One Big Mistake - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,59

like a whip.

“Time for you to die!” she growled. Before she could pull the trigger, Ramsey saw red hair trailing out like flames as Hartley tackled Bitsie from behind, sending the gun flying across the room. Ramsey darted to retrieve it and his own pistol.

A second later, he turned to see Hartley and Bitsie rolling and fighting one another. Had it not been such a serious situation, Ramsey might have chuckled at the sight. Porcupine on fire. Hartley got on top and socked Bitsie in the jaw. A loud pop sounded as Bitsie’s head shot back, her body going limp. “Take that, you spiteful wench,” Hartley harrumphed as she got up off of Bitsie and smoothed a hand down her sequin dress. Ramsey realized that she was barefooted. Even now, with her hair disheveled and dress ripped up the side, clear to her thigh, Hartley was stunning. Their eyes caught. Hartley’s lips curved into a smile, sending a dart of warmth through him.

Emotion lodged thick in Ramsey’s throat. He wasn’t one to get emotional, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from going moist. “I almost lost you,” he said hoarsely.

An impish grin curved her lips. “Never,” she said fiercely, her blue eyes glimmering like sun-kissed water.

Clutching his wounded arm, Edison moved to get up. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Knox warned, training the gun on both Edison and Bitsie.

“Better listen to him. He’s a crack shot.” Ramsey gave Edison a steely look. “You can thank your lucky stars for that, or you’d be dead right now. I feel sorry for you. You were released from prison. You had a fresh start, and yet you let hatred consume you. Both of you,” he said in disgust. Edison and Bitsie just glared back, neither one having learned a thing through this ordeal.

“You did good,” Knox said.

For a second, Ramsey thought Daddy was talking to him but then realized his praise was directed at Hartley.

“Thanks.” Hartley smiled as she raked her hair out of her face. With a heavy sigh, she looked down at her hand, flexing it as she winced slightly. “I guess I can add a swollen hand to my swollen eye,” she said dryly.

“We should get some ice on that,” Ramsey suggested.

A smile stole over Knox’s lips. “Son, you’ve got yourself quite the woman.” He chuckled. “Talk about a warrior. Man, that was impressive. I’ve never seen a woman in an evening dress move as fast as greased lightning.” He looked at Hartley. “We make a good team.”

“Yes, we do,” she agreed.

If Ramsey hadn’t heard the exchange, he wouldn’t have believed his ears. “Uh, y’all wanna tell me why you’re suddenly the dynamic duo?”

Knox chuckled dryly. “Maybe later, after we call the police to come and collect these two turkeys.”

“Good idea,” Ramsey said as he pulled out his phone.

15

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” Hartley sighed as she snuggled into the curve of Ramsey’s shoulder.

“Me too,” he murmured into her hair. His attention was drawn to the orange flames licking up the gas logs in the fireplace. He let his mind get absorbed in the fluid motion of the fire. For so long he’d lived with the threat of Edison hanging over his head. It was good to finally put the past to rest. He loved the contentment of being here with Hartley. A part of him was tempted to just sit here with her, enjoying the silence, but he was itching for her to fill in the gaps of the story. “So, what exactly happened between you and my daddy?” After the police came and hauled Edison and Bitsie away, Daddy had also left, saying he was plumb tuckered out.

She shifted to face him, moistening her lips as if gathering her thoughts. “How much did you hear me telling the police?”

“I got the part about the bar and Blake Owens’ attack.” His brow furrowed. “Did I hear that right? You told the police that Blake Owens was the one who broke into your bedroom.” After the ordeal they’d just endured, Ramsey was surprised that he had any anger left, but it was there, alive and well as it resurged with a vengeance. Had Blake been here, Ramsey would’ve punched him into next week.

“Yep, that’s correct.” Feeling a shiver pulse through Hartley’s body, he pulled her closer and rubbed his fingers up and down her arm.

He sensed that there was more she wasn’t telling him. “What else?”

She pushed out a long breath. “I think Blake