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“Bullshit.” Will stops for a second before he resumes his cleanup and grabs the other two bowls from the table. “I was talking about Ms. Reece.”
“What about her?” I’m instantly interested in whatever comes out of his trap.
And from the grin spread across his face, he knows I am. “Ridge told me she passed you over like a flattened raccoon in the middle of the road on a hot summer’s day.”
“Ouch.”
“But true.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Using my ass, I open the back door that leads directly into the kitchen, where delectable smells come wafting out.
“Face it, little brother, she wasn’t interested.”
“She must be broken.” I set my bowls down on the island where Mom already set up freezer paper for us to wrap.
“Who’s broken?” Valerie looks up from the stove where she’s cooking.
I answer, “No one.”
At the same time, Will says, “Ms. Reece.”
I’ve never seen two women stop what they were doing faster than these two. As if they share some strange ESP woman connection, they glance at one another and then both sets of eyes hit me.
“Hi.” I wave—bloody hand and all—unsure what else to do.
“Leave the woman alone, Chase.” Valerie’s butter-coated spoon points in my direction in a threatening way. I wince. Ever since my mom busted a wooden spoon over my ass when I was a kid, I’ve done my best to stay away from them.
“I didn’t say anything,” I shoot back defensively.
“But we know you, son,” Mom supplies. “Angelica is a sweet woman, just leave her alone.”
Will comes around the other side of the island from me, clearly showing me which side he’s on.
He’s a woman anyway.
“They’re right, Chase.” He snickers. “Leave her alone. I know it’ll be difficult for you because you’ve always taken no as a challenge.” His chortle turns into full-out laughter. “Ow!”
It’s my turn to laugh when Valerie turns back to the stove, shaking off her hand from smacking her husband in the back of the head.
“What is going on in here?” Dad steps in from outside just as Ridge comes running downstairs from doing his homework.
“Nothing,” I grumble, focusing on wrapping the steaks.
“All right. Dinner smells good.” Got to love Dad, he knows when to keep to his own. My love life, or lack of one, is the topic he grew bored with when I was still a teen. Except— “I’m glad to see you taking shit serious now, Chase.”
Yep, there he goes.
“I’m not sure about that, Dad,” Will pipes up again.
Can a person drown in a bowl of raw meat? Because I really want to slam my brother’s face into one of the bowls and not let up until he’s taken his final breath.
“What is that supposed to mean?” He finishes washing his hands and turns to us so we can get the wrapping done quicker.
“Nothing,” I grumble once more.
“Ms. Reece didn’t go for Uncle Chase’s flirting.” Ridge supplies the answer after joining us as well.
Dad’s weathered eyes glare up at me. “Chase.” No matter how old I get, it never gets easier when my dad says my name in that disappointed tone with a hint of anger.
