Page 42 of Sweet Harmony

“I know what’sbest for her.” Gideon’s voice was flat.

“No, she knowswhat’s best for her. I repeat, she is an adult who is perfectlycapable of making her own decisions. Maybe those decisions would bea mistake, or maybe they’d be the best thing that ever happened toher.” Grace’s entire body was stiff, and Kira could see her handsclenching and unclenching into fists. “But it’s kind of hard forher to know, when you won’t even give her the opportunity to makeher own decision.”

Gideon’s handtightened around the equipment bag strap until his knuckles wentwhite. “Maybe if she didn’t have a history of making bad choiceswhen it came to men, I wouldn’t have to -”

“Hey! I don’tmake bad choices or decisions,” Kira said. “Stop talking about melike I do. Both of you just chill out. God.”

Gideon andGrace continued to glare at each other. After a moment, Graceturned her gaze to the field.

“I have to go.Kira, we’ll talk later.” Gideon stormed away.

Kira turned toGrace. Grace’s cheeks were bright red, and her pupils were solarge, Kira could only see a thin circle of green around them. Shetouched Grace’s thigh. “Gracie, why are you so angry?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” Kiraglanced at Addison who shrugged. “You and Gideon used to be closeand now it’s like you’re always fighting. Why?”

“We aren’talways fighting,” Grace said.

“You kind ofare,” Addie said. She was checking her cell phone and missed theglare that Grace threw her way.

“He bosses youaround, Kira,” Grace said.

“He’s mybrother, he’s supposed to. Daniel does the same thing to Addie andI don’t see you freaking out about it,” Kira replied. “Besides,Gideon bosses you around too – he has since we were kids. It’s justwhat big brothers do.”

She put her armaround Grace and squeezed her. “It never used to bother you. Whenwe were kids, you liked that Gideon treated you like his sister.You said it made you really feel like a part of our family.Remember?”

“Yeah,” Gracemuttered. “I remember.”

Kira squeezedher again. “Taking care of us is what Gideon does. He can’t helpit. Hell, he likes helping everyone. It’s why he became a cop.”

“There’s adifference between taking care of someone and controlling them,”Grace said.

“Listen, I’mnot denying that Gideon is a control freak – we all know he is –but he’s notcontrolling,” Kira said. “Just talk to him,okay? You guys used to be close and I hate that you’re alwaysfighting and angry with each other now. You just need to be honestand tell Gideon how you feel, and he’ll back off, I promise.”

Grace didn’treply and Kira gave her one last squeeze. “He loves both of us andjust wants what’s best for us. Okay, Gracie?”

“Sure.” Gracesmiled, although the smile looked a little fake to Kira. “I loveyou, Kira.”

“I love youtoo, Gracie-Lou.”

ChapterEight

“Holy smokes, Iknow I’ve been saying this all game, but Connor is a really goodbaseball player,” Addison said.

Kira nodded,her eyes glued to Connor as he stepped up to bat. It was the bottomof the ninth and with two men out and the game tied, he was theirteam’s only chance to win the game.

“Did you knowhe was this good?” Addison asked.

“No,” Kirareplied. “Oh God, what if he strikes out?”

“He won’t,”Grace said. “He hasn’t struck out all game, and Daniel’s gettingtired. You can tell.”

Kira studiedDaniel. The firefighter didn’t look tired to her. He stretched andcracked his neck before bending to retie his shoe. She wanted toadmire the muscles in his back, but her gaze kept being drawn backto Connor.

He was swingingthe bat idly as he waited for Daniel. Warmth crept into her bellywhen he bent and gently massaged his right knee and his pantstightened across his admittedly amazing ass.

“Does he have asore knee?” Addison asked. “He rubs it a lot.”

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