Free Baby, It's You by Jane Graves Page B

dinner. So where along the way did it stop being a good idea?”
    “I’m sorry. I really am. But…” She exhaled. “Think about it, Greg. Are we really right for each other?”
    “Yes. Of course. We’re very compatible. The minister who married us said so, didn’t he?”
    Marc could tell Kari wasn’t convinced, and Greg clearly wasn’t happy that she didn’t share his point of view.
    “If you’re worried about being embarrassed when you come back,” Greg said, “it won’t be a problem. Your father and I covered for you.”
    “Covered for me?”
    “We told everybody you were sick.”
    Kari drew back. “You lied?”
    “Would you rather we’d have told the truth?”
    “The truth? Do you even know what the truth is?”
    “You got cold feet. A lot of brides do.”
    “But why did I get cold feet? Did you stop to think about that?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Greg said. “We’re getting married, and that’s the end of it.”
    Even at the distance Marc was away from them, he sensed the guy’s undercurrent of anger. Patient on the surface, pissed underneath. A tiny shiver skated between Marc’s shoulders, telling him trouble was brewing. He stood up tall, watching intently as the guy inched closer to Kari.
    “So here’s what’s going to happen,” Greg went on. “You and I are getting in my car, and we’re driving back to Houston. Then we’re going to the justice of the peace. He’s a friend of your father’s and very discreet. We’re getting married. Then we’re going to send out announcements to everyone who showed up to the wedding that day, letting them know we’re man and wife. And then we’re going to pray your father overlooks the humiliation you’ve put him through.”
    Kari swallowed so hard Marc could see her throat move at twenty paces. “I don’t care how my father feels about it.”
    “Really?” Greg snapped. “You don’t care? Well, you’d better care. See how far you get when you don’t have your daddy to give you a job!”
    “I don’t need that job,” Kari said, her voice quivering. “I’ll get another one.”
    “Right. This economy stinks. If people with actual skills can’t get a job, what hope do you have?”
    Kari looked away, stroking her dog nervously.
    “He pays you about twice what you’re worth at a job that could be cut from that company tomorrow. Try to find another employer who’ll do that.”
    Kari was silent. Then Greg got a calculating look on his face. “Tell me, Kari. Have you checked your bank account lately?”
    She drew back. “You know about that?”
    “Yes,” he said smugly. “I know about it. Still think you’re staying here?”
    “I can’t talk to you anymore right now.”
    Kari started to walk away. Greg grabbed her arm and pulled her back around. “You’re not going anywhere.”
    She tried to pull her arm away. “Greg, please! Let me go !”
    He tightened his grip and gave her arm a hard jerk. “Stop all this nonsense and get in the damned car!”
    An alarm bell went off inside Marc’s head. Words were one thing. A physical threat was another. He didn’t tolerate that kind of behavior from a man toward a woman. Ever.
    He strode into the parlor. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
    Greg froze at the sound of Marc’s voice, and Kari’s eyes went huge with surprise. Greg gradually let go of her arm. “Who the hell are you?”
    “Forget the introductions. Just keep your hands off her.”
    “This is none of your business.”
    “You grab her arm like that again, and I’m making it my business.” He turned to Kari. “Do you want to go with this guy?”
    She looked at Greg, then at Jill, swallowing hard once again. “No. I don’t.”
    Marc turned to Greg. “Beat it.”
    Shock spilled over Greg’s face. “ Excuse me?”
    “You heard me. Get out of here.”
    Greg turned to Kari. “Who the hell is this guy?”
    “He’s a friend of mine,” Kari said.
    “You have friends in this dinky