by Jamie Begley
“I’m not a chicken!”
“You’ve been pretending to be sick; that sounds like a chicken to me.” Greer stared at him without sympathy. “You think you’re the only one who’s been picked on? Shit, the first pair of shoes I wore to school was an old pair of Tate’s. They stunk up the whole classroom. They made fun of me every day.”
“Did you punch them when they made fun of you?”
“I couldn’t. Pa said if I got in trouble in school, he would give me a whipping when I got home. It was hard not to. Silas was in the seat behind me, and he would make fun of me behind my back, making gagging noises that made everyone laugh.”
“How did you make them stop? Did you take the whipping your pa said he would give you and hit Silas?”
Greer gave his nephew a mocking smile. “Nope. The teacher couldn’t take the smell anymore and bought me a brand-new pair. Gave them to me in front of the whole classroom.”
Holly swallowed at how embarrassing that must have been to Greer’s ego.
“What did you do?” Holly asked softly, becoming caught up in the story of Greer’s past.
“I thanked her and put the shoes in the coat closet. Then sat back down.”
“You didn’t wear them?” Logan asked in awe.
“No, and I didn’t wear them the next day or the next.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I waited. About a week later, I asked to go to the restroom when Silas was still in there. He always had to take a dump after lunch.”
Holly grimaced at Greer’s graphic imagery.
“I reached under the stall and took his shoes before he could do anything. I kicked my old shoes inside. I was gone before he got out of the pot.”
“He didn’t tell?” Logan asked with wide eyes.
“He—heck no. He was too embarrassed to admit I got the better of him with his pants down.” Greer sniggered. “I wore those shoes all year, even though they were too small and I could have worn the ones the teacher bought me. But I didn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I had a point to prove. I was going to take my stand and not let Silas or that teacher make me do anything I didn’t want to do.”
Logan lost all pretense of playing sick, getting onto his knees on the bed, his fist flailing out. “I would have punched him for being so mean.”
“I didn’t have to. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
“Ew.” Logan’s disgust gave away to curiosity. “How?”
“Either scare it out of his skin, or give them something else to wear.” Greer shrugged. “You’ll have to figure that out for yourself.”
Logan nodded solemnly. “I will, Uncle Greer.”
“Hurry up. I need to make a stop before I drop you off.” Dustin ruffled Logan’s hair as they left the room.
Holly walked down the steps, going to get her purse from her bedroom. When she came back into the living room, she saw the two brothers talking. They broke off when they saw her.
“Since you two have this under control, I’m going to work.” Taking her car keys out of her purse, she jingled the keys in her hand, making no move to leave.
She hadn’t lived with the Porters for over six years without knowing they stuck together through thick and thin.
“What stop are you making before you drop Logan off? Diamond is flexible; I can do it for you.”
Dustin’s sheepish expression showed he was caught. “I’m going by the bakery at the church store to buy some peanut butter candy for Logan to give out after lunch time.”
“You can’t—”
“Woman, don’t interfere—”
“The school has a no nuts policy. Buy the vegan cupcakes instead.” She reached into her purse, taking out a twenty. “There are fourteen kids in the class. Buy the teacher one also. Fifteen should be enough.”
“We’re only buying thirteen.” Greer made no bones about their plan.
“Dustin better sweet talk his teacher, then, because she won’t be happy.”
“There won’t be no sweet talking involved,” Greer sneered. “If we give her an extra one, she’ll give one to that little bas—”
She started to snap at him, but Logan came bouncing down the stairs. “I’m ready, Daddy. You coming, Uncle Greer?”
“Nah. Your pa can do this without me.”
Logan took his father’s hand, going outside with Dustin. She started to follow them, but Greer stopped her by blocking her path.
“Forgetting something?”
“What?”
“A morning kiss would be nice.”
“Oh.” Blushing, she reached up and used his shirt sleeves to pull him down. Giving him a brief peck on his lips, she released him and went to the door.
“Don’t forget to tell Diamond you’ll be late coming back to work at lunch. We’re going to pick out your engagement ring.”
She didn’t want to hurt his pride, but she knew the state of Greer’s finances. Many nights, he and Dustin would sit at the dining room talking about their bills.
“I don’t need a ring—”
“I can pay for a ring.” His jaw tightened as if she had insulted him.
“I know you can … I know you’ve been doing some work on the house. I was just saying it can wait.”
“Let me worry about that, okay? I’ll be in my truck at twelve. Don’t keep me waiting. No need making Diamond’s day worse by seeing me in her office.”
“Why would that make it worse? The day hasn’t started yet.”
“It’s going to ruin her fucking day when she hears you’re engaged to me.”
Holly hadn’t exactly intended to tell her for the same reason. Seeing his narrowed eyes on her, she decided she should tell Diamond before Greer decided to take the matter off her hands.
“I’ll have a talk with her when I get to work. Happy?” She went out the door, starting the alarm when Greer came out behind her.
Opening her car door, she took her sunglasses out of her purse, seeing Greer about to jump inside his truck.
