Wilde Ride (Love is a Cowboy Book 2), page 24
Emeline shot him a dirty look. “I do not.”
“Daddy! Daddy! Timmy asked if I could spend the night tonight.”
I officially got the keys to the house on August 1st, and Rhett and I set up the tent in the living room that first night. I made a fire, and we ate pizza and roasted marshmallows. It’d been so much fun, especially since it was just the two of us in our new place.
“I’ll call Timmy’s mom and talk to her about it,” I replied as I pulled out my phone. After a quick conversation, Timmy’s mother told me she’d be by in thirty minutes to pick up both boys.
“You keep working on bringing things in, I’ll help Rhett pack an overnight bag,” Emeline said with a smile. Her eyes sparkled, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was.
Alone time in the new house.
Kissing her on the cheek, I winked. “Thank you, Em.”
“No problem. Come on, boys, let’s go pack up a bag.”
I watched as they headed up the half-log stairs to the three additional bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. “Don’t forget your toothbrush!” I called out.
“I won’t, Dad!”
I sighed, and Caden laughed. “Looks like he’s back to calling you dad.” A swift slap on my back caused me to stumble forward. “Kid’s growing up. Come on, let’s keep unloading. We’re almost done.”
“I appreciate the help, Caden. I know your time is valuable and you’re busy at the ranch.”
He waved me off. “Gatlin’s got it covered. It’s a nice break, and a different way to use the muscles.”
He flexed his biceps, and I rolled my eyes.
Four hours later, everyone was gone, and it was just me and Emeline with take-out Mexican from El Rey’s.
“First thing on the list to buy—a kitchen table,” I said as I set my to-go container on my lap where I sat on the living room floor.
“I’m also surprised you didn’t have any furniture besides Rhett’s bedroom stuff.”
I chewed and swallowed my bite of chicken fajitas, then wiped my mouth. “I didn’t want any of the stuff I had with Caroline. I wanted to start fresh, but it wasn’t fair to Rhett not to bring his bedroom set. He got it last Christmas, so it’s pretty much still brand new.”
“What did you guys do with the rest of the furniture?”
I shrugged. “No clue. I left it all for Caroline. The house sold pretty quick, and the people who bought it didn’t want the furniture. I never asked her what she did with it all.”
She nodded and set down her Diet Coke. She glanced around the living room. “Once you get some new furniture, and get it all decorated, it’s going to be so cute.”
“I was hoping you’d help me with that.”
“Decorating? Or furniture?” she asked.
“Both. I don’t have an eye for that kind of thing. I mean, I know I want leather. I think it stands up better to Rhett and his friends.”
“I agree, leather’s the way to go. My parents have had the same sofa and loveseat since I can remember, and it’s lasted through at least three of their dogs and Moose. That last one says a lot.”
“Speaking of dogs, I was going to wait until Christmas, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to. Do you know anyone who has any puppies?”
She chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I do. Charlotte has a chocolate lab that had puppies about six weeks ago. They won’t be ready to go home for a few more weeks, but I think—I think—she still has a couple. Her last litter is where I got Moose from.”
A jolt of excitement ran through my body. I kept saying the puppy was for Rhett, but I wanted it probably just as much, if not more. “Are the puppies also chocolate?”
She nodded. “Yep. I’ll text her now and see if she has any.”
I did a fist pump. “That would be amazing. Thanks!” After I stood, I grabbed my to-go container and pointed to Emeline’s. “Done?”
She handed it to me. “Yes, thank you.”
I walked into the kitchen, which had more boxes than I’d expected, and dumped the containers into the trash. I opened the brand-new refrigerator and stared at nothing but a few bottles of water and three Diet Cokes.
Getting an idea, I headed back to the living room.
“She has one boy left!”
“Seriously? Tell her I want him! I’ll send her a deposit right now.”
Emeline smiled, then got busy texting. “The puppy’s yours. She said you don’t need to send her anything. They’ll be ready to go to their new homes in three weeks.”
