bloody noses.”
“I think my jaw needs a kiss, you know, to make it feel better,” I pouted, angling my face to the side to show her my new bruise.
“Is that right, so a kiss here.” Kiss. “And one here.” Kiss.
“Anywhere else hurt?”
“Yeah, how about kissing me here.” Raising my face, I captured her lips in a soft PG-rated kiss, lingering long enough to make Dillion squirm at our display of affection.
“I know what you are doing,” Farron muttered around my lips.
“He deserves it, it was a sneaky blindside, and I tripped,” I muttered back, pecking her in between each word.
“Oh shit, Mum!” Dillion’s curse, loud and worried, had me ending the kiss, sensing trouble, my arms automatically tightening around Farron.
“Dillion language!”
“Teaching our son to swear, I see Farron.” A voice I didn’t recognise drawled sarcastically from behind us.
Farron’s body tensed, her hands going from soft and gentle on my forearms to her nails sinking into my skin.
Looking at Dillion, I saw his face scrunch up, his eyes downcast.
Oh fuck, no! No one is taking the happiness out of my family.
Kissing Farron one more time, I stood with her in my arms and sat her in my seat, then turned around and faced the man I inched to give a blindside of my own.
“Alec, I take it,” I sneered, taking in the weasel and hating him on sight. Dressed in a suit and tie, shoes so pointy and shiny black, he stood out in the room full of casually dressed locals.
Fucktard.
“Alec Hill, Farron’s ex-husband and Dillion’s father. And you are?”
“Fenixx Hott, Farron’s soon-to-be-husband and Dillion’s soon-to-be-stepfather,” I introduced myself just as formally, hating the soon-to-be and the stepfather labels.
“My god, you found someone else to take you on Farron, how the hell did you manage that. Don’t tell me he knocked you up because you already tried that one on me.” Alec’s sarcastic jibe was not lost on me or Dillion, who stood up from the table, knocking his chair over in the process.
“Dad, watch the way you talk about my mum.”
“I beg your pardon! Who the hell do you think you are speaking to in that tone, kid?”
About to act and defend Dillion, Farron beat me to it, jumping to her feet and coming to stand in front of me. Anger vibrated from her, and I for one, couldn’t wait for her to put the prick in his place.
“Do not swear at my son, you insufferable heartless cocksucker. Just what the hell are you doing here anyway, Alec? Cattle Ridge isn’t exactly your speed, not enough stuck-up yuppies comparing superannuation contracts or what white wine should be consumed with chicken.”
Chuckling at her wit, I wrapped my arms around her, my hands clasped at her stomach, showing her quiet support and comfort.
“Foul mouth Farron, I see you have embraced your new life in hick town. No surprises there, you came from nothing after all.”
“Even got yourself a dumb hick cowboy too, does he go out and hunt dinner every night,” the idiot scoffed, laughing at his own bad joke. “I bet you are missing the comforts of my income now.”
Leaning my chin on her shoulder, I pressed a kiss to her neck.
“You wanna tell him or can I?”
“You tell him yours and I will tell him mine,” Farron answered, winking at me.
“Deal.” Kissing her once more, I let one arm go and held it out to the prick.
“Fenixx Hott, owner of the biggest cattle property in Victoria, the Triple H. Also one-third partner in HBC, Australia’s leading beef export company, my brothers, the other two partners.” I stood waiting for the arsehole to take my hand, not that I wanted his fragile hand anywhere near me but my mumma raised me to use my manners.
The front door to the restaurant slammed closed suddenly, lifting my eyes, I saw my brothers standing there, both of them looking pissed off.
“Hey, it’s Uncle Drixx and Uncle Noxx,” Dillion sprouted, emphasising uncle so much Farron let out a giggle.
“Uncles? You don’t have any uncles,” Alec argued, whipping his head around to look at the men at the door, then quickly back at me, his eyes comically wide.
“Triplets,” I supplied helpfully, enjoying myself far too much.
“Lenoxx Hott,” Noxx said, coming in to create a circle around Alec, Drixx doing the same.
“Don’t believe I have ever been described as a hick before, rich and successful, yes.”
Hendrixx snickered, not looking at Alec, but at Dillion.
“Hey dude, I got that sprocket changed over, so tomorrow morning after your chores,