Page 29 of But For You

I did know. “I’m not a harpy.”

“No, you’re not. I apologize. You’re much too cute.”

I growled, and his rumbling laughter sounded good.

“Listen, once the cops are all gone⁠—”

“Why were there cops to begin with?”

“Mrs. Peterson’s boyfriend came over to get her, and she wanted to take the other kids too.”

“Mr. Peterson wasn’t letting his kids go with them, I’m guessing.”

“Hell no. I wouldn’t have either. A man doesn’t let anyone take his children from him, especially not a cheating piece of crap.”

“I’ll remember that if I ever have an affair.”

His grunt made me smile. “Never gonna happen, J. You’re addicted to me.”

Yes, I was.

“I’m the only man for you.”

“You’re very conceited.”

“I am very loved.” He sighed.

“Yes, you are.”

There was a very smug male grunt before he hung up.

THREE

When my phone rang minutes after I spoke to Sam, I was surprised to see Aaron Sutter’s number. There had been a time, before we reconnected, when we were just exes, that I would have never thought he would ever be in the Friend column. But it turned out that he wanted me in his life, and I wanted him in mine, so we had both worked at it. I was glad; he was worth it.

“Hey,” I greeted him. “What’s up?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at home. Why?”

“I just fired the people who were in charge of my art auction at Darwin Manor next month, and I wanted to know if you and Dylan and Fal wanted it before I went out and shopped around for bids.”

“I told you to give us that, even when you were first talking about it.”

“Yes, but it seemed too big for your little company.”

I hung up on him.

He called back twenty seconds later. “What was that about?”

“Little company?” I was indignant.

“Jory—”

“I hate it when you talk down to me,” I said, trying not to snarl.

“I hate it when you hang up on me!”