The Way We Score: A small-town, accidental pregnancy, sports romance. (The Bradford Boys)

It’s a forty-five-minute drive to the small barrier island situated in the waterway between the Alabama and Florida state lines. Rhonda Peachtree rides in the backseat of my truck and Zane is up front.

When we reach the guard shack at the base of the tall bridge leading from the main road to the island, I flash my badge, and the guy waves us through the gates with only a glance.

“That’s an animal control badge, right?” Zane huffs a laugh.

“Yeah, I’m not the sheriff yet.”

“Animal control officers aren’t law enforcement, but they work under state and local government,” Rhonda calls cheerily from the backseat.

“Right here, Rhonda.” I hold my fist up, and she bumps it.

Rhonda’s the notary public at the municipal complex, which houses the clerk of court as well as the sheriff’s office. She’s a few years younger than me, moved here from Georgia to live on the water like everybody else, but she’s good people.

I’ve been on a low simmer since that dick Warner showed up at Cooters & Shooters running his big mouth. He made my lady cry and my baby barf. I scan the road as we get closer to his address, looking for a dumpster just in case.

Liv’s eyes were so weary last night. Holding her in my arms, I kissed her head as she slipped into a fitful sleep, and it took all my strength to promise I wouldn’t come down here and kick this smug dipshit’s ass. Having my brother here will help me stay nice.

I hope.

Following the main boulevard, I take a right on River Road, which leads all the way to the point. We turn left onto Key Drive and park in front of a large, white home with sea-green trim and a screened-in, wrap-around porch.

“It’s more modest than I expected.” Zane’s low voice is calm as he steps out of the truck. “Isn’t this guy supposed to be some kind of gazillionaire?”

“Something like that.” My jaw is set, and I close the door, climbing the wide steps leading to the front door.

Rhonda is behind me, and Zane stands to the side in his flannel shirt over a navy tee. I picked him up at the stables, so he’s in his work boots and baseball cap turned backwards. He crosses his arms, and while he’s not quite as tall as I am, with those cool blue eyes and dark hair, he has his own imposing presence.

Knocking on the door, I put my hands on my hips, turning to my brother and Rhonda, carrying the papers and her notary supplies in a messenger bag. She’s wearing jeans and a waist-length pink blazer, and she looks like a petite professional standing beside us.

The door opens, and it’s the man himself. Warner Oberon in light blue shorts and a pink polo. I didn’t think I could hate this guy more.

“Oh, hello.” He has the decency to look startled, taking a step back. “I wasn’t expecting… How did you get through the gates?”

“Cut the crap, Oberon.” I put my hand on the door, opening it wider and pushing him back so we can enter. “What do you want? You can’t be after money.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Why are you here bothering Liv?” I repeat.

“I want my family.”

My fist tightens. “Then go make your own. Liv and the baby are mine.”

“That’s what you say.”

Zane steps to me quickly, catching my forearm before I punch this guy in the nose. “I think Liv would agree with us.” His tone is level, and Warner’s eyes flicker to him. “We have the divorce papers that state you were unfaithful to your wife, and you share no children.”

“Who are you, a lawyer?” Warner jerks his chin, and I don’t like the way he curls his nose at my brother.

“Zane Bradford.” Zane extends his hand. “I’m Garrett’s brother, and I’ve known Liv a long time.”

Warner’s jaw clenches, and he nods. “Then you know she’s high-spirited and flighty. You can’t believe a word she says. She was a dancer, after all.”

“I’ve only ever known Liv to be very thoughtful about her decisions.” Zane’s tone doesn’t change. “Except for perhaps one, and even then, she owned it.”

“The one where she ran off with my baby to come down here and marry this guy? We’re not even divorced!”

I can’t take much more of this. “Dude, are you cracked? Liv filed for divorce before she even came here—and she came to take care of her mom. I was in New York.”

“Exactly, which means it can’t be your baby.”

Huffing air through my lips, I turn to Zane. “I’m doing my best here…”

“She humiliated me in front of our friends.” He walks to the end table and pours a tumbler of clear liquid.

“She humiliated you?” My tone sharpens.

“We were married in front of a large group of witnesses. Half of them don’t even know we’re separated.”

“Do they know you were fucking around on her?” Heat rises in my tone. It burns in my chest. “Do they know she hasn’t let you touch her in over a year?”

