(Corrigan & Co. 05)Uncovering His SECRET - Crystal Perkins

Uncovering His SECRET Book #5 of Corrigan & Co.

By Crystal Perkins

Copyright © 2015 by Crystal Perkins Cover Design by Helen Williams www.allbookedout.com Ebook Formatting by Jesse Gordon adarnedgoodbook.com All trademarks are owned by their respective companies and are denoted by the use of proper capitalization of the company and/or brand. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This contemporary erotic romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with, especially if you enjoy sexy, emotional, romance novels with alpha males. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

TABLE OF CONTENTS About Uncovering His SECRET Other books by Crystal Perkins Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Epilogue Acknowledgements About the Author

ABOUT UNCOVERING HIS SECRET

She’s heading back to her past to save her first love… Eleven years ago, Tegan Kelly escaped a fate worse than death with the help of a secret society of women. In order to save the only man she’s ever loved, she’ll have to face her old demons, and all of the names she never wants to be called again. He can’t forget the girl who betrayed him and then left… Caleb Hall has never recovered from the cracks Tegan Kelly left in his heart when they were both sixteen. He shunned her then, and wants to hate her now when he finds out just how much she kept from him. But old love is strong, and he realizes that maybe there’s more to their original story than he’s let himself believe. First love is turning into forever love, but the SECRET Tegan kept from Caleb isn’t the only one they’re hiding. Can they move on from the past, or will uncovering it all cause them heartbreak once again?

OTHER BOOKS BY CRYSTAL PERKINS The Griffin Brothers series Gaming For Love (The Griffin Brothers #1) Building Our Love (The Griffin Brothers #2) Creating A Love (The Griffin Brothers #3) Learning To Love (The Griffin Brothers #4) Designing The Love (The Griffin Brothers #5) Working On Love (The Griffin Brothers #6) Keeping Their Love (The Griffin Brothers #7) Corrigan & Co. series Fielding Her SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #1) Devouring the SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #2) Rocking a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #3) Lessons in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #4)

Publicly, The Corrigan & Co. Foundation has been supporting women for years. Secretly, five powerful women led by Jane Corrigan have recruited ten agents, sending them to rescue women and children in need, and take down those who exploit the weak. This secret society of women all have unique skills they’ve brought to the foundation. Additionally, they’ve all had training in weapons, etiquette, martial arts, technology, and languages. Helping out friends and family of their five mentors from time to time is something they were told to expect. What they didn’t plan for is falling in love.

About the Corrigan & Co. Foundation and the Society: • Mitchell Corrigan created the Corrigan & Co. Foundation for his wife as part of his company ten years ago. He stipulated that the foundation would continue as long as there is a Corrigan woman to oversee it. • Jane Corrigan, Cyndi Evans, Maggie Griffin, Mallory Daniels, and Helen Wilson are the founders of the secret society within the foundation. They focus on helping women and children, but take on other missions from time to time. • While they assist government and private organizations on a regular basis, they only take referrals for private missions. • Each founder has recruited, and mentors, two agents. • The company was founded in Chicago, but has now moved to Las Vegas, where Mitchell was born. On his deathbed, he asked his grandson to move the company headquarters to help revive the economy in his hometown. There are satellite offices all over the world. • Jane’s grandson, Matt, who is President and CEO of Corrigan & Co., knows of the society. His friends Nathan and Aiden, who he brought in when they all left the military, know as well. This was a decision by the five women when they needed help on a mission that went bad. They do not know all mission details, but help when they are asked.

For The Friends of the Society, Thanks for all of your support, input, and love of my books!

PROLOGUE

Tegan Reina and Matt’s wedding was everything we all knew it would be—full of unspoken love, and fake romance. It wasn’t the wedding Reina dreamed of as a little girl, and that’s exactly the way she wanted it. She loves Matt more than life itself, and he loves her just as fiercely. But since he won’t admit that, she made sure that none of what happened yesterday was real. They’re really married, but that’s about it. She wore a dress she could tolerate, yellow diamonds she couldn’t, and a smile that anyone with half a brain could tell was fake. They didn’t even take a real honeymoon, which is why I’m walking to Reina’s office right now. She called and said that there was someone coming in who needed our help. I just got done with my suspension from missions, so she was offering it to me first. All I know is that it’s some kind of personal protection job. I walk into the office and stop dead in my tracks. The woman in the chair sees me at almost the exact moment I see her and rockets to her feet as she does. “Tegan?” “Hello, Mrs. Hall.” “You two know each other?” Reina asks. “Yes. We do,” I say, trying not to show any emotion. “She can’t be the one. She can’t help. My son would never believe I hired her as my assistant.” “Son? This is about Caleb?” “That’s none of your business. You made sure of it when you cheated on my son and broke his heart.” “I didn’t cheat on Cal, and believe me, what he did to my heart was much worse.” “People saw you leave that bedroom in your bra and panties.” “That may very well be, but no one saw what happened in that room.” “Greg told Caleb what happened.” “Don’t sugarcoat it for my benefit. He told the whole town what he wanted them to hear. That doesn’t mean it was the truth.” “I want to believe you, Tegan, I do. You were like a daughter to me for so many years. But you weren’t yourself after that night, and you didn’t try to defend yourself. The girl I knew wouldn’t have let it all go so easily.” “Yeah, well, when they boy I loved more than life itself called me a slut without even giving me that chance to defend myself, it kind of broke me.” And nothing and no one have ever been able to put me back together. Not only because of what Caleb did, how he believed someone else over me. But because of what happened after. And what would’ve happened if Cyndi Evans hadn’t saved us. Because as a sixteen year old girl, what my parents had planned for me was out of my control, but would’ve destroyed me for good. I have control now, though, and years of ignoring that stupid ‘S’ word people like to throw around like it’s nothing. Like it doesn’t hurt a girl to be called that. Even if she does enjoy sex. Or if she’s just

using sex to try and get over a boy, or the hurt he’s caused her. “If Caleb’s in danger, I’m doing this mission. I may not be able to be the point person, but I’m going to be there as back-up.” “Teeg, are you sure?” “Yeah, Reina. I am.” It’s time for me to go home and confront my demons. And maybe even the Devil himself. I have to do it because despite my scarlet “S” and the hate Caleb spewed at me all those years ago, I still love him. God help me, but no one has been able to make me forget him, and what could’ve been. I gave up hoping that we’d be together years ago, but I can make him listen to me now when he wouldn’t back then. I’ll hold him at gunpoint if I have to, but he will listen to me. And maybe I’ll even let him meet our son. * * * Caleb My mom is so worried about me and the stupid threats I’ve been receiving that she’s off in Las Vegas hiring me some private security. I’m not interested in any of that shit. It’s a coward who writes a note telling me to scrap my deal or else. Or else, what? Face me like a fucking man—or woman—if you want to be taken seriously. I’ve worked too hard on everything to give in either way, but writing me a note isn’t going to have me shaking in my boots. The woman in my life is worried, though, so I’ll play along. Well, I should say the important woman in my life is worried. Delia’s been in my bed almost every night for the past year, but she’s just a diversion. The ring on her finger makes her—and everyone else—think I’m over the girl whose name is only whispered in our small town. The girl who betrayed me and threw away the love I thought we felt for each other. I’ll say her name, because just like whoever ’s threatening me, she’s too chicken to show her face around here. Which saves me from having to ignore her, because God knows if she was in front of me, I couldn’t hide the fact that she’s still “The One.” But that will never happen. Not after what she did to me. Just thinking about it makes my anger flare up. Tegan Kelly can suck my dick—and from what I’ve heard, she probably would, without even knowing it was me.

CHAPTER 1

Tegan It’s time to come clean with my friends. Not about my son, Ethan—they all know and love him already. No, I need to come clean about where I’m from and why I’ve hidden it from everyone for so long. All the mentors know, and so does Bradley Hall. He helped me get out of Hell, otherwise known as the town I grew up in, and now he’s here in Vegas overseeing the literacy project Scott Griffin convinced him bring to town for his wife, Yasmin. It’s been good for E to have a family member other than me around. He knows who his dad is, and that we broke up when we were sixteen because of a misunderstanding. Only Cyndi and Brad know everything that happened that night, though. I wanted to keep it that way because I was embarrassed by my past. I know I shouldn’t be since everyone in the Society has endured pain of one kind or another. We wouldn’t be so good at our jobs if we hadn’t. But I still feel like a scared teen when I think about what happened to me. I just wanted to keep my pain for myself. I’ve already been analyzed by the shrink Cyndi sent me to when she saved me. I don’t want my friends to look at me differently or think I’m not as strong as I work hard to come across as being. I also don’t want them to ever realize that all the men…they were all because the one man I can’t have called me some names. Names I felt I had to live up to because I was hurting so badly, even though I wasn’t even close to what he and everyone else said I was. And because I was pregnant with a baby I wanted even more than him, but was almost forced to give up. So yeah, I was hoping to never tell my friends the whole truth, but in order to protect my son’s father, I’m going to have to tell them at least a little more of it. We’re between missions, so all nine of us, plus Reina, walk into the conference room. She’s still technically one of the agents, even though she’s now in charge, but we expect Jane Corrigan to start looking for a new recruit soon. I look to all of them and return their curious expressions with a small smile. Stella is the hardest to look at—I’ve lied to my best friend for too many years for her not to be hurt when she finds out. Our friendship has survived a lot, and I hope my secrets aren’t going to be enough to break it for good. “Hi,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I appreciate all of you coming in today. I-I have some things to tell you. Things that no one in this room knows. I can honestly say that I don’t know if I’d have told you—any of you—if the current situation didn’t call for it. I love you guys, but my past is…well, it’s not pretty.” “Teeg, you know you can tell us anything,” Stella tells me. “But if you don’t want to, it’s okay.” “I don’t, but someone came in for help earlier and, well, I have no choice. Ethan’s father is in danger, and whoever goes undercover will need to know everything in order to help protect him.” “Well, fuck,” Jade says. “I think Teeg—and—Nate would prefer it if you didn’t,” Reina tells her with a chuckle. “Huh? What? Me? I’m doing the mission?” “Yes. Mrs. Hall is very concerned about her son, and after seeing the communications that have been sent to Caleb, I have to agree that someone wants to harm him if he goes through with the deal

he’s brokering. She thinks someone posing as her new assistant will be the best way in without drawing any extra attention.” “What kind of deal is it?” “Caleb’s discovered an alternate fuel that can work in regular gas tanks. It can be added to gasoline or used on its own. He’s been working on it for years—it was his dream as a teenager. He developed it individually and is now selling it to his family’s oil company,” I answer. “Wait. I just got what you’re saying. Caleb Hall is Ethan’s dad? He’s a scientific genius. Like puts me to shame in level of genius. Hell, he might even put Isa to shame,” Audrey says. “He’s also a damn fine baseball and football player. He’s the whole package,” Ainsley says with admiration in her voice. “I once thought so too,” I say with more venom in my voice than I was planning to show today. “Tell us, Teeg. We love you. Whatever you have to say is okay. I promise,” Stella tells me. I nod. “Well, first of all, we’re not from Chicago. That’s where Cyndi took me when she rescued me—and Ethan. He wasn’t actually born yet, so I guess he really is from there, but I’m not. It was before the Society was officially formed. In fact, I was her last unofficial ‘mission.’” “That’s why your records are sealed,” Isa says. “Even I can’t access them.” “Yes. The mentors wanted to protect me. They did protect me. Anyway, I grew up in a small town in Texas. My parents were—are—small ranch owners. A ranch that’s next to the Hall’s place. Theirs is not small, and I was always told as a little girl to stay off their property and away from the family. I listened because I was a good girl. Until the day that the boy next door noticed me. “I know it’s like a bad cliché, but it really happened that way. I was ten when Caleb first asked me to play. We became best friends immediately. We went on adventures, swimming and catching fish in his creek, riding our horses for hours—just being kids. Until we weren’t. “One day we looked at each other and both realized that something had changed. I noticed the muscles he’d gotten from all the work on the ranch, and he noticed that I’d gotten some curves. Being the genius he is, he wanted us to approach this new found attraction logically. So we held hands for a week—only when we were alone, because we didn’t want anyone to know that things might have changed. The next week, we kissed each other ’s cheek as well as still holding hands. By the time the third week came to an end, we both knew our friendship was only enhancing the kissing we were doing, but we waited one more week to go public. “In our town, that meant that we went to the Fourth of July festival together, which wasn’t a surprise to anyone since we always went together as friends. When Cal kissed me in the middle of the town square, well that got us some shocked looks. Everyone was so used to seeing us together that they thought we’d just be friends forever. Especially because a Hall dating a Kelly was comparable to Prince Charming falling for Cinderella. I wasn’t what the town expected for their royal son; although, his family always accepted me as his friend, and then his girlfriend. “My parents tried to stop us, saying I was playing too far up the food chain, and he would hurt me. I knew he wouldn’t, though. No matter how many of the girls in town paraded themselves in front of him, Cal never gave me any reason to believe he’d leave me. My family may not have had a lot of money, but I never felt that when I was with him. I never felt less, until…until the day he told me that I was.” “You’re not, Teeg,” Stella tells me. I smile at my best friend. “Even after all these years of lying to you? Of telling you I only liked country music and clothes, but didn’t know the life?” “Hell, yeah. I don’t care where you were born. You’re my best friend, and I love you.” “Will you tell us what happened, Tegan? Can you?” Reina asks me, and I see the compassion in her eyes, so I tell her the truth. She’s known me the longest and may deserve it more than Stella, even.

“I-I can’t tell you everything. I want to, but it’s too hard.” “Then just tell us what you can.” “Cal and I dated for three years. When we were sixteen, some of his friends decided he should be taking advantage of all the pageant queens throwing themselves at him instead of dating the poor cowgirl. They…,” I take a deep breath and continued. “They did something to make it seem like I cheated on him with one of them, and he believed it. Just like that. He didn’t even ask me. He just called me a slut, among other names. He said he never wanted to see or speak to me again. That I was dead to him, and he wished…he wished I really was dead. I had just found out I was pregnant with Ethan and was planning on telling him the night it all went down.” “Why the fuck are we protecting this asshole?” Ellie asks. “He’s Ethan’s father. E knows who he is and that we haven’t spoken for almost eleven years. He doesn’t think he needs Caleb because of all the great guys he’s surrounded with, but one day he may change his mind. I can’t let his father die.” “I don’t have to be nice to him, though,” Jade says. “No,” Reina agrees. “You just have to protect him. Knee him in the balls daily if you want, just make sure he doesn’t get killed.” * * * Caleb My mom’s new “assistant” is starting today. I still don’t think I need some bodyguard, but whatever. It’s not worth the trouble of arguing with her. I have too much work to still do for the sale and launch of my new fuel system. I’ve been dreaming of making this a reality for over ten year now, and I almost can’t believe that it’s finally going to happen. I should be celebrating, and although I technically will be, it’s going to be bittersweet. All those years ago, when I was beginning this dream, I had Tegan by my side. She was my one person cheer squad, and better than any of the girls who danced on the sidelines for me at games. We had plans, plans for me to get this formula right and her to be next to me with a business and communications degree. As smart as I am with science, she’s smarter with writing and research. She’s also the savviest business person I’ve ever met—and she was sixteen the last time I saw her. So yeah, I’m excited, but while conquering the formula is a dream come true, doing it without her is somewhat of a nightmare. It’s a variation of the nightmare that began when half the high school saw her coming out of the bedroom Greg Dean was using at his cousin’s house in Houston. She only had a bra and panties on, along with her boots. The calls and texts started immediately—I was on a beer run with some of the other guys at the time so I missed the live show. I didn’t want to believe it, but everyone saw her. And I saw the guilt in her eyes when I went to confront her the next day. She didn’t even need to open her mouth—I could see that what was being said about her was true. That’s when I lost it, and lost her. Nothing’s been the same for me since. “There you are, Caleb,” my mom says, coming into the old barn I’d converted into a lab years ago. “Where else would I be, Mom?” I ask her over my shoulder, not trying to hide the affection in my voice. I’m a mama’s boy, and I own it. She smacks me on my ass before answering. “Enough sass from you. I brought my new assistant for you to meet.” I turn and take in the woman before me. She has long, reddish-brown hair, and curves any lingerie model would die for. She’s about medium height and glaring at me like I’ve wronged her somehow.

Since I’ve never seen her before, I’m not sure why she’s so angry. “Don’t you mean my bodyguard? The one I don’t need, or want. She doesn’t look like a bodyguard.” “We need to keep up appearances, Cal. I need you to be safe. Jade will keep you safe.” “Delia’s going to have a fit if she sees her near me.” “Stop talking about me like I’m not here, please, and who’s Delia?” Jade asks. “My fiancée. She has a jealous streak.” I swear I see her nostrils flare. “I don’t see why. You’re nothing special. You don’t even dress like a cowboy.” No, I don’t. That’s something else Tegan took from me. Hats and boots were so much a part of our daily life that I couldn’t look at mine any more. Once she was gone, I transformed myself into somewhat of a hipster, complete with some scruff on my face and a peak in my hair. “Jade! Reina said this wouldn’t be a problem.” “I will protect your son because one of my best friends has asked me to keep him safe. But I will not, at any time, be friendly towards him. He can go to Hell and never come back for all I care.” Whoa. “Who’s this friend of yours?” “That’s not really important,” my mom says, wringing her hands nervously. Jade just smirks at me before hopping on top of one of the counters in front of me. “Tegan Kelly. She’s my friend. And you’re the piece of shit that she wants to keep alive regardless of how badly you’ve hurt her. Your mommy didn’t think you could handle her being your bodyguard, so you got me instead. Lucky you.” I stumble backwards. Tegan’s friends with my bodyguard? And she’s part of this secret organization my mom had to beg her friend to find? Just who has she grown up to be? And why do I want to know so badly? Because I still love her, that’s why. And I’m supremely fucked.

CHAPTER 2

Tegan “I want to go with you,” Ethan tells me, coming into my bedroom as I pack. “What? No, E. It’s too dangerous.” “You said if I ever wanted to see him, you’d take me to him.” “Is-is that what you want? To meet him?” I ask as my hands shake a little. I expected this day to come. Sometimes, I’ve even longed for it. Those are the days I’ve felt guilty for keeping them apart. Not too guilty to contact him and risk losing my son, but guilty nonetheless. “Hell no.” “Language.” He gives me his smile. The one that makes him look even more like Caleb. He’s basically a mini him, but with my red hair instead of Cal’s dark brown locks. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little ache every time I look at him. It hurts to see the man I love staring back at me every day in our son, especially now that he’s already as tall as my shoulders. But it also fills me with happiness. “Heck no, Mama. I just want to see him. I know the house you bought there is on a hill near the ranch. I bet you’ve got a telescope, too.” He’s definitely my kid. “Yes, and yes, E. But if anyone saw you, they’d know you’re his. You look just like your daddy.” “My father. He hasn’t earned the right to be called my ‘daddy.’ I’ll stay in the house, I promise. Please.” I can’t say no to my son, just like I could never say no to his father. “Fine. One week only, though. And you have to listen to me. You’ll do whatever I tell you to do.” “I always do.” I give him a look, and he gives me a sheepish smile. “I’ll ask Luke to get your homework from your teacher.” “Don’t forget to call Miles and tell him I won’t be at Little League. Oh, and let Ryan know I can’t help with his new building model. And tell Scott I can’t…never mind. I’ll text them all.” I ruffle his hair and kiss his cheek before he runs back to his room. I wasn’t sure bringing him here from Chicago would be a good idea. He’d lived there his whole life, and all his friends were at the school he’d gone to since kindergarten. I visited him at least three times a month, but it was really hard to leave him there when I had to come here to Vegas. He was in good hands with Cyndi, but I missed him so much, and I was so happy when he asked to move here with me a couple of months ago. My friends all stepped right up to help—just like they’d done when we were all in Chicago together. Now it’s more fun for them since he’s becoming a little man instead of just a boy. The Griffin and Corrigan men have taken him under their wing, teaching him everything he needs to know about computers, architecture, art, hockey, baseball, and business. My friends Kace, Wade, and Brett from the band Storyside have been teaching him how to play different instruments when they’re

in town. Zack plays football with him, Gavin cooks with him, and Nate teaches him how to fight. Isa’s boyfriend, Jake, will have something to add to the mix as well, I’m sure. Cyndi, Jane, Maggie and Gary Griffin, Helen Wilson, and Mallory and Jeff Daniels have stepped in as honorary grandparents. He even calls the women his “Grams.” The Griffin women babysit for me sometimes; although I rarely go out anymore. They also make sure I know I can count on them for anything. And my girls, well, they’ve taught him how to respect and treat a woman. The Society women—past and present—have shown us so much love and support since I joined them all five years ago. I can never thank them all for what they’ve done for me and Ethan. He has a plethora of strong male and female role models. I couldn’t ask for a better life. Well, I could. But that’s a whole other story. A dream that will just never come true. For me, at least. “I’m ready,” Ethan tells me as he comes back into the room with his duffle bag over his shoulder. “Hey you didn’t pack anything else, Mama.” “Sit down a minute, ‘kay?” “What’s wrong?” “Nothing. I just need to talk to you.” “Okay,” he says as we both sit on my bed. “If you want to meet him, I’ll make it happen.” “I don’t.” “You’re sure?” “Yeah. I mean, I want to see him in person, but I don’t need him. I have you.” “I know there’s a father and son sports night at your school soon. I’d go, but that might be weird.” “Miles said he’d take me. Actually, all the guys offered. I’m covered. Really. And if I didn’t have them, I’d be happy to have you go. You’re my mom and my dad, too. The best anyone could ever have. As long as I have you, I don’t need some jerk in my life.” “He’s not a jerk, baby.” “He hurt you, so yeah he is.” “He got hurt, too. By what happened.” I haven’t told him the details, but he knows that someone lied about me and his dad believed it. I told him I had to leave my family because they weren’t going to let me keep him. That’s the easy version. The details are so much worse, and not something I ever think about sharing with him. He doesn’t need to know what I went through. “He should have believed you.” I can’t really argue with that, but I try to because my son should one day know his father. “He was young, and what he believed hurt him too much to think straight. I don’t want you to think badly of him, E.” “Well, I do. No one hurts my Mama and gets away with it.” I pull him to me and hold him tight as tears fill my eyes. His father used to get that same look of fierce protectiveness in his eyes when he talked about me. Seeing it on our son is more than I can take right now. Especially when I’m about to walk back into the town I left all those years ago with no real intention of going back so soon. Thank God my scarlet letter ’s still in place since they’ll all be looking for it. It doesn’t matter that I never really earned it until a lie tore my soul apart. * * * Caleb

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Tegan is back in my life. I mean, she’s not here, but she sent a friend to protect me. And from what I gathered earlier, she would’ve come here and done it herself. She was willing to come back here to the town that shunned her in order to make sure I was safe. Even though they all shunned her because of me. I can still remember her first day back at school after she cheated on me. “Well look at this. The slut decided to show her face today,” Greg told her. “Did you want more of my dick in your mouth?” “Go to Hell, you bastard.” “You’re the one going to Hell, whore,” Delia said. Tegan looked our way then, seeing Dee practically wrapped around me. “Well at least you got your wish, bitch.” “I did. Come on, Cal, we have to get to class. Maybe the janitor will take out the trash while we’re gone.” I feel the shame overtake me again as I think about that day, and the days after before she left town. I stood by and let them all say those things to her. I said things to her. Whether they were true or not doesn’t really matter. I’ve had years to realize that staying friends with Greg while condemning her was wrong. Hell, all of what was said and done to her was wrong. I still did it, though. I can’t go back and change it, but I honestly wish I could. I know I should’ve asked her for her side of the story because a part of me knows she loved me. But I was young, and let’s face it, stupid. Hell, I’m still stupid if the woman walking into my lab is any indication. “Who is she?” Dee asks with a sneer on her face. Why I hooked up with her when I came home a year ago is beyond me. She’s toxic and evil. “This is my mom’s new assistant, Jade.” “Why is she here with you if she’s your mama’s assistant?” “’She’ is right here and can answer for herself,” Jade says, hopping down from the counter. “Well then, go ahead.” “No.” “Excuse me?” I see the vein at Dee’s temple start to throb and I have to fight to hold back my laugh. She’s not used to being told “no” by anyone. Especially not someone who works for her family or mine. “I said no. I’m not going to tell you why I’m here. It’s none of your business.” “Caleb is for sure my business. We’re engaged,” she says, flashing the big diamond she insisted on. “I almost feel sorry for you, Caleb. Almost.” “Look, bitch. Maybe you don’t understand how things work since you’re obviously not from around here, but the help respects their employers around here.” “You’ve definitely downgraded, dude. Like big time.” “Get out.” Jade just starts laughing at her, and I’m kind of in awe. I mean, damn is she good. She pushed every one of Delia’s buttons in less than five minutes. Only Tegan was better. I remember what I was thinking of earlier, and realize that while I can’t make what I did better for her, I can stand up for her friend. “You get out, Dee, and don’t come back until you can act like a decent human being.” “Seriously?” “Yeah. I’m over this mean girl act you’ve been playing since high school. It got old then, and it’s disgusting now.” “You weren’t disgusted when you were making love to me last night.”

“Screwing, Dee. I screwed you. There was no love involved last night, or any other night for that matter. We both know it.” “Then why are you marrying me?” “You know.” “Say it,” she screeches, looking more than a little crazed. I’ve gone this far, though, so why not go all the way. “Because you’re nothing like her.” She lunges for me, but Jade steps in and tosses her back. Literally fucking tosses her backwards. Dee’s eyes are as wide as mine before she storms out. “Damn, Jade. That was…just, damn.” “It was honestly my pleasure. She was mean to Teeg, wasn’t she?” “Yeah. She was one of the worst.” “Then I’m glad I could do that. Who was worse than her, though? Maybe I need to pay them a visit, too.” “Me,” I tell her, looking her in the eye. “I was the worst.” * * * Tegan There’s no airport in my hometown, unless you count the Hall’s private air strip, so I have to drive in from Houston. Ethan is looking around, just taking it all in, when we approach the “Welcome” sign. I pull over to the side of the road before we reach it. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. I thought I was prepared to come back. I know I have to be here in order to make sure both Caleb and Jade are safe. But for some reason, I can’t make myself put the car back in drive. “It’s okay, Mama. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” “I’m supposed to take care of you, baby, not the other way around.” “You take care of the world already, and you’ve raised me better than anyone else ever could have. I want to protect you now. I’ve got your back.” I burst into tears then. Hearing my little boy wanting to protect me does me in. No one in this town ever stood up for me, not even my own parents. But Ethan will, and so will my friends. I know it without a doubt, and that’s what makes me shift the car into gear and drive into town. I suppress the urge to crouch in my seat as we drive through the main street of town. It’s not “Main Street” because there’s no one named Main living here. You guessed it—it’s Hall Street. Which I belatedly remember means this is part of Ethan’s legacy as well. “This is Hall Street, E. It was named for your great-great-great-great-grandfather, who founded this town.” “Woohoo.” “Sarcasm isn’t going to change who you are.” “I’m Tegan Kelly’s son. That’s all.” I want to argue with him, but I realize now is really not the time. I’ve worked hard to keep my bitterness towards Cal from Ethan, but he’s a smart kid. He knows what I’m doing, and he’s called me on it more than once. We pull up to my house before I can think any more about the two men I love, and how to handle them both. I bought this house about a year ago, with Matt’s help. He created a fake corporation for me, so it can’t be traced. I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to come back here, but because Caleb is here, I’ve kept my eye on the town. For Ethan’s sake, of course.

When I saw that this house was for sale, I had to have it. It’s been my dream house since I was a little girl. It’s a light blue Victorian with white trim. It has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a small barn, and enough land for a horse or two. I used to stare up at it and imagine Cal and I would live here. I don’t have the man, but I do have the house. It’s the only house higher on the hill than the Hall’s, and I was part of a bidding war with Colonel Hall—that’s his real first name, not a title—for it. He just didn’t know it was me. I can only imagine how angry he was that I won. That’s what he gets for investing most of his money back into the family business. I know he tried to get some money from Brad, but he knew I was the other bidder, so he refused. I’m just lucky it went up for sale before Caleb’s invention went live. They’ll all be richer than God once that formula starts making them money. I unlock the door and tell Ethan where to find his room. Chloe Griffin took care of all the decorating for me. I picked everything I wanted, and she had her crew come in here to put it all where I wanted it and make the updates I asked for. I’ll admit to a sense of satisfaction from knowing that no one in this town was hired to work on my house. Chloe wouldn’t allow it, and I’ll be forever grateful to her for that. “I see him, Mama. I see him with Jade.” I run up the stairs and over to the office where the telescope is, seeing the look of wonder on my son’s face. I didn’t think Ethan would go there so fast, but I should’ve known better. Despite his indifference, I know deep down that he wants to know his father. Maybe I just need to make a meeting happen, whether he wants it or not. He needs to see that his father is more than the boy who left me. So very much more.

CHAPTER 3

Caleb My hate mail has increased over the last few days. I don’t know how they know I’m almost ready to go into production this weekend, but they do. Which makes Jade sure that it’s someone here on the property. I don’t know who it could be, though. “There’s no one who was embarrassed or something by your family, but still works here?” “No. My family treats everyone well.” “Even your grandfather?” “He’s…difficult, but not mean.” “If you say so.” “I do.” “What did they think of Tegan?” “They loved her,” I tell her without hesitation. “We all did.” “Until you didn’t.” I don’t feel like lying anymore, and she’s probably the only one I can be honest with. “I never said I didn’t love Tegan.” “Oh, excuse me, I didn’t realize that ‘slut’ was another word for love.” “Do you know what she did?” “I know what you think she did.” “What who did?” Dee asks, breaking the moment and saving me from realizing that I may have made the biggest mistake of my life. “Not you,” Jade tells her. “Listen, I’ve had about enough of you.” “Good thing I don’t work for you then, huh?” “Caleb, why won’t you do something about her?” she whines to me. “I enjoy her company.” “I’m your fiancée.” “Yeah, about that. I’m thinking we should call it off.” “Are you insane?” “No. I think I’m the most sane I’ve been in years. We both know I only asked you because marrying you would be relatively easy for me.” “I love you.” “You don’t. You love the idea of me. Of marrying into my family.” “We’re good together.” “I’m trying to be gentle about this Dee, but do I really need to spell it out for you?” “I guess maybe you do.” “Fine. I dated you in high school because I knew it would hurt Tegan. I’ve been sleeping with you for the past year because you were available. And I asked you to marry me because I knew you’ve

always only wanted me for my last name. But I think it’s time I went after what I want, instead of just settling for what’s convenient.” “And you want her?” she asks, motioning towards Jade. “Umm, no. I mean, no offense Jade, but it’s not you I want.” “The feeling’s mutual, believe me.” “Then who? Who do you want?” “It’s really none of your business. Keep the ring, and whatever else I bought you.” “What about tomorrow?” Shit. I forgot about the family dinner to celebrate the formula being almost ready. “You can come to dinner, but that’s it.” “You’ll be sorry.” I already am. “Not for the reasons you think I will.” She storms out, and Jade starts clapping. “That was pretty freaking awesome.” “Thanks, but I didn’t really enjoy that.” “Yes, you did.” “You’re right, but I shouldn’t have.” “From what you’ve told me, that woman made one of my best friends suffer. I would’ve paid you to do that.” “I also told you I was worse.” “Karma already visited you when you hooked up with the beauty queen, but if you hurt Tegan again, I’ll come for you.” “I don’t even know where she is.” “When you want that information, all you have to do is ask.” “You’d tell me?” “Yeah, I think I would. I like you.” “I like you, too, and I’m going to be asking for the info soon. I just have to get some things in order.” “You do that. I’m just going to go outside and check in with my boss. I need to see if they’ve found anything more out about the letters and emails.” “You can do that in here.” “I like you, but I can’t say I trust you, Caleb.” “I’ll earn your trust.” “I certainly hope so.” * * * Tegan I don’t know what to do with Ethan. He’s become obsessed with watching Caleb through the telescope. He only leaves that room to take a shower or pee. He convinced me to let him sleep on the couch in there, and we eat in there now too. I know this isn’t healthy, but how can I keep him from his father any longer than I already have. “E, do you want to go over there today and meet him?” “Will it make you cry more?” “No, baby. I only cry because I see how much you want him, and I know I shouldn’t have kept him from you.”

