He wanted the woman he wanted.He’d told her he was going to get her, too.
They’d probablystillbe making out in her driveway, if Em hadn’t texted her with a question about Avril’s antibiotic dosage.But then…motherhood had waited.
He’d stuck around long enough to eat brownies that January and Jules had made with their aunt, and tell them that they were the best brownies he had ever had.He had kissed Auggie good-night—chastely, of course—then had to kiss half the little girls on the foreheads before they’d let him leave.Even Maeya had needed cuddled before he left.He’d even kissed Em right on the forehead and told her to keep doing what she was doing to pester his brother.Cadell needed the challenge.She’d just smirked up at him, a little monster in overalls once again.
He'd actually felt like he’d belonged.
But now…he had an empire to build.He’d been neglecting business lately.
But didn’t a man deservepersonal?He thought about that as he drove back from his meeting in Pinedale the next day.
He was maybe twenty minutes from Masterson—near the hospital area—driving home.He had a plan to work on, and he was strategizing as he drove.
Cal didn’t see the light-colored box van until it was almost too late.
He would never forget the sound.
Or how hehurtbefore he went under.
25
This wasevery cop or first responders’ worst nightmare.Claudia tried not to focus on that as she pulled her SUV off the shoulder of the road.
But she couldsee.
Cal’s truck, that big flashy monstrosity that she’d teased meant he was overcompensating for something, was…totaled.There was no way he’d ever be able to drive that again.
There.Zach was there, next to an ambulance.And…that wasCloe.Cloe must be filling in with the paramedics tonight.Her sister did that when the hospital was short, and when she needed extra money for the foster closet she ran in the county.Her sister was a total workaholic.
But…there was a gurney.And that was her big brother strapped to it.Every wreck she’d ever worked, everydead bodyalongside a highway—all ran through her head.Claudia told herself not to panic.
Cal was moving now.
She could see him lifting one arm now.
Claudia made it to her brother and sister.“How badly is he hurt?Cal?What happened?”
Normally…normally Claudia wasn’t one to panic, but this wasCal.He was…their rock.Her big brother.He always had been—but after what had happened with their dad…he was even more so now.
“Just…came out of nowhere.Yellowish tri-axle truck, I think.Faded paint on the side.Green, I think.Gunning right at me.I jerked the wheel.Don’t really remember much about that.Except the sound.And the damned headache.Is the other guy okay?Did he bother to call the cops?”
Claudia looked around.Cal’s truck was the only one there.“I don’t see him.”
“Not a figment of my damned imagination, Claud.I remember seeing him drive on by like nothing had happened.Big guy, wearing flannel shirt and a blue hat, I think.Bastard…waved out the window.I am sure of it.Believe me, when I find the guy who did this to my truck, I’m going to take the replacement out of his hide.”
Of course he would say something like that.Her brothers were bothalphamen.Or so they thought.Tough guys.
Tough guys with hearts of gold.That she loved very much.“I swear, Calloway Ellis Grady, I think you really do need a keeper.”
“I’ll take one named Augusta, please…if you are offering.I prefer blue-eyed redheads just like her…” He gave her a weak smile, but it came out more as a grimace.Then his words sank in.
“You want Auggie?”Well, total confirmation of one of her hopes for him.She knew exactly what time that man had gotten home last night.She and Clancy had beenwaiting.But he’d been stubbornly resistant to telling them details.They’d had to text Em and Junie to find outanything.All she knew was that Auggie had come in with a look in her eyes Junie had never seen before.And swollen lips.Em had pointed that out quickly.
“I think he wants his head examined,” Cloe said, firmly.“We can decide if we want to give him to Auggie for real later.I don’t know…she is our bestie, Cal.Maybe she’s too good for you?”
“I know she is…but…and keep it under wraps.Don’t want to scare her off…got to strategize…” his eyes were closing, and he was fading out.Claudia bit back panic, then looked at Cloe.Cloe wasn’t panicking or freaking out—or evenhurryinglike Claudia had seen her do before.“Got to…plan…how to catch…her…forever…”
“He’s going to be okay, Claud.Just has a horrible headache right now.Probably some broken ribs.But the seatbelt and the massive size of that truck of his did its job.”Her sister motioned for the paramedic Josh—Auggie’s cousin—to load him into the ambulance.“I take it you are following?”
