“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.”