“Yes. You should’ve. He broke your heart, Mama. I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t want to want him in my life.” “But you do.” “Yeah,” he says hanging his head down. “I’m sorry.” “No. Don’t apologize. I never want you to apologize for wanting him in your life. You deserve your father.” “Even if it ends up hurting you?” “Yes, Ethan. Even then. You come first. You always have, and you always will.” “What if he doesn’t care?” “He’ll care. Your father ’s going to care so much.” And hate me even more. “How do you know?” “Because I don’t think anyone could know you and not want to be part of your life.” “He can only have part of it, though. I won’t leave you, Mama. I know you’re worried about that.” He’s right. “If you wanted to go with him, I’d let you. But if he tries to take you otherwise, I’ll fight him. Harder than I’ve ever fought for something in my life. I promise you that.” “I know.” “Let’s wash up, and then we’ll drive over.” We’re out of the house fifteen minutes later. I’m surprised that the gates are open when we get to the ranch. There should be extra security, not less. As I’m parking the car, the chip in my arm starts buzzing. It’s Jade’s rhythm that buzzes under my skin, sending out the distress call. “Listen to me, E. I need you to stay in the car. Get on the floor and don’t move until I come back. No matter what you hear. Do you understand?” “Why? What’s wrong?” “Jade sent out a distress signal.” “Be careful, Mama.” “I always am.” Once he’s settled and I throw a blanket from the backseat over him, I check my weapons. I’ve got two of my Glocks and two Bowie knives. I put one gun in my waistband, and slide the knives into my boots. I use the car for cover and run to the side of the house. Nothing’s changed since I was last here, so I know the best way to get inside. Once I make it in the French doors of the study, I cock the gun in my hand and then slip out into the hallway leading to the dining room. I hear the screaming almost immediately. A voice I recognize from some of my nightmares is yelling about Caleb ruining everything. Delia. This is just getting better and better. I stay close to the wall until I get to the dining room door. There’s a large mirror on one wall that gives me a little glimpse at what’s going on. There are eight guys with guns, plus Delia and her little pistol. Christ. No wonder Jade send out the call. She could probably handle most of the guys, but a crazy woman is too unpredictable. I should know. I’m about to look like one. I grab a knife and switch hands with my gun. Good thing they teach us how to shoot with either hand in our Society training. Taking a deep breath, I lean into the room and throw the knife just as I shoot the guy nearest me, and then his friend. Semi-automatic trigger for the win. I hear the thud and Delia’s scream as I jump onto the table in front of Caleb, grab my other gun, and shoot the two guys closest to him. One got off a shot that hit me in the arm, but I’m too hyped up on adrenaline at the moment to feel the pain. Jade takes out three more guys as the last one drops to the floor with his hands in the air. Jade secures him after checking that the other guys are out. I keep myself in front of Caleb until she nods at me. Delia’s still screaming and begging for someone to free her hand from where my knife

has impaled it in the wall, when Ethan runs into the room. “Mama, you’re bleeding.” “Ethan, I told you to stay in the car until I came back out.” “I know.” “If you know then why are you in here?” “Your arm is bleeding.” “I got shot. It’s not bad. You shouldn’t be in here, baby.” “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. If I hadn’t wanted to meet him.” “Yes, I would’ve. I’m Jade’s backup. I would’ve gotten her distress signal even if we’d still been up at the house. This is not your fault, E.” “Oh my God,” Delia says from behind me. “He’s your kid. And Caleb’s. He looks just like him. You have a little bastard.” My other knife is in my hand and at her throat before I even realize it. “Listen to me clearly because I will only tell you this once, bitch. I don’t care what you called me in high school or even what you call me now. But say one more thing about my son, and I will slice your throat open without a second thought.” She must see I mean it because she just starts whimpering again. I think about shoving the knife further into her hand, but I have more important things to worry about. Not the least of which is the man who’s staring at our son with tears in his eyes. “Your name is Ethan?” Cal asks him. “Ethan Caleb Hall,” he replies. “You gave him my name?” he asks without taking his eyes off of our boy. “Yes.” I should say more, and I want to, but I can’t. I can’t make my mouth form more words. Seeing them together has my heart in my throat. If I wasn’t in the middle of an active crime scene, I’d probably drop right to the ground. As it is, I sway a little. “Mama,” Ethan says, pointing to me. “She’s hurt. Help her.” I feel strong arms come around me and pick me up before I fall to the ground. “I’ve got you, Teeg. I’ve got you. Just hold on,” Caleb tells me, as he lays me across some empty chairs. “It’s a through and through. I’m fine. I need to protect you.” “You did. You saved me.” “You’re not mad about Ethan?” “I’m so angry I can barely see straight, but I won’t fight with an injured woman.” “He’s perfect, Cal. He’s just like you. Perfect,” I tell him as I succumb to the darkness. * * * Caleb As Tegan passes out, Ethan—my son—starts to freak out. I pull him back from her as my mom runs in with one of the medical grade first aid kits we keep on hand for ranch injuries. She immediately puts pressure on Tegan’s arm, and has my dad hold it down. “I need to be with my mama. Let me go,” Ethan screams as he fights against me. “She’s okay, Ethan. She just lost some blood and she passed out,” my mom tells him. He stops struggling, and looks to Jade, who nods at him. “She’s okay. Her transmitter would let me know if she was in serious distress.” Transmitters. Guns. Knives. Who the hell has Tegan become?

“Thank you for taking care of her, Father,” Ethan tells me in a flat voice. “I’m not that formal, Ethan. You can call me ‘Dad.’” “No. You have to earn that name. You haven’t done that yet.” “I wasn’t given the chance.” “You hurt my mama. That was your chance. No one hurts her when I’m around.” I nod. Tegan wasn’t kidding. This kid—my kid—is pretty damn perfect. And she called me that, too. She said he was like me, even as he looks like he wants to punch me. “Your mom’s probably told you some pretty bad things about me, huh?” “No. I mean, I know you believed something about her that wasn’t true and you called her the ‘S’ word. Which makes me mad at you. But she also told me that you’re smart, and compassionate, and a bunch of other things. She said you’d want to meet me, and that you’d…care about me.” “I do, Ethan. I care.” It’s the truth. I may have just met him, but I love him already. I’ve heard people say it’s like that when you have a baby. I guess this is the same thing, only I missed the diapers, the first steps, and pretty much everything I should’ve been there for. I’m not missing anything ever again. I don’t know how we’ll work this out, but we will. “Did she tell you about us?” I hear from behind me. “Yes. You’re my grandma and grandpa. You came and asked Reina for help to keep my father safe.” There’s that damn word again. Father. I’m going to get him to call me “Dad” if it’s the last thing I do. He said I have to earn it, and I will. Whatever it takes. “Do you go with your mama on assignments like this regularly?” my dad asks. I need this answer, too. “Never. I usually stay with one of the Grams, or one of our friends. I begged her to bring me here so I could see him. I didn’t think I wanted to meet him, but I wanted to see him.” “How did you see me, Ethan?” “Mama owns the blue house on the hill. I had a telescope, so I could see you in the barn.” “The blue house? Tegan Kelly owns that house?” Oh shit. I remember the bidding war my grandpa waged for that house. I also remember how much Tegan always loved that house. I didn’t know she had the money to outbid him, though. “Yeah. It’s pretty cool, but I like my rooms in Chicago and Las Vegas better.” “Chicago and Las Vegas?” I ask. Jade interrupts us before I can answer. “My extraction team in almost here. You need to pack a bag, Caleb.” “A bag?” “You’re not safe here. We need to get you someplace safe.” “I’m fine here,” I say, looking around the room to notice that an FBI unit is here and is taking care of the bodies, while Delia and the last gunman are in handcuffs. I was so caught up in my son that I missed all the arrivals. “Why has no one helped Tegan?” “One of our doctors is on the plane and will take care of her. It’s better that way. Now about that bag. You have five minutes.” “I told you—,” I don’t get to finish my sentence as an explosion shakes the ground. I look out the window to see my lab in flames. “Okay, maybe I do need some protection.”

CHAPTER 4

Tegan I wake up in the hospital wing of the Foundation offices. I’ve been here before, so I’m not too disorientated. Until it all comes back to me, and I realize I passed out before getting Caleb—and Ethan —to safety. I start to get up, but Caleb’s voice stops me. “Easy, Teeg. You lost a bunch of blood.” I look over to see him on a chair next to my bed. Ethan’s sleeping in the recliner by the wall. They’re both safe. Thank God. I don’t know what I’d do if either one of them had ended up with even a scratch on them tonight. “I’m out of danger. You can unleash your anger on me now.” “He said you told him I’m a good guy.” “I did. I knew he would one day want to meet you. I needed him to know that you’re usually pretty decent.” “You called me perfect before you passed out.” “I used to think you were.” “I thought you were, too.” “And then we weren’t.” “You still should’ve told me.” “You said you never wanted to see or talk to me again.” “This is different. If you’d stayed, I would’ve been there for him. Even if I couldn’t have been there for you.” “If I’d have stayed, my parents were going to make me have an abortion. I loved him, Cal. Even when he was just the size of a pea, I loved him. I left to save him. I’d do it again. Every damn time.” “Fuck. I didn’t know, Teeg. Why couldn’t you have at least told me?” “When? While Delia was draped over you? Or when you were with Greg or one of your other asshole friends?” “If he didn’t look exactly like me, I’d have to ask if he was Greg’s son,” he tells me, practically spitting the words at me. “Get out.” “No.” “Get the fuck out of my room, you bastard.” I jump from the bed, not caring that my I.V. just ripped out. All of the machines in the room start beeping as the night team rushes in, along with Nate. “Teeg, what are you doing out of bed?” “He needs to leave, Nate.” “Got it. Out you go, Texas.” “No.” “That wasn’t a request.” “I’m not leaving my son.”

“Yeah, you are. He’s staying here until he’s ready to leave. But she wants you gone, so you’re going.” “Please, Teeg. Don’t make me leave him.” I walk over and shake Ethan awake. “Mama,” he says, jumping up to hug me. “Why aren’t you in bed?” “Your father and I were having a disagreement. I need him to leave. I want you to go with him.” “No.” “Yes. He needs to be protected, and the apartments are the most secure place in the city next to here. Show him the guest room, and then stay there with him. I should be home soon.” “I don’t want to leave you. You need me.” “Always, baby. I always need you. If I’m not home tomorrow, I’ll have one of the girls bring you back here, okay?” “I don’t think I have a choice,” he grumbles. I lean close to whisper in his ear. “He loves you already, E. I can see it. I had ten years with you all to myself. It’s only fair that he has at least one night.” He hugs me tighter, before nodding and letting me go. “I love you, Mama.” “I love you more, E.” “Let’s go, Father,” he says, rolling his eyes at Caleb. Oh yeah, he’s definitely our kid. * * * Caleb It’s not a fun ride to where Tegan lives. Not only is Ethan ignoring me by listening to music with his headphones on, but so is the person sitting next to me in the driver ’s seat. “I thought we were kind of friends, Jade.” “You pissed Tegan off enough to have her rip out her I.V.” “I’m pissed, too. I have a son I was never told about.” “I get that, Caleb, but attacking her is only going to make things worse for you with E, and all of us, instead of helping you build a relationship with him. He will never choose you over her.” “I’m not trying to take him from her. I just don’t want to miss anything else in his life. And I want to get to know him. Know all about him.” “He’s an amazing kid,” she says, glancing at me briefly. “He’s never lacked anything, including good male role models.” “You mean the guys Tegan sleeps around with?” I ask it before I can stop myself. Before I can keep the bitterness out of my voice. Jade slams on the brakes so fast, I almost get whiplash. Luckily there’s almost no one on this stretch of road. “I may kind of like you, Caleb, but I will not hesitate to hurt you. I thought I’d made that clear. Do not speak about—or to—Tegan with anything less than respect, or you’re going to be really sorry.” “What did he say about her?” Ethan asks from the backseat. I turn to look at him, trying to look apologetic, even though I’m not. What I said was true, whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not. “Just something dumb that I shouldn’t have. Sorry, E.” “Ethan. To you, I am Ethan.” “Until I earn anything else, right?” He doesn’t answer, just puts his headphones back on while glaring at me. Jade pulls back onto the road and finishes the drive. Once we’re past all the security in the building, and I’ve had my fingerprints and retina scanned in so I can move around the building by myself, I finally see where

my son lives for the first time. Of course it comes complete with a non-welcoming committee, but I should’ve expected that. Ethan is immediately engulfed in hugs by all the men and women who are waiting for us in the apartment. The women are gorgeous, and the men, well, I recognize some of them and my mouth drops open. These are Tegan’s friends? A Latina woman who looks to be in her early thirties—and is sexy as hell—starts to step towards me, but stops. “Go ahead and fangirl, Audrey. He needs to see one friendly face before we get started,” a woman I recognize from recent news reports as Reina Corrigan tells her. Fangirl? She looks familiar, but I can’t remember meeting her before. “Hi, Audrey. Why would you fangirl me? Do you know my family or something?” “I could give two shits about your family. It’s your brain I’m in awe of. I’ve been following your progress on the alternate fuel system for years.” Then it clicks for me. “Wait. You’re Audrey Sanchez, aren’t you?” “Yeah. And if you’ve heard of me, you’ve probably heard of Isabelle Carlton, too.” A sweet looking girl with a long blonde braid gives me a half-wave, as my mouth drops open. “Holy shit. You’re Tegan’s friends?” “I don’t think I like the way you said that. Why are you so shocked that Tegan has smart friends? She’s pretty damn brilliant herself,” Matt Corrigan tells me. “I am well aware of how brilliant Tegan is. I just didn’t know she knew so many academic people, and well, athletes.” “Slow down on the attacks for a minute, everyone, and let him have a moment to breathe,” a voice I recognize says. “Candi! Oh my God, it’s great to see you,” I tell her as she comes forward and hugs me. I look around and see another friendly face. “Liv? You’re pregnant?” “How’d you guess?” she asks with a laugh. “I’m due any day now.” “Wow. That’s great. Really great.” “How do you know this asshole, Candi?” a woman with hair that’s even brighter than Tegan’s asks. “I shot family portraits for him and his family last year, Darcy. I didn’t know at the time how he was connected to Tegan.” “At the time? Don’t you mean today?” I ask her. “No. Teeg came by the studio while I was going over your shots. She turned white as a ghost and told me who you were. When Ethan moved in, I let him pick his favorite photo of you, and we hung it in his room here.” “You have a picture of me in your room, E-Ethan?” I ask, my heart soaring. “It was my mama’s idea. She said I should see you every day, even if it was just in a picture.” I feel like my heart just stopped. I’m humbled, truly humbled, that Tegan would make sure I was a part of his life. She kept him from me physically, but she let him know about me. She didn’t have to do that, but she did. I’m not sure that I would’ve done the same thing. “I’d love to see your room.” I tell him, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Whatever,” he says, heading towards the staircase. “He’ll come around, Caleb. He’s just protective of Tegan. We all are.” I nod at Candi, say goodbye to everyone else, and then follow my son up the stairs. He points to a door on the right and tells me I can sleep in there. I throw my bag inside before moving along the hallway. He stops outside another door, and I know it’s his room. Not just because his name is spray painted in a cool design on the outside, but because I see the war inside him playing across his face. He doesn’t know if he’s ready to let me in—to his heart, or his room.

And as much as it hurts me, I get it. I really do. I may be his biological father, but I’m also a stranger to him. It’s not fair, but I have to accept that, and try to earn my way to more with him. “Why don’t you just go on to bed, Ethan. We’ll talk in the morning.” “I won’t ever leave her. You have to know that. If you try to take me, I’ll fight. Or run away,” he tells me with tears in his eyes. “I wouldn’t try and take you from her. I promise. I just want to be part of your life, too.” “You can’t hurt her, either. Everyone thinks she’s tough, or just lots of fun. But I hear her crying sometimes when she thinks I’m asleep. I know she’s crying for you.” Just gut me why don’t you, kid. “I promise you that I will do everything in my power to not hurt your mama.” “She’s the best mama ever.” “I don’t doubt that for one second.” “You can see my room now.” He opens the door, and we walk inside. I see the photos first, maybe because I was looking for them. There are black and white pictures of me and Tegan dominating the wall across from his bed. The picture he chose is also my favorite. I’m wearing a cowboy hat, which is rare for me, and staring out at the fields. Tegan’s photo takes my breath away. She’s also wearing a cowboy hat, and she has a big smile on her face. She’s so damn beautiful that it hurts to even see her like that in a picture. I can’t stop myself from moving forward and touching her face. “She’s the prettiest girl ever.” “Yeah, buddy. She really is.” I give myself a mental shake, and then take in the rest of his room. It’s really big and about the coolest kids room I’ve ever seen. He’s got a normal platform bed, but his desk is pretty high-tech and covered in several computers that are in different states of repair. He’s got a basketball hoop and even a batting cage in one area. The other walls are either brick covered in graffiti or plain walls full of signed sports memorabilia. There’s even a signed movie poster from the latest big action movie. “Your room’s really cool, Ethan. I love it.” “Me too. Mama said I could have whatever I wanted, and her friends made it happen.” “Your mom has some pretty great friends.” “Yep. They love me, too.” “I’m not surprised.” There’s something I need to ask, though. “Does your mama bring her boyfriends here?” He cocks his head to the side before answering. “She doesn’t have boyfriends. She kisses boys sometimes, but not here. I never meet them. Well, except for Miles, but she only kissed him once, and now he’s married to Alex who’s one of her best friends. Oh, and Wayne. They’ve kissed more than once, and I know he wants her to be his girlfriend. You’ll meet him tomorrow when he comes to give me a guitar lesson.” Miles Corrigan, huh? Damn. He’s one of the best baseball players ever. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous, even if he is happily married to someone else now. And who the fuck is this Wayne guy? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. All I know is that he can’t have her. Not when I have the chance to make all my dreams come true. I won’t let anyone—including me—stand in my way this time. Which means I better stop pissing her off, even if I do have a right to be angry. * * * Tegan

Stella and Kace insisted on driving me home today, even though I told them I’m fine. Yeah, I lost a little blood, but the bullet didn’t do any other real damage, and I’ve got most of my strength back already. But I know better than to argue with my best friend, so here we are, all arriving at my place together. I walk in to see most of my friends, along with balloons and tables of food. “Welcome home, Teeg,” Wayne says as he walks up and envelopes me in his strong arms. I hug him back, but when he tries to kiss me, I give him my cheek. “Don’t, Wayne.” “Oh come on. Mr. Uptight needs a little show.” Shit. I was so excited to see everyone that I almost forgot Cal was here, and I definitely forgot that today was a guitar lesson day. “What did you say to him?” “I might have led him to believe that we’re currently more than just good friends. E had already told him that we’ve kissed, which I’m sure he figured out is code for banged each other ’s brains out.” “Damn it.” “He’s the one, right? ‘The One?’” “Yeah.” “He’s jealous as hell of me. So like I said, let’s give him a show,” he says as he turns his head again. “No. I’m not playing games. If he wants me, then he needs to say it. I’m not going to pretend that I’m with you just to get a reaction out of him.” “You know I wish it wasn’t pretend.” “And you know I’d make it real if it was in me to do that.” “Yeah, I do. He better make you happy this time around, or he’s a dead man.” “Hey, quit hogging the woman of the hour, dude,” Brett tells him. They’re both in the boy band Storyside with Kace. We met when Stella was undercover. Wayne and I had sex a few times, but while it was just a distraction for me, he fell for me a little. I’m making it my mission to find him a worthy girl now that we’re good friends. “Hi Brett, I’ve missed you.” “Now that our tour is over, you’ll see so much of me I’ll make you sick.” “Um, no. You’re still going to be busy now that you’re home,” his boyfriend, Kevin, tells him with a kiss. “Just try and stop by at least once while you’re here. Both of you.” “We will, Miss T. You know we love you,” Kevin tells me. I wander around and visit with everyone else, laughing and eating food. Tomorrow we get back to the business of trying to figure out who wants Caleb dead, but tonight is for fun. Or at least it is until I realize that Cal is nowhere to be seen. I excuse myself, and head upstairs. I knock on his door, and when he answers, I walk inside. “Hey, what are you doing up here? I’ve never known you to not fit right in with anyone you meet.” “We don’t really know each other anymore, though, do we?” “I don’t believe that either one of us has fundamentally changed who we are.” “What? You think we’re like this apartment you’ve decorated to be modern, but still have some touch of country in it?” I look around at the light blue walls with black and white photos of the Hall Ranch that Candi gave me, then at the steel bed with a comforter covered in spurs and horseshoes. The rest of the apartment is like it, too. “I guess. Kind of. I didn’t think of that when I decorated. I just like modern things, but I missed… well, you. I wanted a piece of Texas here with me.” “All I wanted to do was try and forget you. It never completely worked, but I tried.” “That’s why you dress like you’re from the city.”

“Yeah.” “Anyway, you’re more than welcome to come and hang out. My friends will be cool with you.” “I-I’m just really confused right now. For so long I tried to hate you while still loving you so much it made it hard for me to breathe. Then, when Jade said she was your friend, all I could think about was seeing you and being with you again. Until I found out about Ethan. I am so fucking angry about you keeping me from my son that I can barely see straight. But when I saw you hugging and whispering with Wayne, I wanted to rip him apart. I was ready to forgive you for what you did years ago, but I don’t know if I can forgive you for now. I just don’t.” “I get the Ethan part. The rest…well, you’ve never known the whole story, and I guess if you can’t forgive me, you never will. I’ve asked Ryan and Chloe Griffin to transform one of the empty apartments here into a lab for you. I figured you’d want to work. They can add in a bedroom for you if it would make you more comfortable to be out of my apartment while we find whoever ’s after you.” “I need to be near Ethan. I can’t imagine being away from him for even a night.” “Then make yourself at home. Whatever you need, you just let E know, and he’ll have someone get it for you. I’ll stay away from you as much as possible.” “Thank you.” I just nod before walking out the door. I manage to make it down the hall and into my room before falling over. My body is shaking hard as I sob, and this time, it is my fault.

CHAPTER 5

Caleb It’s been almost a week since Tegan came home, and she’s kept her word about staying away from me, except for dinner. We spend every dinner together, like a normal family. She cooks, making sure to never make anything we ate as kids. I know she’s doing it on purpose because Ethan’s been asking for barbeque, but she keeps saying no. Which is why I’ve decided to take over dinner for tonight. I’ve got the meat marinated and ready for the grill on her balcony. Well, balcony’s an understatement. You could probably fit a small apartment out here. This whole building is pretty much a structural masterpiece, and I’ve been exploring as much of it as possible while I wait for my lab to be done. That’s coming along at record speed, and honestly, Tegan wasn’t joking when she said I could ask for anything. I’m frankly in awe of her and her friends. Well, mostly her. Which is why I wanted to make dinner tonight. “Mama’s going out tonight,” Ethan says as he comes out onto the balcony. “What? Going out where?” He shrugs. “Dancing or something.” “Does she do this a lot? Go out?” “No, I don’t,” Tegan answers me as she walks outside. She’s in a sexy black dress that’s got me hard within seconds. It’s got a halter neckline and hugs her curves all the way down to the asymmetrical hemline. I want to peel it off her body with my teeth. “Good.” “Excuse me? If I wanted to go out every night, it wouldn’t be any of your damn business.” “Uh, yeah it would. You shouldn’t be just leaving Ethan here alone.” “I’m not.” “When I have my lab up and running, I won’t be able to just run up here at the drop of a hat so you can go whore it up at clubs.” “Ethan, baby, please go to your room. Ainsley and Zack are coming over to hang out with you while I’m gone.” “I can take care of my son. I don’t need anyone else sleeping over with him.” “Mama?” “Go ahead, E.” He hugs her before glaring at me as he walks back inside. Tegan watches him go, and then turns back to me. “You will not—at any time—speak to me like that. Whether Ethan is around or not. I took it from you when I was sixteen, but I won’t now. Whether I go out once, or a hundred times, I am not a whore.” I should shut up. I know I should. But it’s making me crazy to think about her going out. Especially when she’s dressed like that. “Do you prefer slut?” “I will give you until the morning to gather your things and get the fuck out of my apartment. I don’t care where you go, but you need to be gone tomorrow.”

“I thought it wasn’t safe for me outside of this place.” “It’s not safe for you inside of this apartment any longer.” “You’re just Mother of the Year, aren’t you?” I don’t even see the punch coming, as Ethan launches himself at me. I fall with him on top of me. He’s hitting me hard and screaming at me. It takes Tegan less than a minute to pull him off me, but I can already taste the blood in my mouth. The kid’s got a great arm. “Ethan, calm down. Why are you out here? I told you to go to your room.” “I knew he was going to say more bad things to you. He can’t do that. I want him to leave tonight.” Damn it. I really fucked up this time. “Ethan, I’m sorry you heard that.” “You should be sorry you said it. A real man doesn’t call a woman the ‘S’ word, even if she does like to kiss men.” “Amen, E,” Zack Taylor says as he walks in with his fiancée, Ainsley, and takes in the scene. “I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that we have a problem here.” “Just a disagreement. We don’t need you here,” I tell him as I get to my feet. “Tegan hit you, so I’d say it’s more than just a disagreement.” “I hit him,” Ethan tells him. “He was calling her names because she wants to go out tonight.” “Since you’re staying here and letting yourself be protected, I didn’t think you had a death wish,” Ainsley tells me, as she pulls a gun out of her purse. “Enough. I-I…can’t do this. Ethan, you’re going to stay here with your dad tonight while I go… somewhere and figure out a solution. I’ll be back in the morning.” “You can stay with us, Teeg,” Ainsley tells her. “Thanks, but I really need to be alone.” “I don’t want to stay here with him.” “I know, E. But no matter what happens, he’s still your father. He deserves some time with you. I’m going to go pack a bag.” She apologizes to her friends for having them come over for no reason and then goes upstairs. Ainsley and Zack hug Ethan, and totally ignore me before leaving. “I hate you.” “All kids say that to their parents at some point, so I’m not going to take that personally.” “You should. You told me you wouldn’t hurt her.” “I said I’d try my best not to.” “That wasn’t trying. Or your best.” No it wasn’t, and I need to own it. I was jealous, and I lashed out. I deserve what he dished out to me, and more. I need to tell him that. “I was jealous, Ethan. It doesn’t excuse what I said, but that’s why I did it. I don’t want your mom kissing anyone else when I’m right here and she could kiss me.” “Why would she want to do that? So you can leave her again when another one of your ‘friends’ tells you some lie about her? You don’t deserve her kisses, or anything else. Not when you’re taking her tears.” Well, damn. Schooled by my kid, once again. And I know he’s right. I’ve been looking to punish Tegan, but I’m not entirely blameless, either. “Can you go ask her to stay? I’ll finish making dinner for all of us and apologize to her. I know I was wrong.” “I’ll ask, but don’t hold your breath.” * * *

Tegan It shouldn’t be taking me this long to pack one stupid overnight bag. I know it’s not about the bag, though. I’m trying to calm down enough to go back out there without freaking Ethan out even more than he already is. I’m a strong, powerful woman, yet when Caleb called me those names, I felt like I was a scared and pregnant sixteen year old girl again. I won’t let him break me this time. I can’t. There’s a knock at my door, and Ethan walks in. “Mama, don’t go. Please. He said he’ll apologize and make us all dinner. It’s your favorite. Barbeque.” “I know, baby. I saw the food when we were outside.” “He wants to kiss you.” “What?” I ask, finally turning around to look at my son. “That’s why he was so mean. He was jealous. I don’t want you to kiss him. He doesn’t deserve it.” “If and when I let your father kiss me, it will be my decision. I love you, E, but I have to make that choice myself.” “That means you’re going to.” “You can’t hit him again. That’s unacceptable.” “He can’t talk to you like that.” “I mean it, Ethan.” “So do I.” “I’m the parent here. This isn’t a negotiation. Or a democracy.” “We were fine without him.” “Maybe I’d believe that if I hadn’t seen the two of you together.” “Whatever. So I like having him here. But not if it hurts you.” “He has a right to be angry at me.” “And you have a right to be angry at him. You’re not going around calling him bad names, though.” “I did that for a lot of years. I don’t have the energy to do it now.” “You never did it in front of me like he did.” “If you’d gone to your room like you were told, you wouldn’t have heard it.” “He said the ‘W’ word before you told me to leave.” “You’re still being punished. No video games for a week.” “Fine,” he says with his arms crossed and his expression still stormy. “I know it is. Now go downstairs and help him with dinner. I’ll be down after I change.” “You should leave your dress on. He likes it.” “I thought you didn’t want me to kiss him.” “I don’t, but since you’re going to anyway, you might as well look pretty.” “I don’t look pretty in jeans and a t-shirt?” “This is one of those life lessons about talking to girls, isn’t it? I’m supposed to say you look pretty no matter what, right?” “Yes, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to say.” “Mama, you are the most beautiful girl ever,” he says, batting his eyes at me. I pull him to me and hug him tight. “Go on, now. And you’re still on punishment.” “I know, but it was totally worth it.” He laughs all the way out of the room. I debate for another ten minutes, deciding whether I should keep the dress on or not. I finally decide to change despite knowing I’m probably going to kiss him eventually if he starts acting like the decent man I know he is; I also know that’s not going to be tonight. Tonight, my anger ’s still running through my veins, so sweats and a t-shirt it is.

