Page 111 of Ridin' True
“Okay.”
He could tell her acceptance of the situation didn’t make it any easier to swallow, but she didn’t pepper him with questions. She didn’t need the gory details. She was good like that. Pure. He hoped that never changed.
“What’d you do today?” he asked in an effort to redirect her thoughts.
“Oh, um—remember the other day, when I said I wanted to work because if I didn’t I’d probably end up deep cleaning your house?”
Wrangler grinned. “Lex, tell me you didn’t.”
She was smiling now, too. “I can’t do that without lying to you. Not sure if you noticed, but there are no more boxes with my clothes in the garage. If you don’t like the way I rearranged the closet, I can change it, but—”
“I’m sure it’s great.”
“It kind of is, actually. Also, I didn’t touch the kid’s rooms, but I did do a little snooping. I think I know what I want to get Lowe for her birthday.”
Wrangler stared up at his ol’ lady. Her flawless, olive skin and long, silky hair. Her stunning amber eyes and cute nose. Those plump, sweetheart lips—meant for kissing. Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, he couldn’t help but think how he’d never wanted any woman more.
Alexia
FlightZonewasatrampoline park. It may have been Marlowe’s idea to host her party there, but while she and her friends seemed to be having a great time jumping as high as they could get—it was Axel who was most in his element. The ninja warrior course was where he most wanted to be. As soon as Jed and I walked in, all he wanted to do was race. It wasn’t long before I found myself settled on a bench, the stopwatch on my phone open, counting the seconds it took for the two of them to make it from start to finish.
The night I first met the kids, Jenna had expressed her baby fever.
The night Jed told me he loved me, he promised we’d make babies one day.
I wasn’t quite ready for the two of us to create new life. I was content in our current season—the one we just began, without kidnappings or shootings but with kids’ birthday parties and family dinners. I was going to officially move in with him in a few days, and that was enough for now.
But it would have been a total lie to say watching my man play with his nine-year-old didn’t do a little something to my ovaries.
“I know you’re here because my daughter invited you.”
I jumped a little, startled to hear Nicole’s voice behind me. I turned to look back at her, intending to say hello, but she wasn’t done.
“Let me make myself perfectly clear—you will never,couldnever, replace me. This ismyfamily. Enjoy your moment in the spotlight if you must, but it won’t last.”
“I’m sorry?” I asked, almost amused by the audacity of her comment. “Nicole, there’s not a single part of me that is trying to replace you. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She smiled snidely. “Please. You can’t walk in here on his arm and tell me you’re not trying to replace me. I get it. I took a trip down the aisle, and for the first time inyears, Wrangler realized he couldn’t have me anymore. But know this—until I married Evan, he never brought a woman around our kids because it’s only ever been me. Whatever hold you think you have on him, you don't. Trust me.”
For a moment, I was speechless. It seemedimpossibleshe wasn’t joking.
“Wow. Isthatwhat you think?”
“Sweetie, it’s what Iknow. So don’t get attached to my kids. You’re a rebound, at best—and when he’s done with you, your heart might be broken, but I won’t have my kids disappointed, too.”
“A rebound? You two broke up, like, six years ago,” I replied, still a little stunned.
“I’m the mother of his children. Hard to beat that,” she said with a shrug.
“Okay,” I murmured under my breath as I stood to face her directly. “Here’s the thing, I don’t really have any interest in this conflict between us. If you are truly under the impression that Jed has been pining over you for years, you haven’t been very compassionate about it.
“And while I respect that you are, and will always be, Marlowe and Axel’s mother—I’m with Jed now, and I’m not going anywhere, which means we’re going to see each other from time to time. I’m not saying we should be friends, but I don’t want to be enemies.”
“I know you can’t possibly be talkin’ about me,” said Jed, surprising us both. He draped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side as he continued, “Nicole, if I wanted you, I’d have you—turns out I don’t. You made that choice all too easy years ago. Funny how you keep remindin’ me. And so we’re clear, you might be disappointed you settled with Mister Mediocre over there, but that does not give you the right to talk down to my woman. I suggest you don’t try that again in the future."
I leaned into my man, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth to combat my smile. I couldn't help it.
This was us. I was his—and he was mine, all mine.
