Page 22 of Sold to the Single Daddies (Southern Heat Reverse Harems #4)

Reagan

Harley came back that Friday to visit and insisted we go into town to get away from the den of snakes, as she called the Hellstone’s house.

She was in love with plants and flowers and it often led us to random hole-in-the-wall florist shops all around Dallas and the surrounding areas.

Because of that, it was no surprise when she dragged me to the only florist shop in Devil’s Den.

With Lucky strapped to my chest and happily chewing away on his pacifier, we made our way into Petal.

The shop was tiny but it was adorably decorated and smelled like heaven.

A row of massive fridges took up the back wall of the shop and dozens of different types of flowers filled them.

It was a dream, especially for Harley. I was happy to tag along until I saw the woman standing behind the counter.

All at once I remembered that Melanie Boyd, the woman who’d made it clear she had some sort of claim over the Hellstone men, owned Petal.

I kicked myself for not remembering but, to be fair, I’d been more focused on her blatant display of ownership over West the day I’d met her.

If seeing me bothered her as much as seeing her bothered me, she didn’t let it show.

“Well, hello again, Tegan. Welcome to my shop.” She smiled but I could see the spark of battle in her eyes.

“It’s Reagan.” I forced myself to smile and pointed to Harley. “This is my best friend, Harley. She’s visiting for the day from Dallas.”

Harley was a smart cookie and she instantly picked up on the weirdness. “I’d stay longer if you weren’t living with those neanderthals.”

I quietly cleared my throat and tried to tell Harley with my eyes she had to stop talking. It was useless, though, because I sensed Melanie sharpening her claws.

She stood up straighter and crossed her arms. “Neanderthals?”

“The Hellstone jerks. She’s living with them now.” Harley pointed to the refrigeration units. “Is it okay if I look around? I’m in school for horticulture and I’m working on—”

“You’re living with the Hellstones?”

I swallowed a little too loudly and looked around. “Yep.”

“Why?”

Harley finally realized what the weirdness was. She grimaced and turned to face me. “Actually. I think we should—”

“Why are you staying with them?”

“Because they asked me to.” I wasn’t giving her more than the bare minimum. I didn’t want to give her even that. I could tell she was taking every word I said and chewing it up to throw it back at me as soon as she needed to.

“They asked you to.” She repeated it and laughed. “Yeah, right.”

Harley put her hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that Mills, West, and Tate, are mine and they’d have no use for your friend.” Melanie wasn’t pulling any punches, it seemed. She wasn’t even going to pretend to be civil anymore.

I was surprised the tiny town hadn’t spread the news fully yet that I’d had their child. Maybe she just didn’t absorb information she didn’t like.

“This is their child. I’m only staying there so they can spend time with Lucky.”

“I was with them last night and they didn’t mention anything. Maybe they’re ashamed to tell me they made a mistake in the past. Silly boys.” Melanie scrunched up her nose and looked both Lucky and I over. “I’m not the type of woman who would let a baby mama and her brat scare me away.”

Harley shoved her purse strap over my shoulder and reached for her earrings.

“I’m going to kick her ass. Hold my stuff.”

“Come any closer and I’ll have the sheriff arrest both of you.”

“Harley, let’s just it go.” I didn’t want Harley to get into trouble because of me. Even if I would’ve loved to smack Melanie just once myself. “I’m not interested in fighting for three men I don’t want.”

“You just remember they’re mine. It’s already disrespectful that you moved in with three taken men but know that if you cross a line and try anything with them, I’ll be sure that everyone knows what a homewrecking slut you are.” Melanie flicked her fingers at us. “Now, shoo. Get out of my store.”

I had to practically drag Harley away. That didn’t mean she wasn’t still running her mouth. That was Harley, though. She was a loyal friend to the end and even though it wasn’t in her personality to start a fight, she’d finish one for a friend.

“Gladly! I’m surprised anything stays alive in here anyway, with your awful personality. I hope every flower you grow or touch for the rest of your life is just a little smaller than acceptable.”

I barely made it out onto the sidewalk before I laughed.

“Sick horticulture burn, babe.”

She straightened her shirt and took her purse back.

“You have to take her men.”

I snorted and then had to bounce Lucky because the sound scared him.

“Harley!” I laughed as I bounced.

She looked back through the windows of Petal and flipped Melanie off.

“Take her men and then watch her grow old, alone, with just her tiny blooms and even tinier personality.”

“Down, girl. I’m fine. You don’t need to go nuclear for me. Promise. Now, let’s go get something to eat and never talk about that horrible woman again.”

I was fine. I hadn’t come to Devil’s Den to steal anyone’s men. I had a three-month-old, no job, a little brother a few months from starting college, and new stretchmarks I was in no hurry to show off. Melanie could keep her men.

I wasn’t going to think at all about how it bothered me a little. Or about how I’d been having dreams over that night at Club Devil.