Dave runs at me and picks me up in a bear hug as soon as he sees me.
“Little Gee. It’s been too long. How the hell are ya?”
“I’m good, Dave. Happy to know you can work on this project for me.”
“Aww. I’ll never say no to you, darlin’.” Dave is a flirt, but it’s all harmless. His wife manages him and their kids like a drill sergeant and he loves it. And her.
My heart skips a beat at the sight of Josh strolling towards us, looking edible in his regulation man bun, t-shirt and jeans, his expression uncharacteristically sheepish. And well it should be after the way we left things the last time we saw one another. Sometimes I wish I could shake the reaction he sparks in me. Then I see him again, and nothing else seems to matter.
As I introduce them, Dave keeps his arm around my shoulders, causing Josh to scowl. Good. Let him stew.
We’re twenty minutes into our walk-through of the house, Dave and I workshopping ideas, before Josh warms up to Dave. Maybe it was the mention of his wife and kids. Or maybe he just realised Dave’s like yet another big brother to me. Whatever it is, I sense a bit of a bromance brewing. I knew they’d get along.
We’re about to start talking about the kitchen when Josh’s phone rings. He looks perplexed for a second before holding it up to indicate he needs to take the call.
Even though he steps away, I can still hear what he’s saying. Hear the worry in his tone.
“Hang on, hang on. Calm down. Start at the beginning.”
I don’t recognise the frantic voice on the other end of the line.
“Right. Okay. It’s okay. Don’t say anything. To anyone. Where are you?”
More frantic words from the other end. Josh checks his watch, frowning.
“Right. Hold tight. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Forty-five tops. And don’t say anything to anyone until I get there. I mean it. Not a word.” Josh’s brows are drawn tight together over the bridge of his nose.
“Is everything alright?” I ask, worried by the snippet of the conversation I could hear.
“No. It’s not. That was my brother.”
“Your little brother? What’s wrong?”
“He’s been arrested.”
Chapter Fifteen
Josh
Ican’tquitebelievethe words that have come out of my mouth, although I shouldn’t be surprised. He is my brother. Apples and trees and all.
In typical Greer style, she leaps into action.
“I’m sorry, Dave. I think we’ll have to finish this up some other time. How about I call you?” I vaguely hear Greer say as I leg it out the door. I’m almost at my car when I feel a pull on my elbow.
“Wait up, Josh. You’re too worked up to drive. Give me the keys.” Greer holds her hand out. I can’t think straight. “I’ll drive.”
I drop the keys in her hand, and we strap in. “Where to?”
“Bondi Police Station.”
She doesn’t waste time putting the address into the satnav, just takes off, adding the address when we stop at the first set of traffic lights.
“What happened?” she asks, nipping in and out of the Saturday morning traffic like a race car driver. Damn. Her confidence behind the wheel is hella sexy.
“I’m not exactly sure. He was talking a mile a minute. But it involved a car.” My stomach rises into my chest, and I close my eyes for a few deep breaths. I won’t be able to help him if I panic. “I’m going to call Will. He might know someone who can help us out.”
“Good idea,” Greer agrees without taking her eyes off the road.
