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It’s willful. Past ignoring me—it kills me. He’s blaming me for what destroyed us.
In perfect, bullshit timing, his date approaches our table. Resting her hand on his shoulder, offering a smile to the table, “Are you going to introduce me?” she has the manners he forgot.
He cups his hand gently over hers. Their intimate touch backslaps my jaw. “Angie Conrad, meet Sheriff Gloria Bryant. ‘Mama G’ as I called her because she kicked my ass to Sunday and back with all my trouble.”
“Ms. Conrad”—Mama’s smile is sincere—“it’s a pleasure.”
My ribs heave two inches higher. Redix didn’t even introduce me.
“Ms. Conrad, this is my daughter, Sergeant Cade Bryant.” Mama flicks her eyes at me with a don’t-lose-your-shit look. “She and Redix were quite close growing up. ‘Friends’ doesn’t even describe it.”
“Oh?” Angie barely grins my way. “Redix has never mentioned you.” Was that innocent or bitchy? “Still, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” I smile, emptying the gun of my glare, firing back at her, and then aiming five shots into Redix, who refuses to turn his face my way.
It’s embarrassing me, hurting me… and he knows it. My God, he really hates me.
Fine. The feeling is mutual.
And I’m full of shit.
Tension takes a seat at our table. The urge to run hits me, but hell no, I won’t move.
“I’m off to the Ladies Room.” Angie can’t handle it. “And then”—she’s cooing into Redix’s ear—“I want that sexy dance you promised.”
Redix smiles, shamelessly eyeing her ass while she sashays away.
Is it possible to want to cry, kill, and fuck someone all at the same time? Yes, right here on this table. I want to rip Redix Dean into sex-stained shreds.
“To what do we owe the honor then?” Mama’s raising questions and her iced tea. “What finally brought the King of Coligny Beach home?”
That beach? That night? That pain? It surges through me, remembering Redix there, along with the other man stalking me on my left and the third one looming across the ballroom.
These three men haven’t stopped haunting my world like a nightmare that won’t end until God makes good on her deal.
I see it; how the same memory washes over Redix, too, making his asshole act waver. He rakes his left hand through his long strands before tucking one side behind his ear. That gesture? It’s the last one Redix made before he turned his back on me and walked away.
And I never stopped loving him since.
“I came home for amends.” He answers Mama… before slowly… and finally… aiming his penetrating eyes into my soul. “Ain’t that right, Candy Cade?”
Murder or mad sex?
I’m gonna commit both.
CHAPTER TWO
Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
“Isn’t the Man of the Hour your ex-boyfriend?”
Jameson, my colleague, is never subtle. Neither is his hard body pressed against mine on the dance floor and…
This night is torture.
I glance up, and he grins, squeezing my waist even tighter like I’m his.
But I’m not annoyed. Jameson saved me. I didn’t answer Redix’s ominous question. Right after it, Jameson came over and asked me for a dance. Hell, I’d do one buck-naked on a pole to piss off Redix and ignore him back.
