Page 30 of The Hunt

The way Chad’s father still did with his mother. Those two, even now with his father in his eighties, vibrated when they got close to one another.

Now, ever since they’d gotten Chantal and Gene back, whenever Chad thought of his own future, and the nameless faceless woman he’d thought about being his future before—she had turned into Genesis Hiller. It felt right. Imagining what he wanted with her.

Now, he was going to make that happen.

He just had to find her, first.

It took him a few minutes, but he finally ran her down. In the cafeteria, with Aubrey. They were hush-hush, huddled together, worried looks on their beautiful faces. Chad stayed where he was near the doors and watched them for a moment.

Genny was far fierier than her friend. And more playful. She felt things passionately. Still, even as an adult.

She was a true bleeding heart. And a bit reckless. She’d rush right in, if she thought she was helping someone. Sometimes rushing right into trouble.

That used to irritate the hell out of him. It had gotten her into trouble time and time before. One of her brothers would usually have to rescue her. She’d toned down a bit as she’d gotten older, but that girl who loved and felt deeply was still in there.

He was damned glad of that now.

Chad wondered if that passion for life extended to the bedroom. He so hoped it did. That was a question he couldn’t wait to answer.

He wanted her to love him that deeply, too.

And she would be his world. He was sure of it.

Just like Rory and their twins—and Charlotte—were Charlie’s. He’d seen Genny holding his niece Charis, and he had, for one fast instant, imagined what it would be like if the baby she had been holding so lovingly like that had been his.

Theirs.

He could see her as a mother, easily. It wasn’t hard to imagine at all. He’d seen her with Gene’s son Calvin many timesbefore. Playful, loving, compassionate—all of those things. And so damned beautiful, he ached just thinking about her.

In that brief fantasy, he was going home with them. Home. To a big house somewhere, probably near the hospital, and not a lifeless condo in Barrattville.

Home. A family.

He wanted that.

The idea wasn’t as frightening as it once had been.

He crossed the cafeteria to them, wondering what it was that had them so furtive. Chad couldn’t help himself; he rested his hand on the small of Genny’s back. “Hey, here are my two favorite ladies of BCGH. I’ve been looking for you, Genny, my sweet.”

She yelped and turned, quick. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was him. “Oh. Chad.”

“Oh. Genny.” His gaze narrowed on her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes a bit glassy. And angry. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

She shot him a pointed look. “Don’t call me that here. You probably shouldn’t call me that at all, anyway. I haven’t decided if I am your sweetheart at all, you know.”

Chad gave her a wicked grin in return. “Why not? You are my sweetheart. Forever. I’m too adorable to resist.”

He heard what sounded like a choked laugh out of her friend.

“You are such a butt sometimes.”

Maybe, but that half afraid look in her eyes was gone now. He squeezed her waist gently, then pulled her a little closer. “What’s bothering you? Do I need to go kick someone’s ass?”

She bit her lip and just looked up at him, secrets in those big eyes of hers. “Chad…”

His hand tightened on her. He wanted to pull her even closer and promise to make everything better. No matter what it was.

But Genny wasn’t talking.