Page 83 of A Cowboy's Trust
The one part they hadn’t nailed down was how to start, so Jake just went for simple and cut to the chase. “I know what you’ve been doing.”
Her brow arched skyward. “Really? And what would that be?”
“Using your son to steal things. Small stuff, like money and things that you can sell?—”
Her laughter danced around the room, completely wrong when contrasted with the tension in his gut.
“It’s not funny, Mel.”
The laughter stopped instantly. “But it is. What on earth are you talking about?” She shook her head. “It’s a good thing you’re no longer on the force, because false accusations like that could get you in a lot of trouble.”
Jake folded his arms over his chest. “How have you been paying for your expenses over the past two months?”
She smiled sweetly at him. “You and your brothers were kind enough to pay for food for me and Jeffrey. Plus, I had some money saved from before I had to escape that dreadful abusive situation.”
She was simply going to deny everything, just the way Declan had said she would. So be it.
Jake knew the one guaranteed way to get her talking.
Make her mad.
“You know, when you showed up, I was shocked, but there was a part of me that was glad to see you.” Jake looked her over for a minute. “I’ll admit it. I kept those letters of yours because I did think about you often.”
Her eyes brightened. “Are you seeing the light, Jake? Interested in being with someone who would be very good for you?”
Wasn’t that enough to make him nauseous? Instead, he grinned. “You’re resourceful, I’ll give you that. But yeah, those letters you wrote had me hooked for a long time.” He stepped closer, looking down at her. “Luckily, I’ve realized some feelings that linger are ones we should take advantage of. Others are like mold. Toxic and gross, but they cling to us until they poison the good things in our lives. You’re the latter. Dangerous, toxic, and gross.”
No trace of the soft, teasing woman remained in her eyes. “What the hell?”
Jake shrugged as if he was talking about the weather. “You see, once I got to know a real woman with a heart of gold and a spine of steel, your flouncy baby ways and noxious attitude finally flipped into focus. Add in the fact you’d abuse your own kid to make your life easier? I got over you real fast, and for good.”
“Fuck you, Jake Skye.” Melissa slapped him, fists landing on her hips afterward as she glared daggers at him. “You don’t know anything about me. What I had to deal with after you divorced me. If you’d just given me a little more time?—”
Jake shot up a hand to stop her. He had notes on this reaction. “Whatever happened in your life ten years ago wasn’t my fault. Not after we signed the papers and walked away from each other. Don’t blame me for your bad choices.”
She actually stopped for a moment, head tilting to the side as she examined him. “Okay, so it seems it’s over. Thanks so much for the charity. I’ll need another week to deal with?—”
“No.” Another point they’d covered in their family plan. This one was harder to say. “Two days, max.”
“This is because of that woman, isn’t it?” The face Melissa made was downright ugly. “The one you’re fucking now?”
Jake glanced over, but fortunately, Jeffrey was still asleep. “This is because you’ve been given a gift, and you’re abusing it. I suggest you think about changing your ways. I might not have proof, but I do still have contacts in the force who would willingly keep an eye on you.”
Melissa waved a hand as if brushing the idea away. “No, I think this is all about Tansy. You’re still in love with me but trying to prove to her that you’re not. She’s a paragon of virtue, isn’t she? Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.”
“Watch what you say right now,” Jake warned. “We’ve all given you time and space to fix your shit, but adding in the probable abuse, your welcome here is officially over.”
Her chin lifted. “You’re throwing me out?”
“Asking you to leave. There’s a difference,” Jake said calmly.
“What about Jeffrey?”
Jake steeled his heart. “I hope for his sake you figure out your life and priorities.” He marched to the door and yanked it open, readying his escape. “Be out of here by tomorrow?—”
“You want him?”
The earth fell away at least five feet. Jake turned to stare at the woman he’d once thought he loved and tried to comprehend that she had just offered to give up her son.
