Page 85 of Lowering His Guard

Dave herds Jace toward the resort. Serenity tries to follow them but I block her. She’s not going anywhere near Jace until she speaks with Brock. I hope not even then. But it’s not my choice.

I hold up a finger. “One second.”

I wait for her to nod. And I wait. And wait. Finally, she nods.

I focus my attention on my students. “Everyone paddle out past the break and sit on your boards. No hands. If you fall off, you buy everyone ice cream.”

They rush for their boards and race into the ocean. I watch to make sure they’re safe and not doing stupid shit. Surfing students at a resort for wealthy people tend to do stupid shit.

When I’m convinced they’re safe, I confront Serenity. “Now it’s your turn. How can I help you?”

She spits daggers out of her eyes at me. “You can stop fucking my husband.”

How the hell does she know I spent a night with Brock? It was literally last night. And she’s already here to scream at me. Has she been stalking Brock?

I feign confusion. “Your husband? Do you mean Brock?”

“You know damn well who I mean.”

“I’m confused. I thought you were divorced.”

“Brock is mine. He’ll always be mine.”

Someone’s possessive. Not sure where she gets off being possessive since she’s the one who left Brock eleven years ago.

I fist my hands at my hips. “You’re divorced.”

She steps closer and taps my chest with her fingernail. Ouch. I glance down. Her nails are long and sharpened to points. No wonder she hurt Jace when she grabbed him.

“Brock and I will always be connected. I gave him a son.”

I wince. She gave him what I can never give him. I’d rather she dig my heart out of my chest with her scary nails than remind me of how I’m deficient. Of how I’ll never be enough.

“Who you abandoned. He didn’t even recognize you. Hmmm… I wonder why. Could it be because you never spent any holidays with him? Never called him for his birthday? Never thought of him again after you left?”

“Do not act as if you know my life and my reasons.”

“Okay. I’ll bite. What’s your reason for abandoning a son and a husband? What’s your reason for not nurturing your son? For not raising him? For not teaching him values? Not showing him how to ride a bike? I’ll wait while you figure out a lie.”

“I don’t need to lie,” she hisses.

“Oh.” I blink. The picture of innocence. “Then, you have a valid reason. Let’s hear it.”

“It’s none of your business.”

I bark out a laugh. “In other words, you don’t have a reason.”

“Listen, you little hussy.”

I preen. I’ve never been referred to as a hussy before. With my size, most women don’t view me as a threat.

“Brock is mine. He’ll always be mine. Why do you think he hasn’t dated anyone since I left him?”

I’m guessing because she scarred him for life.

“Brock Porter has not been celibate.” No way, no how has the man who rode my body like he was carving the perfect wave been abstaining from sex for eleven years.

“You…” She trails off and the mean girl look on her face disappears as she brandishes a smile. What the hell? I glance behind me. Brock is prowling toward us with thunder on his face.