Page 97 of Winters Heat

“Simple my ass.” What would he say? Mia would tell him to skip straight to hell, and he deserved that and worse. He kneaded the edge of the table. Anxious energy toyed with him.

“Colby, you’re getting one more day with your foul language. Then I’m done with that, too.”

“Mom, I struggle with…” He sagged. Where would he even begin?

“Things you can’t control? Things that you didn’t plan? Things that haven’t gone the Colby Winters way? Want me to keep going?”

No need for him to make the list. She apparently came prepared. Winters rubbed his jaw. “I’m crappy with things that I care about.”

She sighed. It wasn’t pitying as much as contemplative. “Oh, I don’t think that’s true. You’re amazing with Clara.”

“I didn’t have much choice with Clara.”

“Yes, you did, and you took it like a soft-hearted brute. Clara was the best thing that happened to you. Until Mia. Now, you’ve got two best things. Hopefully, one is still waiting for you.”

“She’s not waiting for me.”

“A broken-hearted woman might wait, hoping.”

“You don’t know Mia. She’s not the broken-hearted type.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Judith looked like she had more to say, but left it at that, and went about tidying the empty counter, picking at non-existent crumbs. “You have to man up and deal with your mess.”

There she was with a stick, poking him in the eye. “Man up? Come on.”

“Whatever you guys call it. Man up. Get your panties out of a wad. Put on your big boy shorts.Grow a set.”

“That’s the last thing Mia said to me.” He fought the stomachache that surfaced anytime he recounted his brilliant plan of avoidance.

“Smart woman.”

“Yeah. She’s smart. But not smart enough to run from me.”

“Lose the pity party, son. If Clara hadn’t arrived on your doorstep, we wouldn’t have grown close, and we wouldn’t have conversations like this. But we have, and we are. This is my opportunity to tell you that two wonderful girls are a part of your life.”

“She’s gone. I chased her away.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t take you for a wimp. And I never thought you’d walk away from a worthy fight.”

“What?” He didn’t expect for her to break out the name-calling. Everyone else but not her.

“You’re a superhero to the world, but when it comes down to it, I guess you’re scared.”

“Leave it alone.”

“I don’t know whether to feel ashamed I raised you like this or—”

“Christ, Mom. Back off.”

“You’re going to let her wander into someone else’s arms? There’s another man who could protect her better than you? Well, if that’s true—”

“Goddamn it.” Angry thumps of blood pounded in his ears, flooded his veins. His chest felt on the verge of explosion. Like hell another man would hold Mia, protect her, and care for her. He’d kill any man who tried.

Judith nodded toward the garage. “I’ve got Clara. See ya.”

Winters grabbed his cell phone and jumped from the table, knocking the chair over.

His phone buzzed in his hand. Fuck. Would people stop bothering him already? Winters grabbed the keys for his blacked-out, pumped-up truck. It suited his mood. Dark and ready to get the job done.

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