Scott was perfect, and now she wondered what she’d ever seen in him. Her men were the perfect ones.
“I’m fine, Dad. Not a singe on me, thanks to Mom’s boyfriend.” Nicky seemed to take particular delight in pointing to Caleb.
Scott turned to Caleb. “You look incredibly familiar. If you saved my son, I thank you.”
Caleb got up and mumbled as he turned away. “No problem.”
“Logan, Cam, we need to run a 703. This could get messy.” Nate hopped off the desk. “Cam, you know what to do. Logan, behave.”
The deputies walked around the back of the group.
Nate faced off with Scott. “Congressman, I don’t know what my deputies told you, but someone blew up your ex-wife’s car today. And yesterday she nearly died in an accident that seems mighty planned to me.”
Scott’s hands dropped. “Are you serious? I thought this was something Nicky had come up with. He’s very devious. Is this a joke? Did someone really try to kill Holly?”
If he was acting, he was spectacular.
Nicky stood up and faced his father. “Yes, Dad. I was there. Someone blew up Mom’s piece-of-shit car. She needs a new one. I think you should buy it.”
Scott shook his head. “Don’t try my patience, son.” He turned to Holly, his voice going deep. It was the same tone he used to let voters know he felt their pain. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
And just like that his sympathy evaporated. “What have you gotten yourself into? Who is this boyfriend? What’s he into? If he’s dangerous, I don’t want him near my son. Nicky, our little deal is off. You can get your ass in the car. You’re coming home. And don’t throw those pictures in my face. You want to ruin my career, go ahead. I won’t save my fucking career in exchange for my son. Holly, you get in the car, too. We’re leaving. You can stay in the guesthouse.”
Both of her men started toward Scott, and Holly finally understood what a 703 was. It was code for “keep the douchebag alive.” Cam put a hand on Alexei, and Logan stood in front of Caleb.
“You are not taking our woman anywhere, dolbo yeb. Zhopa!” Alexei went off in a litany of Russian, most of which sounded like curses.
“You touch her and I will find a horrible way for the Russian to kill you,” Caleb promised. “I took the Hippocratic oath. He didn’t.”
Scott looked between the two men. “I thought the ginger was your boyfriend. Oh, god, Holly. Not you, too. This town is just wrong.”
Holly stood her ground. It was long past time to make a stand. “It isn’t wrong, and I’m not leaving. And yes, they are both my boyfriends. And Nicky knows.”
Nicky grinned. “Total thumbs-up, Mom. They are hot! Dad’s still doing the political equivalent of the pancake waitress.”
“Nicky!” Holly and Scott managed to say it at the same time.
And she realized something.
“You love him.”
Scott’s face went softer than she could remember seeing it in decades. “Of course, I do. He’s my boy.”
“He’s gay, Scott.” Scott lived in a very conservative world.
“Yeah, I figured that out when he was six and asked for Cher to sing at his birthday party. I’ve always known. He thinks I got rid of Tristan because he was a boy. I would have gotten rid of a girl at this age, too. He’s too young. He’s way too young to even think about settling down. Damn it, he’s my son. He can’t know what he wants at this age. He thinks he’s in love, but in the end, he’ll love his career more and he’ll end up wrecking someone’s life. Someone he loved. Just…just not enough. Is it wrong that I wanted to spare him that? To spare Tristan that pain?”
She shook her head. She would never forgive him for what he’d done to her. But she didn’t need to brood over it anymore. “Scott, he’s not you. And he’s not me.”
Scott took a step toward her. “Babe, you know you’re the only woman I ever loved.”
Cam got into a defensive position. Alexei went off in Russian again. Caleb simply stared at Scott.
Holly held out a hand, trying to let her men know that she had this one handled. “Oh, Scott, your love wasn’t worth much, was it?”
He didn’t even look offended. “No. Which is why Connie and I work and you and I didn’t. She doesn’t give a crap as long as I keep her in Prada. But you, oh, you needed more. I hope these assholes are giving it to you. Our son is the best thing I ever did.”
“He blackmailed you.” Holly was a little surprised at the way Scott talked.
Scott smiled, a fierce little turn of his lips. “That’s my boy. He’s ruthless. I’ve never been more proud than I was the day he took down the old man. My other two kids are bleating sheep. They’re tax deductions. Nothing more. But our Nicky, he can be anything because he won’t accept less. I’m fucking proud to be his dad.”
“Yeah, that’s going to go over so well with your little old lady supporters and the church groups,” Nicky pointed out.
Scott sighed. “Well, I wasn’t going public with my support. Son, fuck whoever you want. Just do it in private. And for god’s sake, don’t do it like your mother. She has it all wrong. It’s two girls and one man. Though I will admit, your mother is certainly pretty enough for two men.”
“She’s not going to sleep with you, Dad,” Nicky said, groaning a little.
“Ewww! I am not.” Holly wouldn’t touch Scott with a ten-foot pole.
Scott shrugged. “You can’t blame a guy for trying. You look good, Holly.”
“Yob tuvoyu mat!” Alexei pressed against Cam.
“Uh, Sheriff, he’s really strong.” Cam looked like he was one of those tackle dummies football players used.
“Alexei, down!” Caleb snapped. “Holly made her choice. She chose us. She isn’t going anywhere. He’s just making an ass of himself. And, unfortunately, I don’t think he tried to kill her.”
“Kill Holly?” Scott turned to the sheriff. “Sheriff, I’m an ass. I’ll sign the paperwork proclaiming it, but I would never physically harm Holly. I love her. As much as I’m capable of love, I love her.”
She looked at her men who appeared ready to do everything they had promised. “He’s not capable of much. But I’m pretty sure he didn’t try to kill me.”
Nate frowned. “He was in Denver yesterday?”
“Yeah. He was in Denver at a rally and then Pagosa Springs today,” Cam replied, eyeing Alexei like a tiger who was just about ready to pounce. “But he probably wouldn’t do this himself. I ran his financials on the way out to pick him up. If he paid someone, he did it from a secret account.”
Scott’s foot tapped impatiently against the floor. “I didn’t try to kill my wife. Ex-wife. I wouldn’t do that.”
Nate’s eyes rolled. “Fine. You can go. I sincerely suggest you get the hell out of my town before the Russian decides to take your head off. I think Doc there will let you get by, but the Russian has gone a while without killing someone. I’m worried about him.”
“Doctor?” Scott looked at Caleb, his mouth dropping. “Holy shit. You’re Caleb Sommerville.”
“Damn it.” Nicky frowned at his father. “She didn’t know that.”
Caleb flushed, his skin turning a dark red.
“What?” Holly asked. “You’re wrong. His name is Burke.”
Jessie put her hands up. “Alexei, you can’t blame me for this one. I didn’t let the cat out of the bag.”
“What are you talking about? Alexei?” She turned to Alexei, who seemed to know something she didn’t.
Alexei’s rage seemed to flee in favor of a deep guilt. It was written in the lines that creased his face. Cam stepped back as though realizing the threat had passed.
“Dushka, everyone in Bliss hide something,” Alexei said. “Caleb does not like his original name. That is all.”