Page 83 of Believing Bailey (Granton University 2)

She didn’t answer, only frowned as we listened to footsteps on the stairs.

Once I was sure he was out of earshot, I pinned her with a stare and hissed, “You didn’t tell him who I was.”

She only grinned back at me, a grin that shot through my bloodstream and make me ache with the need to kiss her. “Relax, Hilliard.” She bucked my arm. “And just trust me, will you? I’ve got this.”

Then she reached up and patted my cheek. The sensation of her soft fingers against my skin must’ve dulled my head, because I settled immediately and forgot to keep arguing.

Her words hadn’t quelled the worry in me, but her smile did remind me of one thing. I did trust her, more than anyone else in the world. Maybe she really did have this.

Chapter 27

BAILEY

“Oh, God, this is so good.” My eyes nearly rolled up into my head as I moaned.

But seriously, no one made chili like my dad. Perfect amount of spice, and meat, and beans. He was a master. Setting my hand over my stomach, I sat back in my chair and grinned at Beck who was sitting across from me, taking his first spoonful. When his eyebrows lifted as if surprised—pleasantly surprised—by the flavor, I grinned. He began to smile back when Booth, sitting next to him, glanced between us.

“Thought you said he wasn’t your boyfriend.”

“Booth,” Dad said in a warning voice.

“What?” My brother shrugged, looking confused. “It was an honest question. I mean, they were sitting there, making babies with their eyes like they—ouch!” He glared at me as the toe of my shoe made direct contact with his shin under the table.

“We’re not dating,” I bit out.

“Okay, geez,” he mumbled before sniffing a scowl toward Beck as if his sore leg was all Beck’s fault. “It was just a question.”

“A stupid question,” I mumbled, only for Dad to censor me with a measured look.

I was tempted to kick Booth again. It just wasn’t fair that out of all four of my brothers, he was the only one around tonight. I knew Brock and Braiden didn’t live here anymore and Blaine was apparently moving out, but why did it have to be the most annoying brother to stay behind?

“Who the heck is this girl Blaine’s dating, anyway?” I demanded, probably startling the three males at the table with what seemed to them like an out-of-the-blue thought.

“Some girl from Plainville,” Dad explained. “Name’s Melody. Like I said, she’s a pleasant girl. Pretty, too.”

“Way too hot for an asshat like Blaine,” Booth agreed.

I began to nod and ask how they’d met when I noticed Beck’s sudden paleness. I blinked, wondering what was wrong, until it struck me.

Melody.

Oh, shit. No. Please, no.

My eyes grew wide as I turned abruptly to my dad. “Did you say Melody? Melody what?”

“Uh…” He glanced toward the ceiling. “McDaniel maybe? Or possibly McDonald. Something like that.”

“McDougal,” Booth supplied dryly.

I glanced between the two. “Are you sure?” I demanded. Were they positive it wasn’t actually

Fairfield? “Her last name’s McDougal? It’s definitely McDougal?”

“Yeah.” Booth glanced at me as if I’d lost my mind. “It’s McDougal. Why?”

He turned questionably to Beck at the same moment I did. Beck’s shoulders released tension and slowly fell as relief stole through him. I could practically feel the air return to his lungs. His gaze met mine, and I knew we shared the same thought.

Thank God, it was a different Melody.

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