Page 28 of All I Need (Hearts of the South)
She was going to kill her for real. Fighting down the murderous anger, she set her cup aside and mirrored Cathy’s pose, chin rested on her hands. She mimicked the avaricious smile, but pitched her voice low enough that no one near them would hear, which was more than she could say for Cathy. “How about your sex life, Cath? So how often are you and Jeff fucking? I mean, how satisfied are you?”
Cathy reddened and slid back her chair. She snatched up her plate and moved on to sit with two of their male cousins’ wives.
Amy puffed out a shaky laugh. “You know all those times I said I hated you?”
“Yes.” Savannah sipped her punch, trying to cool the fury still tightening her throat. The nerve. The absolute nerve.
“I take it all back.” Shoulders shaking with giggles, Amy grabbed Savannah’s hand. Savannah wound their fingers together and clung to Amy’s warmth. “You have no idea how much I love you right this moment.”
“She picked the wrong day, Ames.” In the past, they’d simply laughed off Cathy and her veiled hatefulness, but not today. “I am not in the mood to play nice.”
Chapter Six
Emmett really needed to get out, to get away from the thoughts rattling around in his head. He’d never been so glad to get an invite to watch football in his life. Hopefully a few hours watching Georgia and Alabama play, cringing over Georgia losing, and unwinding with Clark would help him get his mind straight.
Clark probably needed it too. After he’d picked Emmett up, he’d related the story of someone shooting at an ambulance again the night before. This time, two medics—a couple of really good guys—had been injured.
Eyes closed, Emmett slumped in the passenger seat of Clark’s truck and tried to relax. Against his eyelids, the image of Savannah running into Bennett’s arms played over and over—Savannah clinging to Bennett, the other man lowering his head to murmur in her ear. Emmett kept his eyes closed, though. Might as well let it play out. Once he’d cooled down a little, he’d texted her but had gotten no response. She wasn’t talking to him, and maybe that was a good thing.
The vehicle slowed, and he lifted his lashes, blinking against bright sunlight. He frowned at the cheerful yellow Craftsman before them as Clark pulled to a stop in the driveway. “Where are—”
The question died in his throat. He recognized that white F-150. Renewed rage burned through him, heating his chest and the nape of his neck. Eyes narrowed, he glared at Clark. “Take me home.”
“What?” Clark killed the engine and pulled his keys from the ignition.
“I don’t know why we’re here, but take me home.”
“We’re here to watch the game with Bennett and Troy Lee.” Clark frowned. “What is with you?”
Emmett flicked a finger toward the house. “I am not watching anything with that cheating asshole.”
“Bennett cheating?” Clark actually laughed, which only fueled Emmett’s ire. “Are you nuts?”
“I saw him with my neighbor last night. I mean it, Clark. Take me home.” An engine rumbled behind them, and Troy Lee’s Jeep turned in. Emmett groaned.
“Quit being stupid and get out of the truck.” Clark stepped out.
Emmett closed his eyes a moment then reached for the door handle. Troy Lee would have to move before they could back out anyway.Damn it. He slammed the truck door behind him.
“Hey.” Troy Lee hefted his sleeping toddler from the baby seat in the Jeep. “What’s up?”
Clark tucked his hands in his back pockets and rocked on his heels. “Emmett thinks Bennett is cheating with his neighbor.”
“Your neighbor?” With a slight frown, Troy Lee grabbed a backpack with his free hand and nudged the door closed. “What makes you think that?”
“I saw them together.” Emmett glowered at his friends. “Do we have to stand here and deconstruct this?”
“The last one of your neighbors I met was the old lady next door who cussed me out for parking my patrol car in her spot. Somehow I don’t see Bennett screwing up his marriage for her.”
Nice that Troy Lee thought this was funny. Emmett scowled. “I saw him with Savannah, all right? She moved in a couple weeks back and works over at the ER. It was pretty apparent they were close.”
“Savannah Mills? Really?” Troy Lee quirked an eyebrow, completely unperturbed. He rubbed his hand up and down Christopher’s back. “Let’s go ask him.”
Shit. Could this get worse? Reasoning with Troy Lee was impossible when he was on a mission. Besides, if Emmett refused to go in, he’d come off like a two-year-old who needed a nap.
He was about as irritable as one anyway.
Troy Lee rapped once on the side door and let himself in. “Hey, Rob.”
