Page 76 of Her Hat Trick Daddies
I see it happen, the exact second Wyatt’s brain connects the dots between their matching eyes and noses. He’s never been subtle, and now is no different. His head snaps toward me, his expression hard and accusatory.
“Wait. Is this theassholewho knocked you up?”
“Language, Wyatt,” I hiss, my voice deep, but that’s the least of my worries right now.
“Fucking answer me,” he demands, his voice rising, and I catch Shane moving, fast. Three long strides and he’s nearly on top of us.
He’s got that same furious expression he wore the night I told him Luna was his, but this time? He stops just short of reaching Wyatt. And this time, he’s different.
“I believe she asked you to watch your mouth,” Shane says, his voice low. Icy.
And suddenly, I realize, this isn’t like last time. That night was all heat and fire, blowing off steam. Scary, yeah, but loud and messy. This?
This is controlled. Cold. Razor-sharp. And way, way more dangerous.
Wyatt’s nostrils flare as he snaps, “You are, aren’t you?”
Before I can wedge myself between them, and let’s be real, that would be stupid, Shane answers, his tone dropping even lower.
“Yes. Yes, I am. So why don’t you hand me my daughter?”
Instead of doing that, Wyatt basically tosses Luna at me, the handoff rough and careless. The sippy cup falls, and Luna and I land on the couch.
I yelp in protest, Luna’s startled squeal echoing mine. Shane sees it all, his eyes flash, and when he speaks, it’s quiet enough to freeze the whole room.
“Maybe you and I should step outside.”
Wyatt rolls his neck, first one way, then the other, cracking it like he’s warming up for a damn street fight. “Maybe we should.”
“Or maybe you should both stop,” I snap, my voice sharp with exasperation. “You’re seriously gonna show your butts in front of Luna? Really?”
Andy and David don’t move, but they’re both on high alert, tense, watchful. Like they’re trying to stay out of it, but ready to step in if fists actually start flying.
David and Andy are stiff as boards, eyes wide. Even Dad cuts in, his tone wary: “Now, Wyatt—”
“That’s why we’re headed outside, lil sis.” Wyatt’s eyes cut to me, his mouth twisting. Hemouths thewordsmother fucker,then adds, “This guy has had it coming for two damn years.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
But then Shane steps back. His shoulders tense, jaw tight, but he says, “Maybe I have. But maybe Leighton’s right. This shouldn’t happen around Luna. My daughter doesn’t need to see this.”
The word daughter seems to hit Wyatt like a sucker punch. I can see it in his eyes—that flicker of something dark and unsettling. I’ve only seen that look a couple of times before, and both times ended with Wyatt defending my honor in ways that left someone bleeding.
He’s not your typical donut-munching cop stereotype. Wyatt’s lean, but solid, and he’s had years of combat training on the job. He’s lankier than Shane, but when he wants to, he can move with lethal precision.
And even though Shane’s more muscular, it’s Wyatt who grabs him first, clamping a hand around Shane’s arm and shoving him hard toward the door.
And just like that, it all goes to hell.
Chapter 23
David
I’ve been watching this shit unfold, keeping my distance. But if this fucker thinks he can just waltz in and come at Shane without provocation? I don’t give a damn if the man is Leighton’s big brother, he’s got another thing coming.
I jump to Shane’s side, and as the two of them storm outside, I’m right there with them. Andy follows, and even Leighton’s on our heels, passing Luna off to her dad.
I’d like to keep the peace, but hell if I’m going to pretend Shane doesn’t have every right to thump this guy. He’s held it together like a damn saint, keeping his promise to Leighton to control his temper, but Wyatt’s been needling him nonstop. And that shove Wyatt just pulled was the last fucking straw. At this point, whether it’s from Shane or me, Leighton’s brother is due a solid punch to the gut.