“That smells good,” I say as I walk downstairs. “You changed, Mama.” “I did.” “I liked the dress, Teeg. Ow.” Ethan’s glaring at him, after elbowing him in the ribs. “You’re supposed to tell her she looks pretty no matter what she’s wearing.” “I am, huh?” “Yep. I told her she was the most beautiful, but I’m still on punishment.” “What’s the sentence?” Oh, shit. “I’m sorry, Cal. I should’ve consulted with you. I’m just not used to having someone do this with me.” “Your choice, not mine.” He reminds me, having to get another dig in. The look on my face causes him to backtrack a little. “But it’s okay. Just let me know what he can’t do.” “No video games for a week.” “Got it. Can I add something, though?” “Sure.” “You’re going to keep your room and bathroom clean from now on.” “Marta cleans up after me.” “Not anymore. You need to learn to clean up after yourself.” “He knows how,” I say with a little more bite than I should. “I’m not attacking your parenting skills. He’s just got it easy. He should know about hard work. You and I both had to keep our own rooms clean growing up. I’d like him to do that as well.” “You’re rich. I know you have servants,” Ethan tells him. “I am, and I did. But I was always expected to clean up after myself and not give anyone else extra work just because I was being lazy.” I force myself to bite my tongue and not defend Ethan. Caleb’s right. I’ve taught our son a lot of great things, but his life is easier than either one of ours ever was. It should be easier, but cleaning up his own room isn’t too much to ask of him. “I’m not lazy. Tell him I’m not lazy,” he demands, looking at me. “You aren’t lazy, but your dad is right. You are more than capable of cleaning your own room.” “My father is making my life miserable.” I see the look of hurt on Caleb’s face and speak up immediately. “Ethan Caleb Hall, I did not raise you to be a liar. We’ve already talked about how happy you are to have your dad here. Don’t you dare try and make him feel bad for being a good parent. Just because he and I are not getting along does not mean it is okay for you to be rude. You’re not too old for me to put you over my knee.” “You’ve never spanked me before.” “Well now’s looking like a good time to start.” “I’m going to shut up now.” “Good call.” “You can spank me anytime, Teeg. Just saying.” “Gross, Dad. I’m getting ready to eat here.” Caleb’s eyes meet mine, and we both smile. It’s a small thing, and yet it’s really not. That one word tells us both that Ethan’s letting him even further in. And that makes me happier than I’ve been in a very long time. Although I put on a brave face for dinner, I’m still not ready to forgive and forget so quickly, which is why I tell them I’m heading up to my room right after dinner. Ethan’s definitely not happy about it.

“You’re going to go cry because of him.” “I’m going to go take a nice, hot bath, and try to relax a little. That’s all, E.” “You never lie to me, but you’re doing it now. Because he’s here. You don’t have to be tough all the time, Mama. I can be strong for you.” “It’s not your job to take care of me, baby. And I’m going to be fine. I promise. I just need a little time for me tonight, okay? How about you and me go to Drago Sisters after school tomorrow and get some treats?” “Can we have dinner out, too? Just us?” I look over at Caleb, wanting to punch him myself for putting us in this situation. For hurting not just me, but our son, too. I won’t, though. Someone has to try and be the bigger person at the moment, and it looks like it’s going to be me. While there is no excuse for the names he called me, he is still the man I kept from his son for ten years. I need to give him as much of Ethan as I can. “How about a small after-school meal at Corrigan with me? You can do your homework in my office while I finish some work, and then we’ll pick up treats to bring home for all of us. You and your dad can have dinner while I go out with the girls.” “You’re going out? Seriously?” Cal asks me, his eyes wide. “Yes. I had to cancel tonight when you had your little tantrum, but I need to have some fun. If you have a problem with that, then I really don’t know what to tell you. You’re not my husband, my man, or really anything to me except for my baby’s daddy. The only thing you have a say in is our son.” His jaw clenches, and his nostrils flare, but he nods. “You’re right. Have fun.” “I will.” I hug and kiss Ethan and then head up to my bath. I don’t cry because I didn’t really lose anything today. Yes, I had hoped that things would be different for Caleb and me this time around, but his behavior is nothing new. Which means that we won’t be either. We’re the same old kids, just with killers and a kid to keep the focus off of how much we’re trying to hurt each other. Love truly is a battlefield.

CHAPTER 6

Tegan I was stuck on a call with one of my contacts in Texas, so Nate went to get Ethan for me. I look around as I wait for them, wondering what Cal would think if he saw my office. He already made those comments about my apartment. My office isn’t a blend of modern and country. It’s all oldschool country, complete with George Strait and Randy Travis on the walls. I also have Luke Bryan up there, and my girl Taylor Swift, but it’s country all the way. Leather and cowhide, a map of Texas on the floor, and I even have my favorite saddle over by the window. It’s my own little piece of home, a nod to where my heart has always been and probably always will be, even if things never work out with me and Caleb. “Hi, Mama,” Ethan says, running in. “Hi, baby. How was school?” “It was fun. I’ll tell you all about it while we eat. Come on, I need a quesadilla,” he says, practically pulling me from my chair as I laugh. It takes a little while to make it to the cafeteria since everyone has to stop us for hugs and high fives. Everyone here at Corrigan & Co. loves Ethan. Not just us Foundation girls, but the regular staff who have no idea what we really do, have all grown to love my son. In fact, we get no less than five requests to join people at their tables once we walk into the cafeteria. We politely decline and head for the food. This place is like a giant food court with every type of food you could possibly want being offered. I grab some crab stuffed shrimp while E gets his quesadilla, and then we meet at a little table for two by the windows. “So now do I get a recap of your awesome day at school?” “How do you know it was awesome?” “Today is science day. That’s your favorite,” I tell him with a smile. Like father, like son. “It is,” he says, biting his lip and looking nervous. “What’s up?” He looks around before his gaze finally lands back on me. “I was wondering if…he…would help me with my science fair project.” “He?” I ask, knowing he means Cal, but wanting him to acknowledge his father. “You know, my da-father. My father.” “I’m sure your dad would love to help you. You can call him that, Ethan. It won’t upset me.” “He was mean to you last night.” “Yes. He was. I’m not going to argue about that, or try to defend him. We both know that no one should use those words he said to me. But no matter what happens with us, you deserve your dad. And he deserves you. Period. No questions asked. Let him in, E.” He looks away again, and I see tears start to form in his eyes. “I think I love him, Mama.” “That makes me happy,” I tell him as I reach over to squeeze his hand. There’s no more serious talk as we finish our lunch and go back to our work. I still haven’t been able to track down who’s after Cal—Dee’s not talking, and we know she’s not the ringleader—but I’m

hoping we’ll get a break soon. Besides wanting to keep him safe, I also need him to be able to leave the apartments. I know I’ll still see him every day since he doesn’t want to be away from Ethan, but knowing he’s down the hall from me is making it hard to sleep. I’d have a better shot at convincing him to move if he could take E outside. Once I’ve done all I can for the day, we pack up and drive over to Drago Sisters. It’s out of our way, but definitely worth it. I buy an assortment of things and chat with Eliza and Doreen for a few minutes. Ethan practically flies out of the elevator once we’re home, and I can’t help but smile at how excited he is to see Cal. I hang back a couple of minutes, to let them greet each other and also to psych myself up to see the man I love. I really need this night out tonight. No, what I really need is to get laid. I’ve never had a problem being asked into someone’s bed, so by early morning, I should be feeling more relaxed and able to be in Caleb’s presence without wanting to ride him back into being a cowboy. When I walk inside, they’re already discussing the science project, and I have to smile. They’re both so excited, and I’m able to just give a quick wave before running up to my room. I throw on a nude colored dress that has an overlay dotted with pink flowers. It’s short, and sexier than it sounds. Paired with hot pink heels and just a hint of make-up, this dress is a definite winner. “Wow Mama, you look beautiful,” Ethan tells me. I raise an eyebrow, so he continues. “I mean, you always look beautiful. I mean…darn…this girl stuff is hard.” “Tell me about it, buddy.” “First lesson, Caleb. Remove those words you’re so fond of from your vocabulary,” I tell him with more than a little bite in my voice. “Have fun,” Ethan tells me, coming over to hug me. I know he’s diffusing what could be another ugly situation, and I’m truly sorry that I put him in the position he’s in. “I will. I’m sorry.” “For what?” “For making you play peacemaker. That’s not your job. You’re supposed to just be a kid.” “I am just a kid. Your kid, and his. I’m not going to dream about some happy ending where we’ll all be a family. I just want you to be happy. Both of you,” he says, turning to look at Caleb, who’s gotten to his feet and is walking over to us. “I’ll walk your mama to the elevator and be right back, okay?” Ethan looks at me, and I nod. I’m not sure that I’m ready for whatever Cal has to say, but it’s better if it happens when we’re alone. He holds the door for me and follows me into the hall. “Go ahead and say what you need to.” “I just want to say that I hope you have fun, and I’m wondering if you’re coming home tonight.” I start to speak, but he holds up a hand. “I’m not accusing you of anything, I just need to know whether to make Ethan breakfast in the morning, or if you’ll be here to do it.” Saturdays are a big breakfast day for us. I’m guessing Ethan’s told him that I make him a big country breakfast every week. “I’ll be home before breakfast. That’s all I can promise you.” “See you then.” “Bye.” * * * Caleb When Tegan came downstairs in that dress, I wanted to kiss her so bad that it hurt. I value my life a little too much, so I didn’t. But I wanted to. Instead, I told her to have fun after she basically confirmed

that she’s going to fuck someone else. Then I came back inside and have been putting on a good front for my son. Or at least I thought I was doing a good job. “It’s your own fault if she kisses another guy tonight.” “I know.” “No, you don’t. I mean, yeah, you screwed up yesterday, but you could’ve invited Mama on a date, and I think she would’ve said yes.” “I hate to insult your intelligence, buddy, but I’m stuck in this building. Where exactly would I take your mom on a date?” “The bowling alley, the theatre, the ice rink, the game room, the indoor beach. Heck, you could even take her to the batting cages.” “Excuse me?” “I know Mama gave you access to the whole building. Haven’t you looked around?” “A little, but not much. I figured it was all just a normal apartment building.” “You know what my mom and her friends do, and you still thought they would live in some boring, normal apartment building?” When he puts it that way, I’m the one who looks dumb. “Yeah,” I say, weakly. He just shakes his head, and we both laugh as we hear the front door open. Tegan walks in, barefoot with her shoes dangling from her fingers. I stand up and take a few steps before I can stop myself. “Oh, um hi. I thought you guys would be hanging out downstairs or something,” she tells us, her eyes wide. “Dad didn’t even know about the downstairs. He hasn’t looked around there at all.” “Really?” “Yeah. I already know I’m pretty dumb, so you can save your comments.” “No, I really can’t. I mean, you’re Mr. Super Scientist, and yet you weren’t even a little curious about our building?” “I thought I’d find a weight room and maybe a pool.” The side of her mouth quirks up into a smile. “It’s so much better than that.” “So I’ve been told.” “Let me change, and then we can go play in the game room.” “I thought I couldn’t play video games,” Ethan tells her with a smirk. “You can’t,” she tells him, hands on her hips. “You can play skee-ball or any of the other non-video game, though. Or you can just stay here by yourself.” He looks between us, and smiles again. “I’ll stay here.” The smile falls from Tegan’s face as the one on mine grows. Oh yeah, the kid’s on my side now. Score one for dad. “Are you sick, E? You never turn down the game room.” “He’s not sick, he’s just being a good little wingman.” There’s that arched eyebrow that somehow manages to make me harder than I’ve been since I was sixteen. “Wingman? Are you trying to get a girl, Cal?” “No. I’m trying to get a woman. The only woman I’ve ever really wanted.” “What are you trying to get at exactly?” “I was hoping that my beautiful baby mama would let me hold her hand.” “You want to hold my hand?” “Yeah. I was thinking we could see if we like it for like, maybe, a few hours. Then, we could try something else.” “Cal,” she says, holding back a sob because that’s almost exactly what I said to her when we were thirteen.

“I know I’m supposed to ask for a week, but I can’t wait that long for the rest. What do you say, Teeg?” I ask, holding my hand out to her, palm up. She doesn’t hesitate to place her hand in mine, and this—holding hands with the woman I’ve always loved, while our son rolls his eyes at me—this really is the definition of happy. We just stare at each other with smiles on our face, until she gives my hand a squeeze and let’s go. “I’m going to change.” “You don’t have to.” She looks at me in my jeans and t-shirt and then down at her dress. “I’m a little overdressed for games.” “I think you look perfect.” “What if we play pool, and I have to bend over?” “I won’t look.” I get the eyebrow again. “Okay, so I’ll totally look. But I’ll do it in a respectful way.” “Ugh. Come on people, I’m still here.” “Sorry, E,” I tell him with a sheepish grin. “Yeah, yeah. I’m going to my room until you guys leave.” We hold in our laughter until he stomps up the stairs. “I’ve never had to worry about that before. We should’ve handled that a little better.” “Is there really any good way to handle the fact that you’re going to get it on when it comes to your kid?” “I don’t know who you’re planning to ‘get it on’ with tonight, but I can tell you it’s not going to be me. We can go have some fun, and I’ll let you hold my hand. Maybe even kiss me, but that’s it. I can’t give you more yet.” “I’ll take whatever I can get. I’ll happily kiss you for hours if you’ll let me.” “I said ‘maybe.’” “We’re playing pool, so we can just bet on the game.” “What do I get if I win?” she asks, taking my hand. “Whatever the fuck you want.” She lifts her other hand to run her finger over my bottom lip. “I guess we’re kissing no matter what then.” Yes! But I have to know something else before we go any further, before I take this leap with her once again. “You didn’t get the kisses you wanted at the club?” “I wasn’t looking for kisses. I wanted to get laid. But all I could think about was a hipster with a sexy southern accent.” “You grew up with my accent, Teeg.” “And I’ve always thought the way you talk is sexy, Cal.” She walks out the door after tossing her shoes onto one of the couches. I follow her to the elevator and wrap myself around her from behind as we wait. She stiffens, but doesn’t pull away. “All that sexual frustration is still in there, isn’t it? I could help you get it out.” “I already told you that’s not going to happen.” “So you’re saying that you would’ve fucked some random guy, but not me?” “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I’m the one who goes stiff as the elevator stops. I don’t fight her as she moves out of my arms and gets inside. There’s a challenge in her eyes when I meet them with my own. How I react to what she just said is going to determine more than just tonight. I know that, and so despite the jealousy raging in me, I smile at her. “I’m going to make you forget other men have existed.”

“You’re certainly welcome to try.” We spend the next several hours playing all kinds of games. Everything from pool to Pac-Man. No kisses are exchanged though. We both said we wanted to kiss, but for some reason we don’t. We hold hands, and I laugh more than I have in the last decade. It’s the best date I’ve ever been on, and I don’t want it to end. All good things come to an end though, and we both can barely keep our eyes open by the time we stagger up the stairs to our rooms. I did manage to ask her for another date tomorrow, so my mind is spinning with ideas as I fall asleep. Sweet, sexy, naughty things. We’re going to do them all, too. I’ll beg if I have to, but I’m having her tomorrow if it’s the last thing I do.

CHAPTER 7

Caleb Holding hands with Tegan last night was pretty damn great. Over the years, I’ve forgotten how good just holding someone’s hand can feel. Okay, not just someone. Holding her hand is what’s so awesome, and I know she appreciates me taking things old school. Tegan’s asked me to meet her in her home office to talk about the threats against me. I have to admit that someone sending people to hold me at gunpoint, and then blowing up my lab, made me take the threats more seriously. Tegan’s friends have people watching over my family, but I worry for Ethan. And her. I still have no clue why someone cares this much, though. “Hello, ladies,” I say as I walk into the room. “Hi, Caleb,” Jade says. “Hello,” Isa tells me. She’s a little more reserved, but something tells me not to underestimate her. Reina skips the greeting and gets down to business. “Have a seat, Caleb, and we’ll get started.” I take the seat next to Tegan and immediately grab her hand. It’s not even an option for me to not hold it anymore. Just like I won’t be able to stop kissing her once we start to do that again. Reina raises an eyebrow, but the other two women just smile at us. “We need to know if you can think of anyone who might want to stop your deal from happening, Cal. Delia’s not talking even though we’ve got her in custody, and the gunman we captured was too low level to know anything.” I know I should be more shocked that Delia was part of the group targeting me, but once I saw Ethan, nothing else mattered to me except for him. I feel stupid for not realizing how much she hated me, but I don’t have it in me to care all that much. Or try and look too closely at what these people’s motive must be. “We’ve already been over this. I don’t know who else could be behind this. I mean, I’m sure the Saudis aren’t happy, and neither are the other American oil companies, but I couldn’t tell you who’s this desperate. I mean, my formula won’t even come close to completely replacing traditional oil usage. At least not right away.” “There’s no one who’s close to you that would take a hit?” Isa asks me. “Honestly, no one I can think of. I’ve been immersed in my research for the past few years. I don’t socialize much.” “You got engaged,” Tegan says. “She was convenient, Teeg, and she tried to kill me when I broke it off.” “She was always a few crayons short of a full box. And she was in on it before you dumped her. That much we know at least.” “What about your other high school friends? You said you haven’t been socializing much, but do you still keep in touch with them?” Reina asks me. “We get a beer now and then, yeah.” “Do you talk about your work?” “Sometimes, but just in basic terms. Greg and Phil aren’t really interested in science.”

“You hang out with Greg? Really? You’ve got to be kidding me.” “He’s a good guy.” She pulls her hand from mine and stands so fast that her chair falls over. “I can’t do this. I just can’t.” “It was your choice to be part of this mission, Tegan.” “I’m not leaving the mission, Rei. I’m putting a stop to this,” she says, gesturing between the two of us. “We have a son together. ‘This’ isn’t going away,” I remind her, feeling the loss of her hand—and her—more than I thought I would after all these years. “Ethan isn’t, but the hand holding is. We’re going to behave as though we’re divorced and just hanging out together for his sake. Greg, and whoever else from school you hang out with, won’t come near him, though. I mean it. I will put a bullet in you myself if you bring them around.” “So you can have your friends, but I can’t have mine? Just because you cheated on me with one of them doesn’t mean they’re bad guys.” She just stares at me. I can see she wants to say something, but she doesn’t. She just sits back down in her chair, moving it as far away from me as she can. Her jaw is clenched, and she’s breathing hard, yet she’s backing down. I don’t know why, but I’m not sure I like it. I want her to defend herself, but it’s obvious that she’s not going to do that. “Are you okay to continue now, Teeg?” Reina asks her, looking as concerned as I feel. She closes her eyes and nods before speaking again. “There’s been no more activity at the ranch, Caleb. The people we have with your family say that the whole town is talking, but no one out of the ordinary has come to the property.” “Thank you for protecting them.” “It’s our job,” she tells me in a flat voice. Reina wraps up the meeting as quickly as possible, letting me know who and what they’re looking into but not giving me too many details. She also asks me to keep wracking my brain for anything out of the ordinary that someone might have said to me. I promise I will. Once the other women leave, I pull my chair over next to Tegan. She’s got her head in her hands now. “They’re good guys, Teeg. You wouldn’t have slept with Greg if you didn’t think there was something good about him. And Phil’s never done anything to you. Well, I mean, he joined in with all of us to torment you, but you did cheat on me.” “First of all, if sex happens, it takes two people. Punishing one, while being best friends with the other is bullshit. Second, I need you to get the fuck out of my office right now before I hurt you.” I see her hands shaking, and I know she’s in pain. I want to comfort her, or ask her more about why she’s so angry, but I don’t doubt that she’d hurt me at the moment. I push my chair back and walk away from her. I took one step forward last night, but just flew back about five hundred right now. The universe keeps telling me we shouldn’t be together, and maybe it’s time to start listening. * * * Tegan Hearing that Cal still hangs out with Greg sometimes hit me like a freight train. I know I didn’t handle it well, but it hurt me so badly—almost as much as it did all those years ago—and I couldn’t stop myself from lashing out. I’m really not sure that there’s a future for us, other than being Ethan’s parents. And I’ve got to learn to be okay with that.

I’ve been working for about two hours, looking back over every piece of information we have, when Isa’s distress call vibrates in my arm. I immediately run from the room and down the stairs. I’m grabbing guns from the living room safe when Ethan and Caleb walk in, wrapped in towels from their time at the indoor beach. “What’s wrong?” Ethan asks me. “Isa’s in trouble.” “Isn’t she with Uncle Brad today?’ “Yes,” I say as I grab my bag and start to push past them. Caleb grabs my arm before I’m out the door. “My uncle, Brad?” “Yes. Let me go. I need to get to them.” “Be careful, Tegan. And thank you.” “I’m not doing this for you.” I get down to the garage as fast as possible and hop on my Ducati. I know it’ll be faster than my car or truck, and right now all I can think about is getting to the Las Vegas Literacy Project offices in time. We put extra security in place there, too, but it obviously wasn’t enough. As I approach the building, which is in the middle of the Downtown Summerlin shopping area, I see that the doors are blown open. Shit. I drive around the back where I see Darcy already climbing the outside of the building. Her cat burglar skills definitely come in handy in times like these. I nod at her before activating my communications unit to let Ainsley and her team know that I’ve arrived, and head inside through the loading dock. The freight elevator is in front of me, and I see that it’s been disabled. She tells me they’re working on it, but whoever did this is good. Not as good as her, but good enough to slow her down. I don’t have time to wait for her, but it’s really not a problem. Darcy may have grown up climbing buildings, but I grew up climbing trees. The inside of the elevator has enough places for me to hold onto, and I know I can make it up with little effort. I do attach the harness I got from one of my saddlebags because I’m not stupid enough to free climb in a building filled with people who probably wouldn’t think twice about killing me. I climb my way to the third floor before Ainsley says she’s got control of the elevator again. She also tells me that everyone is on six, which is the main floor of the Literacy offices. I have her send the elevator to me and jump on it as it ascends to the fifth floor. Our ruse had the desired effect, and I hear gunfire pinging below me as I climb to the floor above. I flip to the top of the doors as she opens them remotely. Rapid gunfire hits the wall across from me, as I wait. Ainsley starts the elevator as the gunman peeks inside. I swing down and wrap my legs around him, dropping him into the elevator shaft. He gets off a few more shots as he falls, but I manage to avoid them as I swing out into the lobby. Two guns are pointed at me as I land, but neither person sees Darcy behind the guy on my left until it’s too late. She takes him down, while I dispose of his friend. We make our way up the spiral staircase with our guns drawn, speeding up when we hear a scream. I burst into the room, knowing that I can’t let anything happen to Brad, even if I get hurt myself. He was a big part of the support system that kept me going during my darkest hours. I owe him so much, and I won’t let anything happen to him. The first thing I see when I enter the room is Yasmin Griffin lying on the floor. I thought it was her scream, but I couldn’t be sure. Isa’s with her, pressing her shirt to a wound in Yasmin’s side, while a stunning blonde holds a gun to Brad’s temple. There are two other women with guns in the room, but I know Darcy can handle them. “The pageant called. It wants its hair back,” I tell the blonde, purposely trying to keep her distracted while Isa gets her gun out.

“Bless your heart,” she responds. “You can come up with a better insult than that,” I reply, letting some Texas back into my voice. “If you were worth my time, I probably could.” “You shouldn’t underestimate me. It never works out well for anyone who does.” “I’ll take my chances.” “That’s your first mistake,” I say as I shoot her in the arm, thanking God that Brad is able to drop to the floor and get out of the way as all Hell breaks loose. Faith comes through the door, guns blazing, leaving Isa and Darcy to take care of Yasmin. I crack my neck and motion for Blondie to bring it. I know we need to keep her alive to question her, but I need to fuck her up just a little bit. “What are you going to do to me?” “Hurt you. Just like you hurt my friend.” “We just used her as a lesson. Hall wasn’t cooperating.” “Hall men rarely do.” “I need his nephew.” “Join the club.” “You want the formula, too?” she asks, her eyes widening. “No, I just want the man. But just like you can’t have his formula, I can’t have him.” “Maybe I should be taking you instead of his uncle.” “Please try. Pretty please with a cherry on top.” “You’re crazy.” “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.” At her look of shock, I continue. “No, really. You’d think I was a direct descendent of Hester Prynne with all the shade thrown my way. I’d have been burned at the stake long ago if that kind of thing was still legal.” “I can’t compete with that. At all. Just go ahead and take me in.” “No fight?” “Um, no. I’m actually a little freaked out and scared by you.” “You keep saying those nice things, and I’ll think you have a crush on me.” “Can someone else arrest me? Anyone else?” she looks around, pleadingly. I love messing with pageant girls. Always have, and probably always will. “I’ve got her, Teeg,” Faith tells me with a laugh. “Fine. Take away my fun. But don’t worry, Beauty Queen. I’ll be seeing you again soon. You can think of some more pretty things to say to me while we’re apart.” “Is she for real?” she asks Faith as she’s led out of the room. “Yep. There’s not one fake thing about her.” I smile cheekily as I turn back to Brad. He’s smiling right back at me. “You sure know how to clear a room, my dear.” “I’ve had a lot of practice.” “I know.” “Are you okay?” “Yes.” “I’m going to go to the hospital with Yasmin, then.” I turn to where she’s being loaded onto a gurney by the EMTs who arrived a few minutes ago. “Can you take Brad to my place, Darcy?” “I’m not going into hiding.” “Yes. You are. You’re the closest thing I’ve had to a father for the past eleven years, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose you. You can stay in Faith’s old place.”

“I love you, Tegan. You’re the daughter I never had, and I would never put myself in the line of danger.” “Unless it was to help a kid. I get it. That’s what your support staff’s for, though. You’ve trained everyone well, and they’ll step up.” “Only for you will I do this.” “Thank you.” “We need to go, Teeg,” Isa tells me. I hug Brad and follow her outside. The ambulance doesn’t have room for me, so I grab my bike and follow them. Yasmin lost consciousness, so I’m really worried. She shouldn’t have been put in this position, and Brad shouldn’t have been, either. We need to figure this out, and soon. Before anyone else gets hurt.

CHAPTER 8

Caleb Ethan’s trying to pretend like he’s not worried. He keeps telling me how tough Tegan and her friends are, which I already know. I can tell he’s scared, though, and I keep trying to distract him with movies. I’d throw in a video game, too, but I’m not sure if I should lift his punishment, even now. This parenting stuff is just as hard as I thought it would be. Well, with all our other issues, it may be harder right now. We’re both out of our seats the second we hear the door opening. It’s Uncle Brad and Darcy, and Tegan’s not with them. My heart is racing hard. If something happened to her, and the last thing we did was fight…I…I don’t know if I could survive it. Hell, even if we weren’t fighting, losing her like that would do me in. “Where’s my mama?” Ethan asks, tears in his eyes. “She’s fine, E. Yasmin Griffin got shot, and your mom wanted to go to the hospital with her,” Darcy says. “Will Yasmin be okay?” “Yes. She’ll probably need surgery, but her injury wasn’t too bad.” “I should go to the hospital, too. Scott might need me.” It’s my uncle who pulls Ethan into his arm as he answers him. “Your mama wants us here, Ethan. She’s worried about everyone being safe. You can call Scott later and let him know you’re thinking and praying about Yasmin. Okay?” “I’m worried about Mama too, Uncle Brad. That’s my job, you know. I’m the man of the house.” Well, shit. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t just hit me in the heart like a bullet. “Yes, you are, Ethan. You do a wonderful job. No one could do it better.” “Well, maybe my dad could,” he says, making me smile. “That would involve him putting his pride aside as he removes his head from his ass. I’m not sure he’s ready to do that yet.” “Gee thanks. It’s nice to see you still have the same sense of loyalty that you did when you left eleven years ago.” “Darcy, can you stay with Ethan while Caleb and I have a talk upstairs?” “Of course. Faith’s apartment will be open for you when you get there.” “Thanks.” “Are you going to punch him for Mama?” Ethan asks him. “Probably,” he replies. We ride up the elevator in silence, and the silence continues for the first few minutes we’re inside the apartment. I look around and take in the giant kitchen that’s covering most of the first floor. And then I subtly move in front of the knives. I don’t really believe my uncle will hurt me, but now that I have a good idea why he left us all those years ago, I know that his loyalty lies with Tegan. “You don’t deserve her, or that boy,” he says, finally breaking the silence. “You’ve known about him all this time and never told me?”

“When I came to visit and brought up her name, you spewed so much venom that it’s a wonder the trees didn’t shrivel up and die.” “She cheated on me. I loved her more than anything. I would have done anything for her. Yet my love wasn’t enough to keep her out of some other guy’s bed.” “You believe what you want to believe. You did it then, and you’re doing it now.” “I believe the truth.” “Greg’s truth? Because I sure as shit know you never asked Tegan what really happened that night. Why is that, Cal?” “People saw her.” “Did they now?” “You obviously think you know something.” “No. I’m sure I know everything.” “Then why don’t you enlighten me?” “It’s not my story. If you wanted to hear the truth, you’d ask her. But I don’t think you want that. You didn’t then, and you don’t now. I asked you why, but I’m pretty sure I know that, too.” “Everyone here thinks she’s so damn wonderful and special.” So do I, if I’m being honest with myself. “She is, and you know that, even if you’re too stupid to admit how much she means to you. If you can’t ask her about that night, you need to let it go. Because they’ll be no chance for the two of you if you don’t.” “How do you know I even want that chance?” “You’re right. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part. The old romantic in me. You do what you want, Cal. You always have, and I expect you always will. No matter what it costs you.” “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Yes, you will. Goodnight.” I’m not mad enough to just walk out, so I walk over and hug him. I love my uncle, and it hurt when he left, coming back only once or twice a year. It hurts even more that he’s taking the side of the woman who nearly destroyed me. But I know he’s right. I need to face my demons and fears, or let go of them. And then I need to get my woman back. Then again, maybe I need to do that first. It’s a little too quiet when I get back into Tegan’s apartment. “Ethan,” I call out, worried all of sudden, even though I know this place is secure. “He went home with Darcy for the night,” Tegan says, coming out of the kitchen. “Hey.” “Brad’s all settled?” “I guess.” “Ethan said he was going to punch you, but you look okay.” “He threw some emotional punches at me, but nothing physical.” “I never wanted to come between you.” “Well, you did.” “I know.” “Did you eat?” That’s not what I should be asking her, but I’m just not ready for the heavy stuff yet. Or ever. “No. I was going to make a sandwich.” “I saved you some dinner.” “Really?” “Well, Ethan saved it, but I cooked.” “He takes good care of me.”

