Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Leonard
The sound of giggling warms my heart. My cheeks ache from smiling so much throughout dinner.
This time of day is special to me. It doesn’t matter how busy I am or who needs me, I always make it home in time for dinner. I worried that Shelby being here would throw off our sense of calm, but if anything, she added to it.
Riley isn’t the only one who’s perfect.
My baby adores Shelby, a fact I couldn’t be happier about. The past two hours have been filled with laughter and love, offering a glimpse into how our future could be.
Will be.
Shelby was made for us, made for me.
“You’re great with her,” I praise the woman in question.
Shelby blushes. It always gives her away. I fucking love it.
“She’s not exactly a difficult child.”
We walk peacefully toward the parked car, both watching Riley, who remains a few steps ahead.
I see Shelby peek at me a few times, but she remains quiet. I want her to open up to me in her own time. It’s what I’ve always wanted. I just never expected our situation to last this long.
“Don’t laugh,” she warns, pointing a finger.
I wrap my hand around the offending digit. “Never,” I promise.
“Being a mom is all I’ve ever wanted.” She shrugs, as if to make her words seem less than they are.
“It’s something Lulu and I had in common,” she confesses, referring to her childhood friend who moved away last year.
“I guess it’s why I never went off to college.
My dad had a bit to do with that. After he got ill, I didn’t even think of leaving.
But I never made plans after graduation because all I wanted to do was get married and have babies. ”
“You never found the right guy?” I whisper, the words choking me. The thought of her wanting those things with another man kills me, and the idea of her doing it . . . over my dead body, or better yet, over his.
Unaware of my sudden need to murder an imaginary man, Shelby shrugs. “Thought I did. But I guess he had other plans.”
Good. My heart starts again at the knowledge that no one is vying for her attention.
“Your mystery man.” I nod.
My grin gets wider when she reaches up and fiddles with the necklace under her shirt.
My mother’s necklace, the one I took off my first wife’s body. She didn’t deserve it. Ashley lost the right to wear it the minute she betrayed our wedding vows.
“I’m sure the right man knows exactly where to find you.”
“Well, he’d better hurry up, because if I spend any more time with Riley, I’m going to get baby fever.” She laughs lightly.
“That might be remedied if you both continue not using protection,” I warn.
Her cheeks heat. “I told you . . .”
“It’s complicated,” I finish for her. “It will be when you get pregnant.”
And that’s exactly what she’s going to be. Regret fills me for all the times I wrote her a prescription for Plan B. But she wasn’t ready then. And neither was I.
I’m lucky we live in Cromwell. It’s a small town. The pharmacy attached to my clinic is the only place to get meds, including some over-the-counter items, unless you’re willing to travel. The only way anyone is getting that shit is through me.
My pharmacy, my rules.
One I implemented the day after I took Shelby’s virginity.
“Well, look who found himself another victim,” a male voice sneers.
And just like that, my good mood is gone.
“Take Riley and get in the car,” I order, handing the keys to Shelby. I don’t take my eyes off the man approaching.
Kyle Cooper.
“Officer Cooper. I apologize, you lost that job a few years ago. I keep forgetting. Mr. Cooper, is there a reason you’re bothering me and my family?”
“Family?” He snorts. “Do you know what kind of man you’re fucking?” he shouts, his words aimed at the quickly retreating back of Shelby.
“Lower your fucking voice,” I growl.
“What? You don’t want the new piece of ass to know about the old one? Or do you just not want her to know what you did?”
My blood heats, racing through my veins with pure hatred. Clearly, losing his job four years ago hadn’t been enough. I’d hoped that those Cromwell brothers would have taken care of Cooper by now. If it wasn’t so inconvenient, I’d do it myself.
There’s still time.
“First of all, I have never had a piece of ass. I had a wife who ran off with her lover, which resulted in my divorcing her. The fact no one can find her is no longer my problem. And second, you ever say anything so vulgar in front of my daughter again, I’ll show you exactly the kind of man I am.”
My lip curls. He disgusts me.
Picking a fight with me is one thing. After all, the man is right. I did kill her. However, trying to upset Shelby and Riley is another matter.
“You don’t scare me.” Cooper huffs.
I take a step forward at his words. “Then why are you shaking?” I chuckle, tilting my head. Looking at him from head to toe, I let my true self show.
Stepping back, I keep my eyes on him. Having Shelby again might not be the only thing that can’t wait. Cooper might have to be dealt with too.
Once there’s sufficient distance between us, I turn sharply and approach the car with hurried steps.
Shelby and Riley are both in the car, and I feel a little calmer.
They’re safe.
Joining them, I lock the doors before starting the car.
“I’m sorry about that,” I say, looking first at Shelby and then back at Riley.
My little girl looks up from her dolly, Penny, completely oblivious.
Pulling out of the parking lot, I apologize to Shelby again.
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
The petite brunette beside me waves off my words.
“Don’t worry about it. He’s mad. Like, you should book him for a seventy-two-hour hold kind of mad.
He’s been making weird accusations against Kaleb and his brothers for years.
As if there could be three serial killers in Cromwell Town and no one would know. ” She laughs, rolling her eyes.
I let the action slide because she’s right. That is absurd . . . there’s four.
Matching her smile, I nod.
“He thinks I . . .” My eyes flit to the rear-view mirror to check Riley is preoccupied before mouthing, “Killed,” then say, “my ex-wife.”
Shelby rears back as if I slapped her.
“He’s obsessed with catching a killer.”
“Seems he’s in the wrong town because he won’t find one here.”
My cock stirs when her hand lands on my thigh.
“Are you okay?”
Squeezing her hand, I look from the road to her and back. “I’m perfect.”
“That you are,” she mutters.
The rest of the drive is done in silence. Shelby doesn’t speak up when I take the long way around, adding an extra five minutes onto our journey home. Maybe she thinks I’m worried about Cooper, but the truth is, I’m just not ready to say good night.
Pulling into my drive, I’m filled with disappointment.
“Thank you for dinner,” Shelby whispers, climbing from the car.
“It’s the least I could do. Thank you for taking care of her.”
“Anytime,” she offers. “Good night, muffin.” She waves to Riley through the window.
I frown, watching her walk away. After tonight, nothing will ever be the same. Shelby is mine and has been since I crawled into her bed four years ago.
It’s about time she and everyone else knew it.