Page 22 of A Hero for Hailey (Love will OUT 1)

Chapter 10

What’s the difference between a woman with PMS and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist. ~ Text from Pops to Hailey

As soon as I walk into McGraw’s the following evening, I know I’ve made a mistake. The angry vibe is practically visible in the air. One look at Pops and I know why. His fury is being broadcast loud and clear from his face. Well, shit. Suzie must have tattled on me.

“Someone’s got a big mouth,” I grumble as I stand frozen at the entrance. I debate making a U-turn and fleeing, but I know better. I slump and shuffle my way to Pops behind the bar. As soon as I’m within arm’s reach, he pulls me into his arms. He’s suffocating me, but now is not the time to complain.

“Why didn’t you tell me what happened, Babycakes?” he asks when he finally releases me.

I don’t get a chance to contemplate my lie before my uncles join in on the action.

“Yeah, Hails, why didn’t you tell us?” Lenny grumbles. Barney, Wally, and Sid nod in agreement.

“I didn’t want you to worry.” There are snorts all around in reaction to my words. “What? It’s true.”

Pops puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. “We always worry about you.”

“All the damn time,” Lenny agrees.

“I’d be less worried if you had a man.”

My eyes widen at Pops’ remark. “Need I remind you, you’ve chased off every single man who’s been interested in me since I was twelve years old.”

“None of them were good enough for you.” He is unrepentant.

“Yeah,” Sid agrees. “You need a man who is willing to die for you. Who looks at you as if you’re his whole world.” Sid the romantic strikes again. I stick my finger in my mouth and pretend to gag. He frowns at me.

Lenny chuckles. “I don’t know about all the gooey love stuff, but you do need a man to keep you safe.”

I glare at him. How dare he say I can’t protect myself! When Barney nods, I switch my glare to him. “Et tu, Brute?”

“I say we find a man for her.” At Wally’s suggestion, my eyes nearly bug out of my head. He can’t be serious. I glare daggers at him. He holds up his hands. “What? You’re thirty-one. You should have been able to find a man on your own by now.”

“Need I point out how not one of you is married. Not a single one.”

“Hey! I’ve been married,” Sid argues.

“Five times. Maybe the sixth time is the charm,” Barney jokes. I high-five him.

“I’ve only been married four times. One time was technically a common law marriage. It doesn’t count,” Sid explains.

“I’m pretty sure Wisconsin law says differently.” You learn all kinds of stuff at those criminal justice classes.

“Anyway, we were talking about finding Hails a man, not my marriages.”

“We must have some buddies who have sons who are dateable,” Wally says. Is he serious about this matchmaking business?

I look to Pops and he’s nodding as if he’s considering it. “You can’t be serious! I can take care of myself. You guys made sure of it.”

I’m not kidding. They did. My self-defense skills are topnotch thanks to them. I also know how to shoot pretty much every handgun legally available and some of those not legal. Plus, I can throw a knife with a fair bit of accuracy. And, thanks to Wally, I can override most security systems. See? I’ve got skills.

“Still,” Pops says as he puts his arms around me, “a man would take care of you in a way we can’t.”

I take a deep breath to control my anger. It doesn’t work. “I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.” To prove it, and because I’m more than a bit annoyed with their overprotectiveness, I grab Pops’ wrist and twist it behind his back until he’s pushed up against the bar with his arm at an uncomfortable angle. “See?”

Pops chuckles. “I let you.”

Yeah, right. “Way to save face.”

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