“Since he’s not here tonight, maybe I could fill in.” “What do you have in mind?” “Whatever you want.” “Anything?” she asks as she walks closer to me. “Yes,” I say, moving towards her as well. “I want you to kiss me, Caleb.” * * * Tegan He reaches for me without hesitation, and I melt into him as our lips meet for the first time since we were teenagers. It’s the same, but also different. His lips are just as I remember them in my dreams. Soft, yet demanding. I can feel him holding back, trying to keep himself from taking control too soon. I tilt my head to slant my lips at a different angle, and then I open for him, sucking at his lips until he finally gives me his tongue, His scruff is rubbing against my face as our mouths play. It feels so good, but I want more. I need more. Even if it’s just for one night. I slide my hands under his t-shirt and start pushing it up. He breaks our kiss to reach back and pull it off for me. “Teeg.” “Make me yours again, Cal. I want to be yours. Even if it’s just for one night.” My words snap that control that he was holding onto, and he lets out a growl as he picks me up and carries me to the couch. Instead of laying me down, he puts me on my knees, facing the back. This is definitely new. “If you’re going to be mine, I need to have my hands and mouth on all of you. Then I’ll put my cock in your pussy and fuck you all night. Is that what you want?” “Yes. God, yes.” He slides my shirt up and off of me and then pulls my jeans off. I’m back to kneeling, only now I’m just in my lacy bra and panties. “So very pretty. Did you wear these for me today?” “Yes,” I admit. “I like that, Teeg. I like it a lot.” He runs a finger down my arm, and I shiver under his touch. “Are you going to take your jeans off, too?” “If you ask nicely.” “Will you please take off your jeans so I can suck your cock?” “No.” “You don’t want me to?” “Oh, I do. But right now is Tegan Time. So spread your legs and show me how wet you are.” “My panties are still on.” “These,” I say as I grab each side and pull, tearing them right off her. “Are no longer a problem.” “I liked those.” “You’re going to like my fingers and mouth better. Just not yet.” I groan, but it turns into a moan when he licks a path up my spine, removing my bra along the way. He licks, kisses, and nibbles on every inch of my back before moving up to my shoulders and neck. I’m squirming, and shaking, and he’s nowhere near the places I thought were my erogenous zones yet. I know my skin’s going to be red from all the beard burn tomorrow, but damn if it doesn’t feel good.

After biting my left earlobe as I arch my back, Caleb lets go of my hair and turns me around. “Fuck, Teeg. You look good enough to eat, and I’m very, very hungry tonight.” He lays me down and gives me sweet kisses all over my face, before sucking gently on my neck. He keeps his hands on the armrest above me, and I know he’s doing it to make himself as crazy as he’s making me. It’s going to make it more explosive for both of us; although, I hate that we both know that. We didn’t learn it from each other. “You’re tensing up,” he says, leaning back to look at me. “Just thinking too much.” “I’m supposed to be making you feel so good that all you can think about is how many times you can come in the next several hours.” “I-I just wish there was no one else, ever.” “There’s no one else now. And I don’t want there to ever be anyone but us again. That’s what matters.” That right there is one of the reasons I love this man so much. He knows just what to say. He almost always has. I grab his face and pull his mouth to mine. He lets me be in control for a few minutes, before nipping my bottom lip and giving me that wicked hot smile of his again. His mouth descends on my collarbone, and each side gets a nice long lick. I arch my back as he starts licking the sides of my breasts. They’re small little licks, and as he starts doing it on the undersides of them too, I realize exactly what he’s doing. He’s licking the small stretch marks I have there. I’ve never been ashamed of them, or hidden them, but no one’s ever worshipped them. That’s what he’s doing, he worshipping my breasts. I nearly come out of my skin. “You fed our son from these, didn’t you? That’s where these sweet little lines came from.” “Yes.” “I love them even more now,” he tells me as he finally takes a nipple in his mouth and sucks hard. He adds his teeth to the mix, and I lift off the couch. If he keeps this up, I’m probably going to come before we even get to one of the main events. I feel him smile across my skin as he gives the other nipple the same treatment. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me. My ribs gets a few nibbles on them, and then the stretch marks on my stomach get the same reverence that my breasts did. I’m nearly incoherent by the time he bites my hip. He stops and looks down at my pussy as I widen my legs to show him how wet it is. “Do you remember the first time I went down on you, Tegan?” “The barn.” “You screamed so loud that I thought every ranch hand would come running.” “They did.” “And you told them you’d seen a spider. Like you were ever scared of a spider.” “Would you rather I told them that you made me scream like that by eating my pussy?” “As a fifteen year old boy? Hell yeah, I would’ve loved it.” “Are you going to make me scream again, Cal?” “Once I’m done with the rest of you, I sure am.” “The rest of me?” I ask on a groan. I’m more than ready to have his mouth on me. Or mine on him. I’m not picky. I reach for his jeans, but he pulls back. “Not your turn yet, naughty lady.” “You don’t want me to be naughty?” I ask, pouting. “Trust me, I’m looking forward to all the naughty things you have planned for me, but I haven’t finished claiming all of you, yet. You told me to make you mine, and I intend to.”

He turns me over and kisses me all over the globes of my ass. He always loved my ass, and it seems like nothing’s changed. Well, it’s a little bigger, but he doesn’t seem to mind that at all. After my legs and feet have been conquered, he flips me back over and starts working his way back up to where I know he wants to go. He wants it just as much as I do. I see it in his eyes when he gets there and looks up at me. He keeps eye contact with me as he gives me one long lick up my center. I bite my lip, and force myself to maintain eye contact. I want to watch. I need to watch as he twirls his tongue around my clit before plunging it inside of me. I hold on as long as I can, but once he plunges his fingers inside of me and uses his tongue exclusively on my clit, I’m done. I give him the screams he wants, and he rewards me by taking me over two more times in a matter of minutes. “You’re mine, Tegan Kelly. Mine.” “Always,” I tell him as I rear up, and push him down onto his back. It’s my turn now. “Have at me.” I smirk as I get his jeans and boxers off. He still wears boxers, and I love that one thing I knew about him is still the same. “I plan to.” I lick my lips as I lean over, and he sucks in a breath. I ignore his hard cock, though, and place kisses all over those mouth-watering abs of his. I had a glimpse of them the other day when he was wrestling with Ethan and his shirt got pulled up. I nearly orgasmed from the sight. Besides, he needs a little torture, too. “So you were checking me out the other night. I knew it.” “You don’t want me checking you out?” “The fuck I don’t. I want you so crazy for my body that you can’t control yourself.” “You were controlling me pretty well a few minutes ago,” I remind him as I bite into his biceps. I’ve always loved his arms. I’ve loved watching him work the ranch with his muscles flexing, and then having him wrap them around me. Tonight, I want them wrapped around me as I sleep. That will be hours from now, so I get back to my fun. Licking my way down his “happy trail,” I reach my destination. Or rather, it reaches me. That cock —the first cock I’ve ever known, and the only one I still fantasize about—jerks up as I move over him. I kiss the tip, earning a groan from Caleb. I torture him a little by just kissing up and down every side. He can’t stop himself from moving under me. When I can’t take it anymore, I plunge my mouth onto him, taking him as far as I can down my throat. “Fucking…God…fuck me, Tegan. Holy. Shit. Fuck.” I don’t let his continuing stream of curse words stop me, or even slow me down. I suck him hard and then roll his balls in my fingers. I move to straddle one of his thighs, and I know he feels the moisture pouring out of me when he starts moving it under me. I moan as he rubs against me while I suck him off. “Damn, it’s hot to see you getting off on sucking me, Teeg.” I suck him harder and ride his thigh for a few more minutes before he’s coming in my mouth. As the hot liquid shoots down my throat, I feel myself cresting again. I come while sucking on his tip, and then collapse onto his chest. “I think you’re going to kill me tonight, Cowboy.” “As long as you’re riding me hard when it happens, I’ll willingly go right along with you.” “We should go upstairs. I don’t know what time Ethan’s going to come home in the morning.” “Your bed or mine?” “What if I meant that we should go into our separate beds?”

“You didn’t.” “Tonight, we’ll go to your room,” I tell him as I stand up. My room is too personal to take him into right now. I’m not ready for him to see how I decorated it, or that there’s so much of the boy he once was in there. I can’t give him that power over me yet. “Let me grab you some food, and I’ll meet you up there.” “You don’t have to. I can get it myself.” “I’m going to take care of you, Tegan. My son told me tonight that he thinks I can do a better job than him, and I want to live up to that.” “For him.” “For both of you. I’m going to show both of you that you can count on me.” “I love you, Cal. I never stopped.” I probably shouldn’t admit that so soon, but I can’t help myself. I need him to know. “I didn’t either. I love you too, Teeg.”

CHAPTER 9

Caleb This last week has been pretty much a dream come true. I’ve got an amazing son, who’s finally calling me “dad.” The woman I’ve loved most of my life is in my bed every night. I’m working in a state of the art lab, where I’ve been able to do the final tests on my formula. And I’m acquiring a group of friends who love my woman and son almost as much as I do. Life is good, but not great. Tegan still won’t sleep with me in her room. She hasn’t even shown me her room yet. It probably shouldn’t be bothering me so much, but it is. I don’t want just a part of her. I want it all. I think we could have it this time around. If she’d just let me all the way back in. “Hey,” the subject of my thoughts says, walking into the lab. “Hey yourself.” “Liv just went into labor. I’m heading over there soon since I wanted to be at the hospital when Yasmin’s discharged. Do you want me to get some flowers or balloons or something, from you?” “You could just get something from the three of us.” “Oh. Yeah, I guess I could.” “Are you ever going to let me all the way in, Teeg?” “I want to. I’m just scared. I don’t know if I could survive you leaving again. And I have more than just me to think about this time.” “You had more than just yourself last time as well.” “And I made the choices I had to in order to protect our son.” “I’d like to know about what happened after you left. If you want to tell me.” “Just after I left? Not before?” “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to talk about you and Greg. But I’m letting it go because I want a future with you. The future that should’ve been our past, too. Could’ve been if you’d just told me you were pregnant.” “Are you going to ever be able to let that go? It’s a bigger issue than what happened at that stupid party.” “I’m willing to try. I am trying. So will you please tell me?” She takes a deep breath and then walks over to sit cross-legged on the only table in the room without bottles and test tubes covering it. “Okay, but I have to tell you first that I was going to tell you that night. The night our lives went to Hell. Or at least the night mine did.” “Then why did you sleep with him?” I know I said I didn’t want to talk about it, but I have to ask. “I didn’t.” “Oh come on, Tegan. Everyone saw you leave his room with no clothes on.” “I had on a bra and panties on when I left that room.” “So much better,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You really expect me to believe you didn’t have sex with Greg. He swears you did.” “And I swear that I didn’t. Apparently his word holds more weight than mine, but I already knew that. You wouldn’t have called me a slut, or a whore, every day for the weeks I stayed around if it

didn’t.” “Don’t put this on me.” “But it is. Your behavior is on you, Cal. You blindly believed what someone else told you about me. Despite all the love I had shown you every single fucking day. You didn’t even ask me what happened. You just believed him. That’s not even one percent on me because I never gave you a reason to doubt me.” Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. But I’ve felt my righteous anger over that night for too long to doubt myself now. If I did that, I’d have to admit what my uncle told me. I might have been the one to destroy what we had. I don’t want to think about what that says about me, and how insecure I was back then, so I don’t. “I just want to talk about after.” “Of course you do,” she says shaking her head. “I found out I was pregnant, and like I said, I was going to tell you. I knew I should’ve been scared, but I wasn’t. I was so happy to be having your baby. I knew you’d be happy, too, even if it did derail your plans a little. You always talked about us being together forever, and I believed that too. “The night that shall not be talked about happened, and things changed for me. I didn’t want to tell my parents. I knew, without your support, they wouldn’t let me keep the baby. They could barely manage to feed me. I was getting sick so much that my mom started to notice. She thought at first that it was just heartbreak, which she felt I deserved. In fact, I’m surprised that there wasn’t a red “A” sewn into all my shirts when she did my laundry. Anyway, she figured it out that second week, and told me I was going to get rid of it—of him. I told her no, but I was sixteen. I had no say over my body. She made an appointment at a women’s clinic in Houston. I wanted to run away, but my parents never let me out of their sight for those few days. I missed school even, so they could watch over me. “What she didn’t know is that I’d been to that clinic already, and the head doctor there knew I wanted my baby. She saw my name on the appointment list and contacted a friend of hers, Cyndi Evans. She knew that Cyndi was working with friends to help women and children, and she asked her to help me. When we showed up to the appointment, Cyndi was waiting. She offered my parents more money than they could ever hope to have, in exchange for turning over custody of me to her.” “That’s how they got the money to fix up the farm and make it profitable again?” “Yes. They happily took her money, and gave me—and Ethan—away. Cyndi took me to Chicago and moved me into her house. She got me the best pre-natal care available, and brought tutors in to give me lessons since I was embarrassed about being unwed and pregnant in a new place. “Brad found out what had happened when he asked my dad about all the money he suddenly acquired. I still don’t know how he got him to admit it, but he did. He came to Chicago and stayed with us. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him and Cyndi. They believed in me and taught me to believe in myself again. “I wanted to join the Society as soon as it was officially formed, which was pretty soon after I had our son. Jane refused, though. She said I needed to finish school and go to college. I hated her for a little while. I hated Reina, too, since she was allowed to join when she turned eighteen. Now, I’m thankful, though. I loved my college classes and the time I got to spend with Ethan growing up. I couldn’t have done that if I was in training and going on missions all the time.” “But you did leave him. Ethan says he’s only been with you here in Vegas for a couple of months.” “I feel like there’s something more that you would like to say, so you should probably go ahead and say it before I respond.” She’s right. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that you keep saying how much you love Ethan, and how everything you’ve done has been for him. Yet, you left him to come here for your job, and well, to sleep around.”

She takes some more deep breaths, and I see her hands clench into fists. She asked, though. She should know me well enough to know I’m a straight shooter. I’m waiting for the punch I think is coming, when she finally speaks again. “I offered to quit my job, Caleb. I said I would stay in Chicago because that’s where all Ethan’s friends were. I love the women I work with, and I owe Cyndi and the other mentors so much, but I was willing to walk away from everything to make sure our son was happy. “He refused to let me do it. He was only eight at the time, but he’s always known about what I—we —do. In kindergarten, when he had to draw his family, he drew a team of female superheroes, capes and all. He told me that I couldn’t stop helping people just to make things more comfortable for him. He said other kids needed me more than he did because he knew he was safe and loved.” God, but I can actually hear him saying that to her. Telling her to help others. Of course he knows how loved he is. I may be feeling angry, hurt, and a host of other feelings about this situation, but I know without a doubt that my son has been raised better than the majority of children in the world ever will be. Tegan and her friends have taught him—and shown him—real love, compassion, and acceptance. He’s had some of the best and brightest minds in the world teaching him about anything he could possibly want to know. And athletes, that guys I grew up with would kill to meet, teaching him every sport imaginable. I’m feeling like a royal ass now, and she’s not even done with me yet. “Don’t you fucking dare ever try to say that I haven’t tried to put him first. Until you, I’ve only taken on short missions while I’ve been here. Ones that lasted only a few days to a week. My friends picked up the slack with longer assignments, so I could go back to Chicago for at least one full week a month, as well as 2-3 weekends. “I’ve been to almost every one of his school plays, and as many sports games as I could manage. When I couldn’t be there, Cyndi or Brad made sure they were, so he always had someone who was there for him. Since he’s been here, he’s had a whole cheering section at everything he does.” “I shouldn’t have implied that you were a bad mother.” Especially when I know she’s not. “No, you shouldn’t have. As for partying, and sleeping around, that’s really none of your business. Did I try to erase every trace of you by sleeping with nameless guys? Yeah, I did. Did it work? Did hearing them call me sexy, and beautiful, and say all kinds of pretty things to me erase the ugly words you said to me? No. But I have come to realize that no matter how hard I tried to live up to those names you and your friends called me, I’m never going to be what you said I was. Not unless I call myself them, and I’ll never do that. Our son will never do that, either. He’ll never make a girl, or woman, feel like she’s less because she has a healthy sex life.” He’s already a better man than me, and he’s not yet a man. “You’re not those things, Teeg. I was hurting so badly when I called you them, I could barely see straight, much less think about what I was saying.” “You said them to me again less than two weeks ago. You weren’t hurt then.” “The hell I wasn’t. You were in that sexy dress, and it wasn’t for me. That’s no excuse, though.” “You’re right. It isn’t.” “I keep screwing this up.” “Wow. You’re right twice in one day. That has to be some kind of record,” she says, punching me lightly on the arm. I stand up and pull her to the edge of the table. She still has her legs folded, as I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. At first she just sits there, but after about a minute, she hugs me back, resting her head on top of mine. “Will you be my girlfriend again, Tegan Kelly? I promise to try and be a better man.”

“I think I’d like that, Caleb Hall. And I promise to always put you in your place when you act like an ass. Oh, and to wear that black dress again, just for you.” “I’m going to do lots of fun things to you while you’re wearing that dress,” I tell her as I pull her tshirt down a little to suck on the swells of her tits. “I’m counting on that.” She moves back a little, displacing my mouth as she tilts my head up. “Seriously, though. I know this whole situation is hard for you. I was living with a broken heart, but I had that beautiful boy with me. I can’t give you back those years, but I’ll share him with you from now on.” “Thank you for that. He’s the best gift I’ve ever been given. I just wish I could teach him something. He knows so much about everything already.” “Not everything, Cal. No one’s ever taught him to ride a horse, or work on a ranch.” “Really?” I’m truly shocked. “You and Uncle Brad never did that?” She shakes her head. “No. I think somewhere in the back of my mind I was hoping that you’d come back into my life. I refused to let Brad teach him, and I wouldn’t either. Ethan was actually pretty angry at me for a little while over it.” “You have no idea how much that means to me. When this is all cleared up, we can stay in your blue house, and I can show him everything about being a cowboy.” “He’d love that. Speaking of getting this cleared up, I need to get back on that. You go create things with your science brain, and I’ll see you tonight for dinner.” She hops off the counter, but I press her against it as I take her mouth. I know she’s right about us both needing to work, but I also need a little make-out session to tide me over until I have her in my bed again tonight. With that dress on, and then off. * * * Tegan I’m smiling as I walk into the Corrigan & Co. Foundation offices after my epic make-out session with Cal in his lab. I could’ve stayed there with him all day. If he didn’t have a formula to test and retest before its release, and I didn’t have a bad guy to find and punish for hurting him and my friends, I would’ve. But he does, and I do, so here I am. Alex holds up her finger, silently asking me to wait while she finishes the call she’s on. “Thanks for waiting, Teeg. I just wanted to let you know that Cyndi’s here.” “Is she in her office?” “She was talking to Reina, but she may be done.” “Thanks. I’ll look for her.” I skip down the hall—yes, I’m literally skipping—towards Reina’s office. I just made out with the man of my dreams, and now the woman who’s been a surrogate mother to me for years is here. Plus, I have the best kid ever. I’d be lying if I even tried to pretend that I’m not happier than I’ve been in years. I knock on the door and enter when it opens. “Cyndi,” I say while running over to hug her. “Hi, Teeg. I see a certain man we’re protecting is agreeing with you.” “I don’t know what you mean.” “You look happy. It’s good to see you this way.” “I am happy, but I’ll be even better once we figure out who’s behind all this madness.” “We actually have some information. I don’t know what you did to that woman we captured, but it didn’t take much effort on my part to find out what was going on.”

Reina’s official expertise is languages, but she has a knack for torture as well. A scary, nightmare inducing knack that works well for all of us when we’re trying to get the information we need from the bad guys. “I just messed with her a little.” “Well, it scared the hell out of her. She thinks you’re crazy.” “And you don’t?” “No. I think you like to test my patience, and break the rules from time to time, but you’re not crazy.” “I’m sorry, Rei.” “It’s fine. Well, I’m saying that now, but when you step out of line again, I’ll have to be the big, bad boss again.” “I know. You do it well, by the way.” My talk with Cal earlier makes me admit something to her that I haven’t ever done before. “I also need to apologize for when we were teenagers.” “Because you didn’t like me? We’re past that. At least I am.” “I never told you why I acted that way.” “No, you didn’t. I just figured it had to do with me seeming to have a carefree life while you were a teenage mother.” “It actually had to do with you being allowed to join the Society before college, while I was told I had to graduate first.” “Seriously?” “Yeah.” She looks at Cyndi then. “Why wouldn’t you let her join?” “Honestly, Jane and I thought that she might change her mind because of Ethan. We wanted her to have a degree to fall back on.” “You never told me that,” I say, expressing more than a little shock at this revelation. “I thought you just didn’t want me.” “If we hadn’t wanted you, you wouldn’t be here now. We didn’t tell you because we never wanted our fears to cloud your decisions.” “Thank you for that, and again Rei, I’m sorry for treating you badly.” “I’ll admit it’s nice to know that you didn’t just dislike me. I would’ve been pissed if I would’ve been forced to wait, too.” “I think you’re one of the cooler, more kick-ass chicks I know. I don’t think I could ever dislike you. I love you.” “I love you, too. Now before this evolves into a Hallmark moment, I’m going to call Ainsley and Isa in so we can all come up with a plan.” I laugh and then turn back to Cyndi while Reina makes the calls. “How are things in Chicago?” “Good. But we need to talk about you. And Caleb.” “We could just not, and say we did.” “Tegan.” “Fine. Go ahead and give me the lecture about how he hurt me, and I should take things slow this time around.” “I was there when your life fell apart.” “I know, and I don’t know that I’d even be alive if it wasn’t for you. But Caleb…he’s just it for me. You know, ‘it.’ You found your guy.” “I did, and I know what it’s like to love for life. I also know that you would’ve survived, even without me. You’re a survivor.” “Not if they’d taken Ethan from me. I would never have survived that.”

She nods. “Your son is the greatest testament to the love and strength you possess, my dear.” “And now his father is here, wanting to make a life with us.” “So he’s staying.” “Maybe? Honestly, we’ve been more focused on the two of them getting to know each other, and everything else that’s going on. We haven’t talked about what’s going to happen after.” “I’ll ask him that tonight, then.” “Tonight?” “You’re not having me over for dinner tonight?” Of course I am. She always comes over when she’s in town. “You know the offer ’s always open. Just try not to scare him too much.” “Would you really want to be with a man I could scare away?” “Don’t pretend that you’re not a bad-ass like the rest of us. I know better.” “That’s not an answer.” “No, I would not want to be with a man you could scare away,” I admit. “I knew that, I just wanted to hear you say it.” I roll my eyes and stick out my tongue at her as she laughs. I stop laughing once Reina tells me what she learned, and who exactly the Beauty Queen is. Once she gives Ainsley that information, it takes less than five minutes for us to have all the information we need to know. When the information is revealed, Cyndi and I both know I’m the best one for the job. I still haven’t spilled all my secrets to everyone else, but Reina is intuitive enough to give me a choice. There really is none, though. I need to face the Devil and hope that I come back with my soul still intact.

CHAPTER 10

Caleb I was getting ready to ask Jade if she could watch Ethan for me tonight, when Wayne arrived for another guitar lesson. Is it bad that I still hate him, even after Tegan told me they’re just friends now? I can’t erase the sight of him holding her or how she hugged him back. It’s looking like I’ll have a repeat performance tonight. Plus one. Tegan just called to say that Cyndi Evans is in town, and they’re coming by once they stop in at the hospital too see Liv and Luke’s baby and check on Yasmin. I met Tegan’s parents years ago, but I have a feeling the interrogation tonight is going to be even worse. Good thing I cooked extra food. I was planning on lunch for me and Teeg tomorrow, but Cyndi is welcome to some of it. “Dad, can Wayne stay for dinner?” Ethan asks me as they walk into the open great room. Oh yeah, my day is just getting better and better. I turn to see the bastard in question smirking at me. We both know what an ass I’d look like if I say no. “Of course he can.” “It’s so nice of you to cook for me, Caleb.” “Anytime, Wayne.” “Maybe you can come visit us in Texas,” Ethan tells him. “You’re moving to Texas?” “No, but Mama said my dad’s going to teach me all about being a cowboy on my grandparents’ ranch once it’s safe. We’ll stay in her house which is right above it. I can’t wait.” “Me either. We’re going to have fun, but it’s hard work, too.” “I can work hard. I’ve been cleaning up after myself like you said I had to.” “I know. You’ve been doing great.” “I’m going to do my homework, so I can spend more time with Gram when she gets here.” “Sounds like a plan. Let me know if you need any help.” “You’re really good with him,” Wayne tells me once he’s gone up to his room. “He’s a great kid, so it’s easy.” “That’s all Tegan, you know.” “No. It’s all of you. Thank you for being around for him.” “You hate me being around.” “Yeah, but he doesn’t. So what I think isn’t important.” “I’d take her from you in a second if I thought I had a chance.” “I wouldn’t blame you.” The front door opens, and Tegan comes in with Cyndi. She runs over to me and pulls me into a passionate kiss. “I’m sorry in advance, Cal,” she says in my ear when we come up for air. “I can handle them.” “You say that now, but…wait, them?” “Ethan asked me if Wayne could join us. I would’ve looked like an ass if I’d said no.” “I’m going to have to blow you at least twice for this dinner.”

“Nah, just don’t let anyone stab me when I answer something wrong.” “Deal, but I’m still having your cock in my mouth later.” “I’m not going to keep actively discouraging that.” “I didn’t really think you would.” “I’m sorry to break this up…no, actually I’m not. But I was invited for dinner, and not a show,” Wayne tells us. “Behave, Wayne.” “You never wanted me to behave when we were together.” “Wayne.” “It’s just so fun to mess with him, Teeg. I mean, he looks like he wants to murder me right now.” “If you don’t leave him alone, I’m going to stop trying to find you a woman.” “I already found one.” Shit. I may hate him, but I can sympathize with him right now, too. “I’ll be your wingman if Tegan’s not working out.” “I’m an excellent wing woman.” “For another woman, maybe. Wayne needs a guy’s help.” “But I know what he likes.” “So do I.” “Thanks, man. I might just take you up on that.” “Is anyone going to introduce me to Caleb?” “I’m sorry ma’am. I shouldn’t have distracted them. Caleb Hall at your service, Miss Cyndi.” “Put away the southern charm. I know too much about you for it to work on me.” “You have the advantage, but from what Tegan’s told me, I owe you for saving my son’s life, and hers. My appreciation is genuine.” “Gram,” Ethan yells, running down the stairs before she can respond to me. “Hi, E. How’s my favorite boy?” “Good. Wayne said I’m doing a good job on my guitar, and my dad’s going to teach me how to be a real cowboy. Isn’t that cool?” “Let’s all sit down and then we can talk a little but more about all of this.” “Okay. You all sit down while Dad and I get the food. We’re the hosts.” “Well, this is a change,” Cyndi says. I can’t tell from her tone whether she thinks it’s a good change or not. I didn’t like the way she deflected Ethan’s comment about me teaching him things. I have to remind myself that there may not have been an Ethan if it wasn’t for her. I owe her more than I can ever repay, so I’ll bite my tongue as much as I can tonight. I think I may be off the hook when nothing is said throughout dinner, but I should’ve known better than to hope for a reprieve. “Dinner was wonderful, Caleb. Thank you.” “You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.” “Yes, well, I think it’s time for us to talk.” “I’ll answer anything I can for you.” “What are your plans?” “For?” “Once you’re safe and can go back home. Are you going to do that?” “If Tegan and Ethan are going with me, I will. I don’t think that’s going to happen, though, so I guess I’m hoping to stay here if they’ll have me.” “We’ll have you, Dad.”

“You won’t miss your family, or your ranch?” “I went to MIT for four years of college and then worked in Boston doing research for another four. I was just fine being away. I’m not saying that I don’t want to visit, or maybe spend a holiday there, but I don’t need to live in that town.” “Even with this new deal that’s causing so much trouble?” “The deal is for my formula and the two others I’m working on. I can work on those anywhere. The lab Ryan and Chloe designed for me here is better than any I’ve ever been in. So again, I’m hoping to stay here.” “And when you and Tegan fight?” “We fight almost daily. And then we make up.” “Your answers are great, Caleb, but all I can think of when I see you is how broken she was when I met her. You did that to her.” “If you’d met me then, you would’ve seen that I wasn’t doing so well myself.” “Again, something that you did.” “I’ll admit that I share the blame, but I won’t take all of it.” “Pride cometh before a fall, young man. That’s not just a famous quote, it’s the truth.” “That’s enough, Cyndi. I love you, but you know I love him, too.” “It’s okay, Teeg. She’s just looking out for you. I appreciate it, and I’m not going anywhere.” “I want to believe you, but I’m going to have to see that happen before I can fully do that.” “No offense, ma’am, but it’s Tegan and Ethan that I need to impress. Not you, or anyone else. I’d love it if you accept me, but I can’t force you to, and I won’t try. I’ve never been a kiss-ass.” “I don’t want you to kiss my ass, Caleb. I just want you to stand by Tegan this time. No matter what happens. If you love her like you claim to, you’ll stand by her.” “I already told you that I’m not going anywhere.” “Then we won’t have a problem.” I see her nod to Tegan, who gives her a shaky smile. Why do I have a feeling that more is going on here than I know about? I try to catch Tegan’s eye, but she looks away. I need our guests to leave so I can just be alone with her and Ethan. Cyndi asked me about being away from my family, but while I love my parents and grandpa, these two people are the ones I can’t leave. I wasn’t lying about that. * * * Tegan Cal passed Cyndi’s test, but we both know the true test will be when he wakes up to find me gone tomorrow, and how he deals with what he’s going to see after that. I have to follow through with the plan, though, because I need him to be safe. That’s more important than love and romance. I know he wants to talk to me, but I can’t do that right now. I distract him by shoving my hands down his jeans once we’re in his room. “Tegan, honey, stop trying to get out of talking to me.” I ignore him and drop to my knees before he can stop me. He makes one more half-assed attempt to stop me, but once I have him in my mouth, he gives in. I knew he would, which is why I insisted on this. I love doing this to him, making him crazy, but this time it’s different. It’s a distraction, but also a reminder to him that I want to please him. He pulls me up before he finishes and lies down on his back with me on top of him. “You offering me a ride, Cowboy?” “Only if it’s hard and very, very wet.” “It is,” I say with a smirk as I look down at his cock, and then swipe a finger over myself.

