Page 46 of Naughty by Nature

Even after Wadecame into the diner, she still had a good time with Sheridan. She’d been panting with anxiety, but he’d known how to put her at ease as he redirected her attention to the kids. It had totally worked. She’d known she was being manipulated, but it had been for her own good, and she knew that.

But now, as they paid the bill and got ready to walk out the door, the relief was making her jittery. Unable to help herself, she glanced at Wade.

Dark, malevolent eyes stared at her, but he smiled and tipped his head at her. His lips spread into a smile full of dangerous promise. Forcing herself to not waver, she smiled back at him, slipping her arm through Sheridan’s and exiting the restaurant.

Sheridan had to practically carry her across the street. Shifting, he looped an arm around her waist. From the outside looking in, it would have looked sweet, like they were walking together hip to hip. Sheridan was strong enough physically that he probably could have just picked her up and carried her this way, but he didn’t. He made her look like she was handling all this better than she actually was.

They were almost to the truck when her name was yelled across the street. Her heart sank. No. She couldn’t do this.

She thought about the venom that had spewed from Wade’s mouth the night he’d attacked her and left her for the town to see. They were words that she would never in her life repeat, but they had fallen from his mouth so easily because he had used them so many times before. The things he’d called her children… his own flesh and blood…

Fury ignited in her belly as she thought about all the sleepless nights she’d had, pacing the floors as she worried about supporting a family of four on her teacher’s salary, and providing a life her children would love. On making it up to her parents for marrying such a beast. Protecting her children from men like Wade. Protecting herself when he got out of prison. The endless string of worries had never ended.

But that end was in sight, if she could just … get the man to leave her alone.

Sheridan had put her behind him as soon as he’d sensed danger, but Cheyenne squeezed his arm. Catching his eye, she shook her head. “I have to do this.”

He stared at her for a moment, before he shifted slightly to the side, arms crossed over his massive chest. Now he faced Wade, but she had room to talk to her ex.

“What do you want Wade?”

Cheyenne forced herself to keep her chin up. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and planted her feet. With the Wall of Sheridan in front of her and Captain Patterson coming out through Sophia’s door, she had no fear for her physical safety.

“I just want to talk to you, doll. That’s all.”

Once upon a time the handsome smile he gave her and the endearment would have been enough to make her come running, but that had all faded away years ago, replaced with memories as corrosive as acid. Wade was still a not-too-bad looking guy, but prison had added a hard edge to his body. He looked stronger and the expression in his eyes seemed more cunning than it used to. The limp was still evident, but even that seemed to have eased a little.

“Then go ahead and talk,” she said, staying exactly where she was. Crap on a cracker, her voice shook.

Wade glanced at Sheridan and she could see a simmering anger in his eyes. “I’m not talking in front of the … him.”

“Well, I’m not going anywhere with you, so you either talk here or leave.”

Cheyenne was proud of herself. She’d controlled her voice better that time.

A considering light entered his dark eyes. “Are you sure you want to talk about this in the middle of the street? Where everyone can hear?”

Shrugging, she looked around. There were a few cars, but not a lot of traffic. “You made them a witness to our destruction already. Go for it.”

“How are my pretty girls?”

Cheyenne could have lit a furnace with the fury that blazed through her. “MY girls are fine. Excellent. They’ve flourished since I got them out of the toxic environment you created.”

Wade shook his head, grinning. “Nah, I didn’t create that. You did.”

Cheyenne breathed out her anger. There was no reasoning with the man.

“It doesn’t matter now. It’s done and over years ago. I’ve moved on and you need to, too.”

Wade gave Sheridan a considering look. “So, how long did it take you to move in on my wife? You saw her all spread out and had to have her, huh? She was a nice piece when she wasn’t bitching at me all the time.”

Suddenly Cheyenne was the one holding Sheridan back. “No, don’t,” she cried. “Sheridan!”

Quicker than a flash, there was a group of men surrounding them. Captain Patterson faced off with Wade, forcing him back, Deputy Hampton at his back. Brock and another man she only vaguely recognized from the Blue Star blocked Sheridan from moving forward.

“Sheridan, this isn’t helping. Sheridan,” she snapped.

Finally, he looked down at her. His face was flushed with exertion and she could see how incredibly pissed he was. Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands. “Don’t let him sour our day. He’s nothing. Less than nothing.”

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