Chapter 48
After getting a new phone, Alex drove home seething about Tony’s ex. If she were in a cartoon, she pictured smoke coming out of both ears—except this wasn’t funny.
The nerve of Nikki to say I broke up their marriage after she had, what, eight affairs? What a piece of work. When she turned into her driveway, Tony was parked on the street. Perfect. Just perfect.
Before she parked and got out, Tony slammed his car door and marched toward her. She watched as his tall frame loomed closer and closer. His icy-blue eyes weren’t twinkling like usual. Quite the contrary, in fact. Still, damn, he had a sexy gait. Those broad shoulders undid her. But Tony wasn’t smiling, and neither was she.
He shouted through her open window, “I’ve called and called. Why the hell didn’t you answer?”
Alex smirked. “I have a new phone, thanks to your ex.”
He ignored the comment and leaned inside. “Where’s Joey?”
“Ask Nikki.” Alex climbed out and narrowed her eyes. “She treated me like a harlot. I felt as though I had a scarlet letter on my forehead.” She paused for emphasis. “Your ex is a total bitch, by the way.”
“She’s not that bad.”
Alex’s mouth flew open. “Are you freakin’ kidding me? She practically accosted me in her front yard. She called me all kinds of shitty names in front of Joey and anyone else within a city block. I don’t deserve that and you know it. I didn’t break up your damn marriage.”
Tony was silent.
Alex’s forehead wrinkled. “Did I?”
He frowned. “I probably wouldn’t have gotten a divorce if I hadn’t met you.”
“Are you seriously pinning your divorce on me? You were miserable when we met.” Alex threw her arms in the air. “Don’t you have any pride left? Who are you?”
Tony reached for her arm. “You know who I am. Let’s start over. Why isn’t Joey with you?”
Alex leaned against her car, arms crossed. “I told you. He’s with your ex-wife.”
Tony ran his fingers through his hair. “Why didn’t you call me? Maybe I could have come over and smoothed things out.”
“Hello? Like I said, she smashed my damn phone.”
Tony’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Detective. You aren’t dense. Your precious ex grabbed my cell and threw it onto the sidewalk.”
He put one hand in his pocket. “That doesn’t sound like her.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“No, I’ve just never seen Nikki throw anything.”
“I find that hard to believe. She threw a bitch fit. She’s a fucking witch.” Alex paced in her driveway.
Tony shrugged. “You’ll have to get used to her. She’s Joey’s mom and always will be.”
“Are you going to always defend her? Is that how this is going to be?” Alex stood with her hands on her hips.
Tony shrugged. “If you and I have any hope for a future together, you’ll have to learn how to deal with her because I want Joey in my life.”
Alex cocked her head. “How about if you tell her how to deal with me?”
His face softened slightly when he apparently got it through his thick skull how upset and hurt Alex was. Tony leaned forward to nuzzle her neck. “Let’s start over, baby.”
“No, way. I’m not in the mood. I think you should leave. I have an early morning at the bank tomorrow.”
“You always have early morning meetings,” he said.
“Tell me about it. God, what a shitty day.”
Tony reached for her. “I’ll get you in a better mood.”
Alex stiffened. “Not tonight.” She could feel herself weakening ever so slightly by his sexy smell but resisted. His hard, toned body was so close she could feel his arm hair, but she stood her ground. His ridiculous, vindictive ex had spoiled any chance of that. She kept her arms to her side. “I’m tired. That confrontation took it out of me.”
“Okay, okay.” Tony shoved his hands in his pockets. “My detective skills tell me you’re not interested.”
Alex watched as the cop walked toward his car. She almost wanted to run after him. Almost. But he had to learn she wasn’t going to be treated like this.
After he drove off, she went inside and threw a cup at the wall. Okay, it was a plastic cup. She didn’t feel like cleaning up a mess but pretended it was Nikki’s head. She took a hot shower and texted her girlfriends:
IMPORTANT. Emergency meeting at Coconuts. NOW. Please. Btw, this is Alex. I have a new phone number.
Both Suzy and Hope responded they’d meet Alex at their favorite restaurant within fifteen minutes.
Alex breathed a sigh of relief. I can always count on them. She hopped in her Mustang and headed for Coconuts. Her mind on overdrive, she cursed the fact that she had always pushed aside any nagging feelings she previously had about Sgt. Tony Montgomery, make that Lt. Tony Montgomery.
Trust your instincts, Alex. Do you want your life to be like a friggin’ soap opera. Bankers are never in soap operas. We’re boring.