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screwing, Sue Ann?
Maybe Sue Ann was telling the truth. She may well be pregnant, but it sure as hell wasn t by him. She
blanched and he was sure he d hit on the truth, but she still denied it.
He stopped listening to her claims and excuses.  Fine. Say whatever you want. We ll go to the doc for
a paternity test today. Right fucking now, Sue Ann. He grabbed her arm roughly, and Bobby was beside
him again.  Back off, Bobby. Leave me and the supposed mother of my child alone until I can get the doc
to prove she s a liar.
Sue Ann dug her heels into the sidewalk.  No, we can t go to the doc. I mean I m sure those tests can
hurt the baby. I refuse to have one.
Just then, Misty piped in.  Sue Ann, hadn t you better take the pregnancy test you bought at the
drugstore first? You re only like a day late.
 What? Jared s eyes opened wide and he squeezed her arm harder.
Bobby s hand covered his.  Jared. Enough.
He released her and watched his handprint on her arm turn from white to red.
 You don t even know if you re pregnant and you re telling my girlfriend about it. He shook his
head with disgust.  I m embarrassed I even let you get me angry, Sue Ann, because you are nothing but
pitiful. God help the man that ends up with you.
He spun on his heel and strode to his truck, fumbling in his jeans pocket for the keys.
Once again, Bobby was beside him.  Where you going, Jared?
 To the Hideaway. I hope to hell she went there and not the airport.
 I ll drive. Give me your keys.
 The hell you will.
 Jared, give me the damn keys. You re so angry you re shaking. Neither you nor Mandy should be
driving right now. Since I can t do anything about her, I m doing something about you.
Jared huffed out a breath and slapped the keys in Bobby s outstretched hands.  Fine. But hurry up.
Bobby scowled.  I m a deputy sheriff. I can t go speeding down Main Street, even if I am in your
truck.
 I knew I should have drove. Jared shook his head.
The trip to the motel seemed to take forever, although Jared knew it was only a few miles. When they
finally arrived, he saw the place was packed with vans and people unloading them. The crew for the show.
Jared took their presence as a good sign. No matter how hurt she was, Mandy was in charge of the
production of this show. She wouldn t leave town, if only because of that.
www.samhainpublishing.com 49
Cat Johnson
His anger at Sue Ann blossomed all over again as he knocked on the door of the unit where Mandy s
car was parked.
Some young thing that he d never seen before opened the door a crack.  Yes?
For the first time, he wondered if he had the wrong door.  Is Mandy Morris in this room?
 Who are you?
Jared s instincts told him Mandy was hiding inside. He pushed his palm against the door, only to find
the chain was engaged.
He leaned into the crack.  Mandy. Please, darlin . Talk to me.
With Bobby standing directly behind him, he knew he couldn t break the door in to get to Mandy, as
tempting as it was.
The girl guarding the door looked away from him and into the room then turned back to him.  Excuse
me for a minute.
The door slammed in his face and Jared ran his hand over his mouth and chin with frustration. He felt
Bobby s hand on his shoulder.
Jared set his jaw.  Bobby, if you say I told you so about Sue Ann one more time, I ll clock you.
Deputy or not.
Bobby stepped around him.  Well, I d like to see you try, but what I was going to say was this. She ll
listen. It just might take a bit of time. In the meantime don t you go doing any thing crazy.
Jared listened, and although he didn t like what he heard, Bobby was right. He had to keep his cool
here. Mandy was strung so tightly, Jared always knew that if she ever snapped it would be really bad. He d
assumed her work would be the thing to throw her over the edge eventually, but it seemed Sue Ann had
gotten to her first.
The door opened fully and the girl walked out, eyeing him the entire time. Jared didn t wait for an
invitation and shot inside. One look at Mandy confirmed his suspicion. She d cracked and it was bad.
She sat in the room s only chair. Head buried in her arms while she hugged her knees. He couldn t see
her face, but he heard her sniffle as she rocked herself.
His heart broke. He bent and scooped her up in his arms, sitting in the chair with her in his lap. He
kissed her hair and gently rocked her.  Shh. Don t cry.
Her soft sniffles turned into all-out heaving, gasping sobs. She always did tend to be contrary, and
now was no different. He shook his head, held her tighter and let her cry until she was all cried out. Since [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]