A secretive smile crosses my lips. I have a feeling Ray Capperton had something to do with that. I can imagine an entire newsroom shutting down and the monitors doing something crazy with veiled threats loaded.
Deciding to shift the subject, I look down at Brin.
“She looks sweet when she sleeps,” I joke, pointing to the tiny devil in his arms.
He laughs lightly, his fingers never pausing as he continues to rub her back.
“Yeah. I’m about to carry her to bed, even though it’s barely seven. You going to stick around for a while?”
“I’m taking Angel out.”
He nods, and then he carefully stands, cradling Brin against him like she’s the most precious thing in the world. I feel like a bitch smiling when he kisses her forehead and moves toward a bedroom.
“Crazy, huh?” Keith’s voice close to my side almost makes me flinch. Where the hell did he come from? Fucking creeper.
“Rye in a relationship? Nah. It’s a good fit for him,” I say dismissively.
He’d better not say a word about Erica in front of Angel.
Keith snorts as though he finds something funny. “I meant him with that girl. She’s a six or a seven, tops. Rye is used to being with dimes.”
My fists clench. “Brin is pretty damn great. Don’t be a shallow dick. Besides, the way you see someone changes the better you get to know them. And in Rye’s eyes, Brin’s a fifteen on a scale of one to ten.”
He looks at me like I’m talking crazy, but I ignore him as I wait a little more impatiently.
“You picking your daughter up or something?”
I nod. “Taking her out.”
“Man, I saw pictures of her mom. She’s hot, but Erica is way hotter. I can’t believe you divorced her.”
My teeth grind, and I turn to narrow my eyes on him. “As I said, looks change when you get to know someone. You honestly don’t want to know how I view Erica. And you’d be really fucking stupid to say one more word about Allie.”
His eyebrows go up in confusion, and he takes a wary step back. Christ, I’m losing my mind.
“Chill, dude. Just making conversation. Shit.”
I swallow hard before looking back toward the door, just as Angel walks into view, looking stunning in a white dress. And wearing a tiara.
“I get to be a snow princess,” she announces, and I can’t help but smile.
“Let’s go, Snow Princess.”
***
WREN
“Mom has a secret boyfriend,” Angel announces, slurping a spaghetti noodle into her mouth.
That has me admittedly shifting uncomfortably in my chair. The hell? She can’t possibly know.
“Oh?” I ask, trying not to sound as desperately intrigued as I am. “How do you know?”
She lifts her eyes to reveal her adorably serious gaze, looking all too royal in the tiara she insisted on wearing. “I heard her and Aunt Bella talking about it. They both have secret boyfriends.”
Allie needs to remember that Angel loves to eavesdrop. I can’t help but wonder if Bella was teasing her about it while Allie and Angel were on the phone.
“And what’s her secret boyfriend’s name?” I pry, curious just how much she knows.
“Bob,” she says, going back to her noodles.
My brow furrows in confusion. “Bob? You sure?”
She nods. “Yep. I heard her say his name. Aunt Bella is dating a Bob, too.”
Now that has me utterly confused. “What do they say about… Bob?”
I take a bite of my food, chewing slowly as she answers. “Usually one just tells the other not to bother them because they have a date with their Bob.”
Suddenly, I’m coughing on my bite because I realize what the hell is going on. It takes several strangled attempts to take a sip of water and dislodge the fish that is stuck in my throat. Several curious eyes glance over to our table to inspect the odd disruption, and I have to fight really damn hard not to laugh.
Bob. B.O.B.—battery operated boyfriend. Oh, I’m so going to give Allie hell for this one.
I gulp my water heavily, needing to try and rid myself completely of the strangling fit, when Angel adds, “I wonder if they’re dating the same Bob.”
My mouthful of water sputters and spews, and the more I try to hold it back, the louder and more obnoxious my hacking fit becomes. I know I’m as red as the marinara sauce on her plate, and I’m half coughing, half laughing without any control.
Definitely giving her immortal hell. Yep.
Angel eyes me, curious obviously, but I try to show some composure. “Why don’t you date Mommy?”
This time, I shift uncomfortably for an entirely different reason.
“Can we talk about this when we’re not in a crowded restaurant?” I ask her.
She thinks about it, looking around to see everyone still staring after my stupid display. “Sure.” She shrugs, slurping another noodle into her mouth. That white dress will be ruined, and I can’t help but smile.