Page 116 of Sneak Attack

“Go ahead,” Cole said, and he stepped up toward my side. Selma turned his way, losing her persistence. “Tell everyone. Take it to the news. Frankly, I’m tired of everyone thinking I’m some damn perfect guy without any skeletons in my closet. You want to set them loose, set me free, go for it, but I’m pretty sure the media spin my team puts on it will only have me coming out looking like an angel, and you’ll still be the cause of more headaches.”

He turned to me and smiled. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” I placed my hand in his. “I lived for seven years without this man, so I know how hard it is to want something you can’t have, but now that I have him, I’m not letting go. Not for the mother of his son—not for anyone. You can keep causing problems, but the only one you’re going to hurt in the long road is your son. Maybe think on that, Selma.”

I turned my gaze to Cole and from the heat in his eyes, my declaration had meant as much to him as it had me.

He led me outside, and I ducked my head while the line of women watched us leave the bathroom. Selma didn’t follow us, but I no longer cared about her.

We’d spent the last six weeks hiding out, awaiting whatever she had planned next and the truth of it was she was a woman who selfishly loved someone who simply didn’t like her.

She could keep throwing her tantrums, keep causing public scenes, but I’d meant what I said.

I wasn’t going anywhere and the only person she was hurting was Jasper.

I expected Cole to take me out back to his friends, but instead, he led me right outside.

“Shouldn’t we get Jasper?” I asked when he beeped the locks on his truck.

“In a minute.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t make out with you and kiss you the way I want to when he’s around yet.”

“Oh.” I stumbled over rocks and laughed as Cole chuckled.

We reached his truck, but instead of getting inside like I expected, he backed me right up to the side of it. His hands cupped my face. “You were magnificent in there.”

“I meant every word.”

“Me too.” He slammed his mouth to mine and pressed his hips to my body, pinning me against the truck with the weight of him like he was afraid to lose me, but there was no reason for him to be afraid.

Because I might not have realized it before I told Selma, but there was no way I was leaving this man.

Not now that I had him.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket, breaking our kiss, and when Cole pulled away, both of us gasped for breath while I dipped my hand behind me and grabbed my phone.

The name on the screen sent chills down my spine, evaporating all the heat Cole had stroked in a breath. “It’s Melanie.”

* * *

Dave and Kate were on the front porch when I arrived. While I talked to Melanie, Cole ushered me into his truck and ran around back to grab Jasper.

By the time he returned to the truck, I couldn’t bother wiping tears off my cheeks, and as the truck pulled to a stop at the top of Marley’s driveway, they started all over again.

Behind me, Jasper was silently crying as well and when Cole stopped the truck, he jumped out and ran straight to his grandma.

She fell to her knees as the weight of Jasper slammed into her body and Dave moved in close so she didn’t fall backward on the porch.

“I’m sorry,” Dave said as I came close, Cole appearing at my side and holding on to me. “Melanie said she was sleeping.”

A sob tore through me, and I faltered in my step. Next to me, Cole wrapped his arm around me to keep me standing. “You’ve got this.”

I didn’t.

“I shouldn’t have left her,” I cried. “She was so quiet this morning. And didn’t want to get out of bed. I should have known.”

---