“The kids were disappointed.” Rose ignores King’s question. “If you can pull yourself away from whatever.” Rose gestures around the room. “I might not be able to stand you, but this isn’t about me.”
Ripley sighs and puts his phone down.
“Now, Sheriff, I know you’re getting old, and you’re probably only a few years away from shitting in your pants, but I’m not the reason why we didn’t come last month. Your daughter canceled because she wasn’t feeling well. Have this little pointless conversation with her. I’ve seen the kids several times since then.”
He’s never admitted it, but that mean motherfucker likes the niece and nephews he inherited when he got married.
“Bullshit,” Rose says. “My daughter would never. I know it was you.”
Ripley shrugs. “I was at home with my wife, being a dutiful husband. Making her tea and putting the heating pad on her back. I can’t stop Mother Nature, Sheriff.”
“You can put a baby in her. That will stop it for a while.”
“Preacher, don’t make me vomit,” Rose says. “And we’re having gumbo.”
“I don’t eat that,” King says.
“Unlike King, I enjoy gumbo,” I chime in.
“Well, maybe you can choke on some real soon, Hunt.”
“What time should we come over?” I ask Rose. “Yes.We. My soon-to-be wife and I.” I get close to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “You say Cori is like a daughter to you? Well, I guess I’m about to be your son.”
“That will be a cold day in hell.” Rose shrugs out of my touch. “And Ripley, my wife is making something else for you, but I told her she should just make you a frozen pizza instead.”
“Well, your grandkids will eat whatever I eat, so tell your wife to make something good and to make lots of it. Anything else? This conversation is boring.”
King’s phone rings, and from the way his eyes light up, I know who it is. He puts the phone to his ear and turns his back to us. The call soon ends, and Rip stands to his full height. “Got to go,” he says. “My wife needs her afternoon caffeine and kiss. Both from her husband. See you later, Sheriff.”
“And Ripley, those three sets of drums you had sent to my grandkids the other day?” King remains stoic while he waits. “Fuck you.”
His lips form a small smile.
“No, Sheriff. Fuck you.” He storms out without another word.
“Nice family values.” Preacher puts both hands on his hips and shakes his head.
“I’ll be watching you. Maybe I’ll do Cori a favor and put a bullet between your eyes. Do this entire town a favor.”
“You’ve been saying that shit for almost a decade now. It’s boring. You aren’t going to do shit. You want to know what happened under your watch? Your daughter fell in love and married the man who blackmailed you. No one is scared of you.”
“Well, as you said, Hunt, my daughter chose that idiot, and as much as I hate it, she loves him. Cori doesn’t love you.” His words strike, but I don’t react. “Good day. May you have the marriage you deserve.”
Chapter 28
Cori
There’s been a shift in my attitude since Daxton trapped me. I admit it. He got me. He played and beat me at my own game. I have been defeated, but I’m like my father in some ways. With every defeat, there’s an opportunity, but you can only see it if you can admit failure.
Only with failure can there be growth, and I intend to grow. My bank account will be fatter, and my business will prosper. I’m going to do in two years what probably would have taken me ten.
Fashion school is back in play, and I don’t have to worry about tuition or paying back student loans. If marrying this man for a few years will get me all of that, I can do it. Of course, he’ll be punished for being a conniving jackass, but that’s just icing.
“You look beautiful,” Dax says from the driver’s seat. I don’t answer. I know I look good. I ordered this insanely expensivedress with the American Express the idiot handed to me. “I hope you have a good time tonight.”
I snort. His last words almost sound like a warning. He’s telling me to behave, and unforgettable women never behave.
“What do I look like? A dog? I don’t obey,sweetheart. If you don’t want me to be myself around your mother, don’t bring me around her.” I do like his mother, and I would never do anything to embarrass her or make her look bad. But there’s no need for this schemer to know that. I’ll keep that to myself.
