Page 90 of Sheriff's City Girl

Especially since I had broken up with him nearly ten months prior.

“Are they now?” He chuckled as I placed the cinnamon roll on a plate and handed it over to him. Derek gave me a long look as he took it from me, his eyes not stopping until they made it to my stomach—and then his perfectly shaven jaw dropped. “What the…”

“Yeah, I’m pregnant,” I snapped, shaking my head and backing away from him. The counter was in between us and provided a little comfort for me. “And no, it’s not yours.”

“Obviously,” he shot back. His dark hair was nearly the same color as his suit, which made him stand out like a sore thumb in the town. “I’m just surprised by your lack of judgment. I always thought better of you, Emma. I never thought you were the type to go getting knocked up without a marriage.”

“You’re being incredibly rude,” I leveled with him. “You need to leave my store.”

He raised an amused brow. “You really gonna try to throw me out? That’s not very welcoming of you. I thought you always said this town was full of kind people.”

“Get the hell out of here,” a voice shouted as soon as the doorbell chimed. I turned to see Lily storming in, her eyes like a laser on Derek. “You’re not supposed to be anywhere near Emma—and she doesn’t want you to be, either. Get out.”

He glared at her, but unlike me, there was always something about Lily that he respected—like the tiny blonde might actually kick him right in the balls or something. “I’m not done talking to her.”

“Yeah, you are,” she barked, pointing to the door. “Get out.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “I haven’t paid.”

“It’s on the house,” I chimed in, joining forces with Lily. “Please leave.”

He let out a long, exaggerated sigh, and left, the door slamming behind him. Lily and I both watched in silence as he climbed into his car and sped off down the street.

“I don’t know why he showed up…” I said, wrapping my arms around myself. “I thought he was over it.”

“He’s just a pest is what he is,” Lily muttered, shaking her head. “Maybe now that he saw you’re pregnant, he’ll move on. I seriously can’t stand him. He’s just a narcissist. He’s always out to have control over you.”

I let out a sigh, pushing my hair out of my eyes. “I know that, and that’s why his presence here is just that much more unnerving…”

“He won’t bother you.” Lily placed her hand on my shoulder from where she’d joined me on the other side of the counter. “We should probably tell Mason though, and I have no doubt if he knows, he definitely will make sure you’re safe.”

I shook my head adamantly. “I don’t want to burden him with that. He has enough on his plate. If I tell him about this, it might just tip him right over the edge.”

Lily pursed her lips. “I don’t think that’s how he would take it. I know that you’re worried about him, and I understand, I do… But what if Derek doesn’t stay away? I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off, thick with worry as she let out a sigh.

I couldn’t disagree with her. As much as I hoped that Derek was gone… I knew that there was a chance he’d still hang around—and that made me nervous. “I’ll tell him when I have a chance,” I finally said, plopping down onto the stool. I was exhausted, and just taking care of the café was starting to be a big chore.

“You’re gonna get through this,” Lily said softly, just as the doorbell chimed. We both looked up to see Mason and Jackson walking through the door, big smiles on their faces…

But I didn’t feel the same.

“What the heck are you doing out and about?” I folded my arms across my chest, irritation oozing from my tone. “You’re supposed to be home resting.” Jackson snickered at the response, while Mason cringed.

“I know, I know,” he held up his hands halfway in surrender. “But we had to check on a lead. I couldn’t sit on the sidelines for this one.”

“Well, it better be good, because you’re going against the doctor’s order, Mason,” I snipped, raising an eyebrow at the two of them when they both looked more amused than threatened.

“I’m sorry,” Mason said quickly, but then continued. “Anyway, it was a good lead. We located John and Annie Calvin’s cattle at some Podunk sale just across the border. We already got a truck headed up there.”

I nodded, excited and relieved, but still frustrated with him. “So… What about Lucas?”

Jackson shook his head. “It doesn’t look like they’re at the sale. I don’t quite understand how the hell all of his cattle seem to have vanished into thin air. I’d think they’d be easier to see because of the brands.”

“They’re probably removing them,” Lily remarked, saying something for the first time since they walked in. “We all know that’s what they do. I’ve watched it in a million westerns.”

“Yeah, just a lot of cattle to do that to,” Mason grunted, removing his hat and running his fingers through his dark tresses. “That’s what I don’t get. It would have to be so damn sophisticated.”

“Not necessarily,” Lily said carefully, her eyes bouncing between them. “Just a few solid cowboys could handle rebranding all those cattle. I don’t think it would have to be that sophisticated.”

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