Page 45 of Mine to Hold
“Yeah, right. And my wife’s not pregnant.” Rhett gave Emmerson a good shove. “Whatever the actual connection Rumor has with these men is, I doubt it’s as bad as that cop brain of yours is thinking.”
“I’m just tired of women lying to me.” He squared his shoulders and strolled toward the front door, unlocking it.
“You should change out of that uniform,” Rhett said. “You don’t want to intimidate the poor girl.”
“And don’t bring your gun,” Miles added. “We’ll see you poolside.”
Emmerson made his way to the master. He stared at the bed, which she’d made. He sighed as he shed his uniform and found a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Pulling out his cell, he texted Rumor, telling her that his brothers were there and to meet them by the pool.
She responded immediately.
Rumor:I’ll be out in a minute.
At least she wasn’t ignoring him.
When he stepped from the sliders, she had yet to come out from the pool house. He joined his brothers at the table, taking the beer they had pulled from the fridge.
“How do you want to handle this?” Rhett asked. “Do you want us to start with what we found?”
“No. It’s best if it comes from me.” He took a hearty swig and stared at the door.
Minutes ticked by before Rumor emerged wearing a pair of jean shorts, a tank top, and no shoes. She’d taken her hair out of her ponytail and it flowed over her shoulders. He much preferred that look.
Without saying a single word, she pulled out a chair and folded her arms across her chest.
Not a good sign.
Rhett offered her a beer.
She shook her head.
“Look. I get you’re mad,” Emmerson said.
“Mad is an understatement, but go ahead.”
Emmerson rubbed the side of his face, wishing he’d taken the time to shave. “I’ve got a real drug problem in this town right now and?—”
“And you think I have something to do with that?”
“No,” he said quickly, interrupting her because deep down he believed that. Needed to believe that. “But someone in your past?—”
“You only know things about my past because you went digging. You have serious trust issues,” she said.
“Are you going to keep interrupting me? Or are you going to let me speak?” He glared.
She waved her hands.
Thankfully, his brothers sat quietly, sipping their beers.
“Yes. I went digging. I’m a cop. I’m renting my pool house. I wanted to know who was going to be living in my backyard. Do I believe you’re involved with this person? No. But you were in the past and I need information on him and I want it now before my mother gets involved.”
“If you think this is uncomfortable,” Miles said. “Our mother will be worse.”
Emmerson rolled his neck. “You were in foster care with Tony Angelo. What can you tell me about him?”
“Not much,” Rumor said. “We lived under the same roof for a couple of years. He got into a lot of trouble and I did my best to stay clear of him and his buddies.” She crossed and recrossed her legs three times in those two sentences.
She wasn’t telling the whole story.
