Page 4 of Cold as (N)ice

She does it for me – so I’m sure she won’t mind. Besides, it’s two days a week unless you need more. I know she needs the money.

Lemme think

Just say YES, dork.

For that? NO

Yes

No

Think about it?

And Barrett’s stomach rumbled, causing him to sigh heavily as he put the phone down on the counter, stepping into the shower, ignoring the last text as his phone beeped. The watersluiced over him, easing some of his strained muscles from the strenuous practice earlier. Instead of enjoying his shower, he stood there, eyes closed under the waterfall and heard another text message.

Batiste was pushy – and he hated being pushed around.

Sighing heavily, he shut off the water and moved to grab his towel off the hook and hesitated. Cursing in frustration, his voice echoed off the empty walls as it dawned on him that there were no clean towels because he hadn’t washed them. The towels were all on the floor, under his feet in a pile, waiting.

Angrily, he snatched his phone, reading the screen.

Irene just texted.

She said she could use the work asap. She cooks, cleans, will do laundry, whatever you need, but she just needs to be able to keep a roof over her son’s head.

Fine.

Barrett replied tersely – and dripped water all the way from his bathroom into his bedroom, looking for something to dry himself with that wasn’t filthy.

2

IRENE

“Oh my gosh…”

Irene’s fingers trembled as she stared at the glowing screen of her phone, the text messages blurring behind the tears pooling in her eyes. She pressed her lips together, her chest tightening with an ache she couldn’t quite put into words. A deep, shaky breath rattled through her, but it wasn’t enough to steady the whirlwind inside her.

She’d had a sinking feeling the moment her boss told her not to come in for the next few weeks—and then sweetened the deal by offering to pay her anyway. Yeah, something was waaaay off. Now, reading the message, she had her answer, and it left her more stunned than relieved.

Working for Theo had been simple enough—a job that paid just enough to keep the lights on and food on the table. The hours were flexible, and the money was a godsend in the aftermath of her divorce. That grueling, soul-sucking chapter of her life had been nothing short of a nightmare. Years of arguments, accusations, and empty promises had eroded any love that once existed. But the moment Eric had raised his hand to her?

That was the line she refused to let him cross. She could still see the confusion and fear in Stephen’s big, bright eyes when he’d signed to her,Did Daddy hurt you?His tiny fingers trembling as he formed the words had been the final straw. No child—especially not her child—would ever grow up believing that kind of behavior was normal or excusable.

Her ex hadn’t taken the separation well. Of course, he’d done everything from the predictable playbook:

Show up with a Happy Meal for Stephen—check.

Bring flowers to her doorstep—check.

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