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Our earlier conversation comes back to me, but I don’t want to argue.
“That gnome that you have in your garden, the one that Riley loves?”
“Hmm.”
“I hate it,” I confess. “It terrifies the shit out of me, with its creepy little eyes.”
I expect him to admonish my cursing like normal, but instead, he laughs.
“She picked him out.”
“I know.” I nod. “And I know how much she loves it. That’s the only reason it’s not been kidnapped and decapitated.” I scrunch my face and tilt my head back on his chest to see him throw his head back in laughter.
Looking down at me, he whispers, “Maybe I won’t be so careful next time I mow the lawn. Accidents happen.”
“That they do.” I nod along. “But she loves him.”
“She does,” he agrees, wrapping his arms around me.
“Maybe we can face him the other way?”
“Now that, we can do.” Leaning down, he presses a kiss to my nose.
“I’m sorry I lied to them,” I whisper.
“What am I going to do with you?”
I smirk. “Anything you want.”
Before we can get lost in each other again, someone else interrupts us.
“Was that the Cromwells I just saw?”
My body locks up.
I hate this man.Cooper walks toward us confidently.
“Mr. Cooper, now is not the time to test me,” Leo warns, pulling his arms from around me. “Go get Riley, please. We’re heading home.”
Dry mouthed, I nod, but my feet don’t move. Standing between the two men, I can feel the tension building.
“I don’t know why I’m surprised. Your kind stick together, don’t they?”
I frown.
“I wasn’t aware any of the Cromwells were doctors,” Leo responds, sarcasm clear.
“Killers,” Cooper hisses, stepping closer.
My mouth drops open.
“Shelby!” Leo snaps.
I jolt, heading to where the little girl is playing on the swing set, but I move slowly, wanting to hear the rest of the conversation.
“Boy, I am not the Cromwells. Do not fucking push me.”
I don’t recognize his tone. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought someone else responded, but they didn’t. My Leo did.
