I didn’t give a damn about her; I was worried about her daughter picking on Cady. Heather glared at Cady but then glanced in Roan’s direction, swallowing hard. Instead of starting anything, she tugged her friends toward the other side of the playground. I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Grae turned to me. “Did you let Roan threaten that little mean-girl-in-training? You knew I wanted to, but you wouldn’t let me.”
Caden choked on a laugh. “You want to go toe-to-toe with a six-year-old, Gigi?”
Grae let out a huff. “If she’s being mean to Cady, I do.”
“Roan might’ve taken Cady to dance one day and been his usual brooding self,” I told her.
Grae grinned at her brother and held out a hand for a high-five. Roan smacked her palm.
“You’re both incorrigible,” I muttered.
Katelyn’s voice raised. “She’s been lying to everyone for years. It’s shocking that Lawson even lets Charlie go with her.”
My molars ground together, but I ignored her.
Grae started to get up, but I grabbed her arm. “Don’t,” I whispered. “She’s not worth it.”
“She shouldn’t be allowed to spew her bullshit,” Grae growled.
“It’ll only make her do it more if you say something.”
Grae’s mouth pulled down in a frown, but she nodded.
“You know, that podcast said she might have lied about the whole thing,” Katelyn said louder. “Maybe she’s the one who did it.”
I glanced at Cady to see if she could hear Katelyn, but she was happily playing with Charlie, oblivious to it all.
Roan took my hand, squeezing it. “Want me to go over there?”
I shook my head. “No, let’s just ignore her.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katelyn’s gaze narrow on our joined hands.
“It’s sad, really, Roan ending up with her. He’s already been through so much. The whole experience must have twisted him, everyone thinking he was the murderer. He’s clearly unstable now. He definitely shouldn’t be around children. But it’s no surprise Aspen doesn’t care. She just sees dollar signs.”
Roan’s jaw went hard as granite. But it was more than that. There was defeat in his gaze. An acceptance that this was how some of this town would always see him.
I was on my feet before I could stop myself. Roan called my name, but I didn’t listen. I strode toward the three women on the bench.
Katelyn smiled triumphantly. “Aspen, how nice to see you.”
“Sadly, I can’t say the same. It’s funny the bullshit that streams out of your mouth because, really, the only person who’s sad here is you. If you had a shred of decency, I’d actually feel bad for you. I’ve tried to be kind, even in the face of your ugliness. Tried to ignore you. But sometimes a bully needs to be hit with the cold, hard truth, and that’s what you are: a bully.”
I sucked in a breath. “It’s truly pathetic that the only way you seem to feel good about yourself is by putting others down—good people who have done nothing to you.”
“He’s dangerous—”
“Don’t,” I snapped. “The only reason I haven’t broken that perfect nose is because I don’t want to scare the children in this park. But if you say one more word against Roan, I will find you, and I will rectify that.”
Katelyn’s jaw dropped.
I turned to her friends. “Think about who you spend time with. Who you let your children spend time with. Her cruelty is becoming known in this town. And I, for one, wouldn’t want to be associated with it.”
“You’re the one the people in this town should be worried about. You’re probably a murderer,” Katelyn spluttered.
The other two women shared a look and then glanced at Grae, Caden, and Roan. Whatever they saw there had them rethinking their life choices. They stood and motioned to their daughters.
Redness crept up Katelyn’s neck. “Rachel. Perrin,” she hissed. “Where the hell are you going?”
The one named Perrin turned around. “She’s right. You’ve always been a bit of a bitch, but it’s been on overload lately. I know you’re bitter about your ex leaving, but pull it together.”
Katelyn went completely slack-jawed. Then she turned furious eyes on me.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned. “You’re only going to dig yourself a deeper hole. Pull your shit together and see if you can figure out how to be a decent human being.”
I felt a presence at my back, and Grae stepped up next to me. “She’s right. Think about your words real long and hard. I’ve picked up knife-throwing as a hobby and wouldn’t mind a new practice dummy.”
Katelyn snatched her purse off the bench and stood. “Come on, Heather. We need to leave. This park isn’t safe anymore.”
“Not for the likes of you,” Grae muttered.
I had to turn away. I worried if I kept watching Katelyn, I’d go after her and really break that perfect little nose. As I turned, I caught sight of Roan. I was expecting fury. Hurt even. Instead, I found his shoulders shaking as he laughed so hard that tears filled his eyes.
I gaped at him. “You’re laughing?”
He struggled to get composure. “You threatened to break her nose.”
“It only seems fair. You broke someone’s nose for me.”
Roan grinned, pulled me into his arms, and nuzzled my neck.
I breathed him in, letting his scent swirl around me. “I hate that people say this crap about you. Makes me livid when you’re the best person I’ve ever known.”
His arms tightened around me. “Tender Heart.” The nickname was a gruff utterance. “I don’t give a damn what they say. I give a damn what you say. And it seems like you’d go down into the fiery pits for me.”
I tipped my head back. “I’d follow you anywhere.”
“Please don’t make out right now,” Grae muttered. “I’m happy you two are together, but I don’t need to see that.”
Roan shot his sister a scowl.
Grae held up both hands. “Why don’t we take Cady and Charlie for a sleepover at our house?”
“You don’t have to do that,” I argued.
Caden wrapped an arm around Grae’s shoulders. “We’d be happy to.”
Grae sent him a soft smile. “Might be good practice.”
This time, Roan turned a gentle look on his sister. “Happy for you, G.”
“Don’t make me cry. My hormones are already going crazy,” Grae sniffed, smacking him. Then she turned to the playground. “Sleepover at my house!”
The kids cheered.
Roan brushed the hair out of my face. “Now what are we going to do with an entire house to ourselves?”
I pulled my robe tighter around myself as I stepped out of the bathroom and listened. I’d expected Roan to be on me the second we walked through the door, but he wasn’t. He’d taken the dog out. Made me a cup of tea. So, finally, I’d taken a shower. Now, I didn’t see or hear him anywhere.
Maybe he’d gone out to the barn. I couldn’t deny the hint of disappointment that flickered to life. But I ignored it and headed into my bedroom.
I came up short when my bare feet hit the carpet. Roan stood by the window, shirtless, in nothing but low-slung uniform pants. I nearly swallowed my tongue.
Slowly, he turned, his gaze heating as he scanned my body.
I didn’t miss the opportunity to drink him in. The wide expanses of muscle, the lightly tanned skin, that dusting of hair that teased his chest and then disappeared in a thin trail beneath the band of his pants.