Reckless (Blue Collar Boyfriends Book 1) by Jessi Gage Read Free Book Online Page B

living room first,” she shouted over the crinkling of shopping bags. “That’s the first thing people see when they come in.”
    “That’s my girl. High-impact areas need high-impact ideas.” Deidre sauntered into the kitchen, dropping her jacket over the back of a chair. “Whoa, what a disaster! Let’s get organized, bug. Living room stuff on the table. Bedroom stuff on the floor—oh, never mind. The floor is filthy. Counter—oh, for the love of—” She unleashed a sigh of unbridled annoyance, and he heard her run the sink and wring out a sponge.
    He stood in his living room pulling at his hair. His lungs felt like they wanted to explode.
    Only Deidre could send him from breathing easy to ready to blow in the blink of an eye. He swallowed the urge to yell and headed into the fray.
    “I was in the middle of cleaning up after dinner when you showed up,” he said.
    “You had dinner late, huh?” She ripped the tag off a forest green bath mat with her teeth.
    “It wasn’t that late. We had a busy day, didn’t we, kiddo?”
    Haley saved him from having to interact with Her Royal Highness of Parenthood by telling her mom all about their weekend. The pair moved out of the kitchen and began swathing his living room in bright yellows and oranges. “An autumn palate” Deidre called it, praising Haley’s taste. He left them to it and finished cleaning up from dinner.
    After a while, Deidre came into the kitchen. “Some coffee would be nice.”
    Busy emptying the dishwasher, he nodded at the coffee maker. “Help yourself. Ground beans in the fridge.”
    “How hospitable of you,” she muttered on her way to the fridge. “It’s a wonder you don’t have company banging on your door every night with those manners.”
    He clenched his jaw to keep from pointing out it was a wonder she didn’t have wings with that holier-than-thou attitude.
    “Nice to see some color in your house,” she said conversationally, looking in a drawer for a measuring scoop.
    Really? She wanted to have a conversation? Deidre opened her mouth; passive aggressive criticism came out. He never heard anything else from her. Some coffee would be nice equaled you’re a terrible host. Nice to see some color in your house equaled took you long enough to decorate like a civilized person.
    H e’d never been one to ignore a jab. He didn’t have it in his DNA. But he couldn’t unleash on her with Haley in the house.
    He blew out a breath, trying to ignore the tightening between his ribs. “Yup,” he agreed, but the word popped with pent-up frustration. He winced, knowing he was in for it.
    “Christ, Derek.” She kept her voice low. “You don’t have to be an ass. I’m trying to help you out, here.”
    He shut the cupboard so hard the glasses inside rattled. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
    “No. Haley did.” She filled the coffeemaker with water. “She wants us to spend some time together. Can’t you see that? Can’t you come out there and be social? She just wants to see her mom and dad get along.”
    “Fat chance.”
    She measured out the coffee. Somehow she managed to infuse the sound of grounds hissing into the filter with irritation. She flicked the switch, then turned to him with hands on her hips. “Why are you always on such a short fuse with me? We fight more now than we did when we were married. I hope you rein in that temper when you’re with Haley. If anyone knows the damage an angry father can cause, it’s you.”
    The pressure in his lungs spiked. He couldn’t contain it any more. Keeping his back to her so he didn’t really lose it and start yelling, he gripped the counter. “If you think I would ever raise a hand to my daughter, you’re out of your mind. Yeah, I’ve got anger issues. But I’m not my fucking father.”
    “I didn’t say you were. God, Derek, I just meant anger has a strong effect on kids. I don’t want Haley growing up with that kind of emotional baggage.”
    “Stop. Just fucking