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“Slow down, slow down,” Emery called over the din. “Henry?”
“Landon threw a fit about football.” The defensive man must be Henry. “He wouldn’t shut up and started hollering. Our new puppy got all worked up.”
“So?” Emery’s exasperated tone nearly made me smile. I liked puppies, but if my kid was upset, wouldn’t they be a priority?
“Look, they’ve all been disrespectful and rude, and they can’t act like that. Jenni doesn’t deserve to be treated—”
“You’re their father, Henry. It’s your job to teach them how to act properly, not give up.”
“Em—Emery.” I really didn’t like this guy’s tone. “This isn’t—”
“Kids,” Emery said, “why don’t you go upstairs— Oh, Riley, not in the kitchen. I don’t have the gate to the basement up.”
Then Landon asked, “Mom, is Coach B here?”
Silence descended from the living room. I died a little inside, came alive, only to wither again. Busted.
Shit.
“He, um, he had called to check on you…and…”
Poor Emery. She’d kept her head until she was busted with me. It was either hide that I was here and make weak excuses or walk out and pretend like it was all normal. Since the kids were used to seeing their dad with another woman, I chose the latter.
I straightened my clothes and opened the door. I’d faced angry bulls. I did it seasonally. I could do this. Heads turned my way.
A man a few inches taller than Emery but a few inches shorter than me went from astonished to pissedthe helloff. His dark eyes sparked, and I half expected his immaculately gelled hair to straighten like he’d stuck a finger in an outlet. A woman who looked barely out of college stood by the door like she was going to sprint away as soon as someone gave her permission. Her eyes widened and her appreciative gaze dropped down my body only to take her time scanning back up. Disbelief filled her eyes.
She must be Jenni.
Landon smiled like me walking out of his mother’s bedroom was an everyday occurrence. “Coach B!”
“Hey, buddy. We missed you today.” Crap. Would that resurrect the argument? What else should I say?
His face fell. “Dad wouldn’t let me go.”
“Who the hell are you?” Henry planted his hands on his trim hips.
“Holden’s teaching me to ride a horse.” Avery’s voice was full of oblivious excitement.
I didn’t want to make this situation any tenser than it was. I crossed to him and stuck my hand out. “Holden Barron. Nice to meet you.”
He eyed my hand but didn’t take it. I glanced at Emery. Her cheeks had bright-pink spots, and I realized it was for the best Henry didn’t shake. I hadn’t been able to clean up.
I quirked a brow and shrugged. She bit the inside of her cheek like the bizarre unexpectedness of the situation was going to give her the giggles.
“I’m a surgeon,” Henry said, his tone full of hubris. “I have to be careful where I put my hands.”
My gaze flicked to the other woman, and I spoke loud enough for only the adults close to me to hear. “Are you, though?”
Henry sucked in a breath, and if he could slice me in two with his glare, I’d be done for. Emery sputtered and coughed. The younger woman’s eyes bugged out. I almost laughed, but I wasn’t sure whether I’d overstepped.
Henry’s nostrils flared. “We need to talk outside.”
He wanted to get Emery alone to berate her when no one else could stand up to him. The woman saw her chance to leave and backed out of the door.
Emery glared at Henry. “If she’s included, then Holden’s coming out too.”
I didn’t care if I was used to make a point. That was how to deal with guys like Henry. He reminded me of a less suave version of my uncle Cameron. Used to being adored because of what he did for a living and pissed when he earned some consequences.
