“So,” she says, rushing into what she really wanted to talk about. “Beau Masterson threw a fit with the club owners. Demanded you and your entire family be banned for life.”
Fuck.
“But,” she continues, “Daddy stepped in and defended your honor. Beau magically conceded after that. You’re so lucky my father did that. It would have been so embarrassing to not be able to have my own boyfriend up at the club where we hang out so often.”
“Why would Beau concede so easily?” I ask, suddenly needing her to admit what she knows about what happened.
She chuckles. “Because he’s afraid of Daddy. Everyone is.”
“No other reason than that one?”
“Nope,” she lies. “But Daddy isn’t too happy with you either. He understands you were defending your dad since he’s had prior beef with Beau, but violence is never the answer.”
No, money is.
When I see Abby exit the front of the hospital, I zip my car over to her.
“Angela, I have to go.”
“Angela?” She laughs nervously. “I’m babe, remember? Angela sounds so formal. Like I’m in trouble.”
I grumble out a fake laugh and manage a goodbye before quickly ending the call. Once parked in front of Abby, I jump out and round the vehicle. She’s still frowning, but some of the fire has gone.
“Come here, honey,” I say, yanking her into my arms. “I fucked up in there and I’m sorry. Can I make it up to you with ice cream?”
“Get me two scoops and I’ll think about forgiving you,” she teases, eyes glimmering with her usual mischief. “How’s Angela?”
I grimace and shake my head. “Same.” Dipping my forehead to Abby’s, I murmur, “How are you and our son?”
“Better now that we’ve been promised ice cream.” She beams at me.
She’s so damn pretty it makes my chest hurt. I want to kiss her right now in front of everyone, but I force myself to open the car door and help her inside.
Everything’s so fucking messy in my head.
But, when I’m with Abby, all I see is her.
Chapter 10
Abby
I’m trying to put distance between us, but it’s as if Rhett can sense it and clings on harder. And, when he does that, it’s difficult for me to push him away.
“Why is Daddy so confusing, Buck?” I ask my belly as I rub it.
A door closes behind me, and I whirl around to see a young woman around my age entering the laundry room. She has an infant strapped to her chest in some sort of sling. I make a mental note to tell Rhett we need one.
“Hi,” I say, wriggling my fingers at her. “Don’t mind me. Just the weirdo in the laundry room talking to herself.”
The woman smiles at me and gestures at my stomach. “I used to talk to mine when she was in the womb. It’s normal.”
“I’m Abby. Just moved in a few months ago.”
She nods. “I know. News travels fast in this small community.”
Unease trickles through me. Rhett doesn’t want news traveling at all. Since I don’t know this woman, it’s safe to say there’s no way it would get back to do any damage to Rhett, but I still feel weird about it.
“I’m Savvy,” she says, offering me a slender hand to shake. “I’ve seen Rhett going into your place a lot.”