“Greer, did you really just take Silas’s shoes without laying a hand on him?”
He grinned cockily from over the roof of his truck. “Hell, no, but it was one ass whipping I deserved.” Greer got inside his truck, waiting for her to get inside hers before he backed up and drove down the street behind her.
When she made the turn toward town, he honked before he turned in the opposite direction, going toward the road leading to his house.
His matter-of-fact statement kept playing through her head. He had said that it was one ass whipping he had deserved. Had there been several he hadn’t? She knew from the stories the Porters told that their father had been a no-nonsense man, who’d expected his children to be behaved and do what they were told. However, she’d had no inkling of anything other than that. The next time she had time alone with Rachel, she would make a point of asking about it.
Parking, she dreaded Diamond’s reaction to her engagement. She knew she was still furious about Greer’s behavior.
She took it much better than she had expected.
She didn’t jump up to hug her, but she did congratulate her.
“Will you be my matron of honor?”
“Of course. Have you set the date yet?”
“Greer says in two weeks, but I told him six months. I’m hoping to get him down to four months.”
“Take a video on your phone. I don’t want to miss Greer doing his wheeling and dealing on Dalton West.”
“The Porters bargain for everything.” Holly laughed. “They consider it an art.”
“When I represented Greer, he wanted an itemized list of my hours. When I represented Dustin, I made damn sure that I wrote down every phone call, and they still whittled me down, taking hundreds off my fee. I was practically doing it pro bono already. By the time I finished, they had me convinced I owed them money.”
“We’re going ring shopping this afternoon. Is it okay if I come back a little late
?”
“That’s okay. Take the rest of the day off. Nothing is booked. I might talk Knox into taking another day off with me.”
“You’ve been taking quite a bit of time off lately.” She smiled, setting a file on her desk.
“Knox and I are trying to get pregnant. It takes a lot of work to get it right.”
“Awe, I can see Knox holding a baby. He’ll be so cute.”
“Don’t tell him that. He’s afraid he’ll drop it.” Diamond opened the folder. “I told him he could practice with Willa’s baby. Lucky nixed that idea, though. He’s barely sharing with Willa, and she’s breastfeeding.”
“Why doesn’t he practice with Ema? He and Cash hang out together, and he’s around Sex Piston and Fat Louise’s children.”
“They always cry when he tries to play with them. He’s worried his baby won’t like him, and we can’t give it back.”
“Poor guy.” Holly’s forehead puckered in thought. “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Go for it. I’m at my wit’s end dealing with him. It’s starting to affect our love life, if you get my meaning?”
“Go to the toy store and buy a few toys to keep on hand. The toy may distract them from his size.”
“That just may work.”
“If that doesn’t work, make some cupcakes. It works for Willa. Everyone loves her.” Holly took the folder back after Diamond signed the contract inside.
“Thank you. When I have a boy or girl, it will be because of your suggestion.”
“Am I back on yours and Knox’s island?”
“No.”
19
Greer looked over the tray of rings that Dalton West pulled out of the fancy jewelry case to show them.
He watched Holly pick out the smallest one, which was saying something. He admired her eye sight for selecting that one, because he needed a magnifying glass to see a stone in any of them.
“How much is this one?” Holly slid it onto her slender finger, staring at it with a misty expression.
“Doesn’t matter how much it costs; that’s not the one.” Greer took the ring off, putting it back in the tray.
“Let me look at the other ones. This time, make sure they have a stone in them.” Greer stared the snobbish son of a bitch down.
Dalton put the tray away, glancing around the store as if mentally tabulating how much Greer would be able to spend. “If you want to step to the side, I can show you a nice tray of previously used.”
Dalton had made a fatal error where Greer was concerned.
Reaching into his jean pocket, he handed Holly his truck keys. “Go outside and wait for me.”
She clutched his arm, not leaving. “Greer—”
“Go … to … the … truck now.”
If she hesitated one second more, he would paddle her ass when he got back to his truck.
Greer didn’t miss the motion that Dalton made toward the security guard beside the door.
“Greer, I don’t want any trouble. I want you to leave. I’m sorry I didn’t have anything that would suit your needs.”
“Dalton, I don’t know how you let men treat that rich bitch of yours, but the woman who walked out that door is mine. The only reason I stepped in this store was because I didn’t want to take money out of a man’s pocket because he picked the wrong woman to marry.”
“You’re not fit enough to lick the soles of Lisa’s feet. You’re nothing but a weed dealer. I saved us a lot time and trouble. I don’t take weed as payment for my diamonds.” Dalton’s hand came down on the glass of his display case.
Greer looked at the fleshy pale hands that would never know a day of hard work. Giving Dalton a mockingly innocent look, Greer tilted his hat to the back of his head. “You’re defaming my character? My fiancée works with Diamond Richards-Bates, and she’ll sue your ass if I find you repeating those accusations. Don’t forget my cousin Drake is the town mayor. He won’t be happy to hear that a business owner is calling his kin trailer trash.”
“If you’re done, feel free to leave and take your business elsewhere.”
