Noble Pursuits Read Online Free PDF Page B

oven. He drove to the hospital to check on Cade. He realized I didn’t have a car. He offered me a ride, knowing I wouldn’t accept his offer. I only called you so that it wouldn’t seem like I was ungracious…” Grace continued giving Craig a play-by-play of the evening’s events. Again.
    Craig listened but still seemed skeptical. “I am just amazed that you sat out there and ate dinner with him. Since when do you have dinner with strange men?”
    “Since the children that I am responsible for dash out in front of moving vehicles and subsequently cause me to ruin my dinner. Well, I only eat with the ones that also replace said ruined dinner.” She paused and forced him to meet her eyes. “Craig, I didn’t let him in the house. I had the porch light on, and Mr. Verily was watching every move we made. He checked his mail at almost nine p.m.” Grace winked and started scrubbing apples. Her humor was wasted. Craig was already on a mission.
    “I’m going to go help him; got any sodas?” Craig wasn’t the subtlest of men, but Grace knew that he loved her and took his role as her brother very seriously.
    “There are some on the top shelf. Drink those. Leave the ones on the second shelf alone.”
    Craig looked at her strangely. “Why?”
    “Because Squirt fits you, and I’m afraid of the subliminal messages you might get if you take a Mug .”
    ~*~*~*~
    “Need a hand with that?”
    Nolan, deliberating as to the best way to get his couch through the doorway, looked up. He seemed happy for the diversion. “Thank you, I’d be grateful for any help I can get. I’m Nolan Burke.”
    “Craig Buscher. Grace is my sister.”
    “Did she tell you what I did last night?” Traces of pain laced Nolan’s voice.
    “Grace told me what Cade Crenshaw did— foolish boy. He knows better. Maybe now he’ll obey when he’s given rules to follow.” Craig’s concerned tone softened the apparent harshness of his words. “Just so you know, Grace talked to his mother this morning; they said he was released late last night. He got away with just losing a chunk of the back of his head.”
    “I’ll bet his jacket is a goner, though.”
    Craig nodded. “Grace is hoping to buy a Cubs jacket he’s been wanting as kind of a ‘hope you’ve learned your lesson’ gift.”
    “Cubs? He likes the Cubs?”
    “He knows they’re bad. Says he likes the uniforms. Maybe he thinks the “C” stands for Cade or something. Kids. Go figure.”
    The men grunted through their chuckles as they maneuvered the couch into Nolan’s new living room. Craig started to push it against a long wall, but Nolan stopped him. “I’m thinking about setting it here. This will create a separation from the breakfast bar over there.”
    Craig nodded and they hefted the couch once more to shift it into the new position. “Do you have time to help me with my mattress?”
    Craig answered Nolan’s question with a silent nod. Those who knew Craig well would know that he had something to say. Craig tended to become very quiet just before “speaking his piece.” A framed photograph caught Craig’s eye as Nolan held it against the wall here and there looking for the right place to hang it. He recognized the view from nearby Lake Danube. “That’s a great picture. Did you take it?”
    “Mm-hmm. I climbed the rocks behind the lake and snapped it at sunset.
    “You’re good.” Before Nolan could reply, Craig continued. “Nolan? Got a question for you.” Craig’s voice was serious.
    “Friendly,” Nolan countered in a firm but pleasant tone.
    “You sure?” Craig surveyed the man in front of him. Nolan was tall, he was extremely handsome, and it was obvious that he was also successful. Craig didn’t want a womanizer to trifle with his sister’s affections.
    “Do you doubt it?”
    Craig’s gaze didn’t waver. “I have to be sure. She’s my sister. I am almost all the family that she has.”
    “Craig, what would you have done in my situation? Would