Free Turbulent Kisses by Jessica Gray Page A

major decisions about her career, but she doesn’t have anyone to talk this type of thing over with so I invited her to the house for dinner tonight.”
    “You what? Since when do you invite patients home?” Chase asked, surprised that his future brother-in-law had done such a thing.
    “She’s such a nice girl and it broke my heart to see her so desperate. I wanted to help her out. Anyway, I can give her advice from a doctor’s point of view, but I’m not a professional athlete. So I was hoping maybe you could listen to her problems from your point of view.”
    “Sure. If I ever get over the fact that you invited a patient home.” He scrubbed his jawline.
    “You know me. I’m not your normal doctor.”
    Chase chuckled and agreed to come over later for dinner. It wouldn’t be a hardship at all, because Allison was cooking. And he’d get a chance to hold his nephew again. It was a win-win for him all the way around.

Chapter 12
     
    Chase couldn’t wait to get to Russell and Allison’s home. At least playing with his nephew for a while would take his mind off Pearl.
    While he crawled on the floor with little Jackson, Russell filled him in a little more about the decision his patient had to make.
    He was sitting on the floor of the living room when the doorbell rang. When he turned to inspect the visitor, his eyes widened in shock. Pearl? What is she doing here?
    Russell escorted her into the living room as Chase stumbled to his feet. “Chase, this is Pearl. Pearl, this is my future brother-in-law Chase. He’s a professional kitesurfer and I was hoping he could help give you a different perspective…”
    HIs voice trailed off as he realized the two people in front of him were staring at each other as if they’d seen a ghost.
    “Do you know each other?”
    “Yes.” Pearl pressed out her answer, the paleness in her face intensifying.
    “Yeah, we know each other,” Chase said, offering no other explanation.
    The tension was palpable and even Russell seemed to feel awkward, because he quickly changed the subject before he hurried out of the room and into the kitchen. “Well, Allison just put the rolls in the oven and dinner will be ready to eat as soon as they come out. Why don’t you two have a seat and I’ll go check on how long that will be.”
    Chase wanted to follow him and hide somewhere, but unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. Pearl slowly made her way into the room, carefully avoiding eye contact with him.
    His nephew was on all fours, trying to get the crawling thing down and Chase noticed how she used the little man as a welcome distraction from having to deal with him.
    She kneeled down and said, “Hey there, cutie.”
    “This is the nephew I told you about,” he offered, trying to dispel the awkwardness of her arrival.
    “He’s almost got it. Don’t you?” Pearl cooed to the baby, not even looking in Chase’s direction.
    Russell came back in and announced it was time to eat. Chase waited until Pearl left the living room, and then swooped his nephew up and put him in his mother’s arms.
    “Thanks, Chase. Pearl, I’m so glad you could join us this evening,” Allison offered warmly.
    “Thanks for having me on such short notice.”
    The meal was wonderful, as was everything Allison cooked and Chase almost forgot why he was here, and why Pearl was here. The shock still sat deep, but as time passed, he was actually thankful for the coincidence. At least they were in the same room again.
    Pearl complimented Allison for her cooking and both men nodded their approval. Russell smiled from ear to ear as if Pearl had complimented him and not his fiancé. Chase noticed an uncomfortable sensation of – envy? – creep up his spine at the obvious love his sister and Russell had for each other. It confused the heck out of him. He wasn’t made for living monogamous. At least he’d thought so until now.
    When Allison brought out cupcakes for dessert, Pearl once again praised her for her