This wasnotthe time to be getting all flustered over Calloway Ellis Grady.
She was going to have to make a decision.And soon.
She couldn’t keep living this way—the man justdidsomething to her without even trying now.He should come with a warning label.
Then he was reaching over Dylan.
For the baby in Auggie’s arms.Maeya, the little baby traitor, reached right for him, snuffling as if her heart was breaking and Calloway Grady was the only answer.He jiggled the baby and just settled her against his chest as he took the empty chair to Auggie’s left.
Aaron had said they were waiting for some people to join them—apparently one of those someones was Cal.Damn it; Auggie hadn’t come up with herplanwith him yet.
Maeya just pressed her face into his neck and drifted off to sleep.Just like that.
He shot Auggie a look from those green eyes that were so dark they looked brown sometimes.“You okay, honey?”
“I am not your honey, Calloway.No matter what you are up to now.”And she wasn’t going to back down now.
Every inch of her was ready to rise to the challenge of him.Shelikedhow her body hummed when this man was in range.She was starting to understand what that meant.
“Are you not?We’ll have to…discuss it…again.”
Dylan was looking at her, curiosity in her big green eyes.Both Gil and Fletcher were glaring at Cal now.Seriously?They took the overprotective caveman thing too far, those two.Well, all of her cousins did, actually.They were such Neanderthals.
He reached for the baby’s blanket, and Auggie handed it to him.Well, Maeya was just fine.And apparently, they were waiting for more people to join them.She was going to make a strategic retreat to regroup for a moment.“I’m going to the restroom.Do you think you can handle her for that long?”
And she would just not sit there and drool over him.She was seriously becoming pitiful here.Auggie hurried to the restroom as fast as she could, passing Dusty and three of Dusty and Dylan’s sisters, Claudia, and Sage on her way.
Good.There were girl reinforcements, at least.There was that.
She finished in the restroom, then joined them at the hostess podium, where they were clustered and talking.Claudia just looked at her—from eyes the same shape as her evil big brother’s.“What are you shaken up about?”
“A man, what else?”Dusty asked, snickering.“Isn’t that always the answer?”
“You’d know,” Daisy said.“We need a crowbar with you and Ben.Spill, Aug.”
“He’s driving me insane and he knows it.”No sense hiding it—Claudia knew that Cal was…up to something.Everyoneprobably knew that.Except, hopefully, her male cousins.Although she suspected Gil and Fletcher might just be catching on at the moment.“And I still don’t know whatthisis.Or if he’s even serious.”
“If he’s even started something with you—he’s serious, Aug.Cal has never been the type to play it casual with a woman.Especially…since…well…lately.”Claudia shot a look at Marin—and Meyra, who had just walked up with her fiancé and Kameron Neilson.Apparently, the party was all there now.“I personally am all in favor here, Augs.My bestie and my big brother.I’m good with that.”
Meyra had dated Cal a few years ago.Right…before Cal’s father had almost killed Marin.She strongly suspected Cal still felt awkward about Meyra.Claudiawas beyond awkward with Marin.Auggie hurt for both of their friends.Marin and Claudia had been besties forever for almost two decades.But after what had happened with Claudia’s father, Marin had shut down from Claudia completely.Marin had tentatively tried to mend that relationship with Claudia since what had happened to Claudia and Auggie on the street that day, but Claudia was very resistant to the idea.
Claudia didn’t want to get hurt again.Well, Auggie understood that.Claudia had lost her father to the prison system and lost her closest friend in the world through no fault of her own.Of course that would make her leery of Marin.Why wouldn’t it?No one liked to be hurt like that.
It was a sucky situation for them all.
And she suspected what Jasper Grady had done had hurtCaldeeply, too.He just wouldn’t let it show.Because he thought he had to be big, brave and strong for his little sisters.
Scars from their fathers.
Something else they had in common.
And…now…she needed to get back in there.She had a Gil Tyler to assist, after all.And well… “I have to go.Cal and Gil have Markie and Maeya now.Chaos can be happening.”
But somehow…she doubted it.For one thing, it was too quiet in the dining room for that.
She was strongly suspecting Cal was good at dealing with anything.Even whatever her sisters could come up with.
He just seemed the type.
