“She ain’t stupid pu**y, she’s just toxic pu**y. She’s gotta know I’m gonna tell my wife that shit so, no, it wasn’t wrong.”

I took in a deep breath and relaxed, not even realizing I was as wound up as I was with worry that I’d f**ked up.

Then it hit me so I asked, “She’s not stupid pu**y?”

“Fuck no.”

I felt my brows draw together. “Really?”

“Uh… yeah, babe. Really. Outta her deal she got Chace Keaton’s ring. He didn’t mind dippin’ into that twat but he didn’t wanna put a ring on it. He’s a cop but his Daddy is not. Aspen money. Moved out from under his father’s thumb to be his own man. Doesn’t mean he’s not gonna accept his inheritance when Daddy dies, seein’ as he’s an only child.”

I shook my head. “If he’s got money, he’s got connections. Are you saying they leaned on him, made him marry Misty? Are you saying that’s what she got out of the deal?”

“She spread for me but she was a girl who’d never take black home to Daddy. Never. She spread for Keaton with her sights set. So, yeah. That’s what she got out of the deal.”

“You know this for sure?”

“Only word I got on that is Tate’s so, again, yeah, I know this for sure. Don’t know how he got it but I know whatever his source, he wouldn’t repeat it unless it was solid.”

“Why would Keaton do that?” I asked.

Ty’s face dipped closer. “Because, baby, he wanted to be his own man, he became his own man and when he did, he made a dirty bed. That doesn’t mean Daddy doesn’t loom. That motherfucker is dirty and they know just exactly how he’s dirty. And they would not give one shit about settin’ one of their own blowin’ in the wind, they needed to do that. He does not want Daddy to know that shit, he does not want to take that hit from Daddy and he does not want Daddy to find a nice charity to give his cake after he dies because he’d rather save some f**kin’ near-extinct bird than give his dirty cop son who shit all over the family name his money. So Keaton either took one for the team or they let him blow. He took one for the team and bought a lifetime of toxic cunt.”

“Wow,” I whispered.

“Yeah,” his lips twitched then, “wow.”

Well, there you go. That explained why things at home for Misty weren’t so hot. He might have taken one for the team but he hadn’t promised he’d spend his lifetime pretending he liked it.

“Just FYI, hubby, Misty gave some things away at the salon and I’m not sure it’s all hearts and flowers in chez Keaton,” I shared.

That got me a grin. “Good news, mama. ‘Specially since things are exactly hearts and flowers at chez Walker.”

My heart flipped and it felt good because his words felt good and I whispered, “Ty.”

His hand came up and curled around my neck just as his head dipped closer. “You made my day, baby,” he whispered then finished, “And not just because I got to watch you struttin’ your sweet ass through the forecourt in those shoes and shorts.”

I grinned at my husband then I whispered back, “Good.”

His hand gave me a squeeze. “That all you got?”

I shook my head. “Not exactly she, uh… well, Ty, no joke, after I told her we were happy and it was all good, bitch-face Misty asked if you were mad at her.”

Just like me, he blinked.

Then he asked, “No shit?”

I shook my head. “No shit.”

He kept his hand where it was but lifted his head and looked over mine, muttering, “Fuck me.”

“I’m thinking, the last five years, a bleach blonde with an unhappy home life is rethinking the deal she made and which man she left blowing in the wind,” I noted, his eyes tipped down to me and I noticed instantly he was no longer feeling in a warm and squishy mood.

His growled, “Don’t give a f**k,” confirmed it.

“Me either, except I hope every day she wakes up to a man who doesn’t want her and every night she goes to bed beside him, that bitch-face chokes on her decision until the bile she forces down grows so much it cuts off her air forever and leaves doctors stumped at her untimely but deserved demise.”

After I was done, Ty blinked again. Then his fingers at my neck got super tight as he threw back his head and roared with laughter.

I smiled but didn’t laugh since I was watching him.

Then he looked back at me but again dipped his face close, “Shit, mama, remind me not to piss you off.”

“Okay, don’t piss me off.”

He grinned and I returned it because I was pleased I’d brought back his good mood.

Then I said, “I gotta get back to work, honey.”

His hand at my neck brought me closer while he muttered, “Yeah.”

Then his mouth was on mine, he kissed me short but it was wet and it was hot. Then his mouth broke from mine and he whispered, “Later, mama.”

“Later, Ty,” I whispered back and he smiled at me, straight out, no lips turned up, no grin, a big, beautiful one and I loved that, I loved that those were coming more often, more relaxed, more natural.

I loved it.

Then he gave my neck one last squeeze, let me go and turned away.

If I’d have known what was going to happen that night, I would have taken my chance to watch him go. I would have made him kiss me longer. I would have tried to make him laugh one more time.

But I didn’t know.

And since I didn’t know, I, too, turned and walked away.

* * * * *

I was on my way home from work after popping to the store to pick up some stuff for dinner and the elaborate dessert I had planned (whipped cream and chocolate pudding parfaits with chocolate sprinkles) and just in case Julius needed snacks while we were at work.

And I was just outside of Carnal when I saw the police lights flash and heard the short, warning whir of the siren before it was shut off.

I looked to my rearview mirror, felt the adrenalin rush then my eyes instantly went to my speedometer.

After what Tate said at Bubba’s, I’d memorized the speed limits in and around Carnal. Thirty in town. Forty on the stretch I was on between town, the turn off to our condo and beyond for another half mile. Then fifty-five all the way to Chantelle.

I was careful, super careful, always.

As I was now. I was going just under forty.

Shit.

I pulled to the side and the cruiser pulled to the side behind me.