“Bad things,” I whisper. “She stole from people. She stole from a lot of people. Her friends. My friends. Junie’s friends’ parents. A lot of people.”
“You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t even have time to keep up with my owndaughter, much less my mother.” Yep. Truth still hurts. “I don’t have anyone left in Cedar Rapids. Junie doesn’t have any friends left in Cedar Rapids. I didn’t want anyone here to know because she deserves the same safe space I had when I was her age and I’d come out here. I don’t care if anyone knows forme. I care that they don’t know forher.”
“That’s why you don’t want kids on the ranch.”
“Icannottake any risks. I can’t put my daughter’s security and comfort and safety in jeopardy.” I shudder at all the doomsday scenarios that have played through my head over the past year or so. “I need to be dependable for her. I don’t ever want her to feel the way I did when I saw my mom put in handcuffs. She’s been through enough already.”
He strokes my back and presses a kiss to my head. “Okay. Okay. We’ll take care of June.”
We’ll take care of June.
That’s everything I need.
I need to know that my daughter will be okay.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“People here won’t judge you on what your mother did,” he says gruffly. “They know Tony thought the world of you. Up to you to make them think less.”
“By getting them thrown off a horse, being a pain in the ass about liability, and trying to convince them to let Junie on the soccer team with a cherry-crisp bribe?” I whisper.
His chuckle rumbles through his chest, passing into me, and there’s no more denying it.
I’m in trouble.
I like this man.
“So you admit it was a bribe.”
“But I took one toeveryone. And I even gave Mr.Simmerton an apple crisp because I heard he liked those better.”
“We definitely judge parents who bring us treats. You’re our least favorite. Treats are awful.”
He’s gripping me tight with one solid arm and teasing his fingers over my back with his free hand. His lips are hot. His breath is hot. Every nerve ending in my body is igniting in ways I haven’t felt inyears.
And his sarcasm is making me hornier.
I want to kiss him.
I want to remember what it feels like to be kissed by someone who wants to kiss me back.
Flint definitely wants to kiss me back.
There was no mistaking the hunger in his eyes when he rinsed me down after the Earl incident. The way he watches me every time I’m around the school or within sight of the gatehouse. The bulge I can feelright nowagainst my belly.
“Tell me you’re this nice to everyone,” I say.
“Everyone but you.”
“You’re being nice to me now.”
“I’m a sucker for damaged goods.”
I should be offended, but I’m enjoying being this close to his body too much to put the energy into it. “Why?”
“I have issues.”