I’m glad I took off my panties earlier, and that I decided to wear a dress today. I offer my finger to him, and he sucks it into his mouth. He moans as he looks me in the eye. “We are going to talk tomorrow.” I don’t answer as I lift myself up and plunge down on him. My eyes practically roll back in my head at how good he feels inside of me. “Cal.” “Yeah, that’s it,” he tells me as I start to move. “Fuck me hard, honey.” He pulls the sides of my wrap dress apart, and twists my nipples in his fingers through the lace of my bra. I arch my back as I lean forward to grab his headboard. The angle pushes him deeper inside of me, and I get one of the growls I love out of him. His fingers are a little frantic as he pushes my bra cups down and starts to move his mouth back and forth between my breasts. I’m going to have marks from the bites he can’t stop giving me as he goes a little crazy. “God, I love it when you mark me.” He bites harder, as I grind down onto his cock. It pushes me over the edge, and I come as quietly as possible because I don’t want to wake up Ethan. A few hard pumps later, and Cal comes too, jerking me up with him as he bites the underside of my right breast one last time. We both just lie there, breathing hard, for a few minutes. “Damn, it just gets hotter and hotter with you.” “Same.” “All those years when we were apart, I used to tell myself that I was just imagining it was better with you than it was with anyone after. But I wasn’t. There’s nothing like being inside of you, making love to you.” “Right back at ya, Cal. It’s never been like this except with you.” “Even with Wayne?” I smile against his chest. “Yes, you crazy jealous man. I never really enjoyed being with anyone else, including him, because I only wanted you.” “You’ve got me, Teeg. For as long as you want me, which I hope is forever.” “Careful. That almost sounds like a proposal.” “It’s whatever you want. I’d marry you tonight.” I want to grab him and take him down to a chapel right now. We could take Ethan, Cyndi, Brad, and Stella, and get married in a matter of hours. But I can’t do that. Not before what I have to do tomorrow. If we were married, it would make things worse. “You’re thinking about it, aren’t you? Should I go get Ethan?” “You don’t want that, Cal. Your parents aren’t here.” “I do want it. Do you have something you can wear?” “Um, yeah. I think I do.” “Go call your friends, then. One request, though.” “What is it?” “Can we have Elvis marry us?” I burst out laughing. “Yeah, we can do that.” “Then get moving. I want to get my wife back here as soon as possible.” “You’re really sure about this? I mean, what if something happens to make you angry at me again?” “I’m not a teenager anymore. If I get really angry at you again, we’ll talk. Now stop worrying and get a move on.” * * *

I have the perfect outfit to wear when getting married in a Vegas wedding chapel. It’s a white lace cropped shirt, with a matching skirt. It’s from a classy store, even though it’s a little “club.” I saw it in the store a couple of months ago and just had to buy it for some reason. All my girls are here with me, while Ethan and Caleb are downstairs in Stella’s place with the guys. “If you’re sure, Teeg, I have a gift for you. I saw these and knew you had to wear them for your wedding one day.” “I’m sure, Stell. I know this is fast, and probably a little crazy, but I’ve wanted to marry Caleb since I was thirteen.” “Not in a Vegas wedding chapel,” Cyndi reminds me. “No. I was hoping for our creek on his family’s ranch. But it’s the marriage, not the place, that matters.” “Jade’s going to replace you tomorrow,” Reina tells me. “What? No. I need to be the one to do this. You know that.” “Caleb isn’t going to be okay when the pictures surface. Because you’ve already told us that there will definitely be pictures. It would be hard enough if he was your boyfriend, but now he’s going to be your husband.” “He said that if he ever got really angry at me, we’d talk it out.” “It’s easy for him to say that now, before a really bad situation occurs. You know this is going to be bad,” Cyndi tells me. “It may be the only way to end this, to save him. That has to be more important than protecting my heart.” “I can’t argue with that, but just know that I’ll be here to hold you up if he won’t listen to you.” “We all will,” Stella says, coming back into the room with a gorgeous pair of boots. They’re cream colored satin cowboy boots with gold embroidery. “Oh my God. Those are perfect.” “I knew you’d like them.” “I love them. You’re the best bestie ever!” “Aww, thanks babe.” I slip them on and check my hair once more in the mirror. I put it in a big, loose bun with a few curls hanging down in front. I smooth down my dress and smile. I’ll be Tegan Hall in just a couple of hours. And with any luck, I’ll have taken down the man who’s behind the threats on my husband tomorrow night. * * * Caleb “You need a hat and boots, Dad.” “No, this suit is fine, E.” “Nu-uh, Mama’s going to want you to look like a cowboy.” Shit. I know he’s right. “I don’t know if any stores are open.” “It’s Vegas, man. We’ll find something that’s open, or they’ll open it for me,” Wayne tells me with a smirk. An hour later, I not only have a hat and boots, but also rings for us. I got her a large pink diamond with white diamonds running along a twisted black band, paired with another black band studded with white diamonds that fits underneath the first one. Mine is just a plain black band. I don’t need anything fancy, but I know she’s going to love hers. Ethan gave his stamp of approval, too.

We have to get our marriage license before the ceremony, so Tegan’s meeting me at the courthouse. I’m waiting nervously at the counter when she walks in. I forget how to breathe when I see her. What she’s wearing shouldn’t look like wedding attire, but paired with the fancy boots, and the fact that it’s her wearing it, I think she looks like the perfect bride. Especially with the big smile that breaks over her face when she takes in my hat and boots. “You look so good, Cowboy.” “You look even better, honey.” “Thanks for wearing a hat and boots.” “Our son reminded me that you’d want me like this, and Wayne helped me make it happen.” “I want you however I can get you, but I like this. A lot. I’ll have to give Wayne a thank you kiss.” “On the cheek,” I tell her as she laughs. “He also helped me get this.” I pull out the ring, and she lets out a little gasp. I drop to one knee so I can ask her properly. I know we’re already here, getting our license and all, but I want her to look back and remember that I asked. “I’ve loved you for more than half my life, Tegan Kelly. Will you please marry me?” “Yes, because I’ve also loved you that long.” I slide the ring on her finger and stand up to pull her to me for a kiss. I’m stopped before our lips touch, though. “You can kiss her when Elvis tells you to. Until then, she’s off limits,” Stella tells me. “Fine. But it’s going to be one of those kisses that makes all the guests feel awkward, so be prepared.” “Yuck, Dad.” “Just close your eyes,” Tegan tells him. “I have a feeling I’m going to be doing that a lot from now on.” “Count on it,” I admit. We get the license and then head down the street to the chapel. Elvis is ready for us, and the ceremony goes off without a hitch. Cyndi and Brad give Tegan away, which has tears in all of our eyes. Ethan is my best man, and Stella is the maid of honor. I’ll admit I was a little worried that Cyndi or Wayne would object, but no one does. An added bonus is that the chapel was able to live stream the ceremony, so my family in Texas were able to watch as well. We didn’t have time for a cake or reception, but I’ll make it up to her later. My mom already said she wants to have a big party for us once we’re able to travel there. Tegan asked them not to tell anyone about the wedding yet. She said it’s too dangerous. I don’t really care if anyone knows or not. It only matters that we are in fact married. When we get back to her place, she tells me to wait in the upstairs hall for a minute while she goes into her room. I lean against the wall and wait for my surprise. It’s worth the wait when I see her standing in the doorway, wearing that damn black dress. “Come on in,” she says, finally inviting me in. I’ve wanted to see her room for so long, but all I can think about right now is her in that dress. Until I’m past the door. Then I stop and look around in shock. The room’s full of things from our past. Little gifts I gave her and pictures. The entire wall facing her bed is filled with pictures of us. There are large photos of Ethan and me that Candi took, but in between are photos of the two of us, from the time we were kids until we were sixteen. “Say something,” she says. “I’m going to do so many bad things to you tonight, that you’re going to lose your voice from all the screaming.” “Promises, promises” “I’m keeping this promise, honey. I guarantee it,” I tell her as I pick her up and toss her onto her bed.

The bed looks like a corral, with wood rails on each side and a headboard made from a piece of wood that I recognize because it was once in my family’s barn. It’s perfect, just like we are when we’re together. I’m so glad that she finally let me in. Waking up next to my wife tomorrow is going to be amazing.

CHAPTER 11

Tegan I wake up before I need to, but I’m glad that I did. Caleb just rolled over away from me in his sleep, but I know from experience these last few weeks, that it will only last for maybe an hour, and then he’ll roll back over to me. It’s sweet that he can’t be away from me for long, but right now it’s making my heart hurt. I dress quickly, and leave the note I wrote on my pillow for him. With any luck, I’ll be back here in less than twenty four hours to explain everything. I’m already on one of the Corrigan jets when the first message comes in on my computer screen. Cal: What the hell Teeg? You’re just going to fucking leave me after we got married last night? Me: I left you a note. Cal: I got the damn note. I want my wife. Come home. Me: I can’t, but if everything goes like it should, I’ll be home tomorrow. Cal: Tell me what’s going on at least. That note was shit. “I love you, but I have to leave.” Really? WTF? Me: I can’t explain now. Just please remember that everything is not what it seems. Cal: With us? Me: No. You and Ethan are my everything, Cowboy. You just might see something that looks bad. I need you to know that it won’t be what it looks like. Cal: Cryptic much? Me: I love you. Cal: I know. I love you too. Hurry home, honey. Me: I promise you that I’ll be back as soon as I can. Cal: I guess that’s all I can ask for. Call me when you can. Me: I will. I close my eyes as we descend into Houston, and pray that I can actually pull this off. I haven’t seen Greg since high school. When I got a Facebook account a few years ago, he tried to friend me, but I declined his request. For obvious reasons. I never, in a million years, thought I would have to go near him again. But to save Caleb, I’ll do anything, even add to my bad reputation. If that’s possible. “You okay, Teeg?” Nate asks me when we get to my house. He’s here to back me up. I’m hoping I won’t need it, but I’m not putting anything past the bastard who already conspired to break me once. “As okay as I can be. I need to go get changed.” “I don’t know all the details of what this guy did to you, but I’ve got your back. I won’t hesitate to take him down if he tries to hurt you.” “Thanks.” I put on the dress Stella got me for tonight. It’s not something I would normally ever wear, even when I was going out looking for a guy to take to bed. But Greg won’t be able to ignore it. I told her to get me the red one, so it can match my invisible letter. The one that’s going to come back full force tonight. The dress has a gold, flowered lace overlay and red lace sleeves. It’s super short, with a very

deep V-neck. I have a nice set of girls, but I still use an extreme push-up bra to make them practically fall out. I have to adjust a little to hide Caleb’s bite marks, but I get them all covered. Simple red heels complete my look. “Whoa. I’m definitely protecting you tonight.” “So you think he’ll notice me?” “Hell, Teeg. You’re like a little sister to me, and I’m noticing you.” “Gross. You need to be noticing Jade,” I tell him as we walk outside. “I notice her. That’s my problem.” “She could be your salvation.” “Drop it.” “For now.” We get in the car and drive down into town. He gets out a block away from the local bar, so no one will see us together. I park in the parking lot, and check my make-up. I already know my hair is clashing with the dress, but tonight is about looking trashy, so it works. The minute I walk into the bar, most conversations stop. I immediately see Greg with the blonde I was told he’d be with. She’s another pageant girl from Dallas, according to my “friend” back in Vegas. I ignore the fact that I want to throw up right now, and swing my hips as I walk towards the one person I’d hoped to never see again in my life. “Well, well, well. The prodigal daughter returns.” “Hi Greg.” “You’re looking good, Teeg. Real good.” “I was hoping you’d notice.” “Were you now?” “Uh-huh. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head for all these years I’ve been gone.” Ain’t that the truth? “Excuse me, but who are you?” the blonde asks me. “This here’s the legendary Tegan Kelly, the hottest girl to ever come from this town.” “And now I’m back looking for some fun.” “With me?” “You’ll do. You can bring her, too, and any other friends you think might want to join in.” “Hell, yeah. Let’s get out of here.” He loops one arm around my shoulder, and one arm around hers. I hear the camera phones clicking as we make our way out the door. I seriously am having to tamp down my gag reflex as I smell that same disgusting cologne that he’s worn for years. I’m not worried about my safety with him this time, at least. I could take him down in a hot second, and I know Nate’s out there. “Hold up a second. I need a selfie of us.” I force myself to smile as he grabs my right breast and squeezes, kissing the side of my head. I know exactly who he’s going to send it to, but I have to see this through. We get into the car, with Greg next to me, and Sharla—the blonde—behind me. Just as I shift into drive, Nate jumps in the backseat. “Hi party people, are we ready to play?” “Holy shit, you’re Nate Anderson. I mean, the Nate Anderson.” “And you must be Greg. Tegan said we were going to have some fun tonight.” “Oh yeah. This is going to be epic.” “I get to play with him, don’t I, Greg?” Sharla asks. I see her in the rearview mirror, running her hand over Nate’s biceps. Jade is going to cut a bitch. “We can share you. I like sharing,” Nate says, looking her over.

“Is Phil still around?” “You want someone to share with, darling?” Greg asks, not able to mask the hunger in his eyes when I glance his way. “Have you ever had two, or more?” “Yes. Call him, and tell him to meet us at my place. The blue house on the hill,” I say biting my bottom lip and then licking it. God, this is painful. He takes out his phone and texts. A couple minutes later, he puts his hand on my thigh and leans close to whisper in my ear. “He’s bringing some other girls with him, but we want you to ourselves first.” “I can’t wait.” I pull into my driveway and we all get out. We’re barely through the door when Nate and I attack. Well, I should say I attack. He just grabs Sharla in a chokehold while I punch and kick Greg until he’s almost unconscious. He didn’t see it coming, and it was almost too easy, but I still enjoyed it immensely. We tie them both to my iron dining room chairs, and put duct tape over their mouths. Then we put on some loud music, and wait. About ten minutes later, my doorbell rings. I answer the door with a bottle of vodka in my hand. “Hi Phil.” “Hello, Tegan. You look good enough to fuck right here in the doorway.” That works for him? Really? Obviously it does if the four girls with him are any indication. Plus, he actually got someone to marry him. Sweet Jesus. “Let’s get inside first, so you can introduce me to your friends.” That doesn’t happen, of course. I let Nate have him while I fight the girls. Two of them go down easy—I just whack them with the bottle—but the other two want to play. That’s fine. I’m in the mood for a good fight. They have some silent communication going on, which I’m pretty sure they think will give them an advantage. Oh, this is going to be fun. They circle me and then try to attack. I let a punch graze my cheek as I kick the other one into the living room, where she crashes into my metal coffee table. I’m once again thankful that my style doesn’t lean towards antiques. The other one moves past me to help her friend up, and I follow them into the room. I glance at Nate. He already tied up the other three, and now he’s sitting on an empty chair eating an apple with his arms crossed. Jack-ass. I know I’ve got this, and so does he, but still. The two are a little more wary, and frankly I’m just bored with this whole thing. I want to get to the interrogation, and then go home to my guys. I run towards them, and they part just like I want them to. Not too far since they don’t have time, but just enough for what I want to do. I grab a fistful of each of their shirts, jump on the coffee table, and flip forward, taking them both over with me. I land on my knees, while they’re face down on the floor, unconscious from the impact. Nate starts a slow clap. “Nice. Very, nice.” “I learned from the best,” I tell him with a wink. “You sure as hell did. That was so impressive I’ll even tie them up for you while you start making your friends talk.” “They’ve never been my friends, Nate. Never.” “I gathered that from the way you beat that one down,” he says, gesturing to Greg. “Play not nice all you want, I’ve got a few knives with me if you need help.” Greg’s eyes widen as I walk towards him. I’m not sure if it’s from what Nate just said, or what he just saw me do. Maybe it’s both. As long as he talks, I could give two fucks. I rip the duct tape from his mouth. “Are you going to tell me what I need to know, or am I going to get to hurt you some more?” “I’ll talk.”

“Damn, you’re no fun. But here we go. Why are you and your beauty queens trying to stop Caleb from releasing his formula?” “That? That’s why you kidnapped us? Of course it is. It always comes down to Tegan and Caleb. The golden couple. Well, until we took you down.” “As much as I’d love to reminisce about how you broke us up when we were teenagers, I need an answer to the question I asked you. You will answer, whether I have to hurt you first, or not.” “Fuck you.” “You already tried that, and it didn’t work,” I tell him as I kick him in the face, knocking his chair over. “You bitch. You do that to me when I’m tied up? Real tough.” “She hit you when you weren’t tied up, and you didn’t fare any better,” Nate reminds him. “I’ll tell you nothing. You can’t kill me, because you need the information I have.” “Do I? Do you know what he knows, Phil?” He starts to shake his head, but when I raise my eyebrow at him, he nods. I turn back to Greg with a smile on my face. “Traitor! You’d really kill me?” “What do you think?” “Let me up, and I’ll tell you everything.” Nate rights the chair, as I pull over another empty one and take a seat. “Go ahead.” “My boss at the oil company in Houston hired me to do this side job. He knew I was friends with Cal, and we both figured I could get him to back off. I tried to just talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t budge. He insists that this will be good for everyone, but that’s just bullshit. His alternate fuel will put us all out of jobs.” “Maybe in ten to fifteen years, but not now. Most people are creatures of habit and will just go for the regular gas. Especially because his fuel won’t be cheaper. Once people get used to it, they might buy it more, but they’ll be lucky to break even with it for the first year.” “My boss didn’t tell me that.” “Of course not.” “But why would the Halls buy it from Cal if it’s not going to make money right away?” “Theirs is an old company. They’ve weathered ups and downs for many years, and his grandfather understands that they need to be forward thinking. He’s willing to take a chance because he thinks it’s the right thing to do, and because he loves his grandson.” “Why are you helping him, Tegan? What he said and did to you was unforgivable.” “Which was your plan all along back then. But like I said, I’m not here for a walk down memory lane. Law enforcement will be here soon.” I glance at Nate, and he nods. “They’re on their way to get your boss, and then I can go back to my life.” Phil’s moving his head like he wants to talk, so I remove his tape. “My wife. She went to Vegas, and I haven’t heard from her.” “Oh yeah, we have her in custody there. She has a crush on me, so you may want to rethink the whole marriage thing.” His eyes bug out, and I laugh. “You look almost as shocked as she did when I was messing with her. Nice touch, by the way, using pageant girls. People don’t realize how tough they can be. So bravo ladies for stepping outside your stereotype. You’re still going to jail, but hey, you know as well as anyone that you can’t win them all.” We wait for our friends from the FBI to arrive, and the sheriff comes in soon after. I’m talking to one of the guys about the Houston takedown—which netted them more guys, and girls, when he saunters up to us. “I saw you were back in town causing trouble, Tegan. And in a sexy red dress to boot.” “If saving someone is trouble, then yes, that’s what I was doing here.”

“This town is going to crucify you all over again. So I suggest you leave as fast as you came.” “I own this house, and this is my hometown. I’ll leave when I’m good and ready to.” “Don’t say I didn’t warn you when something happens.” “If something were to happen, I’d expect you to protect her, Sheriff,” the agent I was speaking to says to him. “The trash needs to take itself out. I can’t be responsible for what happens.” “What did you just say?” Nate asks, coming up behind me. “Just leave it, Nate. He’s just a sad little man. What he says can’t hurt me.” “I could take you in for that smart mouth of yours.” “No, you can’t. And don’t think I won’t report this. You should count on a visit from the State Police, and possibly my boss. Tegan has helped us out several times, and she is well respected in the Bureau.” “I just bet she is.” “Get out of my house, Sheriff. You’re not welcome here.” “Bitch,” he mutters under his breath as I hold Nate back. I meant what I said. His words can’t hurt me. But I probably shouldn’t have antagonized him quite so much. He is the law here, and I won’t always have back-up.

CHAPTER 12

Tegan I’m exhausted by the time everyone except Nate leaves, but I can’t wait to get back to Vegas. I turn my phone back on as I change clothes. It goes a little crazy, beeping over and over to let me know all I’ve missed. I sit down and decide to check Caleb’s first. I know he’s going to be upset, but I did tell him not to believe everything he was going to see. I realize that he didn’t do that at all when I see what he wrote. Caleb: What in the fucking Hell, Teeg? Caleb: You’re with Greg? In that dress? Caleb: Too busy letting Greg grab your tits to answer me? Caleb: Fucking answer me, Tegan. Caleb: Answer your damn phone. Caleb: You’re partying with some other guy, along with Greg and his latest fuck? Caleb: Phil too? I’m done. Do you understand me, Tegan? DONE. Caleb: I’ve got Ethan. I’m keeping him with me, and I’ll be fighting for full custody in our divorce. I immediately call him, praying that he’ll answer. “Well, if it isn’t my loving wife.” “I do love you, Cal.” “How was your threesome?” “I told you not to believe everything you saw. I meant for that to extend to hearing things, too. You know I wouldn’t go off with Greg and Phil.” “You did Greg before. Why not now? And we both know you like multiples.” “For the last time, I. Never. Slept. With. Greg. And I never will. As for that last comment, well, that’s real classy.” “Just bringing myself down to your level for a moment.” I felt the verbal slap as if he’d really hit me. “You can’t take my son.” “Our son. We’re married, and I’m on his birth certificate. Thanks for that, by the way. It’s going to make all of this so much easier.” “I’ll find you.” “I’m not hiding. We’re going to the ranch. Apparently they caught the guy behind the threats. He’s an oil guy from Houston, a competitor.” “You think I can’t get onto the ranch? That my friends can’t?” “You may think you’re above the law, but the sheriff hates you. He won’t let you near us.” “That little prick couldn’t stop me. Nothing and no one can keep me from Ethan. If you don’t know that by now, you’re dumber than anyone thinks you are.” “The only dumb thing I ever did was to let you back into my life.” “I’m the stupid one. I thought you really cared about me.”

“Don’t you dare put this on me. You’re the one who married me one day, and then went out whoring it up the next.” “I was coming home to explain it all to you, but there’s really no point, is there? You’re just going to believe whatever you want. Whatever makes it easy for you to walk away from me again.” “Forget walking, I’m running.” “I’ll give you some time with Ethan, because he needs you in his life. But make no mistake, my son will be with me. If you think I can’t make us disappear, you’re delusional. I would rather share him with you than take him away, but I’ll do whatever I have to do in order to keep my son.” “I just recorded you saying that. The judge is going to love it. Judge Rawlins. You remember him, right? He’s hated you since you accidentally spilled your punch on him at one of my family’s parties years ago. Which is why I’m filing the custody and divorce paperwork at home. I guess I owe you another thanks for being a homeowner there. For a super spy, you really have made this too easy for me.” “You will not win, Cal.” “I already have.” “Let me talk to Ethan.” “No.” “You think he’s just going to go along with this? That he’s going to stay with you?” “He’ll have no choice.” “You’re going to watch him night and day? Because he’ll run once he realizes you’re keeping him from me. And then you’ll have nothing but your fucking formula to keep you warm at night. All because you refuse to let me explain things to you. You did it to me years ago, and now you’re letting that cycle repeat.” “I’m not going to indulge in your selective storytelling talents.” “You don’t want the truth. I can’t believe I didn’t see that sooner. You want to be the victim, the martyr. Poor little Caleb who was tricked by Tegan. No matter what I say or do, it would never be enough. Because realizing you’re wrong about me would make you have to face the fact that you’ve persecuted me for things I never did.” “Bullshit.” “Prove it then. Prove me wrong. If you don’t want to listen to me, ask Brad. Tell him I said to tell you.” “You’ve got him snowed. He’d believe anything you told him.” “You just proved my point. Now put my son on the phone.” “You’ve got two minutes. Ethan,” he yells. “Come talk to your mom.” A few seconds later, he’s there on the line. “Mama, when are you getting here?” “I’m not.” “What? Why?” “You dad doesn’t want me there. He wants a divorce.” “You’re coming to get me then, right?” “Not right away. Spend time with him. I’ll be at my house on the hill. I will come for you when I can, but I want you to behave until then.” “I don’t want to be without you.” “I know, E. Just pretend it’s like when you were in Chicago without me. Only this time it’s going to be your dad you’re with instead of Cyndi.” “Why is he doing this?” “He’s angry at me.” “Did he call you names again?”

“Kind of, but you don’t need to worry about that.” “He can’t keep me.” “No. He cannot.” “Time’s up,” Caleb says.” “I love you, E.” “I love you too, Mama.” As soon as his last word is said, the phone goes dead. If Caleb thinks this is over, he’s in for a big surprise. After I tell Nate I’m staying, I call Reina and start to plan. He has a crooked sheriff and his family. I have all the major law enforcement groups in the country, and my family, too. I’d place odds on me. * * * Caleb “You ready for your cowboy lessons?” I ask Ethan two days after we arrive at the ranch. He just looks out the window, pretending that he didn’t hear me. He hasn’t spoken to me since we arrived; although, he let my mom and dad fawn all over him. Even my grandpa got in on the act. I know they’re excited, and so I let the fact that he was ignoring me go. I won’t do that today. “You will be respectful and speak when spoken to.” Still nothing. “Ethan, I love you.” “Those words mean nothing to you.” I reel back like I’ve been slapped. And I guess I have. “They mean everything to me.” “You said them to Mama.” “I meant them when I said them.” “Liar.” “Ethan, I understand that you’re upset, but there is only so much lip I will take from you.” “You made me a promise, and you broke it. That makes you a liar.” “For God’s sake kid, give me a break here. I’m trying.” “No. You promised you would never try and take me from her, and now you’re doing it. I will never forgive you if you try and make this permanent. And I’m not learning some stupid cowboy stuff unless my mama’s here to watch.” “She wasn’t going to watch everything. She’s a busy person.” “She would’ve for me. She always makes time for me. If I need her, she’s always there. Even if she’s on a mission somewhere. All I had to do was tell Ainsley I needed her, and she got her on a Skype with me. Always.” “We can videotape the stuff I teach you and send it to her.” “You don’t get it. All I want from you is to let me see her. I don’t want to ride a horse, or anything else. Not when I know how sad she is.” “I can’t let you be with her. She’s lied to me too much.” “Just because you say it, that doesn’t make it right. Or true. My mama loves you. She doesn’t lie to people she loves.” “We’ll just have to agree to disagree about her.” “Whatever you say, Father.” Damn it. We’re back to square one. Or more than likely, negative squares. Maybe I do need to just talk to my uncle. He arrived last night, at her request I’m sure. I head downstairs to see what he has to

tell me. But when I walk into the kitchen, the conversation between him and my mom stops, letting me know they were discussing me. “Caleb, where’s Ethan?” my mom asks. “Sitting in his room, cursing me.” “Did you really think he’d be okay with you taking him from his mother?” Brad asks me. “Yeah. She’s a liar.” “Really? She’s the liar? When you had Ethan pack a bag and get on that plane with you, did you tell him you were planning on divorcing his mother and going to fight for full custody of him?” “No. He wouldn’t have gone with me if I’d told him that.” “So you lied.” “He did what he had to, Brad,” my mom says. “No, he didn’t. What he had to do was trust Tegan.” “You didn’t see the pictures,” I tell him. “Actually, I did see them.” “She was letting him put his hands on her.” “For good reason. You’d know that if you actually asked her. But I believe she’s correct in her assessment of the situation. You don’t want to know—about the past, or now.” “Of course he wants to know.” “Really? Because Tegan said she told him to ask me.” “You must have misunderstood. Or Caleb did, right sweetie?” “No,” I say, dropping my head into my hands. “She told me that, but I don’t know if I’m ready to hear it.” “Because she’s right. You’ll no longer be a victim once you know what really happened. Both times.” “Caleb Hall, I did not raise you to be like this. I didn’t raise a coward. Or a man who would give up the woman he loves just because he doesn’t want to be wrong.” “You think I’m wrong?” “I think we all may be wrong. I’ve been focused on supporting you and going along with whatever you decide, but when I actually stop and think about everything, I have doubts. I remember how Tegan used to look at you like you hung the moon. Why would she sleep with your friend?” “Because I wasn’t good enough,” I blurt out without meaning to. I’ve never admitted my biggest fear to anyone, not even myself. “What?” “Greg was always sleeping with different girls. He had more experience pleasing them. Obviously I was doing something wrong, so Tegan went looking for what she was missing with me.” “Did you call that Greg dude the ‘S’ word?” Ethan asks from behind me. “The ‘S’ word?” my mom asks, a look of confusion on her face. “The one that no real man ever calls a woman,” he explains. She gets it then. “Do you think your dad should’ve called his friend that?” “No. No one should be called that, but if he was already using that word on my mama, I want to know if he used it on his friend, too.” All three of the people in the room look at me. I sigh and tell the truth because I’ve promised myself that I will never lie to my son again, no matter what. His words earlier cut me a little too deep. “No, Ethan. I didn’t call Greg that. In fact, my friends and I thought he was lucky, that it was cool.” “So you wanted to be with other girls besides Mama?” “What? No. Definitely no. I only wanted her.” “Then why did you think your friend was cool, but call her the ‘S’ word and the ‘W’ word, too?”

The kid’s pulling another hidden truth from me. “Pride. Knowing she had to go to someone else because I wasn’t enough for her hurt my pride.” “She told you that you weren’t enough? She said that to you when you were her boyfriend?” No. When I let myself get past that damn pride, and think about it, I remember how she always told me I was everything to her, and she wanted to be with me forever. She told me she loved me at least ten times a day, and she never looked at Greg like anything more than my friend. “No. She never told me that,” I admit. “Then why would you believe that she was with your friend?” I remember something before answering him. “Your mom told me she didn’t tell you details about what happened.” “I’m not dumb. I hear things,” he says, blushing. “You mean you’ve been eavesdropping.” “I needed to know what made you so mad that you’d hurt her. Because you hurt her so bad that she was afraid to tell you about me. Even when she was telling me how great you were and showing me news articles…and, umm, pictures of you, she didn’t want you in my life. I didn’t think I wanted you, either.” Something was off about what he just told me, and I think it’s important. “Why did you hesitate when you mentioned seeing pictures of me?” I see the war going on in his head, as emotions flash across his face. He doesn’t want to answer me, but he won’t lie to me either. I’ve learned that about my son. He’s a straight shooter. It’s my uncle who saves him. “The pictures of you that were normally online showed you with other women. Tegan showed him because she wanted Ethan to see you, but it cost her.” “Cost her how?” I see Ethan still struggling. “Please tell me, Ethan. I promise I won’t use whatever you tell me to hurt her.” “The nights when she showed me those pictures are the nights when she stayed out really later Or Stella would come over and eat ice cream on the couch with her while they watched girl movies. I could hear her crying in her room when she thought I was sleeping.” Damn, I’m such an idiot. And a major asshole. “I’m going to see your mom now. Be good for your grandma and Brad, okay?” “I’m always good.” “I know, you’re the best.” “Dad? You’re going to be nice, right?” “Yes. E. I’m going to be nice. Your mom may punch me, though.” “You deserve it, but I’ll put some ice on it for you later.” “You’re right. Thanks for offering to take care of me. I’ll see you soon.”

