My heart pounds like a drum, nerves snapping awake all at once.
“Daddy!” Mia squeals, running to him and wrapping her little arms around his leg.
He barely pats her head.“Mia.” Then he looks at me, smug smile, hands in his pockets.
No. I know that look.
He is not here for her.
His daughter, who he has not seen for months, is right there, and he cannot even pretend to care. My blood boils.
She deserves so much better than this.
And I know instantly that my parents put him up to something.
“Summer,” he says, voice smooth, too casual.
A hand lands on my shoulder. Ethan steps behind me, eyes locked on Kevin like he is looking at trash.
Grace comes over to Mia.“Hey, princess, want to decorate Christmas cookies with me in the kitchen?”
Mia looks at her dad, waiting for him to notice her.
“Daddy, do you want to come with me?” she asks hopefully.
“Not now, Mia.” Kevin pulls her hand off his designer pants without even glancing at her.“Go with her.”
He turns back to me. My heart cracks wide open for my daughter.
As soon as Grace and Mia slip behind the kitchen doors, I face him fully.
“What do you want?”
“I am here to take you home,” he says.“Now.”
I laugh, sharp and incredulous.“I am not going anywhere with you.”
His eyes narrow. He steps in close, and before I can move, his fingers clamp around my wrist, hard. Pain shoots up my arm.
“Get your hands off her. Now.”
Ethan moves, body sliding between us, but Kevin does not let go. He looks Ethan up and down, then sneers at me.
“So what, you are whoring yourself out to some cowboy just to get some?”
His words slice through me.
“I would rather whore myself out to him than ever go back to you,” I spit.“And do not you dare speak about him like that.”
I let him see every ounce of disgust I feel.
“You are worth less than the dirt on his boots after he shovels manure all day.”
Kevin’s grip tightens until I cry out.“Kevin, let go!” I try to pull free, but pain shoots up my arm.
“I said let go of her.”
Ethan’s voice is calm. Controlled. Lethal.
