main one being: What in the hell was Reagan’s ex doing on my porch?
CHAPTER 50
Reagan
I blinked several times before my brain caught up to what I was seeing. Blaine was in Firefly. At Billy’s house.
I pushed the screen door open and stepped onto the porch. “What are you doing here?”
“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
I hadn’t even realized that Billy was beside me.
“No. You need to leave.” I pointed to the driveway where I saw a black SUV parked. “Now.”
Blaine ignored my instruction and extended his hand. “Blaine Whitford the fourth, Reagan’s fiancé-”
“Ex-fiancé.” I interjected.
Blaine continued, unfazed by my clarification. “And you are?”
“The man who’s gonna make sure you do as the lady asked and leave.” Billy’s voice was calm, deadly calm and infused with authority. It was hot.
I could feel the alpha energy radiating off Billy as I stood beside him. A shiver raced down my spine. I would definitely be filing this exchange away in my erotic treasure chest of memories.
Blaine returned his attention to me. “Reagan, we need to talk.”
“No. I have nothing to say to you. And there’s nothing you have to say that I want to hear.”
The screen door creaked behind me and I looked over my shoulder. Hank was standing in the doorway, his nostrils flaring like a bull ready to charge.
Jimmy was right behind him smiling widely, obviously enjoying the show. “Everything okay out here?”
Billy didn’t even acknowledge that Jimmy had said anything. His gaze was still focused on Blaine. I saw this shoulders tense. Things had escalated quickly. It had gone from being awkward, to tense, to volatile in a matter of seconds.
“Yes!” I turned around to face Hank and Jimmy and held up my hands. “Everything’s fine.”
“Fancy!”
No. I didn’t believe what my ears had heard until I turned around and saw my mother standing beside the SUV.
“Just hear Blaine out,” she pleaded, putting her hands together like she was praying. “Please?” She stuck out her bottom lip in a pout.
She always did that whenever there were good-looking men around. She thought it was cute. I thought it was pathetic.
So many emotions were rushing through me but the top three were shock, anger, and embarrassment. This could not be happening. And…yet, it was. Later, I’d allow myself the luxury of being mortified, but right now my brain flipped to damage control.
“Mom, get back in the car. Blaine, I will talk to you but not here.” I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Cheyenne had joined the porch party. “I’m sorry, Cheyenne. I need to take a rain check on dinner.”
When I turned my head back, I was relieved to see my mother climbing back into the SUV and Blaine walking toward it.
“I’m sorry about all this,” I apologized to Billy as I started to walk down the porch steps.
He didn’t answer me but followed behind.
“What are you doing?” I stopped.
“Going with you.” His eyes were still trained on Blaine, his expression reminded me of when he was staring down Abernathy after the funeral.
I placed my hand on his chest, just like I had then. “Stay here. I’ll call you later.”
When he stayed in place and didn’t even look at me, I said his name. “Billy.”
His eyes lowered to meet mine.
When they did I whispered, “Please.”
He must’ve sensed my desperation because he took a deep breath and responded with a clipped nod of agreement.
With that fire put out, or at least turned down to a simmer, I turned and finished walking down the steps. Blaine was holding the door open for me but I strode right past him to my own car. I got in and drove to the only place I knew that I could have privacy, my room at the boarding house.
I was seething by the time I pulled up in front of the heritage house covered in ivy. When I got out I was relieved that Mrs. B wasn’t in her rocking chair out front. Not having to introduce my mother and Blaine to Mrs. B was the sole silver lining to the situation.
My mom was commenting on how quaint the exterior of the boarding house was as she and Blaine followed me to my room. I remained silent until we got inside and I shut the door.
The moment the latch clicked into place I spun around to Blaine and demanded, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“You’ve had your fun. But it’s time to come home,” he said with zero emotion. “We’re getting married