Page 100 of Simply Irresistible

For a moment, Charlotte's eyes focus on me, but she lets go and I walk over to the officer. She escorts me to the back of the house.

"What happened?"

"There has been a fight, Miss."

The sound of angry voices increases as we near the backdoor, but when I step over the threshold, all the noise gets pushed to the background as I gaze at the chaos that's my kitchen. It's like a winter storm rushed through the space—my baked cinnamon rolls lay spread over the floor—coffee-cups are shattered and white flour covers a large portion of the ground and kitchen counters. Who did this? My eyes travel to the two bickering men, standing in the back with a police officer positioned in between them. My chest rises and falls with rapid breaths.

Nick and Thomas?

Both men are talking loudly, and since they haven't noticed me yet,I take this moment to take them in. Nick has handcuffs on—messy hair, a busted lip. And as for Thomas... His hair is a disheveled mess, his gray shirt misses several buttons, and he’s holding a bloodstained tissue against his nose.

I raise a brow when an entire dictionary of crude sailor's words leave Nick's lips when Thomas says something to him. The police officer tells him to calm down, but it doesn't seem to work. Then it's Thomas who loses his temper, but it's what he says while pointing to Nick that gets my full attention. "You better stay away from my daughter,"

This statement grabs me by the throat, and I stomp my feet on the floor and yell. "Have you two lost your goddamn minds?"

Both men and the police officer jump up at my thundering voice. Nick's face turns apologetic as he sees my upset state.

"Emma—"

I lift my hand. "Don't speak. This is my kitchen and my house. You two don't get to say a word until I ask you to. Is that clear?"

Both men give a slight nod, and the officer who stands next to me chuckles at their reaction. "You know these men?" She asks.

"I do.” I glare at both men while crossing my arms in front of my chest. "Now, I want to hear what happened."

"He attacked me," Thomas begins in a whining tone of voice. "He might have broken my nose. I'll press charges against you," he comments while glaring at his opponent.

"You go right ahead, you son of a bitch."

My eyes settle on Nick. I've never seen him like this. He's outraged, to say the least.

"Stop it," I yell as they start to throw insults at each other. I make my way over to them and turn my attention to Nick.

"What happened?" I ask with and right away, his eyes meet mine. "Why did you lose your temper?” I brush over his forearm with my palm. His gaze travels to Thomas.

"Emma, is he Charlotte's father?" he asks through clenched teeth.

I let out a sigh. "Yes, he is. Why? Do you know him?"

He closes his eyes for a brief moment and when they open, pain and resentment whirl inside. "Yes," he announces. "He's the man I found in bed with Cindy. She cheated on me with that piece of shit."

What?

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