Page 19 of Diamond

“So, Sheriff, is that how you greet every new woman you meet, or is it just me who has that special privilege?”

This woman and her lip. “I wasn’t lying about what I told you. I concentrated on raising my daughter, it didn’t leave much time for a social life.”

“That’s too bad.”

I frown. “So, are you saying I’ve lost my touch?”

I’m rewarded with a smile. Her bright red lipstick would look good around my dick, but thoughts like that got us in trouble the last time. “Did I say that?”

“Maybe I have. Maybe I should go and entertain some of the women looking at us⁠—”

She bites her lip, but doesn’t turn around to check. “I wouldn’t. Most of the single women in town are man-eaters.”

“But not you?”

She rolls her eyes, then holds out her palm. “Give me your phone.”

I blink in surprise. My eyebrows furrowing, I hand it over curiously. I watch as she goes to contacts, then adds her number in under Wildcat.

Handing my phone back to me, she says, “And that isn’t to be used for a booty call.”

I can’t help but feel a little smug. “No? What would it be for, then?”

“If you want to test the theory.”

I lift a brow. “Theory?”

“Shackles.”

My eyebrows couldn’t shoot up any higher, and I swear, all the blood drains to my cock. “You’re just reelin’ me in, aren’t you?”

Her lips curl into a small smile, and I almost reach my hand around to the back of her neck. Almost.

“We’re not a thing,” she reminds me.

“You’re sure about that?”

She doesn’t get time to answer before someone calls for her. That shouldn’t annoy me since we’re here for more important matters.

The last thing I see of Diamond is when she rides out of the lot, with Sapphire and Ruby next to her. Seeing her mount that motorcycle… I need to scrub my fucking brain clean. All I can think about is her mounting my dick.

When I pick Charlotte up after school, I’m still annoyed with myself. She rattles on about her day and what she did in class. I love hearing about her new teachers, and the new friends she’s making.

“Daddy?” she asks, that tone in her voice that sounds a lot like a Calloway woman and not a seven-year-old.

“Yeah, honey?”

“Some of the moms at school were asking if you have a wife or girlfriend.”

I glance sideways at her. Great. Good news travels fast. “Okay.” I palm the back of my head. “What did you say?”

I’ve never had to hide the fact Charlotte’s mom isn’t part of the picture, but I’ve also never told her the truth. She’s too little for that talk, and I don’t want it to affect her confidence. Charlotte hearing her mom didn’t want either of us isn’t a conversation I ever want to have while she’s small if I can help it.

“I said my mom left and that you’re not dating.”

My sisters haven’t hidden their disdain for Charlotte’s mother, understandably, but I’ve told them not to bad mouth her, either. My daughter will learn the truth about her mom leaving when she’s old enough. But that doesn’t mean Charlotte hasn’t picked up on things over the years. She’s asked me what happened to her mom. All I could say was she had to leave and that she loves her very much. None of that was true, but I couldn’t break my daughter’s heart. My sisters, who only live a few short hours away, and my mom help. I’m forever grateful to them. In those early years, I was a wreck, but they all pitched in to help me raise her. My dad, too, being the kind of man I aspire to be.

“Okay.”