“And that is how you roll a gutter ball,” I giggle as Dad turns around looking dejected.

“I swear this was easier when you were younger,” he mutters and that makes me giggle again.

“Don’t look now, Dad, but I’m whippin’ your butt!” I brag and I really am—and I don’t even like bowling.

“I love hearing you laugh, Princess.”

“I’m having a good time, Dad. I’m glad we did this.”

“Me too. How about we take a break from bowling and go get a dipped cone at the concession?”

“They have dipped cones?” I ask and I know my ass will hate me tomorrow, but I just don’t care.

“They even have the cherry topping instead of the chocolate,” he says, knowing just how to tempt me.

“What are we waiting for then?” I ask grinning. Dad stands up and pulls me until I’m standing too and then we walk toward the concession/restaurant area. It’s actually in another room. For a small town this is a huge complex which has movies, bowling, roller skating and the restaurant all housed in it. It’s always crowded too—probably because Mason is small and doesn’t have a lot to choose from.

We order our cones and I can’t help but look at my silent phone. I haven’t heard from Black all day. I mean, after last night I thought he would at least text through the day. It’s been radio silence, so to speak. I thought about texting him, but I feel weird. I mean I basically agreed to go home with him last night after one date.

Does that make me a whore?

I didn’t think so, but then I also thought I’d hear from him today. Did he give up because I didn’t go to a hotel with him? Has he already moved on? Shit, I’m going crazy. I’m not this person. I’m not someone who obsesses over a man and is unsure of herself—at least I never have been. Then again, I’ve never reacted to a man the way I do with Black.

“Oh there’s Petal.”

“Petal?”

“She’s Luka’s wife. You’ll like her. She works at the local hair salon in town.”

“Luka?” I ask, my heart skipping in my chest. It feels like cold water has been dashed over all of my nerve endings.

“The sheriff. Remember you told me about him on the phone the other night? How he brought some papers over?”

I hear dad, but I feel like I’m about to throw up.

Oh I know who he’s talking about…

“Petal! I’d like to introduce you to my daughter,” Dad calls out motioning the woman over to us.

“Hey, Mayor Harrington. It’s great to see you again,” the woman says and her voice is sweet—sickeningly so. It irritates the hell out of me that she sounds like someone I would like.

Damn it.

She’s shorter than me, though not by a lot and she’s curvy, totally feminine and the type of woman that I could see Black with. She’s got golden honey hair that’s pulled up high on her head and there’s a cute little boy that looks like her standing beside her and she’s holding a little girl… a little girl that kind of reminds me of Black.

Son of a bitch.

“You too. I wanted to introduce you to my daughter, Adelle. She’s just moved here after studying abroad.”

“Hi, Adelle. That sounds like such fun!” Petal says and I know I should say something here, but I can’t for the life of me, so instead I give her a tight smile. At least I tried to smile, I’m not sure I truly did.

“How’s Luka doing? I haven’t got to check in with him since I’ve been back in town.”

“He took today off because we haven’t got a lot of time together lately.”

“I told him he needed to take a vacation. He’s got men to step in. It’s not like Mason is the crime capital of Texas, thank God,” Dad says.

“He’s planning on it soon. Today though he mowed the grass and got a migraine. I figured he’d better be alone. So, the kids and I decided to meet up with CC. She has William and Violet alone tonight while Gray’s traveling for business.”

“Sounds like a fun evening,” I whisper, just to try and appear normal. I shouldn’t have bothered. I don’t feel normal and I’m sure I don’t act normal. All I can do is look at Petal and wonder if Black thinks it is okay to label his wife and kids as roommates!

“You would think that wouldn’t you? But nothing is ever just simple with children,” she laughs, apparently not catching onto the fact I feel sick to my stomach, I want to scream, cry, scratch her eyes out and then cut off Black’s balls. I’m not even sure in what order I want to do all of it. Everything is coming at me too quick and all at once.

“Mommy! I got to piss!”

“River, I’ve told you a hundred times not to say that word.”

“It’s what Daddy says!”

“God, save me. I better get. Mayor it was great seeing you again. Adelle, you too,” Petal says with a strained smile on her lips. The little girl in her arms seems to be snuggled in and has fallen asleep. She’s a beautiful child and for some reason my heart hurts.

“I’m glad to have met you,” I tell Petal, which sounds weird as hell—but, what do you say to the wife of a man you wanted to boink all night long!?!?!

Besides, I am glad I met her, if not I would have slept with… a married man. “I hope your… husband feels better in the morning,” I tell her, and I do… I want him to feel great… right before I kill his sorry ass.

“Uh… I’m sure he’ll be right as rain tomorrow,” she says, but she’s looking at me very strangely at this point and so is my father…

I guess I didn’t keep the anger out of my voice like I wanted.

“Goodbye, Mayor… Adelle…” Petal says, leaving with her children. She looks back over her shoulder at me and damn, I can tell she’s wondering what’s going on. Then… so is my father.

“Princess are you okay?”

“Sorry, Dad. I just started feeling sick to my stomach all at once.”

“Maybe we should skip the dipped cone and go home?” he says just as they call our number to pick them up. I turn to look at the hard-coated, cherry confection and wish Black was here so I could dump it on his head.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper and I can’t figure out if I’m telling him I’m sorry for ruining our night or sorry that I ever laid eyes on Sheriff Parrish.

“It will be okay, Princess. It will be okay,” he says pulling me into him.

I let him lead me out of there and I hear what he’s saying, but suddenly it feels like nothing will ever be okay again.