Page 31 of Sheriff's Dirty Secret
seven years later
I slammedthe front door of my truck after hopping out and shot my brother-in-law, Onyx, a look that could kill. He feigned innocence, putting his hands up in the air.
“It’s not my fault,” he said. My teeth ground together.
“She’s supposed to be on bed rest,” I reminded him.
“I know that. You think I would risk my little niece?” Just the thought of my wife or daughter in any kind of danger had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on point as sweat started to bead.
We’d had our son four years ago. Oak March was a force to be reckoned with.Like his daddy,Olive liked to remind me. But her pregnancy hadn’t been easy, and the recovery from an emergency C-section had been harder. I would have been fine with keeping things as a party of three to avoid having to repeat the ordeal, but Oli had a way of talking me into anything.Who the hell am I kidding?I had never had it in me to say no to her.
“I’ve been watching her.” He pointed towards the huge window that looked into the bakery.
Oli was inside, sitting in one of the comfy chairs she’d invested in just two years ago.It’s going to pay off,she’d said, more to herself than to me because she had been the one who needed to talk herself into it. Her feet were elevated by a footstool one of her employees had brought in when Oli’s feet started to swell last month.
“Oli’s always been persuasive.” He shrugged. I didn’t like the fact he’d brought her here, and irrationally, even seven years later, I didn’t like the idea of him watching her, even if he was her brother.
“What she blackmailing you with?” I asked point blank, because I knew Onyx. He’d been in charge of watching her and making sure she kept her cute little ass resting today. Not offended in the least, my brother-in-law simply chuckled.
“She’s hiding Candy’s Christmas gift for me.” I exhaled slowly, trying to let go of the anger growing in my gut. Anger that wasn’t anger. It was worry. For my wife and unborn daughter. Fear was a bitch when it sunk its claws into you. “She hasn’t stood up since I carried her in and sat her ass down there ten minutes ago, a second before I called you to tell you where she was.”
I believed him.
Her eyes moved to the window as if sensing me. Our eyes connected, and like every time I looked at my woman, something inside me softened. And hardened at the same time.
Sweetness might have reflected in those eyes I loved so much, but my sexy wife didn’t shy away with guilt. Nope. My sassy cookie simply crossed her arms in front of her and stood her ground.Figuratively.I was pretty sure if it weren’t for the fact her employees were around, she would have stuck her tongue out at me. I took a deep breath and exhaled with relief. She might have pushed her brother to bring her here,but she wouldn’t risk our child or her own well-being by doing something that could put her at risk.
“Thanks for watching her,” I muttered. Onyx nodded his head. He opened and shut his mouth almost like he wasn’t sure he should say what he wanted. “What?” I asked, losing my wife’s gaze. Onyx scratched the back of his neck.
“I get she’s on bed rest…”
“But?” I cut him off, trying to hurry whatever he was going to say along.
“But we both know how Oli is.” He wasn’t wrong. Olive was stubborn, fiercely independent, and a serious workaholic. “Maybe if you set something up for her in the back where she can still, I don’t know… decorate cookies or something… maybe it would make this easier.”
“On whom?”
“Both of you? Oak might be the one who’s four, but it’s Oli who doesn’t know how to sit still. She never knew how to do that shit.”
“I get that.” And I did. “Maybe we can set something up for her to decorate cupcakes?” I thought out loud, and Onyx nodded.
“It would help keep her busy and make her feel… useful.”
“Did she say she didn’t feel useful?”
“I told her she’s growing a human inside her body, how much more does she need to do?” My attention moved to the window, and I stared at her little belly sticking out.
“Thanks,” I said a little too roughly. “I mean for the suggestion. It’s a good idea.”
“Whatever you need. We can rig something in my shop.” He patted my shoulder before walking away. “Candy and I will bring Oak home by eight.”
“Thanks, man!” I called out before moving inside to try and figure out how to talk some sense into my wife.
“I’m fine.”I tried to calm down so the vein at my forehead wouldn’t explode.
“Cookie,” I groaned, but one look at my wife, and I knew she was ready to argue with me. After seven years together, I was just as obsessed with my woman as I’d been from the moment I first laid eyes on her. Mabe even more. Thankfully, my girl got off on that. She loved being the center of my universe.
“Don’tCookieme,” she mumbled. “I’m good. I’m fine.”
