Home For The Holidays (Dirt Track Dogs #6) by P. Jameson Read Free Book Online

you.”
    Annie snorted. Gracie hadn’t completely outgrown her lisp.
    “That right?” Aaron said.
    “Yes, sir. That is right.”
    “Well, didn’t your uncle ever teach you not to talk to strangers?”
    “Are you a stranger? Cuz if you are, then you’re in trouuuuuble, mishter. Stranger’s aren’t allowed to just walk in people’s houses and not tell them their names.”
    “Mmm hm,” Punk murmured. “She’s got this.”
    “Who are you?” Aaron asked. “Where are your parents?”
    “Busy,” she said in a tone that should precede her sticking her tongue out. “Where’re yours?”
    “Dead.” Like Aaron’s tone.
    There was a long silence, and then a whimpered, “I’m so sorry, mishter. You must be so sad.”
    “Well, don’t cry— oomph! ”
    Annie stood and peeked through the kitchen door. Gracie had flung herself at Aaron, wrapping her spindly arms around his legs as she cried into his jeans.
    “What are you doing?” he croaked, looking confused.
    “Huggin’ ya. It always helps things like this. Is it helping now? ‘Cause Uncle Blishter says I’m a real good hugger. The best, actually. I’m a pro.”
    Annie watched her brother. The hard shell that had grown around him over the years seemed to crack, falling partially away to reveal a fragment of the man she remembered.
    What’s happened to you, brother, to make you so hard? What had the years away done to him?
    “A professional hugger? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” he huffed.
    “Well, you see, it’s just like Santa Claus. Just because you never seen one doesn’t mean it don’t exist.”
    She pulled back to stare at him.
    “You’re a smart little girl,” Aaron murmured.
    Artie ran into the living room, exasperated. “Gracie,” he whined. “You were supposed to come find me.”
    “I was lookin’,” she said, “but then I found this sad man and he needed my help.” She shrugged, both palms to the ceiling. “So I helped him. And since you left your hiding spot, you lost your turn. Now you have to count.” Grinning triumphantly, she ran off to hide, but Artie wasn’t having any of it.
    “Mommmm! Gracie cheated!”
    Punk pushed past Annie into the living room. “Learn her ways, son. Or get left in the dust. Dirt track lesson #537. Now go play.” She turned her shrewd gaze on Aaron and he narrowed his at her. “You looking for Annie?”
    “Where is she?”
    Punk tipped her head to the side, considering him. “We ate her,” she deadpanned. “The kids got hungry and she was nice and juicy with that baby glow and all. Yum, yum. Little Gracie ate a whole leg just before you showed up.”
    Aaron’s eyes went wide, but before he could believe her, Annie padded into the room.
    “Damn it, Annie. You ruined my gig.” She rolled her eyes at Aaron. “She’s supposed to be resting her feet in the kitchen. Ya dumb asshole.” She stalked back to her task grating cheese.
    “Hey,” Annie said, crossing her arms as well as she could over her baby bump.
    “Hey.” He looked edgy. Not as angry as he’d been last night, but not normal either. “What are all the cars parked outside for?”
    “The pack’s here,” she started, but his back went ramrod stiff.
    “The wolfpack?”
    “Yes. The Dirt Track Dogs. My friends ,” she emphasized. “They’re helping Blister put the nursery together, and the girls are making food for everybody in the kitchen to give me a break off my feet.”
    Aaron frowned. Like her words made no sense to him.
    “Come on,” she urged, forcing her voice to sound natural. “I’ll introduce you to them.”
    She turned, hoping he’d follow her, and he did. In the kitchen everything was business as usual. No one even turned to look at them, but betcha booty they were all listening through the door just seconds ago.
    “Hey, everybody,” Annie announced. “This is my brother, Aaron. The one I told you about. Aaron, this is Ella, Destiny, Tana.” She pointed at each of the females in turn.