Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

“Well, it’s been nice to meet you, Mr. …?”

“Mr. Hayes. Holt Hayes.”

Holly’s eyes widened at Greer’s blatant lie.

“Is Hayes spelled with an S or an ES?” Caleb’s intimidating gaze on Greer didn’t faze him. Everyone in the room knew that Caleb would make a beeline to the sheriff’s office to run his rap sheet.

“It’s spelled with an F… U—”

“Here are my keys.” Holly practically ripped Greer’s shirt as she moved him away from the door. “Make sure it’s back before I need to pick up Logan.” She opened the front office door, shoving Greer outside. Then Holly smoothed her hair down. “I’m sorry your meeting was interrupted,” she apologized.

Caleb gave her a discerning look, the flirty attitude she had become accustomed to gone. He went back into Diamond’s office, closing the door.

She was so angry that she took out her phone to text Greer then put it back down. She was too angry. The only thing she wanted to give him was her skillet to his head.

Ten minutes later, Caleb came out of Diamond’s office without saying good-bye to her.

“If you don’t kill him, I will,” Diamond threatened when Holly was brave enough to go back into her office.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault Greer is a lunatic. You know there’s no way Caleb is going to ask you out now that you told him Greer is a friend of yours.”

“Technically, Caleb thinks he’s Holt.”

“Holt’s rap sheet is worse than Greer’s.” Diamond went to the small fridge where she kept her creamer and water to offer her clients, taking out a bottle of wine. Without worrying about a glass, she uncorked it and took a drink before going back to her desk. “Caleb prosecuted Greer on his drug bust. When he remembers who he is, any chance of me getting his job that he promised when he runs for office are going to be as empty as this wine bottle.” Taking another drink, she corrected herself, “When I finish it.”

“I’m so sorry, Diamond. When Mr. Green comes back, I’ll explain about Greer. I had decided not to go out with him, anyway.”

“Why not?”

“It feels like I’m cheating on Greer, even though he doesn’t know it’s me.”

Diamond’s head fell to her desk. “You’re just as crazy as he is.” Diamond lifted her head to stare at her. “If you do end up getting together with Greer—and that’s a big if, not because I don’t think he won’t forgive you, but because I think you’ll kill him when he quits acting like Mr. Nice Guy on the computer—I have only one thing I have to say …”

“What is it?” Holly braced herself to be fired.

“You’re off my island.”

14

Sharpshooter: What are you doing?

Kentuckygirl: Contemplating the mysteries of life.

Sharpshooter: You better not be buying weed off someone I don’t know when I can hook you up.

Kentuckygirl: I’m not high. I was thinking how some men can be …

Sharpshooter: Forget that. I have a question, and I need a woman’s opinion.

Kentuckygirl: Is it about toilets? Because I’d like to shove …

Sharpshooter: Hell, no. I don’t need your help with that. A woman couldn’t pick out a good toilet if her life depended on it.

Chatroom closed

Sharpshooter: Come on. I know you’re still there. I need your advice on how to tell a woman you’re sorry. Haven’t done it since my ma passed away.

Kentuckygirl: You’re asking me advice on how to tell another woman you’re sorry?

Sharpshooter: It’s not like that. She’s a friend.

Sharpshooter: You gonna help me out?

Kentuckygirl: Buy her a diamond bracelet.

Sharpshooter: I didn’t kill her dog. I was thinking about buying her a couple of chickens.

Kentuckygirl: You’re going to apologize with chickens?

Sharpshooter: She likes chickens.

Kentuckygirl: Buy the diamond bracelet. A big one. If she’s friends with you, she deserves it.

Sharpshooter: Okay. The chickens are out. How about flowers?

Sharpshooter: ??

Kentuckygirl: Flowers will work.

“Hi, Greer. You’re up bright early this morning. What can I help you with?”

Greer looked at the displays of flowers behind Abe’s back. Then he gazed down at the different flowers that were wrapped in paper below the counter.

“How much are the flowers behind you?”

“They vary in prices. The ones on the top shelf can be over fifty bucks. The ones lower are even higher.”

“How much are these?” Greer pointed at the ones wrapped in paper.

“Nine ninety-nine”

Greer thought about asking him for his advice. Abe was in business to make money, though, so he would try to sell him the most expensive flowers in his shop.

“I’ll take two of these.” Greer pointed at the wrapped flowers.

Taking out his wallet, he thumbed his money as Abe greedily watched him.

“You going to need a vase? If you buy one, I can fix it up for you really nice.”

“How much are they?”

“Nine ninety-nine.”

“Do I get a discount?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t need a vase.” Handing over his money, he chose two bouquets.