Page 104 of Starting Over with You
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, but then I pause. “Why would you call Dean?”
There is laughter in my baby’s voice. “’Cause he’s your boo thang,” he sings like the dork he is.
I press my lips together. “Who told you?”
“Skyye.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “I wanted to be the one.”
“Nope. Dean needs to call.”
I laugh. “We’re adults, son.”
“But you’re my mom, and if he wants to be with my mom, he’s gotta come through us.”
“I can’t with you,” I laugh, shaking my head, but I can’t ignore the uneasiness in my belly. Nothing good can come from Stratford Robbins being here. Especially when I know he received all the evidence I have of his affair a couple days ago. “We will continue this discussion later. I need to call Dean to let him know about your dad.”
“Okay. I’ll call you if he finally calls me back.”
I doubt Stratford will, but I’m thankful just the same. I tell my boy how much I love him before I dial Dean. “Oh, let me go into my office if we’re moving our sexting to phone sex.”
I shouldn’t smile, but I can’t help it. “Babe, pause.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks. “Are you okay?”
“Flint just called and said Stratford is in town.”
“What?”
“Yeah.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and then he says, “Matt is on his way over to stand by while you have this meeting. I’m gonna call the boys, see what they can give me. And then I’m gonna chase that fucker out of our town.”
Heat floods my core at the steel in his voice. “I shouldn’t be turned on, should I?”
Dean chuckles. “Stop, I can’t focus if you’re being all sexy.” I giggle despite the situation. “Stay in the house, don’t open the door until Matt gets there, and text me after your meeting.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
I press my lips together. “I wish you were here.”
“Me too,” he says. He hangs up, and my heart aches. I know there was so much we each wanted to say, but we didn’t. I hatethat. I almost call him back, but then Matt walks through the door—not in uniform, but I can tell he’s packing his weapon.
His eyes cut to mine. “You good?”
I nod. “Yeah. Flint says he’s out by the town sign.”
Matt’s green eyes blaze, and I can’t express how much I love this man. Not only does he love my bestie like she is a queen, but he showers us with the same love. He’s a protector, just like Dean is. “Okay. I’m gonna hang on the side porch so that I can see the road in, but no one can see me. I had Jackson drop me off, so it looks like it’s only you here.”
I perk a brow. “Smart man.”
“Shit, you say that now. Until Sadie finds out what’s going on, and then I’m a dead man because I didn’t include her.”
I snort at that. He’s not wrong. “I’ll protect you.”
“I know,” he says with a wink then heads to the back door. “When’s your meeting?”
