Page 49 of Protective Cowboy

She looked around for Jayden. Her little boy was still standing in line for churros and apparently unaware of his father’s unexpected arrival. Good.

“Phillip, I don’t want—” she began.

“Just hear me out,” he interrupted, his tone insistent. And too loud. “I messed up, Autumn. I upset you and Jayden, and I was rude to your parents and brother. I’m… I’m sorry.”

Autumn could only stare at him. Who are you? And what have you done to the real Phillip?

Because the man she’d married would rather chew glass than admit wrongdoing.

Steeling herself, she met his ice-blue eyes. His expression seemed genuinely remorseful.

“I know this divorce has been hard on you,” Phillip continued. “On both of us. I guess I was still angry about you leaving me. But that’s no excuse to take it out on you and our boy.”

Autumn didn’t know what to make of this apparent change of heart. Did he get wind of my plans to get a restraining order?

“Apology accepted,” she said finally. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

Phillip nodded, relief flooding his features. “I’m glad you understand. I’ll do better from now on, I promise.”

Red flags rose in Autumn’s mind at the way he phrased that.

“Let me make it up to you. Have you had lunch yet? I’ll treat you and Jayden.” Phillip looked around and spotted his son accepting a churro wrapped in a white paper deli sheet. “Oh, there he is!” he declared in an unnaturally loud and dramatic tone. “I miss him so much now that you’ve got full custody!”

Understanding dawned. Phillip’s apology hadn’t been for Autumn’s benefit. He was putting on a show for the dozens of interested spectators, trying to craft a narrative of being the penitent ex, hoping to win public sympathy.

If he was truly sorry, he would’ve approached me privately, not made a spectacle of himself in the middle of the street.

Anger blasted through Autumn. She straightened and squared her shoulders. In her coldest voice, she said, “I’m not having lunch with you, now or ever. And if you’re really sorry, leave us alone from now on.”

Phillip looked genuinely shocked by her response. Heck, eight months ago, she wouldn’t have dreamed of rebuffing him like that. She would’ve been too worried about making him mad.

Let him be angry, she thought defiantly. I don’t have to tiptoe around his feelings anymore.

She spied Matt striding toward them. His Stetson shaded his face, but his body language was tense. Determined.

“Morning, Autumn. Everything okay?” he asked, frowning at Phillip.

“Well, if it isn’t my cheating ex-wife and her new beau,” Phillip declared.

Gasps arose from the crowd. Autumn’s cheeks flamed with rage. This attempt at public smearing was a new and unexpected low.

Matt’s expression hardened. “Mr. Garthe, Autumn doesn’t want any contact with you. Respect her wishes and stay away.”

“Excuse me?” Autumn interjected, rage shooting through her veins like white-hot lava. “How dare you try to turn this around on me! You’re the one who cheated, not me.”

“Autumn, don’t let him get to you,” Matt murmured. “He’s just trying to deflect.”

“Of course you’d take her side,” Phillip sneered. “She’s really got you wrapped around her pussy, doesn’t she?”

“Enough,” Matt snapped. “Mr. Garthe, you need to leave. Now.”

“Or what?” Phillip challenged, taking a step closer to Matt. “You’ll arrest me for telling the truth?”

“Keep pushing me, and I just might,” Matt warned, his muscles tensing beneath his deputy uniform. “Public harassment. Everyone here heard Autumn tell you to leave her alone.”

Autumn took a shuddering breath as she clawed for self-control. “You know perfectly well that my relationship with Matt only began after our divorce,” she said, compelled to defend her reputation in front of townspeople and strangers alike. “But you cheated on me during all those business trips you took to New Jersey.”

Phillip reddened.

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