“They know she’s my wife.” His eyes blaze. “I am not treated this way. I have an image, and her place is at my side. If she comes home now, all will be forgiven.”

“This guy reminds me of a snapping turtle,” I say to Zane before turning to look down on him. “You know what we do when we find an old turtle who won’t let go? We get a stick.”

“Look…” Zane steps between us. “This can get a lot more humiliating, or it can be over pretty quick⁠—”

A door slams in the kitchen, and we all look up. “Honey, I’m home!” A petite blonde in a bathing suit and a caftan walks into the room wearing a cheery smile. “Oh, hello, there. I didn’t know we were having company! I don’t think we’ve met.”

She’s obviously pregnant, and I exchange a glance with my brother. “I’m Garrett Bradford. This is my brother Zane, and this is Rhonda.”

“I’m Maren Oberon, Warner’s wife!”

We all step back, turning to catch Warner’s stunned expression. “Maren, what are you doing here? You were supposed to be at the pool all day.”noveldrama

“I got tired. You know how it is when you’re pregnant.”

“I’ve heard.” I nod, stepping forward to take her hand. “I’m just curious—is this Warner’s baby? I was told he couldn’t have children.”

“Yeah, we did the IVF and voila!” She exhales a little laugh. “I’m only a few months along. We’re having twins.”

“Congratulations.” I nod, feeling even more confident than before.

“So you and Warner are… married?” Zane asks the next question for me.

“Not officially.” She goes to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. “Warner has some shrew of an ex who won’t give him a divorce. So we did the whole Cold Mountain thing… I’m sorry, can I offer you something to drink?”

“Maren, you don’t have to tell them—” Warner starts.

“I’m good,” I interrupt quickly. “What’s the Cold Mountain thing?”

“You know, from the movie! I love that movie. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law?” She holds her chest and gushes. “They couldn’t get married either, so they said three times ‘I marry you, I marry you, I marry you.’ And that was it!”

“Maren.” Warner’s voice sharpens. “These men are not interested in our personal life.”

“Oh, I’m sorry! Are y’all not friends?” Her blue eyes blink wide, and she looks between the four of us.

“It’s like this, Maren, we’re actually here on behalf of the ‘shrew’ ex-wife. She’s ready to get that divorce, and we just need Warner here to sign the papers.” Motioning to Rhonda, I smile. “We even brought our own notary public.”

“You did!” Maren’s voice is an exuberant squeal. “Warner, did you know this? Were you going to surprise me?” She tilts her head to the side, slanting her eyes as she smiles.

I take the papers from Rhonda and go to where Warner’s standing helpless. “Here you go.” Lowering my voice, I level my gaze on his. “Sign the papers before I break your jaw.”

With a disgusted glance at me, he takes the pen. I motion to the three places he has to initial, and Rhonda squeezes her seal over the last page and signs it quickly.

“How about that?” I can’t resist once she has the papers securely in her briefcase. “I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you.”

“But you’re not…” Rhonda laughs, looking from Warner to me, then her eyes widen. “Oh! I need to pee. Twins are no joke.”

She scurries from the room, and I clap hands with Zane. “Have a nice life, Oberon.”

“This isn’t over,” he hisses, and I break.

Turning quicker than Zane can stop me, I grab him by the neck, lifting him off his feet and shoving his back to the wall. “Yes, it is.” My voice is a low growl.

“Put me down!” His face is red, and he claws at my hand as his nose starts to run.

“Look at me, Warner. This is me being nice.” My eyes laser into his. “If you ever bother my wife again, if you ever make her angry or make her cry, I’ll rip your throat out.” Lowering him to his feet, I straighten his shirt as he wipes the snot off his lip and gasps for air. “And if you ever bother my baby girl, you won’t have to worry about taking a paternity test ever again.”

“Are you threatening me?” His voice is hoarse, and his weasel eyes meet mine.

I take another step closer, and he shrinks away. “That’s a promise.”

Zane pats my back, chuckling. “Okay, Papa Bear. We’re done here.”

My chest is heaving, and fury cycles hot in my blood. “I still want to take out the trash.”

“I know.” Zane gives my arm a gentle pull. “If this guy’s ever stupid enough to come around again, I’ll help you. Now let’s get these papers filed.”