Page 94 of Denim & Diamonds

Brock stilled. “Look at me, Feb.”

When I turned, he stared straight into my eyes. “I had no freaking idea. And the visit isn’t a welcome one. As soon as we get to the house, I’ll be letting her know that.”

I blew out a deep breath and nodded. “Good. Because I just got my nails done this week, and I already chipped one lifting a dumb log. I don’t want to ruin another one on this woman. I haven’t RKO’d anyone since I accidentally knocked out my cousin Felicia’s front tooth when we were eleven.”

Brock’s forehead wrinkled. “RKO? You mean KO, as in knocked out?”

“No, I meanRKO. You don’t know this about me yet, because we haven’t shared all of our deepest, darkest secrets, but I was a big WWE fan when I was little. I was obsessed with Randy Orton. He had this move—the RKO—where he would grab his opponent’s head and take them down to the mat when they least expected it. I perfected it and used it on all my cousins and friends.”

Brock’s lip quirked. “You’re full of surprises, Red. And to think, I was worried you might hightail it out of Meadowbrook because of an unexpected visit from my ex. And all the while, you’re sitting there planning to kick her ass.” He chuckled. “I didn’t think it was possible to like you more, but this…I might propose later, woman.”

“I don’t usually condone violence. But you should know I feel very territorial when it comes to you, Brock.”

He reached for my hand and brought it to his mouth for a kiss. “Feeling’s mutual, beautiful.” Brock looked over at the visor, which still had the mirror down. “And you don’t hold a candle to Nina, or any other woman I’ve ever met, smudged eye makeup or not. So if you’redone, I think we should go get this over with because there is only one woman I want taking up my time, and I’m currently looking at her.”

My stomach fluttered. It was pretty amazing what this man could do to me with only his words. The unsettled feeling I’d had when I’d read that text message from Nina was suddenly replaced by confidence. I flipped up the visor without checking my face again and straightened my spine. “Let’s go put the past behind us.”

Thirty seconds later, we pulled around the back of the bar into Brock’s driveway. Seeing a statuesque blonde at the top of the stairs, with her beautiful, long hair flowing down her back, put a dent in the cocky armor I’d slipped on only a minute ago. If Nina was that attractive from this view, I dreaded seeing what she looked like from the front.

Brock cut the engine, and the woman turned.

My jaw dropped immediately. And it wasn’t because she was beautiful.

Actually, she might’ve been Miss America for all I knew, but I never made it up to her face. Because herenormousbellystopped me in my tracks.

My throat grew tight.

Oh.

My.

God.

My heart had been speeding since I’d read this woman’s message in the truck, but now it pounded like it was trying to escape from my chest. I swallowed. “Brock, when did you two break up? How long ago?”

When no response came, I managed to unglue my eyes from the big belly long enough to look over atBrock. His face mirrored mine—pale with a gaping jaw. “We split up at the end of September.”

I used my fingers to do the math, and when my ninth finger went up, I felt my heart shatter into a million little pieces. “Brock…”

He shook his head. “It can’t be. It fuckingcan’tbe.”

Tears filled my eyes.

He unbuckled his seatbelt. “I need to know what the fuck she’s doing here.”

But I alreadyknew.And deep down, he probably did, too.

Brock opened the driver’s side door and jumped out. He looked back at me. “You still want to come with me?”

But all of my bravado had crumbled. I shook my head.

“You sure?”

A tear slid down my cheek.

Brock closed his eyes. “Don’t go there yet, Red. We need to stay positive. I’ll be back soon.”

CHAPTER 21

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