantal Fields recently. You need anything? Are you safe?
Before she could stop herself, Greer hit reply.
Of course I am safe. I am with my brothers. And I don’t need you. Never in a million years, you toad. Go eat flies.
And she blocked this number, too.
Just how many cell phones did the man have, anyway?
There was a knock on the door. The pizza had arrived. And she was starving.
She was going to focus on her family and her friends tonight.
She didn’t have room in her life for one Kurtland Chase. Period.
Now…Hala and Grady were arguing over who was answering the door. Greer should go referee. And try to figure out exactly what her mother was up to with Hala…