Sinking into the water, I fight like hell not to show the disappointment crashing over me. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Amber. She heard we got married, and she’s at the ranch, causing a scene and freaking out the kids.”
I hate that woman. “Okay. Um. Hand me my clothes. I’ll pack up our stuff, and?—”
“No. I’ll go. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy the cabin. I’ll be back tomorrow to pick you up.”
Just like that, our “honeymoon” is over.
My throat tightens as I watch him walk away.This is why I have to guard my heart.
But can I guard it for six more months?
14
RHETT
The whole drive home,I debate turning my truck around to go get Paige, but then I remind myself that Amber will probably flip the fuck out when she sees us together, so I stay the course.
When I get home, I can hear the yelling from the driveway. Jesus, what the hell is her problem?
The second I cross the threshold, Amber’s head swivels toward me like that girl inThe Exorcist. “Please tell me it’s not true! Did you really marry that trailer trash?”
She sleeps around with half the town behind my back, and she thinks she’s entitled to call Paige names?
I bite my tongue and turn to my brother. Jace, who’s holding Austin, shakes his head and mouths, “Sorry.”
“Where’s Gabriel?”
“Down the hall. I’ll go check on him now.”
As long as my boys are okay, I know I’ll get through this. But then I see Austin’s puffy eyes and red nose, and my anger spikes. I might not be an expert at this parenting thing, but I know it’s not healthy for kids to hear their parents arguing.
Amber marches up to me, and I’m assaulted by her designer perfume. “That bitch spread all those rumors about me before we got married, and you never stood up for me.”
“They weren’t rumors if they were true.”
Her face gets red. “How could you? Paige Lewis, of all people. Do you know what people are saying about you? That you groomed her when she was little.”
“People” are saying this? Or Amber? “I don’t need to explain myself to you, but I will to set the record straight. All Paige and I ever shared when she was younger were hugs, the kind you give family. She had a harmless crush on me in high school, and after she told me you were fucking Kacey Miller—which you were—she and I went years without talking. So don’t bullshit me with that grooming crap. Paige was an adult when we reconnected.”
“When was that? Last week?” she asks sarcastically.
I can’t respond because, yes, it was a week ago, but that’s none of her fucking business. “Why are you crawling up my ass right now? Why do you care? We’ve been divorced three years.”
“Because I have to live in this town too, and people talk.” Her eyes narrow. “What’s the real reason you got married again? Did you knock her up?”
Jesus, no. “Paige isn’t pregnant. Maybe I married her because I love her. Did that ever cross your mind?”
She snorts. “You’ll never love anyone more than your stupid ranch, and you’ve made no secret about how much you hated being married to me, so no, I don’t buy it.”
Who is this woman, and what the hell did I ever see in her? “Thisstupidranch bought you all of your designer clothes and that car you love.” We were doing okay before my dad got sick and I had to spend a fortune on that divorce attorney. Well enough to buy Amber all that useless crap. “But you know what? Maybe we need to reconsider the spousal support I pay you.”
Technically, I don’t owe her crap because we weren’t married ten years, and in the state of Texas that’s what would garner her alimony, but she’s the mother of my children, and I wanted to make sure she had the money she needed for the boys.
Amber pales. “You said you’d always look after me.”
“And you promised to be faithful. Apparently, we’re both full of shit.”
