Short Rides (Rough Riders #14.5)(30)

“I don’t know. I must’ve left the house without it. Or left it at the office.”


“You are a pregnant woman. You need to have that phone on you at all times, do you hear me?”


Enough. She was too damn old for another ass-chewing session, especially when she had to pee again. “Is that some kind of Crook County law I wasn’t aware of, Deputy? Are you gonna write me a f*cking ticket for not having my cell phone on my person?”


“Don’t be a smart ass.”


“Don’t be a pain in my ass,” she shot back. “And I don’t need a goddamn lecture from you—”


“Yes, you do, when your husband has called the entire family to find out where the hell you are! He’s worried sick, Keely. Are you really blaming him when you’ve been out of contact for hours?”


Her mouth dropped open. “Are you kiddin’ me? I went to the movies after my husband told me to leave him alone so he could work! And then he has the balls to act all concerned, like it’s my fault? Bullshit.” She glared at Cam. “Not only did the bastard call my family to tattle on me, he called you and put out a BOLO on me too? Un-f*cking-believable. He’s really gonna wish he hadn’t done that when I use a croquet mallet on his goddamned laptop and cell phone.” Just thinking about beating the f*ck out of his precious electronics made her almost giddy.



Cam retreated from the car window. “Keely. Hon. Just chill out.”


“What?”


“The look on your face…”


“Is what?” she demanded.


He blurted, “Really freakin’ close to evil,” and took two steps back from the door so she couldn’t take a swing at him. “Remember. This has all been a misunderstanding. You’re safe. That’s all that matters. Why don’t I call Jack and tell him—”


“You’d be better off calling a f*cking ambulance because I’m gonna kick his ass when I get home.”


Keely rolled up the window and sped off.


If her brother wanted to give her a speeding ticket, fine. But he could damn well do it in her driveway.


Jack paced on the front porch.


When he saw the lights of Keely’s car, he could finally breathe. He’d nearly gone bald the last four hours, pulling out his hair, desperately trying not to think of worst-case scenarios.


Cam had warned him Keely was mad—really mad, boiling mad, mad like he’d never seen her. But Jack wasn’t worried. Her pregnancy mood swings were so erratic she might be whistling a happy tune after she’d had time to think on the drive home about her inconsiderate behavior. She might even throw herself into his arms with a tearful apology.


He plastered on a smile, prepared to be magnanimous.


But the door to the Escalade was thrown open so hard the metal supports should’ve bent backward. Her boots hit the pavement before he could offer to help her out. Then she slammed the driver’s door with enough force the entire car shook.


But it was nothing compared to how hard Keely shook.


Shit. “Keely—”


“Not a f*cking word, Jack-ass. I’m so pissed off at you right now you’d better be glad I actually came home.”


He took a step toward her and she growled. His wife actually f*cking growled at him.


This was not good.


“Last warning to back off. I’ve had to pee since I left Spearfish and getting pulled over by my brother has just made it worse...and that’s your fault too.” She stomped up the stairs.


Undeterred, he followed her. “Do you have any idea—”


Keely whipped around so fast he didn’t have time to duck the blow from her purse. A purse she was now swinging around like a mace. He was so shocked at the vicious expression on her face that he didn’t manage to dodge the second or third blow.


“Jesus, Keely. Will you knock it off?”


The next time she swung, he grabbed the strap and tugged the pink zebra cowhide bludgeoning tool from her fingers.


“Fine, have it,” she yelled. “It wasn’t doin’ enough damage to you to suit me anyway.” She stepped back and braced her hand against the house.


“Come on, Keely. Can we please talk about this?”


“No.”


Count to ten. “I’m serious.”


“So am I.” She jammed her heel into the bootjack and removed her right boot.


“Can you please try and be reasonable?”


“Reasonable?” she repeated. “You wanna talk about bein’ reasonable? You’re the one who told me to buzz off and leave you alone to work.”


“You took that out of context.”


“Bullshit.” Keely removed her other boot. “You said you wouldn’t be home until midnight and I should find something to do to entertain myself.”


Had he really said that?


“So are you all fired up because I wasn’t standing on the porch holding your pipe and slippers to welcome you home?”


“Like that’d ever happen.”