Falling Fast
Page 29

“As one of the only judges in town who is aiming to be elected for mayor next year, her dad has an image to uphold. I doubt he wants the news of his daughter’s latest theatrics to be out, especially when those theatrics have to do with her harassing me and you.”
“Why would it matter what she does to me?”
“That book club Nina’s a part of is full of women who have lived in this town for ages. Most of them are part of the city council. They have all spoken about you and the fact you came down here to take care of your sick grandmother. Because of that alone, they have a soft spot for you. Not to mention, most of them know my story and they know why Lisa and I are no longer together. They’re old school, stick by your man through thick or thin kind of women who already have it out for Lisa. If they catch wind she’s harassing you, Lisa’s father won’t get reelected for another term, and he definitely won’t become mayor, which is what he wants more than he wants to make his daughter happy by putting up with her bullshit.”
“Politics in a small town,” I say, wondering if maybe he was right to go to her father about what she’s done. Not that she’s done a lot to me, but with everything else that’s been going on, she’s only added to the stress and anxiety I have been feeling. “I hope it helps.”
His hand tightens around my rib cage.
“Hope what helps?” Rose asks, making me jump. I completely forgot she was here. Then again, I tend to forget the world exists outside of Colton when he is anywhere near me.
“I spoke with Lisa’s dad,” Colton tells her, and her eyes come to me.
“He knows.” I continue, “Someone named Brittany told someone named Anna who told Tide who told him.”
“I see,” Rose murmurs, looking from me to Colton. “What did William have to say about all of this?”
“Said he’d talk to Lisa and make sure she lays off.”
“That’s good news.”
“It is,” Colton agrees. “Let’s hope it sticks this time. If not, I’ll have Gia place a restraining order against her.”
“What?” I ask in horror, and he dips his head to look down at me.
“If she doesn’t stop, that’s our next move.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. She hasn’t harmed me or even really harassed me. She’s just trying to use me as a way to get to you.”
“That might be true, but I’m not taking any chances. If she doesn’t lay off after her dad talks to her, we’ll go to the police station and file a restraining order against her so she has no choice but to leave you the fuck alone.”
“Colton.” I shake my head at how ridiculous he’s being about this. “That’s absurd.”
“It’s not.”
“It is,” I disagree, pointing my finger at his chest while fighting the urge to stomp my foot to emphasize my point with him. “This isn’t that big of a deal, and she is not going to make me look like the crazy one, when she is the crazy one.”
“She is the crazy one, which is why I need to know you’re safe.”
Looking into his eyes, I wonder if something like this has ever happened before, but before I can ask him that question, I hear a loud “Yo!” rumbled through the bar.
Looking past Colton’s shoulder toward the door, I watch Tide come in wearing worn jeans that look dirty from work, a navy blue thermal under a beige-colored jean jacket, with his sunglasses pushed back on top of his head, pulling his blond hair away from his face as he carries a little girl on his hip. Without even asking if she’s his daughter, I know she’s his since they look so much alike, even if she’s only three. Her blonde hair, the same color as her dad’s, is up in two uneven pigtails, and her big blue eyes are the same shade as his. The first time I saw Tide, I thought he was handsome, but watching him come toward us holding his little girl so gently, he’s not handsome, he’s something else that even I can appreciate having all that is Colton.
“Uncle Colton.” The little girl waves her hand frantically, catching Tide in the chin twice before he captures her little wrist and kisses her palm. Saying something to her that I can’t hear, he stops halfway across the room to bend at the waist and set her down. Once she’s steady on her feet, she runs toward us, disappearing out of sight for a second when she goes around the edge of the bar. Then she reappears a moment later, still running right toward Colton.
“Hey, punkin,” Colton greets her, picking her up and kissing her cheek.
Okay, yes, Tide holding a little girl is definitely a sight to see. But Colton holding her and grinning like she’s the cutest thing he’s ever seen in his life is enough to make my ovaries explode on the spot. “What are you doing here?” he asks, and she smiles an adorable gap-toothed smile at him.
“Daddy had to bring me to work wif him,” she says, before looking at Rose and asking, “Can I hab a soda, Nana Rose?”
“Angel, you can’t drink soda,” Tide cuts in from across the counter, setting down a large bag with pink and purple daisies on it.
“Mama lets me,” she says with a frown, and Tide’s jaw tics.
“I know, angel, but you still can’t have a soda. How about some juice?”
“I want soda,” she whines, and I know what’s coming when I see her chin wobble and her tiny hands ball into fists. Having worked with kids her age before, I know if we don’t do something now, she will likely start to cry and possibly throw herself to the floor to get her way with a tantrum.
“Have you ever had mermaid juice?” I ask, and she looks from her dad to me. She shakes her head before resting it on Colton’s shoulder in that cute way kids do when they are shy. “Really?” I widen my eyes like I can’t believe she’s never tried it when, at this point, I don’t even know what the hell mermaid juice is or what I’m going to mix up for her, all I know is I don’t want her to cry. “You need to try it. It’s delicious and it’s magical.”
“Magical?” she squeaks, studying me, and I overemphasize my nod.
“Yes, magical.” I lean closer and get up on my tiptoes to whisper in her ear. “It makes you invisible.”
“Indavidsable?” she breathes with wide eyes filled with cute little girl wonder.
“Yep. Do you want to try some?”
“Okay.” She lifts her head to smile at me, and my heart melts on the spot.
“One mermaid juice coming right up.” I smile as I head to the small fridge under the bar, where I pray I’ll find something she can have. Grabbing the jug of pineapple juice, I pour some into a small glass, add ice and some water to dilute it, then grab a bottle of grenadine and add just enough to turn the top of the drink a reddish gold and the bottom a golden yellow. Once that’s done, I add a cherry. Turning once I’m finished, I find everyone looking at me funny.
Shit.
“Ugh… please tell me she’s not allergic to anything I put in here,” I whisper, looking at Tide.
“She’s not,” he mutters to me before looking at his girl. “Olivia, tell Gia thank you.”
“Thank you, Gia.” She beams at me as Colton lifts her high in the air, gaining a giggle from her as he hands her across the bar to her father, who takes her as he sits on one of the barstools, settling her on his lap.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” I smile at her, grabbing a straw. I put it in the glass then hand it over to her dad so he can help her drink it.
Feeling warmth hit my back, I then feel Colton’s hand on my hip before it slides around to rest against my stomach. Putting pressure there, he pulls me back into his chest, causing me to shiver. “Your rules suck,” he says against my ear, and I know exactly what he means, but I don’t turn my head to look at him, even though I want to. Instead, I keep my eyes on Olivia as she takes a sip from the drink, relaxing a bit when she doesn’t toss it away but sips more.
“You sure you’re not up for Vegas? Maybe the court house in town?” Tide asks, and my eyes go to him and I smile, shaking my head. “Bummer.” He grins a devilish grin that I’m sure gets him lots of attention.