Free A Forever Kind of Guy: The Braddock Brotherhood, Book 2 by Barbara Meyers

weeks.”
    “Long enough to form an impression?”
    Ray met her gaze head-on, wondering what she was getting at. What kind of information was she fishing for? “I’d say long enough to form an impression, yes.”
    “And?”
    Ray took a drink of soda and said nothing. If she wanted specifics, she could ask specific questions.
    Callie took a delicate sip of her ice water. “May I ask what impression you’ve formed?”
    “Certainly.”
    Callie waited for him to elaborate, and when he did not, she sat forward. “Is there a reason you’re making this more difficult than it has to be?”
    “Is there a reason you can’t ask a direct question?”
    “Excuse me, I thought I had. What is your impression of Hayley Christopher with whom, by your own admission, you’ve been acquainted with for a few weeks?”
    “I like her. I think she’s smart and tough and she has a good heart.”
    “Have you also had the opportunity to meet Fletcher Mariano?”
    “I have.”
    “And?”
    Ray raised an eyebrow at her and took another drink of his soda.
    Callie let out a soft little sigh. “What is your impression of Fletcher Mariano?”
    “Seems like an okay kid to me.”
    “Have you noticed anything unusual about him?”
    “Like what?”
    “Have you heard him speak?”
    “No.”
    “And you don’t find such behavior unusual in a child his age?”
    “To tell you the truth, Callie, I haven’t had much opportunity to be around children his age since I was one. It’s possible, isn’t it, that if a child Fletcher’s age doesn’t speak, perhaps he has nothing to say? A lot of adults could take a cue from kids like him, don’t you think?”
    The corner of Callie’s mouth went up, as if she were trying not to smile. “No doubt,” she agreed.
    She seemed to carefully consider how to word her next question before she spoke. “Do you think, based on your brief acquaintance with Ms. Christopher, that she’s a fit guardian for Fletcher?”
    “Sure. She’s as good as anybody else.” Oops . That hadn’t come out the way he’d planned. “I mean, uh, it looks to me like she takes as good of care of Fletcher as she can.” Yikes, the hole was getting deeper. “She does her best.” Shut up, Ray. Shut up, he warned himself. “Isn’t that all anyone can do?”
    Callie Maxwell sat up straighter and bristled a bit. “Despite the negative publicity of the past few years, the Florida Department of Child Welfare does maintain standards of care for those under its jurisdiction. Making one’s best effort, while admirable, does not necessarily mean the standard has been reached.”
    Callie stood, leaving the glass of water on a coaster. “Thank you, Mr. Braddock, for your time and for the water. You’ve been very helpful.”
    Great , Ray thought. He’d somehow managed to piss off the DCW social worker. Hayley would hate him if his words somehow worked against her application to be Fletcher’s foster mother.
    “If there’s anything else, any more questions, anything I can do—”
    “You’ve done more than enough,” Callie informed him as she stepped through the door and out into the late afternoon heat. “Thank you again. Ah, there’s Ms. Christopher now.”
    Sure enough, Hayley’s Mustang turned into the drive. Ray gave a half-hearted wave and stepped back inside, figuring the less he was seen the better.
     
    An hour later, Ray had his grill fired up and laid three hamburger patties over the flames. Hayley’s sliding door opened and she came toward him. She looked sexier than usual in snug-fitting, knee-length exercise pants and a matching, form-fitting, V-neck top. She had on sneakers, and her hair was bound up in a messy bun from which lots of wild tendrils had escaped.
    Ray licked his lips. Man, he could look at her all day and not get tired of it. “Hi there.”
    “Hi.” Her purposeful stride stopped a few feet short of where he stood. They stared at each other for a several awkward moments.
    Ray turned to the