It Had to Be Him by Tamra Baumann Read Free Book Online Page B

the hotel’s kitchen. “Thanks for dinner, Casey, it was great.”
    “You’re welcome. It’s been kind of quiet without the boys, so I enjoyed the company.” Casey dug her ringing cell out of her pocket, checking the display before she lifted it to her ear. “Hey, Ben.”
    Casey listened for a moment, then said, “Hang on. Meg’s here, I’ll put you on speaker.”
    As she poked a button and laid the phone down, she said, “Grams shot your ex. Ben wants to ask us something.”
    “Shot him?” She raced for the counter and yelled into the phone. “Is he going to be all right?”
    “Just a nick, he’ll be fine.”
    Meg slumped against the counter in relief. She’d never forgive herself if she’d caused any actual harm to Josh. She just wanted him to go away. “Where is he?”
    “Here at the clinic.”
    “Is he in a lot of pain?”
    “Gunshot wounds tend to hurt. I’ve given him something for the pain. He can’t drive. Do you have a room, Casey? Otherwise I have to stay with him here. I have a hot date I’d rather not cancel for a change.”
    Casey crossed her arms and shook her head. “Then let him sleep in his car! He’s trying to steal Ha—”
    Megan cut her off. “Who has big ears and is sitting right here? He’s hurt. Let him have a room, Casey. Please?”
    Casey narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Tell him he can stay but the rate is five grand a night!”
    Meg rolled her eyes. “Be reasonable.”
    “You just got done telling me at dinner he’s loaded, so why not?”
    “Because it isn’t right and you know it.”
    Casey huffed out a breath. “Okay, he can stay. But the rate is a thousand bucks a night. Take it or leave it!”
    Ben laughed. “I’ll tell him. Thanks, Casey.”
    Meg started for the kitchen’s swinging doors. “Can you watch Haley for a minute? Ben might need some help getting him here. Be right back.”
    Before her sister could protest, Meg ran out the front doors and hit Main Street. She hated the thought of Josh being shot—she’d loved him once, after all—but she needed to find out why he was here. It probably wasn’t going to help that Grandma shot him if there was going to be a custody battle. She’d better try to smooth things out a little.
    She’d just ignore the urge she still had to light all his fancy shoes on fire, and instead make nice, get him settled, and then get Haley out of the hotel and back to the guesthouse.
    Then she’d find a way to boot his ass out of town.
    Breathing hard from the run, she tugged on the clinic’s door. Ben sat behind the reception desk poking at a keyboard. He sent her a questioning eyebrow hitch, which she ignored, so he pointed the way. “I’ll help him to my car after I finish this up.”
    The sight of Josh made her stomach clench. He lay on the exam table wearing just jeans and boots. His chiseled chest slowly rose and fell, his arm sported a big bandage, and his eyes were closed. His color was good and he looked fine. Actually, he looked more than fine. Another reason she should just go. But her traitorous feet moved her closer.
    She swiped away a wisp of soft blond hair that had fallen over his eye and studied his handsome face.
    It still hurt to look at him. The man had stolen a piece of her heart that hadn’t grown back.
    When she let out a long sigh, his eyes fluttered open and he smiled. “There you are, Meg. Been lookin’ for ya.” His words slurred together.
    “I heard.”
    He struggled to sit up, so she helped him.
    “Your crazy grandma shot me.”
    “Don’t expect a purple heart. She’s shot me too.” She threw Josh’s heavy arm around her shoulder and helped him stand. “Come on. Let’s go find you a bed.”
    “Where’d she shoot you?” He swayed, nearly knocking her off her feet.
    She propped Josh against the exam table while she waited for Ben. “My butt. What did you think all those little scars were from?”
    “Oooh, yeah.” A slow, silly grin lit his face. “You have a reeeally niiiiccce