At Peace (The 'Burg #2)(33)

Cal lifted his chin to her, she waved then jogged to the side door and disappeared through it behind her sister.

Violet came to stand in front of him.

She lifted her hand, palm up. “My keys.”

Cal didn’t give them to her.

Instead, he looked her in the eyes and told her, “What I’m gonna say is gonna piss you off.”

He watched her press her lips together as she braced her body then she asked, “What?”

He didn’t delay. “Colt’s gonna talk to you about your security system. Man named Chip, good guy, is gonna update it. Chip can’t do what I designed for your system, I’m gonna do it.”

Her lips parted and she stared at him.

Then she leaned forward and hissed, “You are not.”

“Buddy, I am.”

“No, you are not.”

“You can stand there and snap at me all you want. It’s gonna happen.”

“I can’t afford a new security system.”

“No one said you’re payin’ for it.”

Her mouth clamped shut and she took a step back on her foot like he’d shoved her.

Then she came back in close, tilting her head way back, her eyes narrow. She was, as he suspected, seriously pissed.

“You’re not payin’ for a new system for me.”

“I am.”

“It isn’t gonna happen.”

“It is.” She opened her mouth to speak but Cal angled his head so his face was in hers and he got there first. “Be pissed at me ‘cause I f**ked you over, that’s cool, you got a right, I f**ked you over and it was a shit thing to do. But you got two girls to look after and neighbors who’re willin’ to wade in to help. It’s not that you’d be a fool not to take the help. It’s that you’d be a shit Mom if you didn’t do all you could to keep yourself, and them, safe. What happened with us happened. It’s over. Now I’m bein’ neighborly, Colt and me are willin’ to help keep you and those girls safe, and, buddy, you got no choice but to accept that and you know it.”

She stood there, not moving, not blinking, just staring straight into his eyes.

Then she whispered, “What happened with us happened?”

“Violet –”

“You’re right,” she said quickly and softly. “You’re security to the stars and if you’re willin’ to help, I should take it. But I’m gonna tell you even though I figure you know, I think you’re an ass**le. I don’t only not like you, I hate you. I hate how you played me. I hate that I was so f**king stupid, I let myself get played. I hate that you know about this because I hate that you know anything about me. And I hate that I have to accept help from you.” After she dealt her lethal succession of blows, she finished with, “But I’ll do it… for my girls.”

And before he could speak, she reached in, yanked her keys out of his hand, turned on her sandal and walked swiftly away.

Cal watched her go, listened to her side door slam and dropped his head to study his boots.

Then he walked to his house, let himself in and went directly to the fridge to get a beer. He twisted off the cap, flicked it into the trash bin, lifted the bottle to his lips and took a healthy pull.

Then he held the bottle in front of him, studying the label without seeing it.

Then he threw the bottle through the doorway of the kitchen. It flew into the living room and smashed against the wall.

Chapter Five

Daniel Hart

I was running late and that sucked.

Chip hadn’t been able to install the full system that Joe had designed and Joe hadn’t been able to get to it before he had to leave so now that it was a week later and Joe was back, he was coming over to see to it.

Feb and Colt were having a barbeque and I’d promised Feb I’d go over and help before everyone showed up. I was supposed to be over there fifteen minutes ago which was fifteen minutes before Joe was supposed to show.

The girls were off as usual. Keira was coming back with her friend Heather to go to the barbeque. Kate was at work at Fulsham’s Frozen Custard Stand. Dane who, regardless of the fact that Kate had a car, took her to work and picked her up, was going to go and get her and they both were also coming to the barbeque later. I’d told Colt to tell Joe I’d leave the side door open for him and Colt had obviously done this because now I heard the side door open.

I ignored this and finished gunking my hair up with the goo that made it look so good and then rinsed my hands. Then I walked from my bathroom into the bedroom to put on my jewelry, stacking on the silver bangles, putting in my silver hoop earrings, clasping on my silver watch. I spritzed with perfume and turned to the bedroom door.

Joe was leaning in the frame watching me.

At the sight of him, my stomach tied into an instant knot.

I had no idea why he was standing there watching me. I felt all that needed to be said was said so I glanced into his eyes briefly and headed his way expecting, since I said all that needed to be said and I was pretty honest about it, he’d move out of mine.

He didn’t.

I stopped and looked up at him.

His rumbly voice was low when he said, “We should talk, buddy.”

I didn’t want to talk so I replied, “Please move.”

“Violet –”