Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“I’ve never pranced a day in my life.”

“When the hell were you going to tell me she was back?”

“Who?”

“Don’t play with me, Pierce. You know good and well Darby Graham is back in town.”

“I heard about it.”

“Heard about it? The whole fucking town has heard about it. Blaire said she breezed into the hospital today like she was royalty. Floating around with her fancy clothes, expensive hair, and regal smile like she was the Queen of England.”

“Is that right?”

“Fuck yeah, handing out her damn shitty ass chocolates and—” She stops, her face growing flush as realization clicks into place. “Those fucking chocolates. The assembly. You knew then!”

I give her a half-shoulder shrug.

“Is she in there?” Connie screeches, her control slipping.

“That’s none of your business.”

“I’m warning you not to screw with me, Pierce. Is she in there?”

“That sounds very much like a threat. It’s none of your business who’s in my house.”

“It’s my business if my children are here,” she throws back.

“They aren’t. You just pointed out they are at dinner with your parents. So why are you on my porch giving me shit about things that are none of your concern?”

The flush in her face grows to a flaming red, and as satisfying as it is, it’s time to shut it down. “Is there a reason you’re fired up about Darby’s return?”

“I knew that bitch would come running right back to Charleston one day.”

“I don’t know the specifics, but considering her family lives here, she’s probably been back plenty of times.”

“Well, at least they had the decency to hide her from society and keep her away from you.”

“We’re done here.” I take a step toward the door and freeze when her hand snakes around my bicep.

“Don’t walk away from me.”

“Get your fucking hands off me, Connie.” My gaze drops to her hand and then back to her, fire searing through my bloodstream. As much as I try, I can’t stop the words from spitting out. “Darby doesn’t have a problem with society. They fucking love her. It was your shitty ass stunt that kept her away. You have no idea of the damage you did, sending her those birth announcements. I already told you I wasn’t going to be a deadbeat dad, and we’d make our arrangement work for the best.”

“Our arrangement? I was having your baby.”

“I’ve taken responsibility for that since day one. I even owned up to the next colossal mistake of getting you pregnant twice.”

She stumbles back, the ferocity of my words hitting her like a force of nature. “Did you just refer to Cole as a mistake?” she stutters.

“No, I said getting you pregnant was a mistake. Cole is a miracle. And don’t act surprised. You didn’t want more children.”

“I didn’t want more children with an asshole that refused to marry me! You used me.”

“We. Are. Done.” Any other response to that will put me in a deep hole I can’t dig out of with even the best lawyers.

Connie recognizes the resolution in my tone, and her body language relaxes, her voice lowering. She knows she’s gone too far. I never hid that I wasn’t marrying her. After all I’d been through, the thought never crossed my mind. Everyone in her family put the pressure on, but when my blinders were lifted, it was never going to happen. Unfortunately for me, Connie didn’t take the rejection well.

“Pierce, she broke you. I was there for everything and saw the wreckage. I sent her those announcements as revenge for you—”

“Bye, Connie.” This time, I get into my house and slam the door.

She can scream all she wants, but I head to my room, ready to punch something. Miller walks into my bathroom right as I switch on the shower, and he’s holding out a fresh beer.

“Get the whiskey,” I order. “When I’m out of the shower, we’re gonna talk. And make sure that bitch is gone.”

He nods and disappears. I have no shame in sinking to the shower seat and letting the cool water beat down on me. Darby’s face pops into my head. Even with everything that’s happened, the thought of her has the ability to calm me after the shit show I’ve made of my life.

I’m fucked.

Chapter 6

Darby

I shouldn’t find it at all surprising that my public appearance at the hospital and the news of my business brought in a lot of attention. Add in the arrival of Stephanie, and my quiet little routine in Charleston was flipped on its head. Mom’s phone was blowing up, and she was all too eager to boast about my success.

And that is why Stephanie and I are staked out in my mom’s kitchen, staring in horror.

“I need you to throw up,” I whisper to Stephanie.

“Why?”

“We need an immediate excuse to leave.”

“Why don’t you throw up then?”

“Because Cruella De Vil will hand me a Pepto and tell me to freshen up. At least, if it’s you, she’ll have the manners to let us go. Once we get to the shed, we can grab Runner and escape.”