Page 25 of The Truth

“Hala does—me, not so much. Although Gunn would like it if you think so,” Greer said, helping her up Hudson Hanan’s porch. He and Giavonna were discussing something very loudly there by the steps. SomethingMartinaz v. Texas, 1946. “I havequestions for you, very, very soon. As soon as we figure out…this.”

It looked like Giavonna had givenHalaa ride home today.

She waved a hand toward the commotion at the end of the porch.

Attorneys arguing. How… shocking. Shocking, shocking.

And… that seriously hot dude had hishandan inch above Greer’s oldest sister’s rear end.Wow. That didnotlook professional to Ayla at all.

But they did look very pretty together. The two of them definitely belonged on a romance novel cover, no denying that. But… enemies-to-lovers. It was a given.

“What do you mean?”

Hala was there, her nephew Ryan—who looked just like her and was beyond adorable—on her hip. “Greermeansthat seriously hot Gunn man is seriouslyhotfor you. As seriously hot as a preacher man can get, anyway. Now… what exactly are you planning to do about him?”

“I’m not the hot and sexy type guys fall all over. I never have been. The best I get is ‘ah, you are so cute, little sister’. I mean… I have seen the dudes look at Aubrey—and then they look at me. I’m her pet baby sister, you know. She feeds and waters me and takes me to the vet on a regular basis.” And she just wasn’t ready to talk aboutGunnyet. Not really.

“Way to deflect,” Greer said. “Back to my brother. He’s hot for you. What are you going to do about it?”

“This is all new stuff for me, you know. I’ve never had to deal with a guy beinghot for mein my life!” She looked for help. This was not a conversation she wanted to be having right now. Not without some serious time to process here. “Maybe we should ask Gia?”

Greer’s oldest sister was almost chest to chest with Hala’s brother right now. Her face was all red, too. But his good hand—he had a cast on one arm from a recent auto accident—really was on her back. Just onetinyinch above Gia’s rear end. It looked like he was pulling her closer and closer. “I bet guys are hot forherall the time.”

“You have no idea,” Greer said. “It can be so annoying. Seriously—hard to live up tothat.”

“No kidding. Have youmetAubrey?” Her sister and Greer’s sister were two of the most beautiful women Ayla had ever seen—and were two of the kindest. Which made then even more beautiful. “Maybe we just need to have another sleepover? Because when it comes to guys, I have far too many questions.”

“Gunn’s probably pretty simple to figure out.” Hala led them inside. Her nephew wanted to show them his new goldfish. Hala was there to help set up a two-gallon aquarium. Ryan was too adorable. He looked just like Hala, too. Even had the same curly brown hair and freckles.

Ayla really liked kids. Maybe Aubrey would marry Greer’s brother Guthrie soon, and they’d have really pretty, sweet, kind little kids someday? And live happily ever after. Ayla would like that.

“How so?”

“Simple, as in… grab that boy by the ears and just give him a kiss. He’d probably be total putty in your hands forever if you do.” Hala shot her a wicked grin. “And… you’d probably have a lot of fun shaking him to his toes, too. He’s seriously adorable sometimes. Chan was going to dance naked on their island one day to see if Gunn would even notice. But I do think he has noticed you. You could probably justsiton the counter and he would fall over himself, noticing you. Clothes on. He is very, very innocent, after all.”

“You’d be good for him, Ayl. I think you should go for it,” Greer said. “Maybe you should come up with a plan?”

But where would she even start? She had no idea what to do now.

“Guys are so complicated.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” her besties said in unison. As Giavonna shrieked in total frustration behind them, and Hala’s brother gave a really, really wicked—and rather sexy—man laugh and everything. Ayla turned—just to see.

He was smirking at Giavonna now as she stalked away, but… there was something in how he waslookingat her…

Why did men have to be so complicated?

18

Gunn pulledin at the ranch and parked in his usual spot. He was already checking cars to see who had shown up while he was gone. He had texted Ayla already, just to make sure she had a ride. He’d passed by the hospital on his way through town—Guthrie’s truck was still there. Aubrey’s SUV was in the driveway right there, but that didn’t mean anything. Guthrie had insisted on driving her everywhere for the two days the Fisher sisters had been staying there.

Ayla finally texted him back. She was with Greer and Hala and Giavonna. Having smart girl adventures, swimming in someone’s indoor swim gym, and determining something about the validity of land ownership laws from 1946 to prove Hudson Hanan was hallucinating. So Hala could start the process to have Hudson committed or something.

Gunn wasn’t entirely certain what that meant; he’d have to find out later.

But Ayla had told him she was on her way back to the ranch. She had big plans to see the litter of puppies again.

He was just glad she was going to be there. He’d take her up to the barn to see the puppies, whenever she asked. Theycould spend a few minutes alone together before dinner. It was Grady’s turn to cook—that meant fancier dinner than when Gunn cooked. With his twin cooking, that meant Gunn could focus onher.He’d make certain to sit by her.

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