Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)(15)

They start walking toward the house, and I limp as fast as I can toward the powder room off the kitchen. I don’t want to add kindling to that fire. I leave the light off and lean against the bathroom counter and pray Amber doesn’t have to pee.

“Gabriel, Austin, don’t y’all go anywhere,” Amber calls out. “I’m going to grab those sleeping bags, and we’re leaving. If you two disappear, you’re gonna get it.”

The vitriol in her voice makes the hair on my arms stand on end. I can understand her being angry at Rhett, but why is she such a bitch to her kids? Amber’s heels echo down the hall.

“Dad, can you come with us to the lake? It’s no fun without you,” Gabriel, the older one, says. I’ve never met his boys, but Baylee says they’re cute as hell.

“Daddy, I miss youuuuu,” Austin says.

Rhett clears his throat. “I’m sure your mom has some cool things planned for you.”

“You mean her babysitter,” Gabriel grouses. “She’s not going.”

The click-clack of her heels returns. “Let’s go.”

“Boys, go sit on the stoop,” Rhett says. “I wanna talk to your mother.”

After a minute, the front door closes, and Amber huffs, “Make this quick. I’m late.”

“So you’re going to Canyon Lake?”

“I told you that already.”

“No, I mean, are you going with the boys to the lake, or are you dumping them on someone else to look after?”

She lets out a long sigh. “I’m really tired of getting the third degree from you. Why do you care who looks after them?”

Rhett makes this growly sound that draws me closer to the cracked-open bathroom door. “Because the lake is dangerous, Amber. Do you know how many kids drown there because they don’t have proper supervision?”

“Don’t be so damn dramatic. I have to prep for a car commercial I just won. I can’t look after them twenty-four seven.”

“Then I’ll keep them this week, and you can go do your thing.”

“But I’m supposed to have them for two weeks for vacation!”

“Then spend some fucking time with them instead of handing them off to whatever loser friends you have who don’t give a damn about my children.” Her heels cross the house, and he yells her name. “Amber, wait.” The clicks of her shoes pause. “Just… don’t let them in the water if you’re not with them. If you can promise me that, I’ll stop being a pest. I know you want the best for them. I do too. I’m… I’m sorry I yelled.”

“You’re such an asshole. I don’t know what I ever saw in you. The only thing you care about is this fucking ranch and your fucking cows.”

“Yes, I’m an asshole. Can you promise me they won’t get near the water if you’re not with them?” He pauses. “Please?”

“Fine. Now leave me alone.”

The door slams.

I’m so overwhelmed by what I just heard, my eyes sting and my throat closes up. Suddenly, the bathroom door swings open, and Rhett grunts, “You can come out now.”

I stare at him, and to my horror, my bottom lip wobbles.

When he sees me, he freezes. “What’s wrong?”

I cover my face. “I don’t know.” Then a sob breaks out of me. “I feel bad that you… you and the boys have to go through that.” Hell, I even feel bad for Amber. Because she obviously still has feelings for her ex-husband.

“Oh, shit.” He lets out a huff, and next thing I know, I’m in his arms. “Don’t cry, wildflower. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

I shove my nose against his hard chest and breathe in his woodsy scent. He slowly strokes my back, and I try to calm down. Amber’s rage and cruelty has me reverting back to the bullied little girl I once was when I lived with Irma, even though it wasn’t directed at me. How messed up is that?

After a few minutes, he sets me down on the island counter in the kitchen and places his hands on either side of me. “Paige.”

I can’t bear to look at him. I’ve missed Rhett so much. There are so many things I want to tell him. Things I’ve done, places I’ve gone. Things I wanted to share with him over the last seven years, but I never got the chance.

I cover my face again and shake my head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.”

He gently takes my wrist, and removes my hand. “Hey. I’m fine. The boys are tough. We’ll get through this. You don’t need to feel bad on our account.”

Sniffling, I nod. “Okay.”

He hands me a paper towel, and I wipe my nose.

His eyes soften. “Why don’t you go take a shower and grab a nap? You can use the bathroom in my room and crash on my bed for a few hours. I need to shovel out the barn. Give me your keys, and Jace and I will drive your car over. Then we’ll grab some lunch and make a plan to talk to Irma.”

I sniffle again. “All… all right.”

Rhett lowers me from the counter. “Guess I should give you a tour. A few things have changed since you were here last.” He points to the hallway to the right of the living room. “Down here are Jace’s room and my office, which used to be my bedroom when I was a kid. Mav bunks with Jace when he’s in town, and Beau sleeps in the trailer out back, since he wanted more privacy.” Then he walks me down the opposite hallway and points to the left. “This is still my father’s old office, but it’s a mess. Haven’t gotten around to clearing it out yet. Hopefully this summer I’ll get a chance. And here’s the boys’ bathroom and their bedroom.”