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Nolan’s hands curled into fists at the familiar way the man spoke about Raina.
“What’s it to you?” he demanded.
The guy laughed. “She hasn’t told you about me, has she? Her dirty little secret.”
Suddenly it all started to slip into place. This guy was Raina’s ex—and JJ’s father. Nolan instinctively wanted to shield them from this guy—to make sure he didn’t touch or tarnish their lives again. But, last he checked, murder was still illegal in the state of Texas.
“I know about you,” Nolan said, taking scant satisfaction in pricking Jeb Pickering’s bubble of confidence. This was the man who’d left Raina’s wrist looking black and blue. Nolan itched to deliver a dose of the same thing to the bastard but he knew there were ways and means of dealing with lowlifes like him—and he was going to make sure he never hurt Raina again. “You’re not wanted here. Get on your way.”
“I got every right to be here. More right ’n you, anyways. JJ’s my boy. Not yours.”
Jeb’s stance altered and he drew himself up to his full height in an effort to intimidate Nolan. While the guy had an inch or two on him, Nolan knew that if it came to it, he’d still best Pickering in a fight. That, however, would be a last resort.
“Now you want to claim him?” Nolan sneered. “A bit late, isn’t it?”
“It’s never too late,” Jeb challenged in return.
“It is when you’re a no-good waste of time. You think you’re a man but you’re nothing. A real man doesn’t treat a woman the way you’ve treated Raina.”
Jeb’s expression grew ugly under the lamp light, his mouth twisting into a harsh line. “You don’t know nothing ’bout what happened.”
“I know enough.”
The look on Jeb’s face changed again, going from belligerent to sly in one breath.
“A man can change his mind, can’t he? Although—” he paused and rubbed at the stubble on his chin “—I guess that would mess up your plans, wouldn’t it?”
“My plans?”
Nolan inwardly cursed himself for falling into Jeb’s verbal trap.
“Yeah, your plans with my girl and my son.”
“Look, you might be his biological father but be honest, that’s where your attachment to JJ begins and ends. As for Raina, she’s not your girl. Not anymore.”
“Ah, but she’s not yours either, is she? Not yet.”
Jeb looked smug and Nolan’s hands itched to wipe that expression off his face.
“Besides,” Jeb continued. “She owes me.”
Nolan shook his head. “I don’t see how she owes you anything.”
“Money, doofus. She owes me money. We have, what you would say, an agreement.”
“Haven’t you already taken enough from her? What kind of man are you anyway, constantly leeching off a woman that way?”
The insult fell on deaf ears. “I’m here to get what’s mine. Mind you, since you’re the one who has the hots for Rai, maybe you should be the one paying me.”
He could imagine the gears grinding in the back of Jeb’s mind as the man took in Nolan’s appearance, the quality of his coat, the expensive haircut and his handmade boots. Since money was the man’s major motivator, Nolan hoped that maybe he could save Raina the additional pressure of ever having to see Jeb again. Maybe.
“How much?” Nolan demanded.
“Look, man, this is between Raina and me,” Jeb started, rocking back on his feet slightly. “But if you wanted to pay what she owes me—hell, I’m an equal opportunity kind of guy. Your money is as good as hers.”
“If I give you anything, you have to give me your word, such as it is, that you won’t bother Raina again.”
“Hey, man, no need to insult me,” Jeb protested, suddenly the picture of a man affronted when his integrity has been called into question. But then he laughed. It was an ugly sound that revealed his true avaricious character. “Whatever. When can you pay me?”
“First you have to tell me how much.”
Jeb named a figure and Nolan didn’t so much as bat an eyelid. “I can do that. Give me your bank account details.”
“I don’t have no bank account, man. I need cash and I need it now.”
“I can get it to you tomorrow night. But on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That you get away from here now and stay away from Raina and JJ.”