CHAPTER 13

Tegan I have to admit that this shower feels good. Although I won’t admit it to Wayne, who practically threw me in here, and I also won’t tell him he was right. I need to be in top form and looking my best when working to get Ethan back. Looking good does make me feel better, and I need whatever I can get as I mourn the loss of Caleb again, while figuring out how to defeat him. Especially after my good friend, the sheriff, brought me a restraining order earlier, happily telling me that he’d throw me in jail if I set foot on the Hall ranch. I’ve just wrapped myself in a giant towel when I hear yelling coming from downstairs. I grab a gun and run, skidding to a halt when I see that it’s Caleb arguing with Wayne. And that Wayne has no shirt on. Shit. “Really, Teeg? I’m out of your bed for less than 48 hours and you’re already back with him.” “Why are you here, Cal?” I ask, ignoring what he said. “I thought I might have been wrong about you, so I came here to talk. Obviously, I wasn’t wrong.” “You’ve decided that just because I took a shower.” “He was going to join you, wasn’t he?” “Yes,” Wayne says. “No. Not unless he wanted to get his ass beat,” I say, glaring at Wayne. I don’t need him making things worse. “Come on, Teeg. He deserves this.” “Go put a damn shirt on Wayne, and stop trying to get me to shoot you.” “You wouldn’t shoot me, I’m one of your best friends and you love me.” “She loves me more,” Caleb says with a smirk. “Yeah, we all fucking know that,” he says, pushing past me to go up the stairs. “Wayne.” He stops with one hand on the bannister, and the other running through his hair as he looks at the ceiling. “This isn’t your fault. I always knew I wasn’t who you wanted. I guess I just hoped that I’d be a good substitute.” “You’re a great friend, Wayne. I need friends more than I ever needed a lover.” He looks at Caleb, then. “You don’t deserve her, you know. I mean, how can you not see how amazing she is? How loyal, fun, sexy, sweet, kick-ass, and just perfect she is.” “I see it.” “Yet you keep walking away from her, and had some asshole serve her with a restraining order this morning. And people tell me you’re smart.” “Being around her renders me stupid quite frequently,” he says as he looks at the legal paperwork sitting on my hall table next to him. He picks it up and avoids my eyes. “Gee, thanks.” “He meant that as a compliment. I know exactly what he’s talking about.”

“We should hang out while you’re here. If you want, I mean,” Caleb says, looking at Wayne and not me as he tears the restraining order in two. “You going to take me to the local honky-tonk and be my wingman like you said you would?” “Anytime,” he tells him, as he continues tearing the pieces until they look like confetti in his hand. Wayne walks back down the stairs and shakes Caleb’s other hand. I feel like I’m in an alternate universe. I haven’t even made up with Cal, and yet Wayne’s making nice. My doorbell rings again, before I can wrap my head around what’s going on. I move around them to answer it. I open the door, and immediately reel back from the slap that’s delivered to me. “You little bitch. You just can’t keep your legs closed, can you? Everyone has finally stopped looking at me like I’m as bad as you, and then you come home and make yourself the subject of gossip again.” “Hello, Mama. I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but we both know I’d be lying.” “You’re lucky your daddy didn’t come with me. He wants to tan your hide after seeing you in that dress yesterday.” “He was there, huh? Still looking for something better than you, right?” “You’re just like him. Every girl in this town wanted Caleb Hall, and yet he chose you for some reason. Then you screwed it up. You could be living on that ranch now.” “You know nothing about my life, and I think living in this house means I’m doing pretty well.” “Now that you’ve unloaded your little bastard, right? I heard there’s a boy on the ranch. He’s yours isn’t he?” “Yes. Our son is at the ranch,” Caleb says, opening the door wider to stand behind me. “Not that it’s ever going to be any of your business.” “Caleb,” she says, smoothing down her hair. “I didn’t realize you were here.” “Obviously. Why don’t you run on back to your ranch—you know, the one that was paid for with my son’s life.” “Are you sure he’s yours?” “You need to leave,” I tell her. “Ask for the paternity test, Caleb. Before she gets you to buy more than this house for her.” “She bought the house herself, and even if Ethan didn’t look exactly like me, I’d trust Tegan enough to be honest about our son. Like she said, you need to leave.” I close the door in her face before she can say more. Caleb starts massaging my shoulders as I lean my head against the wood. I want to bang my head against it, but I know she hasn’t left yet and I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she’s gotten to me. “Mommy Dearest is a bitch,” Wayne says. “Yeah.” “Don’t let her get to you, honey. She’s just jealous of you. She always was.” Caleb’s arms come around me, and he rests his chin on my shoulder. “Jealous of a pregnant teenager? And you can’t call me honey while you’re keeping my son from me.” “No. Jealous of an amazing girl—and now woman—who was smarter, sexier, more compassionate, and just plain better than she’ll ever be. And I want to talk about Ethan…and us. I faced some hard truths about myself earlier, and I think I’m finally ready to hear your truths, too. I don’t want to hear it all from Brad, though. I want you to tell me everything. About the past and what went on a few days ago.” “Let me put some clothes on, and then we can talk.” “I have a better idea. How about we have an evening picnic at the creek later? I’ll help Betty make all your favorite things.”

“That sounds like a date. What about talking? And the restraining order? Just because you tore it up, doesn’t mean it’s not valid. Is this just a plan to get me thrown in jail?” “I’ll take care of that damn thing. I should never have done it in the first place. I’m sorry, and I swear to you that this isn’t some crazy plan to hurt you anymore than I already have. We can talk, or you know, not.” “I feel like I’m getting whiplash from the two of you,” Wayne says. “On, off, on.” “Which is why we need to talk. Just talk, for tonight at least. Because I can’t keep up anymore, either. Either we’re going for it, or it has to be over for good. Shared custody and acting like a real divorced couple.” “See you at seven then?” “Yes, and tell Ethan that I love him, please.” “You can tell him yourself when I have him call you.” “Thank you.” “I know we’re talking tonight, but I need to tell you how sorry I am. I don’t know everything, or really anything, but I do know you. And I should’ve trusted you. Then and now. It’s too little, too late, but I need you to know that. Even if I don’t like what you have to tell me later.” “I think I’m going to throw up.” “Shut it, Wayne. I’ll see you later, Cal.” He leans down to whisper in my ear, so Wayne won’t here. “Clothing’s optional, of course.” “Talking only tonight” I whisper back. “So we’ll stay out until midnight, and then I can use my mouth for other things when it’s officially tomorrow.” “Go home before I do something that needs to wait until after we talk,” I tell him, smacking him on the arm. “Yes, please, because I can only take so much of this shit.” “Bye, Wayne,” he says, winking at me as he walks out the door. “Other than the slap from your mom, I’d say that went really well for you.” I walk over to Wayne, and try to hug him. “Put some clothes on first, lady. I only have so much selfcontrol.” “I don’t mean to hurt you, or make things difficult for you. You know that, right?” “Yeah. I do.” “We’re going to find you a girl who’s going to knock your socks off. I just ruffled them a little.” “You really think so?” “Yes.” Tough love time. “I think you love the idea of me. I mean, I know you love me like a friend, but I think seeing Stella and Kace so happy makes you want that too. And I’m convenient because we had sex.” “Sex we had because you were using me in Stella’s mission.” “You know I feel like shit about that.” “Don’t. I enjoyed it. But seriously, maybe you’re right. I would do anything for you, but I’m pretty sure I could live without you. You can’t say the same about him, can you?” “No. I wasn’t living when we were apart. Getting by, yes. But not really living.” “I’ll still take part in killing him if things get any worse between the two of you.” “Well let’s just hope they get better.” * * * Caleb

“Hi Betty,” I say as I walk into the kitchen. I try to grab one of the cookies she just pulled out of the oven from the baking sheet, but she slaps my hand. “Those are for Ethan.” “He won’t eat them all. You could let me have just one.” “I’m not feeling too charitable towards you right now.” “So you won’t help me put together a picnic for Tegan?” She turns towards me, hands on her hips. “You’ve come to your senses, then?” “Maybe.” “That girl was the best thing that ever happened to you.” I know Betty loves Tegan. When I brought her in here for the first time when we were just little kids, Betty took one look at my girl and made her up a heaping plate of food. And when Tegan was too shy—or embarrassed—to eat like she needed to in front of me, I was shooed outside. They baked in here, and Tegan always had a meal waiting for her when she came over on weekends. I heard Betty cursing her parents to my mom on more than one occasion. “I know.” “And Ethan, my God, that boy is just beautiful. Inside and out.” “I know that too.” “You know so much, do you?” she asks, whacking me with a wooden spoon. “Ow.” “That girl’s too smart to keep coming back to you when you act like you have no brain. You better appreciate her this time around.” “I do. My brain’s fully functioning at the moment.” “Good. Keep it that way. Now, what are we making for tonight?” “I was thinking pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, homemade chips, and biscuits. Definitely biscuits.” “What about dessert? That girl needs her dessert.” “Brownies.” She nods. “You better get to working.” “I need to have Ethan call her first, and then I’ll be back.” “Bring him with you. He’ll want to cook for her, too.” She’s right. He will. “Be right back.” I find Ethan in the sunroom, reading a book while my mom plays solitaire. He didn’t bring any books, so it must be an old one of mine. I like that, sharing my things with him. “What are you reading, E?” “Some book about brothers who solve crimes.” “Ah, The Hardy Boys.” “Yeah. They’re pretty cool.” “They were my favorite when I was your age.” “Did Mama read them?” “No, she read Nancy Drew. Although, sometimes Nancy and the boys helped each other out. We both read those books.” “Mama has Nancy Drew books on her shelf in her room. They look old.” “They’re hers from when she was little,” my mom tells him. “We bought them all for her, and she had her own shelves in our library. When she left, Brad took them to her.” I’d forgotten that. I hadn’t wanted her to have them, and I tried to stop him. It’s the first time I ever thought he would hit me. The look on his face scared me enough to let it go. “We used to go around the ranch trying to find a mystery to solve.”

“Now she does that for her job.” “Yeah, she does. It’s the perfect job for her because she was always better at solving our little mysteries than me.” “Yeah, you’re like a mad scientist, and she’s a superhero.” “I wouldn’t classify myself as ‘mad,’ but I can work with that. Speaking of you mom, she would love it if you’d call her.” “You had a good talk with her?” he asks, immediately abandoning his book. “I did. We’re actually going to talk more later.” “Is she okay?” “She will be. Your other grandmother came by while I was there, and that was hard. But we took care of it together.” “What did she do to my mama?” he asks, his eyes blazing. “She slapped her and said some bad things.” “You stood up to her?” my mom asks, and I see murder in her eyes. “Yes, and so did Tegan.” “Good. That woman is a disgrace to the word ‘mother.’” “I don’t think I ever thanked you and dad for letting Tegan be over here so much when we were younger. And helping her with clothes and stuff.” “It was our pleasure. I think your father—and grandfather—secretly hoped you’d marry her just so she could one day run the company.” “You may be right.” “Phone, please,” Ethan says, holding out his hand. “After you talk to her, would you like to help me and Betty make a picnic meal for her?” “We’re going on a picnic?” “No. I’m taking your mom on a picnic so we can talk.” “And you can kiss her.” “That, too. If she’ll let me.” “Are you making brownies? She loves brownies.” “Yes, we are making her brownies.” “She might kiss you if they’re good.” “Um, hello. We’re making them. How could they not be good?” Ethan makes his call to Tegan, during which he looks both ecstatic and chastised. He’s on the other side of the room, so I can’t hear what he’s saying, but I’m a little intrigued by his conflicting emotions. When he hangs up, he comes over and gives me a hug. “I’m sorry, Dad. I would never have talked to Mama like I talked to you. I should be more respectful.” “I would love it if you respected me, but I also understand that she’s going to always come first. I want you to defend her.” “Even when I’m being a little jerk?” “Did she tell you that?” I ask, holding back a laugh as he rolls his eyes and nods. “Yes, even then.” “I’ll try to be better as long as you’re nice to her.” “Deal.” That’s an easy one to make because I want nothing more than to be nice to my wife. I still can’t believe we’re married—and almost got divorced already. I need to check my insecurities at the door from now on. Or at least tell her how I feel before flying off the handle. Now that I’ve admitted them to myself, and part of my family, it should make it easier to admit them to her. Should being the operative word. Easy or not, I’m baring my soul to her tonight. She deserves nothing less than that.

CHAPTER 14

Tegan After talking to Ethan earlier, I drove up to Houston to pick up a few things. Wayne brought me some clothes Stella packed, but I wanted something just for Caleb. I’m not going commando, but I do have on a new bandeau bikini underneath my flowery sundress. I got a sexier bikini too, but I don’t want to wear it yet. We aren’t back together, although after this morning, things are looking pretty good. So for tonight it’s a sundress, a cute bathing suit, and, of course, cowboy boots. I see headlights outside my front door and wonder if Caleb decided to come get me. When I open the door, I realize that it’s definitely not Caleb. From what I can tell, I’m looking at eight members of the high school football team, all wearing their jerseys. I press my arm to activate my distress signal because I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. My friends are already on their way here from Vegas, so if I don’t really need help, it won’t be a terrible inconvenience. “Hi boys. Is there some reason you’re all on my property?” “We wanted our turn with the town slut,” the kid who steps forward says to me. Apparently he’s the leader of the group. Probably the quarterback. “First of all, I’m not a slut. And second, I’m not interested. Thanks for stopping by, though.” “You act like you have a choice.” “I do.” “There’s eight of us.” “I can see that.” “I don’t mind if you put up a fight. I’m not afraid to hit a girl.” “Exactly how many have you hit?” I ask, getting angry. “A few.” I glance around again, trying to find the weak link. I think it’s the guy closest to me on my left. He looks unsure about what’s going on. I turn slightly towards him. “You know you’ll go to jail for this, if you live.” “What do you mean, if we live?” he asks, his voice shaking. “I have some very powerful friends.” “The sheriff will protect us.” “From the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and every other organization you can think of, not to mention some men and women who like to shoot things? Because that’s who I’m talking about.” “You have friends like that?” “Yes.” “How many of them have you fucked?” the main one asks me. “Less than I can count on one hand.” “Yeah, right. We’re taking you regardless.” “Your funeral,” I tell him with a shrug. “Let’s go, then.” “You really think I’m just going to go with you? That’s not gonna happen.”

“I told you I’d hit you.” “You wouldn’t be the first guy to hit me, and you probably won’t be the last.” “Eight to one odds aren’t in your favor.” “Maybe not, but I’ll hurt a few of you at least.” “Suit yourself,” he says before charging me. I move to the left and take out the weak one with a chop to the neck. I take down a second one before the shocks begin. Fuck—the little bastards are using cattle prods on me. I still fight as best I can, but with five guys prodding me, and one throwing punches, I can only do so much. As darkness overtakes me from the latest punch to the head, I can only hope that all that electricity hasn’t messed with my tracker too much. I wake up hours later, and I know I’ve been drugged. I’m tied up on the floor, but since I can’t open my eyes, I don’t know where. I can hear them talking, but that’s mixing with flashbacks from my past. I can’t even move my head enough to shake it, so I try and just piece together what I can. “What are we going to do with her?” “Tegan, let me get you a drink.” “Just a soda or water, Greg.” “We can’t fuck her, that’ll leave too much evidence. If she really knows all those people, they’d find us. Even with a condom. We shouldn’t even be touching her.” “I feel hot, Greg. Should I take off my shirt?” “Yeah darling, take off your clothes if you’re hot. Let’s go back to my room.” “We have to do something. We can’t just waste this opportunity.” “Something’s wrong with me. Where’s Caleb? I need Caleb?” “I don’t know where Caleb is. Just lay down on my bed, and we’ll have some fun.” “I have an idea.” “I’m going to be sick.” “Here, throw up in my trash can.” “In town square?” “What’s going on? Why am I only in my bra and panties?” “You wanted to have some fun with me, Teeg. You’re just sick now, so you forgot or something.” “No. I didn’t. I wouldn’t. I need to get out of here. Get out of my way.” “That could definitely work.” “You’re just a slut. Why I ever wasted all this time on you is beyond me.” “What should we write?” “You will not have this baby. You’re already a disgrace to us. You disgust me.” “That’s perfect. We need more words, though.” “You’re the one who married me one day, and was out whoring it up the next.” “Let’s put her on the table, and get to work.” I feel myself being picked up, and I want to fight, but I can’t. Whatever they gave me was strong enough to keep me too relaxed. I’m guessing it’s some kind of animal tranquilizer. I just have to keep praying that my friends get here soon, especially when I feel my dress being ripped off of me. The action clears my mind enough that I can make myself focus on the here and now. Their conversation is still confusing as hell, but at least I can hear it all now. And maybe know what’s coming. “Damn, it’s a bathing suit. I was hoping for something lacy to show her off in.” “Does it really matter what she’s wearing?” “No, I guess not. Grab some sharpies, boys, and let’s have us some fun.”

They untie me, but I still am too lethargic to move, even when I feel them writing on my skin. What are they doing? I can make out a letter here and there, but not what the actual words are. I’m glad no one’s raping me, but whatever it is they are doing can’t be good. * * * Caleb I’m starting to freak out a little. It’s seven thirty and Tegan’s not here yet. She’s not answering her phone, either. It can’t be anything I’ve done because I haven’t talked to her since this morning. I know she was excited about the picnic. My phone starts to ring, but it’s Brad’s ringtone, not Tegan’s. I answer, hoping maybe he knows something. “Hey, Brad.” “Is Tegan with you?” I can hear the panic in his voice, and it makes my heart race. “No. She’s half an hour late.” “Dammit. She activated her distress signal at ten to seven. No one can reach her, and her tracker ’s not working right. It keeps cutting in and out.” “Is everyone at her house?” “Yes.” “I’ll be there in five minutes. We’re going to find her.” We have to. When I get to Tegan’s place, I see Scott Griffin and Ainsley typing furiously on their tablets. I know they’re trying to get her tracking device working, and I pray that they’re successful. I had a horrible thought on my way over here, and I hope I’m wrong. “What if it’s the guy who was after me? He can’t have been working alone.” “He wasn’t. Didn’t Tegan talk to you about it?” Reina asks me. “No.” “But you were going on a picnic with her anyway?” “What does one have to do with the other?” She looks at Cyndi, who steps forward. “When the failed abduction of Brad occurred in Vegas, we took a woman into custody.” “Yeah, I know. She was a beauty queen or something.” “She was also your friend, Phil’s, wife.” “Excuse me.” “Your other friend, Greg, was working for the man who was arrested in Houston. That man hired Greg and Phil to convince you not to release the formula. Phil’s wife said she knew some girls who could shoot a gun that were getting too old for the pageant scene. They figured that taking you down would be easy. Obviously they were wrong.” “My friends actually tried to kill me. Un-fucking-believable.” “After Tegan beat the shit out of him, the one dude—Greg—said that he tried to talk you out of it first, if that’s any consolation,” Nate tells me. “Tegan beat the…oh my God…the dress, the pictures…she was going after him.” “Yeah, and you made her feel like shit. For saving your worthless ass,” Stella tells me. “You’re right,” I tell her. She is, and it’s about time I started owning up to the shit I’ve done. “When we get her back, are you going to fight for her, or are you going to just walk away again?” “Fight. Definitely fight.” “Good answer.” “How can I help? If it’s not someone after me, who could it be?”

“We don’t know. You were meeting at seven?” Jade asks me. “Yeah. I knew something was up when she didn’t show. I was racking my brain to figure out what I could’ve done since I hadn’t seen her this morning.” “From her credit and debit card records, we can tell that she went to Houston earlier. She bought some things from a few stores, got lunch and gas, and then nothing more.” “Was she meeting someone in Houston?” I ask, not understanding why she went there. “No. She wanted something new to wear for your date, including a new bathing suit,” Stella tells me. “There’s a bathing suit on her bed,” Ellie says. “Yeah, that’s the one for when they’re actually back together. She was going to wear a more modest one tonight. It’s not up there, and neither is the dress she sent me a picture of. So, she has those on, along with her pink boots.” I whip my head around to Stella. “Pink boots?” “Yes, they’re the ones you gave her years ago. She never wears them, but she wanted to tonight. I knew she’d want them while she was with you, so they were in the suitcase I sent with Wayne.” “So let me get this straight. Someone has her while she’s wearing a dress she bought just for me and her special boots. Plus she has a bathing suit on.” “Yep.” “I’m going to jail for murder.” “Nah. We’ve got you covered,” Isa tells me. “No one will know if you kill one of them.” “You think it’s more than one?” “They got Tegan. No way it was less than four people,” Jade tells me. “I don’t think that makes me feel any better.” “We’ll get her back, Caleb. Any other outcome is not an option.” Reina tells me. I stay there with them all night. My mom and Betty bring us food, while my dad and grandpa use their connections to do what they can to help. They brought Ethan over here because this is really the safest place in the world at the moment. Cyndi and Brad talked to him, and then he came and sat next to me on the couch, cuddling into me as I wrapped my arms around him. When he fell asleep, I took him upstairs to his bed and then came back down to watch and wait. This is one time when my science brain is not much help, but I need to be here. Just after sunrise, my dad’s phone pings with a text. He opens it, and his face goes white. “Dear God, what have they done?” “What is it, Dad?” “Whoever has Tegan has just plastered the town with pictures of her.” My blood is boiling as I imagine what kinds of pictures they took. Before my dad can show us on his phone, I hear Ainsley talking into hers. “I need access to this satellite and to have it moved to these coordinates for one minute…fuck protocol, this if for Tegan Kelly. Did you forget that she saved your asses last year?” Scott plugs her tablet into the big screen TV as she nods. A few seconds later, the town square comes up. She types something else and the picture zooms in. We all see it, and we all curse out loud. There are several different shots of her in her black bikini. It’s not her half-dressed body that has us cursing, though. It’s the words written on her body. The pictures highlight a different word on each one, for all the town to see. Tegan Kelly is a slut Tegan Kelly is a whore Tegan Kelly is disgusting

Tegan Kelly is trash Tegan Kelly is easy Tegan Kelly is a bitch Tegan Kelly is a gold-digger Tegan Kelly is a cunt Tegan Kelly is a skank “They’re just pieces of a body. We don’t know,” Matt says. “It’s her,” I say, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. “It’s her. We have to find her. Someone in this town has to know something, and if I have to go door to door, I will.” “I think a town meeting is more in order. After we all go out in groups and remove the pictures, of course,” Reina says, a scary look on her face. “Half the town’s going to wake up to them on their phones or social media. But just so you know, for as many people who have vilified Tegan here, there are at least twice as many who will support her,” my dad tells her. “And you know this how?” I ask. “Because I’ve always been one of them,” he replies, looking me in the eye. “Me too,” says my grandpa. “I never believed she betrayed you. We had to publicly support you, but Brad has filled me in over the years. About everything.” “You knew about Ethan, too?” “I did. Your father didn’t, because that was something he couldn’t have kept from your mother. She would’ve told you, and you weren’t ready to hear about that boy yet. I knew Tegan would bring him back here one day, and I couldn’t wait to meet him.” I’m dumbfounded. And humbled. I claimed to love Tegan, and yet I believed the worst about her. While my dad and grandpa were silently supporting her. I know he’s right, too. I wouldn’t have been ready for Ethan back then. I was too full of hate. Now, though, I’m pretty much full up on love. For both Tegan and Ethan. Real love. The kind that believes and trusts. And the kind that kills. “Thank you both. For keeping the faith for me when I was too dumb to do it myself.” “We knew you’d come around,” my dad says with a smile. “Okay, now that we all love your dad and grandpa, we really need to get moving. I’m assuming you want to come with us. Can your mom come over and watch Ethan?” Stella asks. “Not even all of you could stop me from going, and yes, I’m sure my mom will come over here. I’m pretty sure she’s been Team Tegan all along, too.”

CHAPTER 15

Tegan The next time I wake up, I’m more alert. Still a little groggy, but I can open my eyes, and move. Well, as much as a person who’s hog-tied can move. I can also feel the pain on the side of my head. I move it side to side in order to assess the damage. I don’t think I have a concussion, but with the heavy drugs they were giving me, I can’t tell for sure. Waking up is a good sign, though. “Oh look, our special guest is awake,” my least favorite football player ever says to me. “Guests usually get a bed, and, you know, the freedom to move their hands and legs.” “Tied up, and still being sassy. I really wish I could fuck you into submission, but I’m told it’s too risky, and I do have scholarships to worry about.” “I’d never submit to you, so you’re not missing anything.” “You won’t be so bitchy when you see the fun we’ve been having while you were passed out.” I feel hands pull me up from behind, and I’m carried over to a full length mirror on the wall. Oh my God. I remember them writing on me, but this. How could they do this? How could anyone do something like this to another human being? I won’t let them see my pain, though. They can’t have that. “You’re regular artists, aren’t you?” “Some might consider the photos we took, and how we worded them, art.” He holds up a picture of me. It’s just my stomach, with the word “slut” written on it. The sentence above it says “Tegan Kelly is” and then an “a” is next to slut. I. Will. Not. Break. In. Front. Of. Them. I repeat that to myself over and over as he shows me all the versions they made, with different parts of my body covered in different—but just as demeaning—words. It’s hard to stay calm when he tells me they put them up all over town, but I do it. I have to shut down the hurt in order to survive. “Don’t worry, we’re going to touch up the words before you go on display tomorrow. There’s some big town meeting about your disappearance, so everyone will get to see you in all your glory.” “Like I told you before, it’s your funeral.” “You’ve got me shaking in my cleats.” “You have no fucking clue.” * * * Caleb No one in this damn town will admit to knowing about what happened to Tegan. The people who are on her side swear they’d tell us if they knew. The others refuse to help. The mayor says there’s nothing he can do, while the damn sheriff was smirking at Reina while telling her he hadn’t heard anything. He started to suggest that she ran off with some other guy, but my grandpa told him to “shut his fool mouth,” which effectively silenced him. Today is the town meeting, which is being held in the football stadium, the only place big enough to fit the whole town inside. Reina says she’s going to get answers, even if she has to start shooting

people to get them. Scott and Ainsley have had no luck with the tracker. All they can figure is that there was some weird electric current on or near Tegan for it to malfunction. The people who have her better have been smart enough for it to be the “near” and not the “on” option. It’s been two days since Tegan was taken, and we’re all getting a little frantic. And ready to spill some blood. Ethan’s been attached to me, even asking me to sleep in his bed with him, and just seeing him hurting is enough to bring out some primal instincts in me. Jane Corrigan, Helen Wilson, Mallory Daniels, and Maggie Griffin have all flown in for the meeting. So did the rest of the Griffin family, along with Faith’s boyfriend, Gavin. Zack and Kace wanted to be here, but we thought their star power would be too much of a distraction. As it is, Nate’s glaring at everyone who asks him for an autograph, but he refused to leave when people started recognizing him, saying they could all go fuck themselves if they won’t help Tegan. He actually said that to a few people, and I’ll admit it was pretty awesome. Now that pretty much the whole town is here, the mayor goes up to address the crowd. “Welcome, everyone, and thank you for taking time on this fine Sunday to listen to our guests speak. Please give a warm welcome to Reina Corrigan.” More than half the crowd cheers, but the others boo her. The mayor looks over at Reina nervously. He should be nervous. Less than a half hour ago, the President of the United States was on the phone, telling him she expected his full support and cooperation. He changed his tune from mocking to submissive pretty damn fast after that. “Thanks to those of you who actually know the meaning of a warm welcome. The rest of you could drop off the face of the Earth, and I wouldn’t care. I’m inclined to help you there, in fact. You see, Tegan Kelly is one of my best friends. I would do anything for her, and I know she feels the same about me. I’ve tried to be patient with all of you, but some of you know who took her, yet you’ve have refused to help me. You’ve even helped out the cowards who took her by sharing the vile pictures they took of her, or making your own signs to replace the ones we took down. I’m all for freedom of speech, but you should know that my friends and I also happily exercise our right to bear arms. “I’m going to give you this one last chance to give me the information I need to help my friends and I find Tegan. You don’t have to do it publicly, you can call the number on the screen behind me. I’ll give you five minutes. After that time, I’m going to unleash the resources at my disposal and rain down the kind of Hell on this town that’s beyond even your worst nightmares. If you doubt me, you should ask your mayor about the phone call he had with the President less than an hour ago.” She walks to the side of the stage to stand next to me. “That was awesome. Scary as all hell, but fucking awesome. Someone’s got to help after that.” “They better because I wasn’t kidding. I will take down this whole town if I have to.” “I know.” Right then, the coach of the football team walks up. He wasn’t my coach, and I’ve never cared for him very much, but if he can help, I’ll be more than happy to change my assessment of his character. “Hello, sir. Do you have some information for me?” she asks him. “Yeah. I have some info for you. You need to go back across the border where you belong. A girl like you could get herself hurt around here.” Matt is off the stage in seconds, tackling the bastard to the ground. Before he can recover, Matt pulls out a gun and shoots him in the shoulder. “Talk to my wife like that again, asshole, and I will end you.” He looks around at the crowd, who have gone quiet. “That goes for the rest of you, too.” The minutes tick by, and no one calls or comes up to the stage. Well except for the paramedics who took the coach away. Right at the five minute mark, the volume of the crowd increases as people start checking their phones. Several of them begin running from the stadium.

“Shit,” Scott says. “I’ve got a visual on Tegan and it’s not good.” * * * Tegan I had to endure the little bastards re-marking my skin since the letters apparently weren’t as prominent as they wanted. Of course they kept me tied up, and held down while they did it. We’re almost to the town square where I’m apparently being put out for all to see me. The only thing keeping me sane is the fact that once I’m in public, my friends will come for me. And these boys. I’m surprised that no one’s around when they lift me out of the truck. Usually at least a few of the old timers are hanging around after church. I guess I should be happy for small blessings. They carry me to the gazebo and tie me to the top of one of the openings, leaving the rope slack enough so that I can stand. “Are you ready for your close-up, bitch?” the quarterback asks as he takes a picture of me. “Are you ready to hurt, you little prick?” “Your adoring fans should be on their way any minute now. Have fun.” They all practically run back to their trucks, while I test the ropes to see if I can get loose before someone sees me. All hope of that disappears when people start pulling up by the car and truckload. Most of them have their cameras out before they even get near me. I close my eyes, and let memories mix with real life again. Only this time, it’s good memories that come to me. “Looking good, Tegan.” “You’re my best friend, Teeg. I love you.” “Why don’t you spread your legs for us?” “You are one of our best, Tegan. Never forget your past because those hardships shaped you into the compassionate and strong woman you are today.” “Open your eyes, and look at all your fans gathered here.” “You’re a real-life superhero, Mama. I’m the proudest kid ever. I love you.” “Hey, guys, do you think we can touch as well as look?” “I love you, too.” “Touch her and die. I won’t make it quick either.” My eyes fly open and I know I must be seeing things, but as I watch him shoot people’s phones out of their hands, I know he’s really here. “Aiden.” “Hi, Boots. Sorry I’m late to the party,” he says as he continues shooting. “Hey man, you can’t shoot our phones.” “Put them away then and learn to have some respect. Because I brought a shit ton of bullets with me, and when they’re gone, I’ll be happy to get up close and personal with my knives.” “You’re crazy.” “Yep,” he responds, standing in front of me with his arms crossed. “What are you doing here?” I ask him. When he left after Reina and Matt’s wedding, I didn’t expect to ever see him again. “Ethan called and said you were missing. I got the first flight I could since I don’t have the jets at my disposal now.” “Thank you.” “Anytime. I’d take you down, but we need evidence photos so we can try and figure out who did this. I’ll block you from them, though.” “I know who did it. They didn’t wear masks.”