“Three? Ugh, I don’t think I can wait that long.”
Her brow rose. “You can’t wait that long, or Rhett won’t be able to wait that long?”
Laughing, I pulled her up from where she was still sitting on the floor. She laughed, then quickly let it fall away as I dipped her. With my mouth inches from hers, I asked, “Do you know what I want to do right now?”
She exhaled a breathy sound. “Break-in the living room? I would say yes, but I’m pretty full.”
“Too full for ice cream?”
Her brows shot up. “Ice cream, you say?”
Laughing again, I picked her up and tossed her over my shoulder, giving her ass a good slapping. She let out a yelp before she started laughing as well.
In the end, we decided to go to the grocery store, buying ice cream and all the extras to make sundaes back at the house.
“Whose car is that?” Emeline asked as I pulled up to the house after our trip to the store.
“The better question is, how in the hell did they get through the gate without the code?”
Emeline leaned forward. It was dark out, and it was hard to see what kind of car it was.
“Looks like a black Lexus.”
My heart nearly dropped to my stomach. “It can’t be.”
“What?” Emeline asked as I pulled into the garage. The car was parked to the side of the garage. “Do you know who it is?”
Turning off my truck, I looked at Emeline.
“It’s Caroline.”
Emeline
I felt like I’d just chugged sour milk. My stomach roiled, and I instantly felt sick. What in the world was Caroline doing here, and how did she get through the gate?
“What?” I asked in disbelief. “How? Why?”
My thoughts instantly went to Rhett. Thank God he wasn’t here.
Levi exhaled harshly as he pushed a hand through his hair.
This is going to be interesting.
Levi’s lawyer had been in contact with Caroline for the last month, demanding that she sign the divorce papers so that Levi and Rhett could finally move on. Levi had started to grow impatient, and said he was prepared to go to Denver to get her to sign them himself.
We both opened the truck doors, and I reached into the back to grab the two bags containing the ice cream and sundae fixings. Levi got out and slammed his truck door shut. I jumped and almost let out a little yelp of surprise.
After getting the food, I debated whether I should go into the house or stay out here. I walked toward the back of the truck to tell Levi I was going to head inside…and that’s when I got a better look at Caroline’s car.
I’d seen that car before. A few times. First at the camp, then outside of the vet clinic.
Was Caroline the person who’d been taking pictures of Levi? But why? And why give them to Janet?
Caroline got out of the car and made her way toward Levi. For a moment, it looked like she was about to hug him, and I felt myself stiffening.
Levi took a few steps back from her, and she stopped.
“How did you get through the gate, Caroline?” he asked. His voice sounded cold and clipped, and for a moment, it completely caught me off guard. I was accustomed to hearing him speak in a calm and welcoming manner. This was completely different.
She let out a laugh. “It wasn’t hard to figure out. Our last gate code was Rhett’s birthday. You used Brooke’s for this one.”
“What are you doing here? Do you have the signed divorce papers?”
Caroline’s smile faded, and she looked at me. “If you don’t mind leaving, Emeline. My husband and I have a few things to talk about.”
I was positive my mouth fell open. Before I could even think of a reply, Levi spoke.
“This is my house, I’m not your husband, and you don’t get to tell my girlfriend to leave.”
Caroline flinched as a shocked expression appeared then quickly vanished.
A part of me wanted to yell out, HELL YES, at Levi’s declaration of our relationship, but I pressed my lips together tightly.
“What do you want, Caroline?”
Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I swore she was about to lunge at me and scratch my eyes out. Then she focused on Levi, and a sugary fake smile appeared on her face. “You are my husband, Levi. I haven’t signed the divorce papers yet. And if you want your little plaything to hear this, then fine—I don’t want a divorce. I want to try to work things out.”
A loud bark of laughter came from Levi. It was devoid of any emotion whatsoever. “You’re out of your damn mind, Caroline. I want nothing to do with you. Rhett and I have moved on, and you need to do the same.”
