Page 66 of Sneak Attack

His dad probably did, too.

“Okay then. Which book first?”

CHAPTER22

COLE

Icould not believe the absolute shitshow this night turned into. Selma was losing her mind, pacing back and forth on my porch. She’d already kicked a rocking chair and thrown some of the toys from the water table at me.

I tried to ignore it all, more focused on keeping her from getting in her car than anything. Which was why I threw her keys into the woods.

She’d never find them. Hell, they were probably lost forever but if I’d put them anywhere else, like in my pockets, I didn’t doubt she’d dive for them. No way her hands were getting anywhere near me.

“For the thousandth time, let this go, Selma.”

God, I was exhausted. Seven years. This wasn’t the first or fifth or twentieth I’d explained things to her.

“It’s because she’s here. She’s back. I know it. Fucking Eden. If she’d stayed away. She never should have shown up here.”

If Eden hadn’t shown up here seven years ago, maybe, but I was still convinced I would have found her at some point in our lives. “God, you must drive yourself insane with these batshit theories, Selma. Kyleigh feed you this bullshit or something?”

If anyone loved drama more than Selma, it was Kyleigh. They’d met at nursing school and Kyleigh lived in the same neighborhood as Selma. Those two within walking distance to each other was trouble in itself. I still figured Selma told Kyleigh she ran into Eden that first day she came back to town and Kyleigh was the one who spread it through town, so Ma ended up hearing about it at Frank’s.

“Don’t bring Kyleigh into this.”

“Don’t bring Eden into this. She has nothing to do with why I don’t want you. I didn’t want you when we were twelve, when we were fourteen, when I was with Hilary or when I was twenty. I don’t get how you don’t fucking understand that.” I tapped my index finger to my temple.

“If you’d give me a chance.”

“Dear God, woman. I don’twantto give you a chance. Give it up!” My hands slammed to my hips and thank the Lord, Mother, and Joseph because lights turned at the end of my drive and slowly crept up the hill.

“I still can’t believe you did this.”

“You drove drunk, threatened to force your way into my home and take our son from me while he slept.” Although I had no doubt he was awake now. Jasper wasn’t a light sleeper but no way had he slept through the doorbell and me slamming the front door. I couldn’t go check on himorEden until this was handled. “You’re damn right I’m having this documented.”

“You’re a fucking asshole.”

From the woman who wanted to sleep with me, marry me, and lock me down.

I didn’t reply, just inhaled a calming breath as Grayson Hodges, the county Sherriff, slid out of his cruiser and headed toward us. I assumed they would have sent a deputy, but this was better.

“How’s the night, Cole?”

“Been better, Gray.” We shook hands while Selma scowled at both of us.

It’d be a shame if she never pulled that stick out of her ass. She wasn’t bad to look at, just bad everywhere else.

“Selma.” Grayson nodded in her direction. “Let’s say we get you home.”

I would have preferred if he breathalyzed her, but she crossed her arms over her stomach and swayed, a clear enough sign she was toasted.

Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “You drive here after drinking?”

“Had a couple at dinner hours ago.”

It was nearing nine. She would have gone to dinner around five. That left a lot of hours to sober up which meant she’d probably done what I suspected. Went to Kyleigh’s and got all riled up.

“I can test you, can’t charge you for driving under the influence since there’s no proof, but I need to check before I let you get behind the wheel.”

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