Page 7 of Dante
Shoving the phone into the phone case, he pushed the door open and stepped out, just as Michael came alongside the vehicle. He felt a vicious sense of satisfaction when the man's expression turned from levity to pure apprehension.
"Jennings, I need a word." His tone brooked no argument and even though Caleb sent the blonde a charming smile, his eyes remained flint-like. "Would you excuse us?"
Michael clamped his hand over the woman's and offered a strained smile.
"We're just heading to dinner and are already running late."
"We can do this in front of her, or we can do this just the two of us."
The woman sized up Caleb and made a prudent decision.
"Darling, I'll just wait in the car."
Michael had to force himself not to beg her to stay. The man standing in front of him was formidable and he was also a cop.
"You have five minutes." He tried for bravado and just fell short of pulling it off.
"I'll have whatever the hell time I need. You knocked up my sister."
"I don't..."
"That wasn't a question asshole, it was a statement. You got her pregnant and dumped her."
Michael realized he was sweating copiously.
"It wasn't working out. We agreed..." He stepped back and inhaled sharply when the other man stepped forward. "I'll call the police..." He hated that his voice was squeaking. "I have witnesses..."
Caleb took out his detective's badge and flashed it.
"See this? Means I'm the police."
"I'll sue..."
"That's right. You're a fricking lawyer. Think that scares me?" He stepped closer and Michael had to force himself to remain where he was. He considered that the man was all muscles andlittle to no brain cells, but he should be smart enough to realize that assaulting him in a public place right outside his place of business had to have consequences.
"Courtney and I have an agreement." Michael reached up a hand to tug at the collar of his cotton shirt. It was the end of September, and the breeze was cooling, but he felt as if he was standing in front of a blazing inferno. "I don't want kids..." He stepped back again when the other man stepped forward, his expression ominous. "I offered to pay for the abortion..." His throat closed off and he could not produce a bit of saliva. It was as if it had all dried up.
"Did you tell her that?" On some level, Caleb realized he was enjoying the man's obvious fear, in fact, he was getting off on it.
"It's none of your business." He glanced furtively at the car, trying desperately to transmit a message to Charlene.
"Hoping for a rescue? Or does she not know that you're a piece of shit who knocks women up and then just leaves?" Caleb glanced over at the vehicle. "Perhaps, I should just stroll over there and tell her what kind of man she's involved with."
"Please." Without thinking, Michael grabbed his sleeve. "Courtney and I have an agreement. We..."
"Let go. Now."
Michael stepped back as if he had been shot.
"You're just not worth it. You piece of crap." Snorting in disgust, Caleb turned and walked away.
He was in a very good mood when he showed up at his sister's place later that day. Not even the run to the supermarket to pick up supplies had dimmed his, he supposed he could call it joie de vivre. He chuckled at the term as he hefted two brown bags of groceries.
The look on the bastard's face during the confrontation was still etched in his mind. The guy had looked like he was about to crap a brick. It felt good, as good as it would have been to beat the crap out of him.
Whistling a popular tune, he marched up the steps onto the porch. Using his hips, he nudged the screen door open and stepped into something classical. The scent of meatballs hit him clear through the stomach and had the saliva pooling.
He followed his nose into the kitchen, where his sister was stirring a sauce on the stove top.
