Page 76 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Rod is at home here. You, on the other hand, are an unwanted intruder. He belongs here. You do not. This is not your home, nor will it ever be. Now leave.” I nodded at the open door.
An evil grin slid across Mitzi’s face. “So the campus scuttlebutt is true.” She glanced back and forth several times between Rod and me. “Bare feet. T-shirts and jeans. You two have been doing the dirty.” She gave an evil chuckle and shook her head, glancing toward the floor. “Oh, this is rich.” She raised her head and smirked at me. “I can’t wait to share this news with the world. Wyl Sterling, strapping Marine, is a flaming fairy!”
Arms crossed, Rod cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “I can hear Stella feeding you information. Subtlety is a foreign concept to her. I already put out two fires on campus,” He pointed a finger at her. “Fires you no doubt helped start. And while we’re on the subject of you starting things,” Rod stood and moved to Mitzi, raising his arm toward me. “You hurt this man, and you’ll be dealing with me. You cross the Sterlings or the college, and you’ll be laughed out of town.”
Mitzi jutted out her chin. “You think I’m worried about you,Doctor Bonner.” She spat out his name. “The mere mention of a scandal will be enough to start people talking. Small minds in small towns love juicy gossip.” She equaled his determination and confidence.
Rod glared at Mitzi. “I heard you gave birth. Any idea who the father is?”
Mitzi flinched and glared at me as if I created the news. She turned back to Rod. “Walt and I used protection, and I took the pill.”
“Protection can fail. What’s the child’s name?”
Another confident smirk covered the shock on her face. I hoped Rod saw through it. “Your face said my words surprised you. Boy or girl?” Rod aimed a smirk at Mitzi.
Ignoring Rod, Mitzi turned and glared at me again. “My attorney assures me the claim is valid. I’m going after what’s mine!”
I remained at the open door, defiant face now in a permanent frown. “As I said, you…out of our house…and stay off our ranch. Work through Sam Collins. He handled Walt’s side of the divorce. I doubt you sought representation. Now leave. This conversation is over.”
Mitzi glanced at Rod, then stomped out. “I’m not finished with you and your boyfriend, Wyl Sterling,” she yelled over her shoulder. “I’ll get what I deserve.”
I slammed the door. “Yes, she will,” I snarled through clenched teeth.
Rod came over and put his arms around me. “I’m sorry I jumped in, but I got furious when she attacked you. Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Telling her off gave me an amazing sense of accomplishment.” My arms circled my lover. “Thanks for being here and witnessing the crazed bitch-troll-from-hell on a rampage.”
Rod pulled back to gaze into my eyes. “Nobody messes with the man I love.”
“The man you love, eh?” I raised an eyebrow, my mouth curling into a smile.
“We’re a couple in love. Let’s be the best damn couple in the world.”
“I like the way you think, cowboy, and where did you come up with that baby thing?”
He laughed. “I made it up. Mitzi’s not the only one who can start rumors.”
“Did you see the expression on her face?” I chuckled. “And she glared at me like I shared a deep, dark secret with you.”
“I tried to give her a taste of her own medicine.”
I shook my head. “If she put half as much effort into making herself better as she does trying to wrangle Sterling money, she'd do okay. She’s a determined bitch, though.”
Rod pecked my lips. “And when she follows through with her threat to out us? The Dusty thing did a number on you, remember?”
“When that happens, we’ll figure something out.” I settled Rod back into my chest. “Sooner or later, people will know. We can’t be a loving couple without our relationship becoming evident.”
Rod pulled back again. “But Dusty’s reaction…”
I put a finger to Rod’s lips. “After I fled Kerrville, you came and found me. When you rolled me over and pulled me into your arms, the missing piece of me fell into place. You got me through the situation with Dusty and taught me to accept myself. Afterward, I considered us a couple.”
“What about Mitzi’s claim?”
“She thinks she has an angle. You and I together, we’ll deal with it. Right now, I’ll call Sam Collins, the ranch attorney. He’ll figure out how to approach this. Now, you said something about breakfast?”
Rod gave me another quick kiss, then strolled into the kitchen. I went to the phone and dialed.
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