Page 69 of Gunner

I understood she wasn’t ready to listen yet.

I could give her time.

For now.

Sitting my ass in a chair in the main room, I watched the hallway entrance. A coffee cup in my hand as I sat and waited.

There was movement beside me, but I didn’t turn to see who it was. I wasn’t taking a chance on missing her walk into the room.

“What did you do?”

My eyes briefly closed. Only for a second though. “Not now, Brandy.”

“She’s hurting, Gunner.”

“I know.”

“I don’t think you do.”

Her words had me turning toward her, despite wanting to watch for Haizley.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Brandy shook her head and leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Be careful with her. She needs you more than you know.”

She stood up and walked away, and my eyes trailed after her, wondering what she meant. When I followed her path across the room, my eyes landed on Haizley. Not only had I missed her walking in, but judging by the blank expression on her face, the same one I saw the day she walked into the diner and saw me sitting with Penelope Ridgefield, she had seen Brandy kiss me.

Fuck.

She held my gaze for a moment before turning away and walking to the bar. It was like fucking déjà vu, and it pissed me off. She knew what I expected her to do when she was jealous. And make no mistake, she was fucking jealous.

Leaning back in my chair, I rubbed my beard.

Maybe she needed to come to terms with her jealousy.

A little immersion therapy for the shrink.

“Whatever the fuck you’re thinking, don’t.”

Looking up at my brother’s pregnant old lady, I knew I was in the shit now. She still had almost four months left, and between her big belly making her wobble and the hormones making her stabby, as Sam put it, we all tried to stay out of her way.

“Mornin’, Beck.”

“Nope. You’re on my shit list.”

“So, you just came over here to do what then? Bust my balls?”

“Exactly.”

“Well, sit your ass down. You look like you’re ready to fall over.”

“I feel like it too. I can’t wait to have this baby.”

“You’re still beautiful.” I leaned over to kiss the side of her head.

“No. Nuh-uh, you don’t get to be charming. I’m pissed at you. Micah told me what happened last night.”

“Your old man’s got a big mouth.”

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