Page 104 of Knot What I Expected

It's one thing to flirt with a woman. It's another thing to realize she comes with a six-year-old who needs breakfast every morning, help with homework, clean clothes, dentist appointments, and somebody who sticks around.

Maybe Havoc sat across from Matteo at that picnic table and realized exactly what getting involved with me would mean.

A ready-made family.

Responsibility.

A child who isn't his.

And maybe he simply decided he wanted no part of it.

The thought hurts.

More than it should.

My throat tightens.

“Oh, fuck him.”

I park outside Dick’s turn off the engine. Next, I grab my purse and get out of the car. I refuse to mourn something I never had. I refuse to miss a male I never kissed.

And I sure as hell refuse to stand here wondering whether I meant anything to Rowan Cross when clearly—my phone buzzes.

My heart jumps so violently I nearly drop my purse trying to grab it. Once I have it in my hand I look down and grin.

Mrs. Donnelly texted me already.

Mrs. D

He's fine. Stop worrying.

A picture follows.

Matteo is wearing a plastic archaeologist hat and grinning with a fake dinosaur bone held over his head.

I laugh.

Then I stare at the screen a second longer than necessary.

There are no other messages waiting for me.

Of course not.

I shove the phone into my purse.

“Fuck Havoc Cross.”

The hidden creature beneath my skin gives an unhappy twitch.

“Don't you start either.”

Because tonight I have a job to do. My son is safe. I have money to make. And if a certain foul-mouthed Wolf has decided he's done haunting me at my job?

Fine.

Good.

Better, even.