the look of shock was very real. She reached out and touched his hand. Even as Trent wanted to be mad, he craved her touch. “Trent, I don’t know what to say. But I have never asked Lenny to do that. Not only that, but what he said just isn’t true.”
“Trent, she’s telling you the truth.” Karri added quietly.
“So, let us get this straight. You two had a moment that was then taken away from you by this Lenny guy?” Trent and Skye looked at each other and nodded before Miss Ruby continued. “Trent, being a stubborn man, refused to reach out so you finally came here to get answers?”
Trent saw the corner of Skye’s lip disappear as she bit down on it nervously. “Yes and no.”
“Child, you better be getting to the point,” Miss Ruby demanded.
“I’ve been trying to talk to Trent, and I did want to see him to get to the bottom of what happened.” Skye paused and then looked up at Trent. “I guess we just did that.”
“We did. Now I’m pissed at myself for not doing what Karri said and talking to you.” Trent took a deep breath and looked over at the people surrounding him. “Skye, these sweet ladies are Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie. Then that’s Mary Jane walking out to feed Bubba his chicken and waffles. This is my friend, Granger. He’s the sheriff here and my other friend, Kord. He’s the deputy. You met Skeeter and these two are Gage and Maggie Bell.”
“We’re brother and sister,” Maggie said, giving her a smile and answering the unasked question of their common last name.
“And this is my very good friend, Edie.”
“Don’t worry, the rest of the town will be here as soon as Bubba leaves,” Edie said as she looked up from her phone. “And I loved you in Love’s Dangerous Waters, although whoever was your history person didn’t know Anne Bonny very well. And, bless your heart, your Southern accent . . .,” Edie cringed.
Skye laughed and Trent saw her shoot a smile to Skeeter. “So I’ve been told.”
“Wait for us!”
Trent groaned and flipped Edie the bird. “You texted my family?”
Edie didn’t look upset. Instead she just smirked.
“Were we not supposed to do that?” Kord asked. “I did it when I was hanging on to Bubba’s tail.”
“Yeah, I texted them too,” Granger said with a shrug.
His family came pouring in from the diner’s back kitchen door instead of waiting for Bubba to move so they could enter through the front. It had been Tinsley who had called out, but Harper was leading the charge and she looked pissed.
Harper stopped directly next to Skye and forced Skye to turn to look up at her. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t kick your ass for the way you used my cousin.”
“I told you on the text chain about the NDA and how Skye didn’t know about it,” Edie told her and Trent was finally thankful to have her here. “However, we’re just about to learn the real reason she’s here.”
Harper crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Skye. Karri stepped up to her friend’s side and returned the stare impassively. Harper raised one eyebrow. “You want to join in? One or two asses to kick don’t matter much to me.”
“Harper,” Gavin said in that typical older brother warning voice. A voice Trent knew when Wade used it on him. It was why he and Harper were so close.
“I’m waiting for an explanation,” Harper said, ignoring her brother.
Skye took a deep breath and Trent saw her reach for Karri’s hand. Whatever it was, she needed the strength of a friend to tell it. “I’ve been getting these threats. No big deal normally, but then those images leaked of me nude, although those weren’t me! Well, not the first ones. The ones on your table,” she said to Trent. “Those were all fake. The next ones were through my bedroom window without my knowledge.”
Tinsley pushed past Harper and pulled Skye in for a hug. “How horrible. You must feel so violated.”
Skye nodded and swiped at the tears in her eyes. Trent’s heart broke right then and there while all his protective instincts roared to life. He wanted nothing but to hold her and dry her tears. “I’m sorry. I should have known. I know we were only together a short time, but I knew you’d never do something like that silly table dance. What’s being done to protect you? You’re not here with just