Page 53 of Call it Fate

Finally, the last appointment came and went. Lucy closed up the computers and switched the phone over to the emergency clinic in the next county.

She and the techs left, and I was about to turn off the lights when the door burst open with awham. I looked up, about to apologize for not being able to help, but the man who walked in hadn’t brought a pet.

He wore faded jeans and a flannel button-down over a thermal shirt and a pair of scuffed work boots with remnants of mud splashed on the sides of the soles. He was tall, maybe even an inch or so taller than me, but also broad-shouldered. And whereas I worked out and lifted weights, something made me think he earned his muscles from hard labor.

But most noticeable was the anger that radiated from him like a nuclear reactor. His fists clenched slightly at his sides, and if looks could kill, I’d probably already be six feet under.

“Can I help you?” Somehow, I managed to keep my voice calm, even while I grabbed my phone.

“That depends. Are you Zach Abbott?” Instead of the bluster I expected, his voice was surprisingly quiet.

I crossed my arms and held my ground. “I am.”

“Then yeah, you can help me by standing there while I pummel your ass.”

What the fuck?“Who are you, and what the hell do you mean?”

Before he could answer, the door opened again, and a woman burst through. She clutched the doorknob and bent over, panting as her wild eyes searched and found us.

“Chase Henry Allen, you stop right there,” she gasped.

The man’s expression grew sullen. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Sure, if you call threatening someone doing nothing,” I muttered.

The woman gasped, then glared at the man, who only slightly relaxed his fists. “Wetalkedabout this.”

He glared back. “Wedidn’t talk at all.Youyammered at me, and I ignored you.”

She drew herself up, a vision of about five foot six, dark blonde fury in high heels, wearing some kind of wrap-around blue dress that brought out the blue of her eyes. The door slammed shut as she advanced on him. The top of her head barely reached his shoulders. “Listen, you big behemoth, stop with the scary man act. You know you wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

He gaped at her. “Buthedoesn’t know that. At least, he didn’t.”

I breathed a little easier. “Whoareyou people?”

The blonde firecracker spun around. “I apologize on his behalf. I’m Cameron Allen, and this big jerk, I’m sorry to say, is my twin brother, Chase.”

The names circulated in my head until I realized where I recognized them from. I uncrossed my arms and scratched the back of my head instead, trying to figure out this puzzle. “You’re Emalee’s cousins?”

“That’s us.”

I held my hand out to her. “You, I’m pleased to meet.” I jerked my head toward Chase. “Not so sure about him.”

“Oh, just ignore him. He’s bent out of shape because he’s been wanting to deck you for seven years.”

Ahh. Now I got it.“I’ll give you one shot because I’m sure you think I deserve it, but after that, be warned. I’ll fight back.”

His eyes lit up, and his hand curled back into a fist. I braced myself, but the blow didn’t come because Cam once again stood between us.

“Would you stop that?” her brother whined. “He told me I could, so fair game.”

Cam’s next exhale was drawn out as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “If you want to explain to Iain why you punched his dad and gave him a black eye, by all means, go ahead. But when he’s mad at you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

At Iain’s name, all his bluster seemed to seep out. “Shit,” he mumbled.

“Look,” I interjected, “I don’t know what Em’s told you, but we’re working things out. I know you only heard her side of the story. Maybe someday, you’ll be willing to hear mine. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done to support both of them. But now that I’ve found them, I’m not letting anyone get between me and my son.”

“And Emalee?”

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