“Really? Dumbasses.” “You think?” “There’s the sheriff now.” “He won’t help.” “Oh goody. I’m in the mood to fuck someone up.” “What the hell is going on here? I’ve got reports that someone’s shooting cell phones.” “You’re just going to ignore the woman strung up behind me?” “What’s that they say, ‘karma’s a bitch’ I think?” “You’re the only bitch here.” “So tough with that gun in your hand.” “I’ll be happy to fight you without my gun once someone competent comes by here to collect evidence.” “I’m the law here.” “Not anymore, you’re not,” a man in a state police uniform says as he starts reading him his rights. Another man in uniform moves to the front of the crowd as well. “We’re taking over law enforcement in this town until a suitable and ethical replacement can be put in place. I suggest you all get on home and leave this woman alone. I’m not sure if the jail has room for all of you, but I won’t hesitate to take everyone in.” “That guy shot our phones.” He turns to Aiden and holds out his hand. “Good job, son.” “I aim to please. Or am pleased to aim. Whichever version you like better.” * * * Caleb “Where is she?” I ask. “Tied to the gazebo in the town square. Thank God we installed those cameras all over town.” “We need to get to her,” I say. Ainsley and Scott are both looking at his tablet now. “Holy shit, Aiden just arrived, and he’s shooting phones. And now he’s standing in front of her, blocking her from everyone’s view.” “Who’s Aiden?” “One of my best friends. He used to work with us, but then he had to…umm…leave,” Nate says. “After telling me he loved me,” Ellie says, looking like she might cry. “He’ll come around. Just give him time,” Nate tells her. “Like you’re coming around?” Jade asks. How did I miss this? Now that I know what to look for, I can see that Nate and Jade want each other. Apparently she’s the only one who wants to act on the feelings, though. “Hey man, take it from me. Don’t let the woman you want get away from you. She may not wait forever.” He nods, and then Ainsley curses. “I just rewound the footage and I know who did this to Tegan. Coincidentally, they just walked in.” I look over and see the current football team walking in like they own the place. Like they own the town. I’m not sure they realize that whoever ’s still here is not on their side. Those people ran as fast as they could to humiliate Tegan. “How are we handling this?” Audrey asks Reina. “Go get ‘em, girls,” she says with another one of her scary smiles.

All eight other women pull out their guns and jump off the stage. Within seconds, they’ve each shot one of the players. Nowhere life threatening, but the injuries to legs and arms will be career ending. One of them, who I think is the quarterback, tries to hit Stella with his uninjured arm. “You bitch. I have scholarships,” he yells as she ducks. “Had. The word you’re looking for is had. You’d still have them if you hadn’t messed with my best friend.” “You’re a slut then, too, huh? I bet I could close your smart mouth the way I closed Tegan’s. With my fist.” She cocks her gun again, and aims it downwards, towards his crotch. “Say another word, and I’ll pull the trigger. So please say a word. Any fucking word.” He’s finally developed at least half a brain, so he stays quiet. His friends are squirming around on the ground, begging for help while everyone ignores them. Until Jake has finally had enough. “Man up you little assholes. You’d never survive the military if one bullet that isn’t even lifethreatening is making you cry for your mommy.” “You were in the military?” “Yes, and I’ve been shot. More than once.” “You didn’t cry for your mama?” “My mother is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She would’ve kicked my ass for crying over a little bullet wound.” “I’ve gotta get to Tegan,” I tell Reina. “They’re transporting her to the local hospital,” Scott tells me. I nod and start to go. Owen Griffin falls into step next to me and gives me a list of things I should pick up at the store before going to the hospital. I hate missing any time with Tegan, but I know he’s right about me needing to get them first. Those extra few minutes will also give me time to finish formulating my plan. I knew what I had to do once I saw those pictures. It might just kill me, but it has to be done.

CHAPTER 16

Tegan Once the crowd disperses, the police officer comes over to where Aiden and I are. “I have to take a few pictures, Tegan. I’ll be as quick as possible, and then we’ll get you down.” “I understand.” And I do, but the thought of more pictures of me, with these words on my body, makes me want to vomit. He rushes through as fast as he can and then helps Aiden cut me down. I sway a little, but Aiden picks me up into his arms. “Can we catch a ride with you to the hospital? There’s been some kind of mass shooting at the high school, and my colleague forgot to give me the keys to the sheriff’s cruiser before he took off.” “Sure,” Aiden tells him. “And the guys who got shot are the ones who did this to Tegan.” “Well, as long as you don’t shoot me, you do whatever you have to in order to keep this young woman safe.” I wonder why he cares so much, but I don’t dwell on it. I’m glad my friends got the football players, but now that it’s over, I just feel really numb. I just want to curl up somewhere in the dark, but I know that although I’m safe, they’ll still be questions to answer and pitying looks to endure. I can keep toughing it out. I have to. Aiden takes off his t-shirt and puts it over me before we get out of the car. It doesn’t cover much of my arms, or legs, but I appreciate the gesture. So do the nurses, who practically fall over when they see his chest and abs on display. He has to ask them three times for help before they register what he’s saying. As soon as they get it, they jump into action. Even though this is a small town, we have state of the art medical facilities thanks in big part to the Halls. They get me back to a room pretty quickly, and the guys wait outside while I change into a hospital gown and pull the blanket up to my neck. Once I’m settled, they both come back in, along with a doctor. “Tegan, I’m going to be blunt with you because I don’t think you need anyone to beat around the bush with you right now.” “Blunt is good.” “Is a rape kit necessary?” “No.” “Thank God,” Aiden says. I cut my eyes to his, and then have to look away. Even though he knows I wasn’t raped, there’s still too much emotion showing on his face. Not pity, because Aiden Ford doesn’t do pity, but emotion nonetheless. “I see the bruises on your face. Were you hit anywhere else?” “Not hit, but they did use several cattle prods on me when they took me.” “Did you black out at all?” “Yes. And then when I woke up I was heavily drugged. I couldn’t even open my eyes, and I was kind of hallucinating.”

“What kind of hallucinations?” “I could hear pieces of what they were saying to each other, but they were interspersed with things from my past.” “Good or bad things?” I take a deep breath. “Very bad that time.” “This happened more than once?” “Yeah. When people started taking pictures and yelling at me today, I started remembering good things my friends and family said to me.” “You don’t seem drugged at the moment.” “No, when I woke up this time, I was alert. I think they wanted me that way.” “I don’t think you were experiencing hallucinations, Tegan. I think that you were in shock the first time you were having memories. Something bad was happening to you, and it triggered those old things. Today, your brain used good memories as a coping mechanism to help you get through what was happening.” “I’m fine now.” “We both know that’s not true, but for now, I just want you to rest. We can talk about this more tomorrow.” “I have to stay here?” “Yes, your room upstairs should be ready.” “I’m not crazy.” “And you’re not going to the psych ward, just a regular hospital room. You’ve had a traumatic experience. I just want you to accept that, and let us help you get through it.” “No offense, but you can’t help me. I need to help myself. That’s what I’ve always done.” “You’ve never taken help from anyone?” “Of course I have, but this isn’t something I need help with.” “Regardless, you’re staying here tonight. I won’t force you to talk to me, or my colleagues, but I want you to think about it. If you still don’t want our help, I’ll discharge you in the morning.” “Thank you.” The nurse comes in and gets an I.V. going for me. This is becoming a habit, and not one I really want to keep repeating. I still just want to curl up in the dark, only now it’ll be in this hospital, and I probably won’t be alone. I see the concerned look in Aiden’s eyes. I should have kicked him out while the doctor was here, but he makes me feel safe, and I need that right now. I’m not even going to try and analyze why I feel this way. When I’m settled in my room, the officer finally speaks. “My daughter is Lexi Jones.” Wow. I helped her get away from an abusive boyfriend last year. “Oh my God. How is she?” “She’d doing great since you saved her from that…animal.” “It was my pleasure.” “Which is why I took this assignment when I heard about it, and I’ll do anything I can to help you and your friends. Or look the other way when I need to.” “Thank you. And please tell Lexi hi for me.” “I will,” he says, walking out. Now I just I need to work on getting Aiden to give me alone time. When he drops into the recliner in the room, I know he’s not going to go without a fight. “I don’t need a babysitter, Aiden.” “At least a third of this town was out there saying shit to you, and taking pictures. Just because the little pussies that kidnapped you are neutralized, doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t come after you.”

“Between you and that state officer, I think they’re too scared to come within a hundred feet of me.” “I’m not willing to take any chances.” I really need him to leave, so I decide to play hardball. “Fine. Let’s talk about Ellie.” “Yeah, no.” “You want to stay, don’t you?” “The nurses here won’t throw me out,” he says with a smirk. Damn him and his abs. “I could call security directly.” “Okay fine, you win. We can talk about Ellie.” “I thought you would leave before ever doing that.” “I know, but right now you’re more important. So ask or say whatever ’s on your mind.” “You’re an asshole.” “That’s not news.” “How could you tell her you love her and then leave?” “I didn’t plan on telling her how I felt. Ever. But when I saw her that day, I had to tell her. I needed her to know how much she means to me. How important she is. I think any woman would need to hear that from a guy they like,” he says, giving me a pointed look. “She doesn’t ‘like’ you, she loves you right back, and you know it.” He looks to the ceiling, like it contains all the answers to life. “Yeah, I know. And if I was really the asshole all you girls think I am, I would’ve stayed and taken advantage of that. I would’ve slept in her bed every night and taken everything she could give me. Then, when she was truly happy, I would’ve shown her who I really am, and destroyed her.” “Bullshit. You are an honorable man, Aiden Ford.” “The hell I am.” “You came here for me.” “I’d help any of you, any time. That doesn’t make me honorable.” “Um, yeah it does. And we both know if it had been Ellie up there, no one in that square would be alive right now.” “See, you’re finally getting it. You’re seeing my true nature. I like to kill, Teeg. It wasn’t just a job for me in the military. I liked what I was doing.” “I haven’t heard of you killing anyone since you’ve been working with us. You’ve hurt people, sure. But not killing.” “I’ve been able to control myself for the last few years, but I was going to kill the man bidding on Ellie in the auction last month. I was already planning the different ways I could do it in my head, just in case.” “Again, that was to protect her. Thinking of it, and doing it, are two different things.” “I can’t take that chance. I wouldn’t survive it if Ellie looked at me like the monster that I am.” “She never would.” “My urges are getting stronger, Tegan. I’m going to kill soon.” “I know you, Aiden. You wouldn’t kill an innocent person just because you feel like it.” At least I hope he wouldn’t. This conversation is scaring me a little, but being the master that I am at faking it, I don’t show even an ounce of that fear. “I never killed anyone who was innocent. I was a vigilante when I was younger. I went after people and organizations that were hurting and exploiting other people.” “Which is pretty much what we do in the Society.” “You have rules and only kill when necessary. I killed first.” It’s time for me to tell him the truth. “Look at me.” I wait while he does. “Nothing you can say to me now, or do in the future, will ever make me think less of you. And you’re just like a brother to me.

Ellie loves you at least a thousand times more than I do. She will do whatever she can to help you, but in the end, she’ll accept you for who you are. She already has. Give her a chance to prove it to her.” “She’ll accept that I’m a stone cold killer? Yeah, right.” “Faith killed for justice. And between you and me, I’m pretty sure she enjoyed it on occasion.” “You’re not going to change my mind, but thank you for trying. I hope you’ll keep this conversation between us because we both know Ellie will come after me if she knows why I left.” “For now, I will. I’m giving you time to come to your senses.” “Don’t hold your breath.” “Am I interrupting something,” Caleb asks as he walks into the room. “Nope. We were just finished. You must be Caleb,” Aiden says holding out his hand. Caleb takes it with a smile. “And you’re Aiden. Thank you for protecting Tegan and staying with her until I could get here.” “You don’t need to thank me.” He walks over to kiss me on the forehead. “It looks like your interrogation is over, Boots. I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.” “Go to her.” “Good luck with this one, man. She’s in rare form tonight,” he says with a chuckle as he walks out of my room. Then it’s just me and Caleb. I want to pull him to me, and let him hold me, but I don’t think I can even show my weakness to him. I opt for humor instead. “What did you bring me, Cowboy? Booze, burgers, condoms?” * * * Caleb Tegan’s joking with me to keep her mask, her shield, in place. What she doesn’t realize is that I’m here to shatter that mask. I have to, because she’s hurting so much, and I need her to let it out, and let me finally be there to pick her up when she falls. “None of the above, I’m afraid. I brought some things to clean you up with.” “I’m fine.” “Ha. That’s the first thing a woman says when she’s really not.” “Seriously, Cal. Why don’t you just come over here and kiss me for a few hours.” “After we’re done with the shower, I’d be happy to take you up on that offer.” “Soap and water won’t get rid of Sharpie.” “Which is why Owen told me exactly what to get. Well, actually he gave me three choices.” I start pulling bottles out of my bag, and placing them on her tray table. “Baby oil, which he tells me can be fun for getting paint off, too. So we’ll call this one ‘sexy.’ Then we have rubbing alcohol, which is, well ‘not sexy.’ Door number three holds hand sanitizer. It’s not sexy, but it’s not not sexy so let’s just call it ‘neutral.’” “I-I don’t want to feel sexy right now.” She’s opening up already. This is a good sign. “Bye bye, ‘sexy’ then,” I tell her as I throw the oil back in the bag. “Rubbing alcohol smells too strong to be used for an extended period of time.” I toss the alcohol in the bag, and point to the hand sanitizer. “Neutral for the win.” “I guess so,” she tells me. I pull my wallet and phone out of my jeans and put them on the table. Next, I sit down to remove my shoes and socks. “I would take off my shirt and jeans, but I don’t want to give the nurses a heart attack

if they walk in on us and see what a fine specimen of man I am. I know it’s a hospital, and they could probably be saved, but still.” “They’ve seen Aiden shirtless already, so I think you’re safe.” “Are you suggesting he looks better with his shirt off than I do?” I ask, with one eyebrow quirked. “No. I would never suggest that.” “You are such a brat.” “Really? Because no one wrote that word on me,” she says, sliding further under the blanket on her bed. “You’re not those words,” I tell her as I walk over and sit on the bed next to her. “I know you know that because you told me that yourself when I was being an ass. Let’s go get them off of you.” I pull at the blanket, but she holds on tight from beneath it. “I don’t want you to see me like this.” “The Amazing Aiden saw you up close and personal.” “Yeah, but I’ve never tried to impress him.” “You impressed me when we were ten years old, and I’ve been under your spell ever since.” “We both know that’s not true.” “Straight for the jugular, huh?” “It’s a gift.” It’s also another part of her shield. “Come on, let’s get to the shower,” I say, tugging on the blanket again. She lets me pull it off this time, and I force myself to look only at her face. I’ll have to look at her when I’m cleaning her off, but she needs to know that I only see her right now, and not what those little pricks wrote on her. I pull her up until she’s sitting on the side of the bed. After handing her the giant bottle of sanitizer and some wash cloths I brought with me, I pick her up in my arms and carry her to the small bathroom. The shower is the type you can walk right into. I’ll turn on the water once we need it, but for now I just lower us down to the floor, sitting crossed legged with Tegan on my lap. She hands me the supplies and I pour some liquid into my hand before reaching forward to rub it into her skin. It takes a little work, but the first word starts to disappear as I go over it with a washcloth. “I need you to do something else for me, honey.” “What,” she asks, her face buried in my shoulder so she doesn’t have to watch what I’m doing. “I need you to cry.” She rears back and looks at me, searching my eyes for the joke. When she sees that I’m serious, she tries to pull away from me. I’m not letting that happen. “Let go of me, Cal.” “No,” I say pulling her face back up to mine. “I promise you that I will never ask you to cry for me again. I know I’ve caused too many of your tears in the past, and I’m going to do everything I can to not make that happen again after today. But you need to cry now.” “I-I don’t want to.” “Yes. You do. You just don’t think you can. You’ve had to be strong for so long because you didn’t trust anyone else enough to allow yourself to show weakness. You love your friends, but you’re scared of being weak in front of them. I’m letting you know that you can trust me to be strong enough for you, to never hold it against you. Let me hold you while you break. Break, Tegan. Not for me, but for you. Cry for you.” I can see the moment when she believes my words, when she believes me. It’s right before the first sob escapes from her throat. Within seconds, she’s heaving as she cries hard. I keep one arm around her as I continue using my other hand to remove the words from her skin. “What am I, Cal?” she asks me, tears flowing down her cheeks. “If not these, what words are me?”

“Beautiful, brilliant, loving, compassionate, kick-ass, sensual, loyal, and thousands of other words that people would love to be called,” I tell her, punctuating every word with a kiss. “You really think so?” “No. I know so.”

CHAPTER 17

Caleb We’re lying in her hospital bed now, after I got all the words off. Our conversation hasn’t ended yet, though, and I’m holding her in my arms as she continues to get out everything she’s been holding inside for too long. “I feel like such a failure sometimes, Cal. Like I don’t know what I’m doing. With Ethan, with my friends, with guys. I just feel like I can’t juggle it all. I’m afraid Ethan’s not getting what he needs. That I’m letting him down. I’ve never admitted that to anyone, but I can’t help think that it’s true.” “Aww, Teeg. Our son is the most well-adjusted kid I’ve ever met. He’s ornery as fuck, but he hasn’t missed out. At all. The kid has the best of the best in almost every field supporting and helping him. You have a great support system in place. Not all single moms are that lucky, but I would guess that most of them feel like a failure sometimes. You’re all just doing what you need to in order to provide for your kids, sacrificing your own life for theirs. As for ‘guys’, well, there’s only one of them from now on. Me.” “I think you’re going to be the hardest to juggle.” “Is that a metaphor for sex, since you know, most people juggle balls?” “Jack-ass,” she says, slapping my arm. “I just mean that I’m going to want to be with you all the time.” “Yeah?” “Uh-huh.” “If you’re looking for me to complain, that’s not going to happen.” “So I can come down to your lab and get on my knees to suck you off while you’re working on your formulas?” “If you want me to blow up the building when I mix something wrong, sure.” “See? It’s going to be a problem.” “No sexy times while working, but I can take breaks. Lots and lots of breaks.” “I don’t want to quit my job.” “Good thing you have a built in babysitter now. I’m not gonna lie, Teeg. I’ll miss you like crazy and sleep like shit because I’ll worry about you while you’re gone, but I’ll deal.” “I’ll make it up to you when I come home.” “Just knowing I get to be there with you, and Ethan, is more than worth the times we have to be apart.” “When the guys had me, I thought about a bunch of bad things for a while, but then I thought of good things. The doctor here said I was using them to cope. He wanted me to get everything out.” “Are you saying I could be a doctor since I knew that’s what you needed, too?” “No. I’m saying that I have some hard things that I need to say to you.” “Go ahead. Say whatever you need to. I’m not going anywhere.” “You hurt me so much, Cal. I loved you, only you, for so long, and then you called me the same words you just removed from my body. You moved on immediately with another girl, and you did

everything you could to tear me down. All because you chose to believe something that wasn’t true. Without asking me yourself. You said you loved me, but how is that love?” I take a deep breath. I can do this, I can give her the truth. “I loved you, Tegan. Have no doubts about that. But I let my insecurities and fear become more important. For about six months before the…incident, I had started having crazy feelings when we were out. Especially when we were in Houston. I saw how the college guys were looking at you. Hell, why wouldn’t they look at you? You were brilliant, and gorgeous. Plus you didn’t try to bring attention to yourself like so many of the other girls did. You wore plaid shirts, jeans, and boots to the parties, not short skirts.” “I did that to try and let them know I wasn’t looking. I wanted it to be clear that I was off the market.” “Really?” “Yes. I only had eyes for you. Always.” “I was too dumb to realize that. I just kept thinking about how we were each other ’s first, and that you would want someone with more experience. Someone who could please you better.” “Better? Did we not just recently talk about the barn, and how I screamed so loud the ranch hands came running?” “I never said I was smart back then. Well, not more than book smart, at least. I just figured we’d been together too long. As friends, and then more. Why would you want that when you could have a shiny new guy?” “Despite how I decorate my places, I’m not all that fond of new and shiny in other parts of my life. I like old-school and muddy.” “I couldn’t see that then. I was just too scared. So when Greg said you’d slept with him, it made sense to me in a weird way. It validated all the insecurities I’d been feeling and obliterated my pride. I had to get at least that back, so I started dating Dee and did everything I could to tear you down. I wanted you to hurt like I was hurting.” “I was sixteen and pregnant, watching the guy I loved kissing the girl I hated. Believe me, I was hurting.” “I’m so damn sorry that you had to go through all of that alone. I should’ve been there with you, going to your appointments and holding you hand. I would’ve been there if things hadn’t gone down the way they had, I need you to know that. I would have fought your parents and brought you to the safety of our ranch. “I would’ve kissed your belly. God, I wish I could have seen it all round with our baby inside of it,” I tell her as I run my hand over her now flat stomach. “Did it get really big?” “Yeah. My breasts got huge, too.” “Torture a guy, why don’t you?” “You’ll see them next time.” I sit up and look down at her, what I know has to be a crazy smile on my face. “There can be a next time? Really?” “Yeah. We’re still young, and Ethan has always wanted a brother or sister.” She looks sad again, and I’m not sure why. “What’s wrong?” “I shouldn’t have kept him from you, Cal. I thought you hated me for so long, and then I was scared you’d try to take him. But what I did wasn’t right, for either of you.” “I’ve already forgiven you, Teeg. Neither one of us made the choices we should’ve. I’m just glad to have him—and you—now. I’m pretty sure that he’ll let me teach him stuff now that you and I are good.” “He wouldn’t let you teach him things at the ranch?” “No. I told you the kid’s ornery.”

“I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault. I know you well enough to know you would’ve told him to be nice to me.” “I really would’ve.” “Knock, knock,” Stella says, walking in the door. “Bestie,” Tegan says with a smile, sitting up to hug her friend. “Is this okay? I mean, I know you two were probably talking about serious shit. I just couldn’t wait any longer.” “It’s fine. We have the rest of our lives to talk. How about I leave you two alone while I go pick up Ethan? I promised to bring him by tonight.” “Thanks,” Tegan says, kissing me like she means it. “I’ll be back soon, and I’m staying the night.” “I can take Ethan back to the house, or ranch.” “That’d be great, Stella. I’ll see you ladies soon.” * * * Tegan “You two looked extremely cozy,” Stella says. We’re sitting cross legged on my hospital bed across from each other. “We were.” “Oh no. You are not going to doge the big elephant in the room.” “We’ve both done things wrong,” I tell her, looking down to play with the edge of my hospital gown. “You saved his ass and he asked for a divorce.” “I know.” “What if you accidentally burn dinner? Or forget to wash his shorts? Is he going to be all like ‘sorry, Teeg, but I’m out’ again?” “I certainly hope not.” “I’m serious.” I look back up at her. “So am I. I’ve loved him most of my life. Back then, I thought it was the best thing ever. That he was the best thing ever. He wasn’t then, but I know he is now.” “And when did you have this great epiphany?” “When he removed all the words from my body while telling me that I needed to go ahead and cry. That he would be my strength while I let myself break. And then washed my hair for me.” Her eyes widen as she looks me over. “Oh my God. I didn’t even notice that your skin was unmarked. And those things he said? Plus, washing your hair? Okay, I’m firmly Team Caleb. He’s a keeper.” “Yes, he is, and I think he’s finally going to let me do just that.” “Good. Then I won’t need to shoot him.” “Please don’t.” “Buzzkill.” “Trigger happy.” “Besties.” “For life.” We talk and laugh until Caleb gets back with Ethan. My boy jumps on the bed and tackles me backward when he sees me.

“I was so worried, Mama.” “Honestly, I was too.” “I knew the SoSh would get you back, but I didn’t know how long it would take.” “SoSh?” Caleb asks him, looking confused as Stella and I smile. “Yeah. The Society of Superheroes. Mama and her friends.” “He started calling us that a couple of years ago,” I explain. “Way to go, E. Already charming the ladies.” “You know it.” I roll my eyes and hug him again. “Are you staying at the house tonight, or the ranch?” “The ranch, if that’s okay. Grandma wants to spend more time with me.” “Of course it’s okay. As long as you let your dad show you some stuff tomorrow,” I tell him with that scary “mom” look on my face. Well, at least I hope it’s scary. He sighs. “I figured he’d tell you.” “Sorry, but your mom and I are trying to not keep secrets from each other anymore.” “Don’t apologize to him,” I tell Cal, and then pin Ethan with another look. “Your father describes you as ornery? Is that how you really want him to think of you?” “Maybe.” “Ethan Caleb Hall.” “No. I don’t want him to think of me that way.” “One more sigh, and I swear that I’m spanking your ass.” “You’re going to be the fun parent, right Dad?” “I’m going to be the parent who tans your hide for sassing your mom. And then takes you out to a ball game after because I feel bad.” “Nice.” “Give your mom another hug, and then we need to get going,” Stella says. “Oh. Jade gave me a bag she said you needed,” Caleb tells her. “It’s for Tegan. You two can go wait in the hall for a few minutes.” “Don’t look at me like that. I have no clue,” I tell Caleb. “You’ll be home tomorrow, right Mama?” “That’s the plan.” “Okay. I love you.” “I love you, too.” He turns to Caleb and hugs him. “I love you, Dad.” “Love you too, E.” Stella shoos them out of the room and then turns to me. “I had Jade pack up your recent Victoria’s Secret purchases.” “I’m in the hospital, Stell.” “With just a few bruises on your face, and emotional scars that are healing. Tell me you don’t want to do that sexy hunk of man.” “I’m hooked up to machines.” “I’ll tell the nurses to ignore your heart monitor.” “I already have a bad reputation in this town.” “Exactly. Why shouldn’t you use it to your advantage?” “Give me the damn bag.” “Gladly.” I decide on what to wear and put it on while Stella tames my hair as best she can. Once I’m as good as I can get while in the hospital, I stretch out on top of the blankets and wait for her to send him in.

“Hey, Teeg…whoa…I…damn, honey.” “Thanks for bringing this for me.” “If I’d known what was in that bag, I would’ve kicked them out earlier,” he says as he walks over and runs a finger up my bare leg. “No you wouldn’t have.” “You’re right. The kid comes before the sex. Oh damn, that sounded so wrong.” “Yes, it did,” I say with a laugh. “I seem to have left my suave at home.” “As long as you didn’t leave your yummy cock there.” He looks down. “Nope, that’s still attached, and growing by the second.” “Just like I love it.” He moves his finger between my legs, pushing the lace of my thong aside, and dipping his finger into me. He pulls it out and sucks it into his mouth. “You pussy’s just how I love it as well.” I almost came right then. Seriously. That was so fucking erotic. My nipples are straining against the sheer fabric covering them, and I can feel myself getting wetter. I need him now. “How do you want me, Cal?” “I should be asking you that.” “I want whatever you want. Please. Don’t get used to it, but right now I want you in charge.” “I won’t refuse you. Now or ever,” He lowers the side rails on the bed and then reaches down for the buttons that control it, lowering it until it’s just above his knees. I watch as he whips his shirt over his head and pulls his jeans and boxers off together. He almost trips when he forgets that his shoes are still on, and I smile knowing that I’m the one who’s made him so crazed. He straddles the bed, moving my legs up, and sitting down before angling the lower portion of the bed up with the controls. “Turn around, scoot up, and hold on to the top of the bed.” I do as he says. Moving my I.V. line over my head to get it out of the way. Once I’m where he wants me, he throws my legs over his and lowers the top of the bed almost to the ground. “Put your head back so you don’t get lightheaded,” he says as he rips my thong apart, grips my hips, and thrusts into me. I arch my back and throw my head back without even having to think about it. “You feel so good.” “You said we could make another baby, so we’re not using condoms anymore, even once your birth control wears off. I want to feel you, and know I’m leaving myself in you every time.” “Yes. So much yes.” I let go of the top of the bed to brace myself on my hands as he thrusts harder and harder. It’s perfect. He’s getting deeper with every stroke, and I think I may go crazy with pleasure. When one of his hands moves below me so that his fingers can circle and then pinch my nipple, I do. I come so hard that I don’t think my orgasm will ever stop. I’m still clenching his cock inside me when he shakes in me. As soon as I collapse back onto the bed, he raises the top back up and the bottom back down. We silently put a few clothes back on, climb under the blankets, and fall asleep with our arms around each other. The nurses wake me up to check my vitals every hour, but I snuggle back into Caleb when they leave again. We’re still wrapped up together when the doctor comes in the next morning. I introduce him to Caleb, telling him he’s my husband. He’s very happy that Cal got me to open up, and after looking over my chart, tells me I’m free to go. I thank him and then cuddle back into the chest I love for a few more minutes. The sensible scientist makes me get up to put on clothes, reminding me that the sooner

I get dressed, the sooner he can take me home to bed. I’m dressed and out the door in fifteen minutes. Being married to the town prince definitely has its advantages.

