Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(68)

“We will if we have sufficient witnesses to identify him and if you and your sister decide to press charges. It’s a felony offense.”

“Really?” Shelby interrupted. “How much time will he do?”

“If convicted, up to five years.”

“That so?” Shelby’s eyes lit up. “Where do I sign?”

*

Hours later, after filling out police reports, calling the insurance company, a tow truck for the wrecked car, and a glass company for the smashed windows, Nikki finally sat down with two spoons and an entire tub of somewhat soupy Cookies ’n’ Cream.

“Helluva day, eh?” said Shelby, picking up a spoon. “I don’t suppose you remembered to get chocolate sauce?”

Nikki gaped at her. “Is that all you have to say?”

“What do you expect? It isn’t like I invited him over.”

“So you’re saying he just showed up out of the blue?”

“Guess he figured I’d come here.”

Nikki dug her spoon into the tub, fishing around for the biggest hunk of Oreo but then paused, spoon midway to her mouth. “Wait a minute. You said Dwight wanted money, but how could he even know anything about my inheritance?”

Shelby looked guilty. “Maybe I…er…let it slip.”

“Why would you even be talking to the * after what he did to you?”

“He has all my stuff. I wanted it back.”

“What stuff?” Nikki asked.

“My clothes and things.”

“You can buy new clothes, Shelby. There’s nothing you own that’s worth negotiating with that scumbag.”

“Easy for you to say, Miss Moneybags. You can buy whatever you want now.”

“I don’t have any of it yet, Shelby, but even when I do, I don’t plan to do anything stupid, and I still want to work.”

“Speaking of work…” Shelby’s brow wrinkled. “Why are you home so early?”

“Because I quit today.”

“You quit?” Shelby laughed. “Good for you! I hope you went out with a bang. Did you wipe any computer drives? Paint graffiti on the bathroom wall with your nail polish?”

“I told Phyllis off.”

Shelby’s eyes glimmered. “Oh yeah? Whadya say to the old bag?”

“Told her I wasn’t going to kiss her bony ass any more.”

“And?”

“And what? I left.”

Shelby looked crestfallen. “Hell, that’ll be forgotten in a week. Tops. I need to give you some lessons on leavin’.”

“Like your adventure in leaving Dwight?”

Shelby looked mildly chagrined. “All right, you have me there.” She added defiantly, “I shoulda taken better advantage of his unconsciousness and castrated the bastard.”

“Do you think he’ll be back?” Nikki asked.

“Probably. He said something about bringing his forty-five next time.”

“Holy shit! He threatened your life?”

Shelby shrugged. “It’s not like it’s the first time. You don’t understand how it is with us. It’s a complicated relationship.”

“Why, Shel?” Nikki asked. “Why do you go for these *s?”

Shelby glowered with her good eye. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle back? I’ve met some of your winners, too, you know.”

“They haven’t all been bad, and none have been homicidal maniacs.”

“Oh yeah? If you’re so great a picking ’em, name me one that wasn’t a lying, cheating *.”

“Wade,” Nikki blurted without a second thought.

“Wade?” Shelby scrunched her face. “I don’t remember a Wade. Who was he?”

“The lawyer in Montana.”

“A lawyer?” Shelby grinned a mile wide. “Wow, Nik! You’ve graduated from bottom-feeding rednecks to white-collar professionals? Whoo-hoo, look at you! Big sister is moving up the food chain.”

“Maybe not so much. He’s also a cowboy. Well, a rancher, to be precise.”

“You shagged a cowboy lawyer?”

Nikki blushed. “Shagged? You make it sound cheap and dirty. It was more than that.”

“Really? Then what’s the deal with you and him?”

“Deal? There isn’t one. He’s there and I’m here. End. Of. Story.”

“But you’re going back there, right? You still have to settle the estate and sell the place, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I don’t have to go back to do any of that. He’s going to handle it all for me—well, his legal assistant is anyway.”

“Ah.” Shelby pursed her pouty lips with a knowing look. “That explains everything.”

“Everything what?”

“Why you’ve been such a bitch…well, a worse one than usual…since you got back. It’s not hard to add one and one, i.e., you and Wade. Or maybe I should have said you minus Wade.” She balanced the bowl of the spoon on her nose. “So what are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing. I told you it’s already over.”

“Why’s that? Did he lie about a wife and kids?”