I’d never once brought a woman around my son. Never intended to, but after that kiss, Lincoln Pratt was the only thing I could think about. The hell with what my head was telling me to do. I wanted to be around her, and I knew she wouldn’t do anything to hurt Blayze. It was pretty damn clear she was having just as much fun as he was.
“So, do you think letting a strange woman you hardly know be so close to your son is a good idea?”
I wanted to groan when I heard Lucy Mae next to me. I had dated her for a bit in high school, and in her weird, crazy world, she’d always thought we would end up together. She had hated Kaci and had gone out of her way to make her life difficult.
“I think it’s none of your damn business, Lucy Mae.”
She turned to look at me. “A little birdie told me she stayed at your house the other night, and you were seen kissing her in the parking lot of the Blue Moose.”
My head fell back, and I laughed. “Wow, news travels fast in this town.”
“So, you don’t deny it?”
“Listen, Lucy Mae, what I do—and who I do—don’t concern you. Lincoln is a friend of mine and a friend of my family. If I find out that you’ve started giving her hell, you’ll regret it. Do we understand each other?”
Her hands went to her hips. “She’s a city girl from Atlanta, for Pete’s sake, Brock! You can’t possibly be serious. All these years you push everyone away, and this is who you open up to?”
“Daddy! Look at me! No hands!”
I turned away from Lucy Mae and looked at Blayze and Lincoln, both holding their hands up. I gave him a thumbs-up.
“I heard that she comes from a lot of money. Rumor is, she started an interior design company there in Atlanta, and she couldn’t make it work. Poor thing. Must have been so embarrassing to have to tuck tail and leave town. And that friend of hers, something creepy is going on with her. I’m wondering if they’re . . . together . . . if you know what I mean.”
“Well, considering Kaylee and my brother Ty were getting it on in his truck the other night, I’m going to say you’re wrong.”
The moment it came out of my mouth, I knew I had messed up. Lucy Mae would spread that bit of gossip all over town, and Kaylee would be slapped with a slut label. It wasn’t even true, so why I’d said it, I had no idea.
Fuck.
“What?” Lucy Mae gasped.
Turning to her, I smirked. “Just kiddin’, Lucy Mae. Wanted to see how you’d react. You still got a crush on my brother too?”
Her face went white. Lucy Mae had decided to get back at me for marrying Kaci by sleeping with Ty one night when he was drunk. I hadn’t cared the least bit. I had recently married Kaci, and Lucy Mae and I had been over for some time. When I found out she’d slept with Ty, she was disappointed to learn I didn’t give two shits.
“You know we were both drunk that night, and I told you, I thought it was you.”
“Right, because I would really cheat on my wife.”
Her eyes went to little beads. “Well, she always did believe those rumors about you whoring around on the road.”
My chest felt like someone had hit me square in it. I never understood why Kaci had believed Lucy Mae’s lies. A part of me thought she wanted to believe they were true, for whatever reason.
Leaning in closer to Lucy Mae, I said, “She only believed it because you fed that shit to her. I never cheated on my wife, and you damn well know it.”
“Everything okay here?”
Lincoln’s voice came from behind me, her hand landing gently on my arm.
I instantly relaxed.
Lucy Mae’s gaze dropped to Lincoln’s hand before she smirked, turned on the heel of her boot, and walked away.
“Bitch,” I mumbled under my breath. Turning, I looked at Lincoln. “Where’s Blayze?” I asked.
“He, um . . . he wanted to ride the ride again with his little friend.”
Darting my eyes over to the ride, I saw Blayze sitting on the ride with his friend Billy.
“Are you okay?”
Lincoln’s voice pulled me back from the darkness I had been slipping into. I looked at her and smiled. “Sorry. Yes, I’m fine.”
She grinned. “Don’t let her push your buttons. I didn’t hear what y’all were saying, but she was clearly trying to rattle you.”
My eyes searched this beautiful woman’s face. Where the hell were you all those years ago?
I instantly felt guilty for thinking that thought.
“Lucy Mae has a way of trying to rattle everyone. If she tries to say anything to you about me, will you do me a favor?”