“I’m going.” Ignoring Dalton as if he was a pissant, Greer held his hand out to Virgil, the security guard. “I haven’t seen you at Rosie’s in a while. You doing good?”
“Can’t complain. Congratulations on your engagement. She’s a pretty little thing.”
“Thanks. I’ll have Tate call you to let you know when I’m having my bachelor party.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Greer took another minute to shoot the shit just to aggravate the windbag behind him.
He was whistling when he got back in his truck, winking at Holly as he turned the truck toward Jamestown.
“I kept waiting for the security guard to throw you out or see Knox’s squad car pulling into the parking lot.”
“Virgil couldn’t throw a stray cat outside. He got an old football injury in his shoulder. Dalton wouldn’t call Knox until lunch time. He’s trying to knock Diamond up.”
Holly covered her mouth. “It’s being gossiped about around town? How do they know? Diamond only told me today, and Knox wouldn’t tell—”
“He doesn’t have to. Everyone sees his squad car parked in front of their house, and he puts anyone who disturbs them in jail if they call out.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. Knox isn’t very friendly, anyway.”
“He also has the busiest busybody in town manning the front desk.”
Holly started laughing. “Diamond said she must own her own tanning booth, and that she must be seventy yet dresses like a twenty-year-old.”
“That pretty much describes her.”
“Where are we going?”
“Jamestown. Unless you want to drive to Lexington?”
“No. We have to pick up Logan after school.”
Greer turned the radio up as they drove, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.
“How did Diamond react when you told her we’re getting hitched?”
“She said I’m off her guest list if the zombie apocalypse hits.”
He flashed her a quick smile before turning his attention back to the road. “Don’t worry; if the apocalypse hits, she’ll be begging us to come. I don’t see Knox foraging for food, do you?”
“They won’t have to. Diamond has built up enough supplies they could live there indefinitely.”
“Your boss is crazy as a coon dog.”
“How’s my dog doing?”
“Lazy bastard hates to hunt. He only gets up when he wants a treat you keep in the jar.”
“Poor baby. I need to come visit him and check on my chickens.”
“They are all doing fine. No need you coming out.”
Suspicion filled her face. “All eighteen of my chickens better be okay.”
Greer screwed his face up in a frown. “I only counted twelve this morning.” He laughed, hitting the steering wheel at her expression. “All eighteen are still breathing and getting fat.”
“That’s good for you, then.”
“Why me?”
“I’m counting my chickens before I say I do.”
She was still laughing when he parked in front of the jewelry store.
Getting out of the truck, he opened her door.
“You can give it, but you can’t take it,” she teased, patting his cheek mockingly.
“Woman, I can take anything you dish out.”
Pressing her against his truck, he lowered his mouth to hers, crushing her petal-soft lips under his and using his tongue to plunder her mouth. It was different than the other kisses he had given her.
Changing tactics, switching from exploring to demanding her response, he didn’t give her time to be swept along. He demanded she took the ride of desire with him. When he heard her breathy moan, he released her.
“You ready to go do this?”
She blinked several times. “Do what?”
He gave her an exasperated look. “Go pick out your ring.” Taking h
er arm, he bustled her into the jewelry store before she could get her wits back.
“How do you do that?”
Greer slung an arm over her shoulders, pulling her close. “It’s called being a stud.”
Holly tried to wiggle out from under his arm as he guided her to one of the counters to distract her from wanting to kill him.
An elegant woman without a hair out of place gave them a welcoming smile. “May I help you?”
“You sure can, pretty lady. I’m trying to find my girl a ring. Can you help me find what I’m looking for?”
Her lips stretched in wide smile. “Yes, I can. What’s the budget you’re thinking of?”
“No budget. It just has to have a lot of sparkle to match the fire in her eyes.”
The saleswoman practically swooned as she directed them to an office where they would be out sight of the customers milling around the store.
“Now, this woman wants to make a sale,” he muttered when the woman left them to bring in a selection of rings.
“Greer, I thought we would spend five hundred. A thousand at the most. Let’s leave. I’ll call Dustin and get him to pick Logan up so we can go to Lexington. They’ll be cheaper there.”
“Woman, are you trying to insult me?”
“Of course not. It’s just that now she thinks we’re going to buy an expensive ring.”
He dropped his arm from around her shoulders. “You trying to cut off my balls or—”
“No.” Her tear-filled voice had him turning toward her from the blank wall. “It’s just, an expensive ring never meant much to me. You know I love you. It’s not exactly secret. I just want to marry you. I would have been happy with one of those rings Dalton had that were previously owned.”
“I’m not buying you a ring that another man meant for another woman.” Sighing, he lowered his pride long enough to keep from spoiling the day. “I won’t buy anything I can’t afford, okay? When we walk out, the ring that will be on your finger will be bought and paid for with cash.”
“Okay.” She reached out her hand, and Greer took it in his.
He wasn’t much for displays of affection, but the dreamy look she was giving him had him puffing out his chest as the saleswoman came back into the room, holding a tray.