“With her?” she asked, pointing a perfectly manicured finger in my direction. “She’s what, ten years younger than you? My God, Levi. I remember watching her follow you around like a lost puppy. You can’t seriously think you can replace me with…with a child!”
“Excuse me?” I said as I took a step forward. “I do have a name, and I’ve never followed anyone around like a lost puppy. That would be you, darling—when you followed Caden, desperate for his attention. And for your information, I’m not ten years younger.”
Caroline’s lip snarled before she smirked. “The little girl has grown up and grown a pair of balls.”
Levi took a step toward Caroline. “I want you to get back into your car and leave.”
“We need to talk first,” she argued, folding her arms over her chest.
Motioning with his hands toward her, Levi said, “Fine, talk.”
“Not outside, Levi.”
He sighed. “Yes, outside, Caroline.”
She looked as if she might panic. Then she blurted, “I want to see Rhett.”
“He’s not here, and if you want visitation rights, go back to the judge whom you explicitly told you didn’t want to be a mother anymore and see if he’ll change his mind.”
“I was grieving, Levi! My head wasn’t in the right place.”
He nodded. “Okay,” he said, his voice quieter and calmer. “Then do what you’re supposed to do—go through your lawyer, set up a court date, and get visitation. I told you if you wanted to see him, you could, but only if you did it the right way.”
“To see my own son?”
“You can’t just decide one day you no longer want to be a mother, then months later decide you do. It doesn’t work that way.”
She huffed and looked around in the darkness. “I want a second chance with both of you. I want to have another baby.”
I blinked several times in surprise. When Levi didn’t say anything, clearly shocked, I knew I had to leave. I trusted him, but a small part of me was terrified Caroline would get her claws into him again.
Clearing my throat, I said, “I’m going to bring the ice cream in.”
“Yes, you go do that,” Caroline spat.
Levi walked over to me. He leaned down and brushed a kiss on my cheek. “I’m sorry. I’ll be right in.”
I smiled. “It’s okay. Take your time.”
He wore a pained expression. I was silently thanking God Rhett wasn’t home. He would be so confused right now.
Giving Caroline one last look, I turned and headed through the garage and into the house. After putting everything away, I pulled out my phone.
Me: Caroline showed up at Levi’s house.
Moreen: SHUT UP!
Kate: Wait, what?
Lilibeth: Who’s Caroline?
Ensley: Want me to come and kick her ass and haul her back to the depths of hell?
Lilibeth: Someone tell me who Caroline is? Oh wait…Levi’s ex?!
I sighed. “Yep, Levi’s not-so-ex.”
Me: She reminded him that she’s still his wife since she hasn’t signed the papers. Also, she told him she wants to get back together and wants another baby. I’m not gonna lie, I’m slightly freaking out.
Ellipses started bouncing.
Ensley: Fuck her. Don’t worry, Emeline. There is no way Levi takes her back.
Moreen: I’m with your sister. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.
Kate: Damn it! I wish I still lived in River Falls. I’m with everyone else. Screw the bitch.
I smiled. I loved my sister and my best friends. I wasn’t sure what I would have done if I hadn’t been able to text them all.
Me: Thank you, guys. They’re outside talking. She wanted to see Rhett, but he’s at the neighbors’ spending the night.
Ensley: So, she also cock-blocked you. What a bitch!!
God, how I loved my big sister.
Me: Yep, she sure did. I highly doubt Levi will be in the mood for anything once she leaves.
Moreen: Nah, he’s a guy. Just strip naked and get on the bed.
Me: There’s no bed. Unless you count Rhett’s, and gross…hard pass.
Ensley: Yeah, no sex on the kid’s bed. Kitchen counter?
Lilibeth: Ohhh yeah! I’ve always wanted to have sex on a kitchen counter.
Kate: I know we’ve never met, but the kitchen counter is your go-to, Lilibeth?
Lilibeth: Yep. I know. It’s sad. But considering I’ve never actually had sex with anyone, I’ll take what I can get. I’m the almost-thirty-year-old virgin.