CHAPTER 18

Tegan It’s been two weeks since I got out of the hospital, and things are finally dying down. Reina told me to take as much time off as I needed, and Luke got permission for Ethan to temporarily go to school here, but get credit at his school in Las Vegas. It’s been fun, watching him and Caleb bond even more. I sleep in every day, and when Cal gets back from dropping Ethan off at school, he wakes me up with his mouth or hands. We make love for a couple of hours before he goes downstairs to his makeshift lab, and works on his formulas. I read or binge watch TV shows I’ve missed until school is out. We both pick up Ethan, but while they go back to the ranch to do ‘cowboy things,’ I head to the high school. Soon after I got out of the hospital, the guidance counselor from the school contacted me, asking if I would be willing to talk to some of the girls at the school who were having a rough time. I immediately agreed, and now we meet daily. I started with just a small group of girls who were the victims of bullying. For the way they dress, the poverty they live in, their weight, their sexual orientation, their skin color, or even their brains. Now, there are thirty girls, including most of the cheerleading squad and the girls’ sports teams. We even have a few pageant queens. All these girls are so different on the outside, but through just simple conversations where they can say whatever they need to, they’ve come to realize that they’re a lot alike. Today is a special day—not just because we’re meeting on a Saturday—but because my friends are coming to talk to the girls, too. All the Society girls, plus all of the Griffin women will be meeting me at the school. I also invited Caleb’s mom, and some of the other women who’ve supported me. I’ll be going home after next week’s gala to celebrate the ‘fuel deal,’ and I want to make sure that there are others who can keep this program going. Especially now that some boys are asking to join, too. “Why are you so smiling so big, Caleb Hall? You look like the cat who swallowed the canary.” “Just happy, Tegan Hall. Very happy,” “Whatever. Don’t tell me. I’ll find out, though, you know I will.” “You’re about to. In 3, 2, 1…” I look out the car window and my mouth drops in shock as tears form in my eyes. We’re at the school, but it looks like the whole town’s here, instead of just the people I was expecting to see. There are big signs all over with my face and positive messages. “TegAn Kelly is______, and so am I!” is what the signs say. There are words like “smart,” “beautiful,” “nice,” “awesome,” and so many more handwritten in. In the front of the crowd, my friends and the girls from the group are all wearing shirts, too. They say “TegAn Kelly is_____, and have sayings written on them in Sharpie. Stella’s says “my bestie for life.” Wayne’s says “My kryptonite.” Ethan’s says “my mama.” My eyes are getting too blurry to see any more, and I drop my head into my hands. “Hey there, how are you going to see my shirt if you’re not looking at me,” Caleb asks as he turns off the car.

I look up as he takes off the jacket he’s wearing. His shirt has Kelly crossed out and Hall written in. The entire message says “Tegan Hall is the love of my life.” I burst back into tears. “You promised to never make me cry on purpose again, you jerk.” “These are happy tears. I’m allowed happy tears.” “I love you.” “I love you, too. Now let’s get out of this truck before they all come over and drag you away from me.” He gets out and then comes around to open my door. We hold hands as the crowd cheers. I get more hugs than I ever thought I’d have in my life, before Cal takes my hand again. We lead the crowd into the football stadium which has a full on carnival going on. There’s also a stage with a DJ and a dance area on one end. Don’t even get me started on the food. My mouth is watering and Caleb has to throw me over his shoulder to keep me on track as I try to break away. “Later, honey,” he tells me with a laugh as I smack his ass. “You better buy me one of everything.” “It’s all free for everyone. Courtesy of my family, and yours. Your real family, I mean,” he informs me as he sets me on the stage. “We have the best families.” “Yes we do.” He sits next to me in one of the chairs on the stage as the high school guidance counselor steps up to the microphone. I squeeze his hand, knowing the waterworks are probably going to be back out in full force. He squeezes back, and hands me a box of Kleenex from next to his chair. “Thank you all for coming out today to help us celebrate Tegan Kelly. For many years, she was vilified in this town, and when the incidents of a few weeks ago occurred, I knew she could help the girls—and boys—of this town look at how they treat each other and allow themselves to be treated. I approached her about meeting with some students, and she didn’t hesitate to say yes. Her small group has grown, with more students asking to join every day. She’ll be going home soon, but she’s passing the torch to some other amazing women in town so they can continue the work she’s started. “The students came to me a few days ago, and asked if we could do something for Tegan. They wanted to remind her, and everyone else in this town, just how special and awesome she is. There were horrible words used to describe her in the past, and we all agreed that we wanted to replace them with all the good there is in her. Her husband and friends jumped in to help, and now we have this big celebration.” She turns to look at me, where I’m ugly crying with Caleb’s arm around me. “Tegan, we’d love for you to say something if you could.” I can. In fact, in that moment, I realize that I’m going to reveal my biggest secrets. It’s time. I stand and hug her, before stepping up to the microphone. “You all have no idea what the gift you’ve given to me today means to me. Besides filling me with love and gratitude, your gestures have given me strength. The strength I need to finally tell everyone what really happened to me right before I left this town all those years ago. Only a couple of people here today know all of the story. My husband, son, and best friend haven’t even heard what I’m going to tell you. For too long, I was scared to admit that I was weak, but Caleb has taught me that sometimes the person you love will be strong enough for both of you.” I take a deep breath, and try to keep my voice steady. “When I was sixteen, I found out I was pregnant. Although I’m not here to condone teen pregnancy, I can tell you that I wasn’t scared, or worried. I knew my boyfriend loved me, and would love our child, too. Until I made a mistake at a party in Houston. It’s not the mistake you all have thought it was for over ten years, but it was a big, naïve mistake on my part none the same.

“I had heard the warnings about not letting someone give you a drink at a party if you didn’t watch them open in, or pour it. If a stranger had offered to grab me a drink that night, I would’ve declined. But it was one of my boyfriend’s best friends who offered, and it was just a soda. I thought I was safe with him, but I wasn’t.” “Motherfucking bastard,” I hear Cal say behind me, but I make myself face forward so I can continue without breaking down. “I started to feel weird, and very hot. I asked for Caleb, but Greg told me that he didn’t know when he’d be back. He said I should just take off my clothes if I was hot. In my drugged state, I thought that was an excellent idea; although, part of me was telling me something was very wrong. It just wasn’t a big enough part to make me stop. When Greg pulled me into his room, and closed the door, I took off my shirt and jeans. I had on loose jeans, which allowed me to keep my boots on while I took them off. That was a good thing, because I’d need those boots later. “When Greg started to lay me down on the bed, I felt myself getting sick. I was still in the phase of my pregnancy where I had morning, noon, and night sickness. I’ve always believed my son was protecting me that night, because I had to throw up. Greg put a trash can under me as I rolled to the side of the bed and threw up everything in my stomach. Doing that didn’t remove the drug from my bloodstream, but it did clear my head enough to make me realize I was almost naked in a bed with someone who wasn’t my boyfriend. I kneed Greg in the balls, and ran from the room. “I honestly cannot even remember passing by the other partygoers as I got out of that house as fast as I could. I was lucky that the house in Houston was near campus, because there was a twenty-four hour women’s clinic just down the street. I had seen it when we’d driven past earlier, and I ran there like my life—and my baby’s—depended on it. When I ran in yelling about my baby, they thought I was in labor or miscarrying. The doctor on duty calmed me down enough for me to tell her that I thought I’d been drugged and was worried about my baby being affected by the drug.” “I’m going to that fucking jail and ending his life. I swear it.” “After checking me out, and keeping me overnight while she had a local hospital rush my blood tests, she confirmed that I’d been drugged, but told me my baby would be fine. She asked me if I knew what I was planning to do about my pregnancy, and I told her I was keeping my baby. I said that the father would be as adamant as I was, and we’d find a way to make it work.” “Oh my God.” I have to turn this time, because I know he’s beating himself up. “Stop it, Cowboy. You didn’t know. And it’s about to get worse, so I need you to be okay,” I say with my hand over the microphone. He nods, so I look back at the crowd and continue my story. “Things didn’t work out the way I thought they were going to, as most of you know. Greg said I slept with him, and Caleb believed him. He and his friends called me horrible names, and said horrible things to me until the only thing keeping me from killing myself was the baby that was growing in my belly. My son was saving me, over and over again, before he was even born. That’s just the kind of awesome he is. “I tried to hide my pregnancy from my parents while I was figuring out how to get out of town. When my mother discovered my secret, she told me I had to have an abortion. She made an appointment, and I wasn’t allowed to leave the house until she took me to Houston that day. Luck was on my side, since the appointment was at the same clinic I had run to the night of the party. The doctor had seen my name on the list and knew there was something wrong since I had been so sure that I wanted the baby. She called her friend, Cyndi Evans, and asked her to come to Houston. “When we got to the appointment, the doctor insisted on seeing me alone. She took me into her office, where I met Cyndi for the first time. I told them my story, and they promised to protect me. My

parents received a very large amount of money, and I received the love and support of a woman who became like a new mother to me.” “You ungrateful little bitch,” I hear my mother say as she storms up to the stage. “Who fed and clothed you all those years you were sleeping with the rich kid?” “I did,” Caleb’s mom says, coming up behind her. “I made sure Tegan was fed and had clothes that fit her, while you only cared about how much you could take from her. I know you stole some of those clothes for yourself.” “I needed something new, too.” “Then you should’ve gone out and got a job instead of stealing from your daughter.” “You can’t fault me for wanting the life you were giving her. She never appreciated those things. She was just using all of you.” “Say one more lie about Tegan, and I will lay you out right here in front of God and this entire town. I should, anyway, just for the fact that you tried to end the life of my grandson.” “She shouldn’t have spread her legs.” She’s on the ground in seconds, clutching her jaw. “I’ll sue you.” “For what?” I say into the microphone. “Did anyone here see anything?” Not one person speaks up as my mother gets to her feet. She glares at me one more time before leaving. I hang my head for a minute, and feel Caleb’s hand slip into mine as he stands next to me. “I’m not going to bore you with a bunch more details, especially because those food tents all have my name on them, but I want to say that with Cyndi’s help and love, I was able to go to school and start a job I love. I have amazing friends who are here today, women and men who are so amazing that I have to pinch myself sometimes to prove I didn’t just dream them up. They helped me and Ethan through all the years I was away from here, and they’ve supported me since I decided to let this guy back into my life. If you take one thing from what I’ve told you today, I hope it’s that you all have value, and that things aren’t always what they seem. So try not to judge other people until you know their story. Thank you.” I step back and they start clapping. Everyone in the stadium gets to their feet and starts clapping for me. They’re yelling my name, as I turn to Caleb and cry into his chest. He leads me off the stage and kisses me until my tears stop. “I want my food now, please.” “I hope they brought enough for you,” he says as he walks backwards. “You trying to sleep on the couch tonight?” “Definitely not.” “Then shut up and take me to the food, dammit.” “Yes, ma’am.”

CHAPTER 19

Caleb After Tegan has tried some of all the different kinds of food, we go on the Ferris wheel so we can kiss at the top, and then try out a couple more rides. We’re walking around looking at all the games and charity booths. All the money that’s collected is going to a Down Syndrome charity in honor of little Ben Griffin, Luke and Olivia’s son. He was born with the disease—which they were aware that he may be—and is being welcomed into this large ‘family’ of people in the same way I’m sure my son was. I think he’s an adorable baby, and if anyone says different, I’ll be more than happy to set them straight. There’s a dunk tank featuring Zack and Miles. The line is a mile long, which makes me smile. I’d like to take a shot at Miles, just because I know Tegan slept with him. “It was only once,” she tells me with a laugh when she sees me glaring his way. “That’s still one too many.” “How was the monastery you were in while we were apart?” “You’re funny. Not. But point taken.” “Is there anything in particular you want to do?” I’m about to answer no, when I see that the kissing booth is about to switch out guys. Well, actually I hear the screams before I see it, but I’m immediately heading that way. “Yep. I see something I want to do.” This will teach him to mess with me again. “Oh my God. Are you serious?” she says when she sees where I’m heading. “I am.” “I’m so taking a picture of this.” I walk to the front of the line and see Wayne’s eyes widen. I turn to the crowd. “Ya’ll don’t mind if I jump the line, do you. I’m going to pay $1,000 to kiss the pop star.” “Fuck,” Wayne says. “No. Just a kiss. Pucker up.” I hand over my money and lean in. He shrugs, and meets me halfway. Our lips only touch for a few seconds, but I hear the clicks of cell phone cameras going off around me. I smile as I pull back, and so does he. “Well played, man. Very well played,” he says as we both wipe off our lips with wet napkins. I nod, and then turn to address the crowd. “His lips are really soft, ladies. Enjoy.” I walk over to Tegan, who is doubled over in laughter. “That was probably the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life. That picture is definitely going on the mantle.” “Just as long as you got my good side.” “Every side of you is good.” “Oh yeah?” I ask as I wrap my arms around her. “Mm-hm.” “Wanna go make out under the bleachers?” “We are too old for that.”

“Bite your tongue, woman. I am still young and virile.” “What does virile mean?” Ethan asks as he walks up to us, along with Landon Wilson. “Stupid. That’s what it means,” I tell him as I smack Caleb. “I’ll tell you what it really means later, E.” “Couch, Caleb. Couch.” He leans in so only I can hear. “The dock, honey. I want you on the dock at the creek tonight at eight. I’m going to take the boys around while you hang with your friends, but I’ll see you later. Wear that sexy bikini you bought and lie down on the dock for me.” “Okay,” I croak out as he kisses my cheek. My guys walk away with Landon, while I start fanning my face with my hand. I see the Griffins and head over to them so I can hold the baby. “Hi, Tegan. That was a great speech you gave today. I’m so proud of you. We all are.” “Thanks, Maggie.” “You want to hold Ben, don’t you?” Liv asks me. “Yes, please.” She hands him to me, and I cuddle him close. He’s such a cutie, and we all are totally in love with the little guy. “Was I seeing things, or did Caleb really kiss Wayne?” Candi asks. “Oh no. He really kissed him. I’m pretty sure it was to get back at him for messing with him about me all those times.” “He’s a good guy, Teeg. I know he’s made mistakes, but haven’t we all?” “You don’t need to sell me on him, Candi. I’m currently a very happily married woman.” “You’ve got two good guys” Liv says. ”I have to tell you that earlier some kids were asking about why Ben looked ‘different’ and Ethan told them it’s because God thought he was extra special, so he wanted him to stand out for the world to see. I almost burst into tears on the spot.” I feel tears pricking my eyes. “God, I love my kid. I want to thank you all again for all the help you’ve given us.” “It was our pleasure,” Yasmin tells me. “How are you, by the way? I haven’t seen you since the hospital.” “According to Scott, I could die at any moment, so he won’t leave me alone unless one of the security guys he’s hired comes to stay with me while he’s gone. Other than that, I’m fine. Getting shot was scary as hell, but at least the bullet missed all of my organs.” “I’m glad. And we’ll steal you away for one of our famous girls’ night soon.” “Excuse me, Miss Tegan,” says one of the high school girls. She’s standing with a couple more of the girls from the group. “We don’t mean to interrupt, but we were hoping you’d dance with us.” “Yeah, we’ll even have the DJ play Taylor Swift. We know you like her,” one of the other girls says. “What’s not to like? My life was pretty much chronicled in her 1989 album,” I tell them with a smile. “I’ll take Ben so you can all dance,” Maggie says. We walk out to the dance floor and are met by my other friends, who run over when they see our destination. Sure enough, as soon as we get there, “Shake It Off” starts to play. We all dance like no one’s watching, and so does everyone else who’s joined us out there. When “Blank Space” comes on, my girls and I each sing our favorite verse to the crowd. It’s several songs later, when “New Romantics” starts to play, that my favorite pair of arms wrap around me. “I know I said I’d see you tonight, but you looked so damn hot over here dancing that I couldn’t stay away.”

“I never asked you to stay away.” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” “And your cock grow harder,” I tell him as I grind against him. This really isn’t a grinding song, but I make it work. “That too.” “You should go before we make more of a scene than we’re already doing.” “That requires removing my arms from around you.” “Yes, it does.” “I’ve got another surprise for you, so I’m going to have to hold onto you for a few more minutes.” “What kind of surprise?” I ask as I turn in his arms. “This kind,” he says as the music stops. Everyone turns to face the DJ. “Sorry to stop the music, but there’s something special about to happen. Could everyone except for Caleb and Tegan Hall move off the dance floor please?” “Cal?” “Just wait for it, Teeg.” “Thank you, everyone. Now as most of you know, Caleb and Tegan never got to go to Prom together. Many of you also know that when they got married in Vegas, they didn’t have a proper reception. So right now I’m going to declare them Prom King and Queen of this here celebration, and give them a first dance.” He puts on “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait, and my knees start to buckle. Caleb catches me and pulls me close as he starts to move. This was our song, always our song. Cal knows I always wanted to dance to it at our wedding. “I’m sorry we didn’t do this at our wedding, but I wanted you to know I never forgot you and this song, Tegan. I never danced with anyone else to this song.” Tears are running down my face as I pull him closer. “Me either, Cowboy. Me either.” Everyone else slowly joins us on the dance floor. Once the song is over, he kisses me softly, and then lets me go. I turn back to the other dancers, who are all smiling at me. “It’s so romantic, Miss Tegan. You and Caleb Hall getting back together after all this time. I’ve been shipping you since I heard you were back in town.” “Me, too. You’re totally my OTP.” “Cate for life.” “You gave us a name? That’s so cool. Thanks, girls’” I tell them and then turn to Stella. “Did you hear that, I have a couples name, too.” “Yeah, yeah.” “We ship Kast too, Miss Stella. You’re so cute together.” “Cute? I can work with that,” she tells them. I spend the rest of the afternoon making sure everyone’s set for the program once I’m gone, and just having fun. Despite what he keeps saying, Cal can’t stay away from me. I see him run over with a giant stuffed panda. “I won this for you, honey.” “Aww thanks, Cowboy,” I say, giving him a kiss. “I won this for Ben,” Ethan says, handing Luke a bright orange bear. “I read that bright colors would be good for him.” “Thanks, buddy. He’ll love it.” “Come over here and give your mama a hug, baby.” He does without hesitation. “I’m so proud of you, E.” “What’s there to be proud of? I love Ben. He’s perfect.”

“Yes, he is,” I tell him. “I’m just glad you see it, too.” “Can I go now? I want to win you something, too.” “Go on.” “See you at eight,” Caleb says. “So you keep saying,” I tell him with a laugh. “Do you not want the panda?” he asks, pretending that he’s going to take it back. “Touch the panda and the couch is guaranteed.” He smirks at me before running off. I’m laughing as I shake my head, until Ellie comes over, crying like her world is ending. Aiden is close behind her, looking just as anguished. “El, come on. You knew I was leaving again. I always said I was only coming for the day.” “I love how you come when Tegan needs you, but what about when I need you?” “How many times do I have to tell you that I’d always come if you need me.” “I need you every day and night.” “I’m not a good man. I don’t know how else to convince you that you deserve so much better.” “I want you. Good, bad, whatever. I don’t care.” “Well, I do. I have to go.” “Then go.” I meet his eyes and glare at him. She’d get it if he told her, she’d accept him. He just needs to learn to accept himself. He shakes his head and walks off as Ellie cries for him. Again. * * * Caleb It’s been torture all day, knowing what I want to do to and with Tegan at the dock tonight. I walk towards it, and can see her there, waiting for me. We have lights for the dock, but the moonlight is bright enough tonight to not need them. I take off my trunks and slip into the water from the bank, swimming through the clear spring water towards her. When I’m close enough, I grab her feet and pull her to the edge. The water ’s not too deep here, and I can stand with her right at mouth level. That’s exactly where I want her, so it’s perfect, which I was pretty sure it would be. “This bathing suit is so sexy, but the bottoms need to come off,” I tell her as I move my fingers into the black straps at the side. I’d just move the middle aside, but I’m looking for a feast, not a snack, tonight. I need her bared to me. She wiggles her hips as I pull them down and off. I look up to see the tiny top, which has little black cups that can barely contain her tits, and a bunch more straps. Damn, she’s hot. Always has been, and always will be. “Flip over for me.” She does as I ask, and I move her so that she’s got her hands braced on the dock as I turn away from her and place her knees on my shoulders. She’s basically kneeling on me with her pussy in front of my mouth. Oh yeah. I take one long, slow lick down her center as she moves against me. Then, I flick my tongue onto her clit a few times, playing with her. “Dammit, Cal.” I suck on her clit, and then move back to blow on it. She squirms again, and I attack. I wanted to prolong this, but the taste of her is too erotic for me to ignore. I’m licking, sucking, and biting her as

I stroke my cock with one hand below the water. I can’t not touch myself, I’m just too turned on right now. “Cal, oh my God. I-I…CAL!” she screams as she comes hard in my mouth. I pull her down my body and thrust into her, taking her hard as she holds onto the dock behind me so I can thrust deep. I rip down the cups of her bikini with one hand and close my mouth over one, then the other. I’ve only got a few more thrusts in me; I want to hold on, but I just can’t. I come hard, jerking and shaking as the fireworks from the carnival start going off. Seconds later, she’s clenching on my still semi-hard cock that’s inside of her. She bites my shoulder where it meets my neck, and I’m fully hard again. I start thrusting once more. “Fuck, Teeg. This has never happened. I’ve never gotten hard again so fast.” “Lucky me,” she says as she digs her heels into my ass to pull me closer. I turn us around and place her on the deck, climbing up after her. “I need to get further inside of you,” I explain as I pound into her. There’s no other word for what I’m doing. It’s animalistic, and crazed, but we’re both getting off on it. Tegan reaches between us to play with her tits, and she’s so wet that I’m not sure how I’m staying inside of her. When she starts bucking and crying out, I follow right behind her, growling and roaring like the animal I just became. Once I catch my breath, I gather her close. “You’re okay, right? I didn’t hurt you?” “No. You just gave me the best fuck of my life.” “I didn’t mean to act like such an animal, but you make me so crazy.” “Again, best ever, Cal. I loved it. Stop acting like it was wrong, because it was perfect. Do I want it like that every time? No. Well, yes, but I love it when you’re slow with me, too. So just don’t stop doing any of it. I love it all.” “Me too.” “Glad that’s settled. Now cuddle with me until we can walk again.” “With pleasure.”

CHAPTER 20

Tegan Tomorrow’s the big gala for Caleb, but today he and Ethan said they have something special planned for me. I’m told to dress comfortably, so I put on a flowy pink top, jeans, and my pink boots. I was worried that I’d have trouble wearing them after I was kidnapped in them, but I know when I slide them on, that I’ll be okay. They were my first pair of pretty boots, and Cal bought them for me for my sixteenth birthday with money he earned working on the ranch. His parents would’ve given him the money, but he said he wanted to earn the money to give me something special. That good will always outweigh any bad I experienced while wearing them. I head over to the ranch, and go straight to the main barn like I was told to do. I find my guys sitting on horses, waiting for me. Ethan has his safety helmet on, and Cal’s got a cowboy hat on, as well as boots. I practically melt right there on the barn floor. I don’t mind the hipster look on Cal, but when he goes “cowboy,” well my ovaries practically explode on sight. “Hi Mama. Are you ready for our picnic?” “Picnic?” “You missed your picnic with Dad, so we cooked all the food again and made you more brownies. Dad said I could go along this time.” “Brownies? I’m in if you have homemade brownies, and of course you can go with us. Where’s my horse?” “I was thinking we’d share,” Cal says to me. “You just want my arms around you,” I tease him. “Maybe.” “Gross,” Ethan says. We laugh as Cal holds out his hand and removes his foot from one of the stirrups so I can climb up behind him. I squeeze him tight, and lean my head on his back. He gets the horse moving, and off we go with Ethan right next to us. When the trail narrows, Cal motions Ethan ahead of us. “You’re so good with him.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.” “Thanks.” Once the horses are tied to trees on the banks of the creek, I hug Ethan and tell him what a good rider he is. “You were great, E.” “I love riding horses. Can I have one in Las Vegas?” “I’ll buy him one if it’s okay, Teeg.” “I don’t know why you’re acting like it’s only my decision. You are his father, after all. But yes, I’m totally fine with you buying him a horse.” “Yay. This creek is really cool. Did you really spend every day after school here?” “From the time we were ten to when we were sixteen, yes. We were here all day in the summers, too.”

“Have you seen it since you’ve been back?” “Yes. Your dad and I hung out here after the carnival.” “Why didn’t you bring me along?” Caleb spits out the sip of tea he just took, as I glare at him. “We just wanted some alone time in our special place.” “You just wanted to kiss on the lips, you mean.” “Oh yeah, E. I definitely kissed your mom’s lips,” Cal says with a laugh. I roll my eyes, but I laugh right along with him. Once we get back to Las Vegas, things aren’t going to be so easy for us in regards to sex. Sure, my friends will watch Ethan any time we want, but we can’t just send him away all the time. We’ll figure it out, especially since we’re going to try to have another baby as soon as possible. * * * Caleb Today is my big day. I’ve been doing interviews with my dad and grandpa all day. I’m really proud of my formula, and I know the others I’m working on will be even better, but I’d really rather just be hanging out and watching movies with my wife and son. Duty calls, and my mom would kill me if I missed this party, so here I am, waiting for Tegan to arrive so we can walk into the giant tent outside together. Ethan comes in first, telling me I’m going to die when I see his mom. I don’t doubt him. My wife is always stunning, and I can’t wait to see what she has planned. I send him on inside with my mom while I wait. Holy hell, he wasn’t kidding. The top of her dress is conservative, with a high neckline, and sleeves that go just past her elbows. Below her waist, all bets are off. Her dress is super short in front, but falls past the floor into a short train in the back. The dress is cream colored with all kinds of beading covering the entire dress. The way the material ruffles around the bottom of the dress reminds me of a flower, one I want to peel back from the stems, which is what I’m going to call her longs legs for a moment. She’s got cream colored heels on and no jewelry other than her wedding rings. Her hair is up in a sophisticated twist, and there’s very little makeup on her face. “No boots?” “Stella threatened my life if I wore boots with this dress.” “I bet she did.” “Do you like it?” What? Oh, shit. “I fucking love it. You look gorgeous. I should’ve said that first, but seeing you like this killed a few of my brain cells.” “Good thing you have so many extra rolling around up there.” “I don’t know about that.” “This is me—you don’t have to be modest. I’m crazy proud of you.” “That means more to me than anyone else saying it.” “Don’t you dare make me cry tonight.” “I’ll distract you with kisses if I see that happening.” “It’s happening now.” I lean in and kiss her. My arms go around her as she grips my biceps. “You look fantastic tonight. I just realized I didn’t say that, Cowboy.” “Stella helped me, too.”

I have on a black suit with a black shirt, and a dark pink tie that we both chose because it’s Tegan’s favorite color. I also have black cowboy boots on. She wouldn’t let me wear a hat, but I refused to budge on the boots. I know how much Tegan likes it when I wear them. “We should go inside.” I offer her my arm, “Yes, we should.” We enter the ballroom to cheers. I join my dad and grandpa at the front of the room, where we make a short speech before joining the crowd once again. Everyone compliments Tegan on her dress and congratulates us on our recent wedding. We smile, and make small talk until I honestly just can’t take it anymore. I prefer to be in my lab, or better yet, our bed. These crowds are just not my thing. “Let’s go,” I whisper in her ear. “Go where? Your mom will kill us if we just disappear. She put a ton of work into this party.” “She said I could steal you away for a little bit before dinner. I need to take you to the barn,” I say with a grin. “Stella’s going to kill me when I mess up this dress, but at least I’ll die happy. We have to hurry, though.” “When have I ever made you wait for an orgasm?” “Last night, when you wanted to play like you’re a dominant,” she reminds me. “Just wound me with your words, why don’t you?” “Didn’t I let you have your way, sir?” “Yes, I believe you did.” “Then what’s the problem?” she asks, with her hands on her hips. “There isn’t one. I swear. I couldn’t be happier.” “Me either. It’s like my dreams have finally come true. All the ones I thought were lost.” “They were never lost, honey. Just waiting patiently for us to be ready for them again.” “I told you not to make me cry. Are you really going to keep trying?” “No, that’s not the emotion I’m looking for from you.” “Then get me to the damn barn.” We make our way out as quickly as possible. I have to help her up the ladder with the big dress, but it’s worth it when we get up to the hayloft. I decide to just go up underneath her dress while I kneel in front of her. The one thing we conveniently forgot about is how loud she screams when I make her come this way. Within seconds of said scream, several ranch hands come running in. “Miss Tegan, are you okay?” “Oh, um, yeah. I just got scared when I saw a spider,” she says as I bend over with my hands on my knees, laughing my ass off. This is one of the many times when I’m glad that everything old is new again.

EPILOGUE

Jade I never thought I’d be able to come back here. That I’d be allowed back home. Yet here I am. When I got the call, I hopped on the first plane I could find, using my real last name for the ticket. I know Ainsley will find me, but I needed a little bit of a head start. This is hard enough as it is without everyone I know getting involved. I’m going to need help at some point, but I have to be alone for tonight’s reunion, even if I’m battling emotions that I didn’t even know were there. Pulling into the parking lot, I wasn’t even sure I could get out of the rental car. I’ve dreamed of coming back here from the time I was forced to leave. I know even though it’s safer for me now that the man who wanted me dead is gone, I’m still not completely free. There’s always someone who wants to make a name for themselves, and I’m the perfect person to help them do that. They won’t get my help, though. I may be feeling nervous, and even a little scared, but no one’s taking me down—or out—without a fight. I take a deep breath and walk inside the gym, ignoring the peeling paint from the sign above the door that reads “Garrett’s”. That will be one of the first things I take care of. I have both the means and the motive for wanting to make this place sparkle. Well, as much as a fighting gym can sparkle, yet still be manly enough for the guys to want to come here to train. It was once a boxing gym, but since I’ve been gone they’ve expanded into MMA, and everything else. I look around as I enter, and see all the additional work that needs to be done. I can get it done. I have to, there’s really not another option after all of the trouble I caused. A big bear of a man stops me before I get too far inside the first room. “This isn’t a place for a girl like you.” I smile at him. “This is the place that created me, so I think I belong here more than anyone else.” “Jade. Oh my God. It really is you.” I turn and run into the arms of the gray haired man who is looking like he’s seen a ghost. “I’m home, Daddy. Sullivan’s dead, and now, I’m home.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dominique and Gabi, I’m thanking you first again, as always! Helen Williams, Jesse Gordon, and Ally Murphy- Thank you again for all the hard work you put in for me! I dedicated this book to the Friends of the Society, and here are the wonderful ladies (and gentleman) who comprise my group. They listen to my ideas, give me advice, and accuse me of torturing them with sneak peeks on a daily basis! Adylenne Ascencio, Alex Lozada, Aqeelah Ayoub, Courtney Axelrod, Cyndy DeLeon, Erin Truax, Heather McCalmont, Helen Williams, Jeanne Baldi, Jenn Valencia, Jessica Hinners, Jill Chatterton, Laura Deketelaere, Lisa Dess, Liz Tidwell, Lula Andres, Mallory Daybell, Matt Dellisola, Melissa Shank, Michelle Malone, Cel Legaspi-Mesina (aka Nickyrian), Nikki Bylina-Streets, Christina Perron, Renee Jones, Renee Kennedy, Rose Oderon, Sabrina Garrett, Samantha Boydman, Sarah Vela, Sierra Johnson, Tami Rhea, Tera Childs, Terri Lynn Jeavons, Tracy Wolff, Velvet Wehrman, and Vicki Plant. If you love my books and want to join them, send me an email or FB message so I can add you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she did. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events and selling books at conventions when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. The Griffin Brothers series and the Corrigan & Co. series are international best sellers, and she’s thankful to the readers who made those things happen! Find her here: www.crystalperkinsauthor.com facebook.com/crystalperkinsauthor @wondermomlv [email protected]