Pound Foolish (Windy City Neighbors Book 4) by Neta Jackson, Dave Jackson Read Free Book Online

For some reason he got overlooked and lay on a gurney in the hallway for three hours without any care. One of the blood clots broke loose and caused a stroke before anyone responded to him. He has some permanent impairment—not bad—but he won a three-million-dollar lawsuit over it.”
         “Oh, it happens, but it could take several years of litigation.” Paddock gestured toward the two-flat. “Think she wants to spend the end of her life going to court over and over? And there are no guarantees.”
         “Maybe not,” Greg said. “But shouldn’t that be her choice?”
         Tim lifted a hand. “Well, gotta go. Danny’s home with a nasty chest cold. But I agree with Greg here. Just think about it, Lincoln.”
         Greg looked around, trying to keep an eye on the kids in the deepening dusk, and saw Nicole talking to an attractive black woman as the crowd started to disperse. “Oh, there’s my wife.” He raised his voice and beckoned. “Nicole! Over here!”
         Nicole glanced at him and then went back to talking to the woman and Jared Jasper, who’d joined them.
         “Oh. So Nikki’s your wife?” Lincoln said.
         Greg gave him a puzzled look. “You know her?”
         “Not really. We just met the other day.”
         Really, and already calling her Nikki ? The little crowd was breaking up and Greg beckoned to his wife again. “Nicole?” She finally broke away from the Jaspers and came toward them. “I was going to introduce you to Lincoln Paddock here, but he says you two already met.”
         Nicole nodded and seemed somewhat embarrassed. “Yeah, a couple of weeks ago.” She gave him a shy smile. “Hello again.”
         Paddock smiled appreciatively. “You’re all dressed up. You two going out or something tonight?”
         For the first time, Greg realized Paddock was right. Nicole had changed into her white dress slacks, a pretty turquoise sweater, and sling-back heels—heels that made her two inches taller than him. She had fresh makeup on too.
         “Uh, no, don’t have any plans that I know about.” He laughed self-consciously. “I just got home from one of our expos about half an hour ago, so if we are, ha ha, guess I’m the one who’s not dressed right.”
         “I dunno, Singer.” Paddock gave him a man-to-man wink. “If I were you, I’d take this pretty lady dancing somewhere tonight.”
         The whole conversation felt awkward and Greg tried to steer it away. “Yeah, well, guess we better collect the kids and get on home . . . oh, there they are. Becky! Nate! Time to go!”
         The kids reluctantly stopped a game of chase that had them running all over the Bentleys’ front lawn and bounced up to him. “Aw, Dad, do we have to? We’re having fun.”
         “Yep, time to go.”
         As they started off, Becky turned back and waved. “Hi, Mr. Paddock!”
         “Hi, yourselves!” he called after them and headed for his big house at the end of the street.
         Once out of earshot, Greg asked Becky, “How do you know Mr. Paddock?”
         “He gave us a ride in his big black car the other day, didn’t he, Mommy?”
         Greg looked at Nicole, waiting for an explanation, but all she said was, “That’s right, honey.”
         What was that all about?
         They walked on in silence until Greg’s curiosity got the best of him. “So, why’d he give you a ride in his limo?”
         “’Cause it was raining,” Becky said matter-of-factly.
         Nathan bounced around in front of them and skipped backwards. “An’ he was gonna take us to the zoo yesterday, but he had to go to jail.”
         “Not jail,” corrected Becky. “He had to go to court.”
         “Same thing.”
         “No it’s not.”
         “Yes it is. I saw it on TV. You go to court and then they put you in jail.”
         Court ? Greg frowned. Paddock had said