Page 113 of Steel

I headed even farther away from the group. “Fine, Kenneth. What do you want?”

“To have a meeting with you.”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

“Yes, we do.”

There was no hiding anything from Steel. He’d been unsettled for the last few days. New locks on the door. Watching me like a hawk. Not that I minded having him around. He’d become a delicious fixture in my life. While the excuse of the various photoshoots was convenient, we both knew better. We enjoyed each other’s company.

And my sweet child enjoyed his.

Just hearing Kenny’s voice grated my nerves. “Then talk because I have work to do.”

“You mean a new calendar, the backdrop Missoula, Montana.”

Immediately ice ran through my veins. I gritted my teeth, thinking aboutPeople Magazine.Even I’d received somenotoriety in town from the tiny snippet of an article they’d published, but since then, the fifteen minutes of fame had died down. “I have work to do, Kenneth. So I suggest you tell me what you need to tell me or I’m going to hang up.”

“Don’t…” The word was said with the same rage I’d heard all those years ago. Maybe since my son’s birthday was in a few days, he felt some fatherly need. Bullshit. “Don’t do that, Violet.” He’d managed to calm down, but I was still on edge.

“Then talk. As I said, I am in the middle of something.” Shit. Steel had turned toward me, walking away from the conversation he was having. When he narrowed his eyes as if asking if I was okay, I nodded fervently. I could only imagine how he’d react if he knew Kenneth had bothered me.

“We can’t do this over the phone and certainly not by email.”

“Then it’s going to need to wait. I am working. I’m on a deadline and I don’t have time to deal with you. Let alone, it’s my son’s birthday in a few days. Not that you give a shit. I don’t want anything from you. Not any longer. I take that back. I want one thing. For you to stay out of my life. Don’t call. Don’t email me.”

Steel was headed in my direction. This wasn’t good.

“Now, you listen to me. You will make time for me and Damien is my son too. If you care about him, you’ll make arrangements for us to meet.”

What he said struck me hard. “Are you suggesting you care about our son, Kenneth?”

“Of course I do.”

“Uh-huh.”

Steel appeared in front of me, his eyes imploring. I didn’t bother turning around because he wasn’t going to let this go. In truth, I needed someone to lean on or vent to. Or to have hold me. The last few days had felt as if I was home and that scared me to death.

How could I leave?

And talking with Kenneth was a reminder of how many bad choices I’d already made.

“Let me reiterate what I just said, Kenneth. I don’t have time to see you and I certainly won’t allow my son to endure dealing with the most selfish, self-centered, arrogant man I know, a shell of a person who couldn’t care less about anything but his perfect little world. Don’t call me again. And so you know, my son’s name is Damon. Not Damien.” When I ended the call, I threw back my head, ready to scream to the world.

But I didn’t.

There were too many people around.

Steel gripped my wrists, guiding me around to the other side of the tree where I was standing. “What is going on? Was that Kenneth?”

I was close to hyperventilating, trying desperately hard not to cry, but I was failing. You bet I was failing like I’d done with everything else. “Yes. How did he… How did he get my number?”

“I don’t know. What did he want?”

“To talk to me. In person. I think he wants to see Damon. I can’t allow that to happen. That asshole was so pushy. He knows we’re here.”

“Shit. Son of a bitch.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against him. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him bother you again.”

“What if he wants to take Damon away from me?”