Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(57)

“Mom?” Bella’s voice is just a squeak. Like she’s been hollowed out. “Wait, I didn’t mean–”

“We’ll speak to you later, Annabelle,” the Ice Queen’s calm voice is back, her tone numb and arctic. “After you’ve come to your senses, without your...companion clouding your better judgment.”

A twinge of empathy rises inside me, but it doesn’t stay. I wonder if we went too far.

Then I see the look she shoots her daughter over her shoulder. Then I wish I’d sucked so much face with Bella Reed right under Molly’s nose that she would’ve needed the trip to the hospital.

Plus, I really want to tell Gary to man the fuck up. Either grow some balls or some brains.

Or just cut those puppet strings.

A shred of self-respect would work wonders. Just like I told Bella this morning, he gives Molly way too much control. She needs to be knocked off her high horse, and they need to haul ass to whatever Ivy League educated marriage counselor can un-fuck eccentric millionaires’ warped marriages, assuming the shrink exists for something like this.

I glance down at Bella as her father follows her ma toward the door. She looks unaffected, thank God, but I wonder if that’s a cover up.

She’d tried to cut in. Maybe apologize.

Internally, she’s hurting. Bruised and embarrassed. No thanks to my tongue reaching its limit for an impetuous witch who treats her little girl worse than a glob of gum stuck to her Louboutin’s.

She picks up her Mack burger and gives me a brave little smile. “So that went well, don’t you think?”

There’s no longer a glimmer in her eyes. I’m not sure if that’s due to her mother, or if she’s just as jarred as I am, reaching the end of our little game.

Heat still throbs in my veins. “Don’t know, Bella. You tell me.”

She takes a bite and chews. “Oh, it could’ve been worse. Much worse. I meant to mess with her, but I didn’t expect Erin to join in.”

“Yeah. Seems she’s got a soft spot for your old man.”

“God. I thought Mom was going to launch herself out of her seat and put her in a headlock. As painful as it is, maybe a little jealousy will be good for her. Remind her Dad had other options, once upon a time.”

“You hate her that much? Wishing they’d divorce?” I tilt my head, wondering how deep this family mess goes.

“No, not really. I mean...Mom needs a real come to Jesus moment if she’s ever going to grow into anything besides a selfish, thin-skinned control freak. Dad needs a spine. I don’t want to destroy my parents, or destroy us, but...I feel like I’m dealing with the scarecrow and the cowardly lion. They just need more to be whole, to become decent people.”

“To lay the hell off your life and what Jonah left, you mean,” I tell her, stuffing a fry into my mouth. “I’ve always been partial to Tin Man myself, Dorothy.”

Smiling, she reaches over and plucks a fry off my plate. I hold up a hand.

“Just checking to see if they’re warm.” That teasing glint returns to her eyes as she bites the end off a fry.

I pluck one off her plate. “Me, too.”

She laughs, and I’m relieved at her tenacity. If she’s hurting or embarrassed, it doesn’t show, but I can tell she’s no longer putting on a show for her parents.

Just being her normal, friendly self. A whimsical young thing who looks too damn good to make this job simple or easy.

Sudden disappointment washes over me then.

Fuck.

I can’t be getting this deep. I can’t be looking at her like that.

My job begins and ends with her safety. The proxy marriage was a necessity in case she needs a safety net. I’d agreed because I knew it wouldn’t get to that point and we’d be able to end the marriage before anybody else found out about it.

Erin arrives at our table a minute later. Regret haunts her face as she looks at Bella. “Sorry about all that, Bella.” She lifts the salad bowls off the table. “I shouldn’t have been so spiteful.”

“Forget it. Wouldn’t be the first time my mother drags out the ugly side of people.” Bella shakes her head and sets her burger down on her plate. “So you dated my dad in high school?”

Erin gives a quick nod. For a second, there’s a hint of sadness in her eyes as she glances toward the door. “For three years. We were as friendly as the two of you. Then Molly got her claws in. I know she’s your momma, so I shouldn’t say this, but...she was a huge bitch back then, and I guess some things never change.”

Truer words were never spoken. Still, I glance at Bella slowly, wondering how she’ll take it.

“I know,” Bella says quietly. “Better than anyone else. Believe me, Erin, I’m working on it. Call it crazy, maybe, but I’d still like to believe she can be more, someday.”

That someday sounds so hollow it stings.

Damn. A sharp desire to grab her and comfort her fills me.

That’s even weirder than the hard-on I’ve been battling all day. What sorcery is this?

I’ve always been able to separate myself from my own thoughts, my own feelings, for years. Had to during every mission overseas.

It was a rule drilled in by Uncle Sam, and then by life.

First Angie and the kids and Dad.