Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
“You’re my wife. Am I not allowed to be worried after you were almost shot?”
Her laugh came sharp. “First, I’m your ex-wife. And wow, you were so worried it only took you two weeks to get here?”
He took a step forward, and instinctively Lofton took one back.
“Good girl,” I whispered to myself.
“I tried,” he whined. “I called absolutely everyone I could think of. Even Brooke, but she sure as hell wouldn’t tell me where you were.”
“I’ll be sure to give her a raise.”
“Look, just because things didn’t work out between us doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”
I schooled my features, because if I rolled my eyes the way I wanted, I’d end up blind.
“Actually,” Lofton replied, crossing her arms over her chest as if she’d caught a chill. “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what it means after you knocked up the set’s catering manager, then gave an exclusive interview complete with actual tears when I filed for divorce because it just ‘came out of the blue.’”
His gaze immediately flicked to me, judging whether or not I’d heard her. I couldn’t help myself—I shot him a smug grin.
“It wasn’t my baby,” he hissed, leaning forward at the hip like that would somehow make him more convincing.
Lofton let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “Just because you pay her a small fortune every month to keep quiet doesn’t mean the kid doesn’t exist.”
He scoffed, scrubbing a hand over his mouth before dropping it to his side. “So this is how you’re going to act? I came all the way out to bumfuck nowhere to check on you, and you’re gonna bring up ancient history like it happened yesterday?”
Her words sliced through the air like a razor blade. “Oh no. I’m well aware of when it happened. Because I was at the funeral home picking out my mother’s casket when I got that call.”
I drew in a sharp breath, a fresh wave of rage burning through my chest.
How fucking low could this guy get? My fists flexed at my sides, fingers curling like they were already wrapping around his throat. God, what I wouldn’t have given to lay him out and leave him as a feast for the vultures.
He didn’t even seem fazed. “Why do you always have to throw that in my face? It’s not like I did that shit on purpose.” He moved toward her like he had any right to close that distance.
I didn’t feel myself move, but in the next blink I was there, cutting him off before he reached her.
My hand dropped, hooking around the back of Lofton’s thigh just below her ass, pulling her solidly against my back.
Surprise flickered across his face before his chin tipped up, all arrogance and bravado, as he squared his shoulders. “Do you fucking mind? We’re trying to have a conversation.”
“You’re done here.” My voice carried more weight than volume, but it still hit like a loaded weapon. I shifted my stance, angling my body just enough to block her completely from his view. “I don’t give a damn who you are. I don’t care who you used to be to her. Out here?” I stabbed my finger at the ground. “You’re nobody.”
The words cracked between us like a gunshot.
I waited for her to push me off.
To tell me I’d crossed a line.
Because I had. So many fucking lines. All starting with her.
Instead, she sagged against me. Her hand slid down my back, landing on the waistband of my jeans before her fingers folded over the edge, gripping tight.
That felt a whole lot like permission to me.
“You need to leave,” I continued, my gaze locked on his. “And I mean right fucking now.” I took a step forward, Lofton following, as I forced him back. “Someone is stalking her. Not a fan. Not some idiot leaving comments online. Someone real who will not hesitate to kill her if he finds her.”
Behind me, Lofton sucked in a breath, her body becoming stiff. I gave the back of her thigh a reassuring squeeze and then took immense pleasure when she melted against me.
“I know.” He rocked back on his heels, still trying to hold on to whatever upper hand he thought he had. “That’s why I came. I want to help.”
“Then you’re an even bigger dumbass than I thought. If you took even a second to pull your head out of your ass, you’d realize nobody told you where she was for a reason. You showing up here? You might as well have been handing out maps. Everyone knows her family owns this place. But if even one person saw you drive into this town you just confirmed her location to anyone who ever had a doubt.”
I fucking loved watching that land on his cocky face.
His spine stiffened, his confidence cracking just enough to let something real slip through. “I… I didn’t think about that.”