Ignoring Connors frantic attempts to hush him, Pop laid the stack of papers to the side and leaned back in his chair, his teeth flashing in a smile.
"The girl had brass, I have to hand it to her. Connor and I were at the local pizza place having dinner—with Connors new girlfriend, I might add—when Miss Camo-in-All-the-Right-Places waltzes up to Connor and plops herself onto his lap. "
"Yeah, and my new girlfriend dumped me over that," Connor grumbled. "Ive sworn off psycho women. "
"Julies not psycho," Nathan growled.
Connor grinned. "I never said she was. I want to ask her out, remember?"
"Quit yanking his chain," Pop said. "Wouldnt hurt you to ask someone out, though. Im not getting any younger. Id like grandchildren before Im too old to see them. "
"We could always set him up," Nathan snickered. "Im sure Micah knows someone. "
"I dont need your goddamn help finding a woman. The day I do is the day they put my ass in a pine box. "
Nathan held up his hands. "Touchy today. "
"Its called not getting any," Pop said with a perfectly straight face.
The laughter Nathan had been trying to hold back poured out. Connor rolled his eyes and sighed in resignation.
"When you two are through dissecting my love life, Ill be out in the truck waiting. Someone has to do the goddamn work around here. "
Connor stalked off while Nathan was still laughing. Connor could give with the best, but he damn sure couldnt take it.
Still chu
ckling, Pop hauled himself up and grabbed his keys. "Well, come on. Lets go join my grumpy-ass son so we can get this job done. Hes right about one thing. Someone has to work around here since it seems everyones taking off at the same time. "
Nathan walked out ahead of Pop and slid into the SUV with Connor. A few minutes later, Pop ambled over to Connors side and motioned for him to roll down the window.
"You two go on ahead. Ill take my truck. I want to check on a system I just got a call about. Owner says the alarm keeps going off. "
"Sure you dont want us to come along and help diagnose the problem?" Connor asked.
Pop grunted. "I may not be the computer guru in the family, but Im laying odds its a damn stray cat or a squirrel thats the culprit. If I have any trouble, Ill holler at you boys. "
Connor nodded and backed out of the parking lot.
"Want something to eat before we go?" Connor asked.
Nathan shrugged. He wasnt really that hungry, but Connor and food made a date at least every two hours. Nathan was convinced the guy had tapeworms. There was no other explanation for how he never worked out with the other guys, and yet he was lean and muscled despite the fact he ate half an elephants weight on a daily basis.
They hit the drive-through of their favorite local fast food joint, and Nathan listened while Connor ordered an obscene amount of food. Nathan got a coffee, thinking it couldnt be worse than Connors earlier attempt. It wasnt much better, but it was liquid caffeine.
"Julies salon isnt far from here, is it?" Connor asked casually.
"No," Nathan said tightly.
"Shopping center one block over, huh?"
Nathan turned to look at Connor, his eyes narrowed to slits. "Cut the crap, Connor. Unless youre wanting to schedule a hair appointment, why the hell do you care where Julies salon is?"
"Or a massage," Connor said innocently. "I guess I could always get my ear pierced like you and pussy boy Hudson. "
"Pussy boy Hudson would kick your ass and you know it," Nathan said with a grin.
"Nah, hes old and rusty. "
Nathan snorted. "And you arent? Youve gotten soft since getting out. "
"Julies different," Connor said, pulling the conversation back to her again. It was starting to annoy the shit out of Nathan.
"What do you mean, different?"
Connor shrugged. "You know what I mean. Shes . . . rounder, a little on the plump side. You usually date the tall, lean blonde types. "
Nathan stared at him agape. Plump? Was he trying to insinuate that Julie was fat?
Connor glanced over at him and cocked an eyebrow. "Why do you look so appalled, man?"
"What the hell are you trying to say?"
"Just that shes not your usual type. Shes got hips, breasts. "
"Shes fucking perfect," Nathan growled. "Aint a goddamn thing wrong with her. " Hips and breasts. Was Connor sitting there seriously criticizing Julies attributes? If he wasnt driving, Nathan would kick his ass on the spot.
"I wasnt badmouthing her, dude. Just citing the differences. "
"How about you dont even fucking look at her, and you wont have to worry about her differences. "
Connor chuckled and held up one hand in surrender.
"Hey, speak of the devil. Isnt that her?"
Nathan blinked at the abrupt change in topic but looked in the direction of Connors attention. Sure enough, Julies sporty convertible darted into traffic from the on-ramp and surged ahead three cars.
Her hair blew behind her head, whipping in the wind like strands of silk. She handled the little car like a pro, and she obviously enjoyed the ride. There was a hint of daredevil in her as she weaved back and forth in the busy traffic.
"On second thought, I can see why youre hot for her," Connor murmured as he accelerated to keep up. "Something about a chick in a hot car. "
Nathan rolled his eyes. Julie could be driving a grandma car and Nathan would still be hot for her.
Ahead, Julie moved over to the far right lane and put her blinker on to exit. At that precise moment a truck came barreling up the on-ramp and T-boned the small car without ever coming close to yielding.
"Son of a bitch!" Nathan yelled.
Julies car spun crazily into traffic, and cars scattered across four lanes in an effort to avoid a collision. The asshole driving the truck never even slowed. He careened wildly around several cars, regained control and roared off.
Julie slammed into the far left concrete divider and came to a halt.
In a maneuver eerily reminiscent of Julies crazy skitter across the freeway, Connor roared over, executing a sharp U-turn and narrowly missing an eighteen-wheeler that had slowed when the accident occurred.
Nathan was out and running as soon as Connor came to a stop. Connor was already on the phone. Nathans only thought was to get to Julie.
The car was facing the wrong way and the battered passenger side rested against the concrete dividers. Julies head lolled to the side, blood dripping from a cut above her eye. So much for the goddamn airbags.
He glanced around and then to the steering wheel. It was the only thing she could have hit her head on. Thank God shed worn her seatbelt.