Ensley: OMG, what? Why did I not know this! I have a new mission.
Me: Guys! Can we return to my current crisis? The man I’ve been in love with since middle school is outside talking to his wife! HIS WIFE! I had completely pushed it from my mind that he’s actually still married. I’m freaking out here. May I remind you all?
Moreen: Sorry, my mom called. Don’t jump to conclusions, Emeline. Lilibeth, Jesus H, how do you drop a bomb like that in a text? We need a girls’ night.
Kate: Shit, I need to make a trip home!
I suddenly remembered Caroline’s car. I hit FaceTime and made a group call, and waited for each of them to answer. Then I squinted to see if my sister was actually in a bath.
“Are you in the bathtub?”
Ensley sighed. “Yes. I got kicked by a horse today, in the ribs, and I think he might have cracked one.”
“Oh my God! Ensley, do you need anything?” I asked.
She smiled. “No. It’s feeling better now that I’m sitting in a hot Epsom salt bath.”
Moreen took a bite of ice cream, and it instantly made me angry. Damn Caroline, for interrupting our night.
I closed my eyes and shook my head to get my thoughts together. “I think I know who took the pictures of Levi.”
“What pictures?” Kate asked. Seeing my other best friend from high school nearly brought tears to my eyes. I hated that she’d moved to New York City.
Moreen gasped. “That’s right, you don’t know!”
I quickly filled Kate in on the pictures and The Daily Dirt columns.
“So someone’s been taking pictures of you guys together and you didn’t know who it was?”
“No, and I asked Janet. She said it wasn’t her, but she couldn’t tell me who was sending them because they came to her email, and there was no name and a generic email address.”
“That’s so strange,” Kate said.
“Anyway, when Caroline got out of her car, I realized I’d seen it before. Once at pickup day after the first camp session. Then again parked across from the vet clinic.”
Ensley leaned forward in the bath, but thankfully she kept her phone up so we couldn’t see anything. “Are you saying Caroline’s the one taking the photos and sending them to Janet? But why?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Janet told me when she received the picture of us outside the vet clinic, the person who emailed it said they heard us arguing when they took it. They figured it would be good info for The Daily Dirt. I told Janet that wasn’t the case, and whoever was doing this was trying to make trouble for us. She promised she’d let me know if she got another picture.”
“This is so crazy,” Lilibeth said. “How would she even get on the ranch?”
“It was pickup day. Parents and volunteers were everywhere, and Caden had the gate open. I couldn’t keep track of everyone who was there picking up, and I’m fairly certain no one else was paying close attention, either. Now I need to talk to Mom about better security on pickup days. We can’t be having just anyone drive onto the ranch.”
“That’s scary,” Lilibeth said, taking down the towel wrapped around her hair. She began braiding it as she spoke. “Do you think you should ask if it was her?”
I nervously chewed my lip. “I could go back out there. It’s been a little while. What could they possibly be talking about?”
My sister sighed. “I’ve known Caroline since we were kids. Trust me, she always had a way of manipulating things, especially with Levi. Caden said that’s why Levi married her in the first place. If you think that pregnancy was an accident, think again.”
“I always thought she got pregnant on purpose,” Moreen added.
Kate nodded her head quickly. “Same.”
Lilibeth let out a soft sigh. “I don’t know her, so I have no input on this.”
“I know for a fact she got pregnant on purpose. I’m going to go out and confront her. If she did take the pictures, Levi needs to know.”
“That’s my sister! Let the Wilde in you come out!”
“I’m with Ensley, go confront her,” Kate said, pumping her fist in the air.
“Good luck!” Lilibeth and Moreen said at the same time.
“Thanks, guys. Love you all!”
“Text us with an update!” Moreen demanded before we said our goodbyes.
After hitting end, I set my phone down on the kitchen island, drew in a deep breath, and exhaled.
“Just go out there and ask her, Emeline,” I whispered. Another deep fortifying breath, and I marched back toward the garage and opened the door.
