The Punk and the Plaything (When Rivals Play #3) - B.B. Reid Page 0,21
her arms, refusing to move, I forced her out to the patio where her parents waited.
Her father shot up from his seat the moment he laid eyes on me while her mother gripped the string of pearls wrapped around her lovely neck. Suddenly, I was very fearful of Barbette turning out like her.
Over my dead body.
“Oh, dear.” Mrs. Montgomery gasped as if she could read my thoughts.
There was no question that I was up to no good. Coming in peace was simply not my style. Pulling out Bee’s chair, I gestured for her to sit, and she sank wide-eyed.
“What the hell is he doing here?” her father raged.
“Elliot,” I greeted as I sat in the chair next to Bee. The food looked delicious, so I immediately helped myself. “I hope you don’t mind,” I said as I poured OJ into the waiting glass set for my cousin, “but I came to deliver a message.”
“Which is?” Montgomery barked.
“I’m afraid my cousin won’t make it.”
“And why should we believe you?”
“The choice is entirely up to you, old man. I figured me telling you would be better than getting stood up.” You should be thanking me, you prick.
“He had his hands full, and now he’s tied up.” I started stuffing my face with the fluffy golden Belgian waffles they had on silver platters.
“Aren’t those the same thing?” Elliot snapped.
I had my mouth full, so I took my time answering as I chewed slowly. “I can’t answer that without feeling sorry for your wife, Mr. Montgomery.”
I heard Bee’s sharp inhale and placed my hand on her bare knee. Instead of feeling comforted, however, she tensed, and suddenly the waffles tasted like ash in my mouth. Losing my appetite, I started to stand and get the fuck out of there when I felt her soft hand quickly grab mine. Slowly, the tension left her body, and I couldn’t help meeting her gaze. She still looked nervous, and after a glance at her father, I understood why. I might have been playing a game, but this was anything but to her.
All I could do was brush my thumb across her skin, letting her know that I understood. After a few seconds, she freed my hand. I threw my elbow over the back of my chair before regarding her parents.
“Do you honestly think I’m going to allow your daughter to marry my cousin?” I blurted.
After their shock cleared, Elliot slammed his fist on the table. I stared back at him, amused by his display. “I want you out of my home. Right now.”
I cleaned my mouth with the cloth napkin as I rose to my feet. “Gladly.” As I looked down at his daughter, my heart leaped when I found her watching me like she didn’t want me to go. “Walk me to the door?”
“She’ll do no such thing!” Elliot roared.
If you asked me, he was being a little dramatic.
Ignoring his tantrum, I pulled back Bee’s chair and took her hand as we headed for the patio doors.
“You know I’m going to be the one dealing with him when you leave,” she snapped.
I gripped her hand a little tighter even as I shrugged. “If he gives you any real trouble, call me. You better fucking believe I’m coming right back.”
“What exactly do you think you can do?” she scoffed. “He’s my father.”
When we reached the door, I turned to her, not surprised to find that her parents had been hot on our heels. They wisely stood back and watched us with their mouths shut. “But I’m the one with all the real power.” Deciding to fuck with her father, I kept my gaze on Elliot as I bent to kiss her forehead. “You’re mine. You’ve always been. You always will be.”
I made sure he’d heard me too.
Barbette inhaled, and I could feel the hope in every breath she took after. “I don’t know if that’s true.”
“Because you’re lying to yourself.”
I didn’t linger after that. I’d already stayed too long. Too much time in her presence and the heart Barbette had crushed a thousand times would begin to wonder.
Not wanting to go home to brood, I found myself at Aunt Evelyn’s rental. The car Unc leased for her was parked outside. He could pretend all he wanted, but he still cared. My aunt was a capable woman, but he still took care of her despite his fury.
I shook my head as I let myself in since the door wasn’t fucking locked and