Sweet Harmony (Harmony Falls #1) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,34

the last month or so. There are a few cases at work that are a bit more involved,” Addison replied. “Which is terrible timing because we really need to make some final decisions for the wedding.”

The game was starting and as Connor jogged out to the short stop position, Addison nudged her. “Connor has a pretty great body. I had no idea that a dentist could be so… in shape.”

Kira grinned, and Addison leaned forward to stare at Grace. “How come you never told us that Connor had such a smoking hot body, Gracie?”

Grace didn’t reply and Kira followed her gaze. Gideon was walking toward them, the equipment bag thrown over one beefy shoulder. He was wearing track pants and a t-shirt, just like Connor, only his t-shirt was blue and the white lettering across the back said, “Harmony Falls Blues”.

“Hey, Gideon. How was your game?” She smiled at him as he stopped at the edge of the bleachers and stared up at them.

“We won. Why are you sitting on this side?” He glanced at the Flames side, his upper lip curling just a little when he saw Daniel sitting on the bench.

“Connor’s playing,” she said.

“Right. Your new boyfriend. We still need to talk about that.”

“What’s there to talk about?” Grace’s face was red. “You’re her brother, not her boss. She doesn’t need your permission to date anyone.”

Gideon’s jaw tightened. “That’s right – I’m her brother and it’s my job to keep her safe.”

“She’s an adult. She can take care of herself.”

“I am aware she’s an adult.” Gideon kept his gaze on Kira’s face.

“Then maybe you should start treating her like one, instead of like a little kid who can’t make her own decisions.”

He finally looked at her, the muscle in his jaw ticking hard and fast. “Maybe if she started making the right, smart decisions, I wouldn’t have to -”

Grace folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe the right, smart decisions aren’t necessarily the ones you think they are.”

“I know what’s best for her.” Gideon’s voice was flat.

“No, she knows what’s best for her. I repeat, she is an adult who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions. Maybe those decisions would be a mistake, or maybe they’d be the best thing that ever happened to her.” Grace’s entire body was stiff, and Kira could see her hands clenching and unclenching into fists. “But it’s kind of hard for her to know, when you won’t even give her the opportunity to make her own decision.”

Gideon’s hand tightened around the equipment bag strap until his knuckles went white. “Maybe if she didn’t have a history of making bad choices when it came to men, I wouldn’t have to -”

“Hey! I don’t make bad choices or decisions,” Kira said. “Stop talking about me like I do. Both of you just chill out. God.”

Gideon and Grace continued to glare at each other. After a moment, Grace turned her gaze to the field.

“I have to go. Kira, we’ll talk later.” Gideon stormed away.

Kira turned to Grace. Grace’s cheeks were bright red, and her pupils were so large, Kira could only see a thin circle of green around them. She touched Grace’s thigh. “Gracie, why are you so angry?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” Kira glanced at Addison who shrugged. “You and Gideon used to be close and now it’s like you’re always fighting. Why?”

“We aren’t always fighting,” Grace said.

“You kind of are,” Addie said. She was checking her cell phone and missed the glare that Grace threw her way.

“He bosses you around, Kira,” Grace said.

“He’s my brother, he’s supposed to. Daniel does the same thing to Addie and I don’t see you freaking out about it,” Kira replied. “Besides, Gideon bosses you around too – he has since we were kids. It’s just what big brothers do.”

She put her arm around Grace and squeezed her. “It never used to bother you. When we were kids, you liked that Gideon treated you like his sister. You said it made you really feel like a part of our family. Remember?”

“Yeah,” Grace muttered. “I remember.”

Kira squeezed her again. “Taking care of us is what Gideon does. He can’t help it. Hell, he likes helping everyone. It’s why he became a cop.”

“There’s a difference between taking care of someone and controlling them,” Grace said.

“Listen, I’m not denying that Gideon is a control freak – we all know he is – but he’s not controlling,” Kira said. “Just talk to him, okay? You guys used to be close and I