Page 8 of Second Chance Wedding
Her eyes widened again before her face scrunched up in a wince. “The limo isyours?”
“Yeah. A new business venture your son has now disrupted. The limo will be out of commission for repairs, and it’ll cost us, especially since it’s the holiday season.”
Ana appeared as though she wanted to hurl. Her son looked bored and snarky as ever.
“I’m sorry. Benji’s sorry,” she said.
The boy didn’t say a word. Cole fisted his hands and reminded himself that he’d once been a punk himself. “Be there at noon, or wewillrevisit the decision regarding the police.”
“Noon,” Ana said, nodding.
She grabbed the boy by the arm and shoved him toward the end of the alley instead of the kitchen door. “We’ll be there. Thank you, Cole.”
Cole watched them go, which is why he saw the glance Ana shot over her shoulder at him before she kept shoving her son in front of her. When they turned the corner and he could no longer see them, Cole took in the damage again.
Swearing didn't help, but it made him feel better as he photographed the scene and the vehicle and even went inside the kitchen to get the names of the guys who’d been on their smoke breaks. Just in case. It wasn’t information he’d share with Gage or Alec, but he wanted it even though he knew he’d never use it.
Because of Ana.
He’d undoubtedly screwed himself and his brothers over big time by letting the kid go without a police escort, but if his brothers put themselves in his shoes…
They’d have done the same.
So long as Ana paid for the repairs, it’d be okay.
Back in the alley, he placed his palms against the hood and leaned into them, stretching out the pain from his career-ending injury aggravated by the tension riding his muscles.
Seeing Ana had been a shock.
He’d known he’d run into her eventually. Carolina Cove was too small a town for that not to happen at some point. But he didn’t want to deal with the juvenile delinquent or his mother.
Especially his mother.
He’d rectify the situation tomorrow. He and his brothers could scare the crap out of the boy, set Ana up to pay once they got an estimate for the repairs, and send them both on their way.
After tomorrow, he hoped he’d never see her again.
ChapterThree
Ana marched Benjamin down the alley, but once they’d rounded the front, she couldn’t face going back to the grand-opening gala. She paused there on the sidewalk beside Benjamin, knowing she earned some curious looks from the valets as well as the doormen because she couldn’t hide her upset.
Benji pulled at his arm, but she dug her nails in tighter in case he tried to take off.
“Mom.”
Whatever he saw on her face finally did the trick. He stilled, staring down at her while she tried to collect herself and steady her erratic breathing. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Who was that guy?”
A somewhat shrill and hysterical laugh bubbled out of her chest at the question.
“Mom, you’re freaking me out.”
“You should be freaking out. Benji??—”
“It’s just freakingBen.”
She leaned her head back to look up at him, the November breeze chilling her sweat-dampened skin until her entire body shook like a flag in high winds. Whether it was the cold air or the shock of seeing Cole Blackwell, she wasn’t sure. “Ben…”
