Текст книги "Middle of Knight"

Автор книги: Jewel E. Ann

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Chapter Twelve

It rained for almost forty-eight hours straight, a few weeks too late for the brown lawns and cracked fields to make a comeback with fall just over the horizon. Even the residents of Peaceful Woods agreed to stop watering the lawns and simply succumb to the inevitable.

Ryn received a message from AJ that he no longer needed her services. He thanked her for all the years she worked for him and promised to write her a glowing recommendation to keep on file for future clients. She didn’t call him back. The message was brief, melancholy, and a little haunting. The For Sale sign in his yard explained the termination of services, but it took her by surprise, given his relationship with Jillian.

After a mad dash in the rain to the Knight’s front door, she paused to take a few deep breaths. She hadn’t seen or talked to Jackson since he took her home Friday night. She invited him in, but he insisted it wasn’t a good idea until she took care of the needed “preparations.” Her face flushed every possible shade of red, and that’s when he kissed her—the complete opposite of a chaste kiss. It held so much promise, leaving no confusion as to his intentions … his plans for her.

It took a full twenty-four hours to wipe the smile off her face. In a moment of insanity, she trimmed her girly parts then shaved them bare for the first time ever. It certainly made her look younger—like ten—at least in the pubic region. Sadly, she failed to consider the side effects. The worst being red bumps and itching. Dogs with fleas didn’t scratch as much as she had been scratching down below. Lotion and body oil failed to provide relief. As long as she didn’t touch the area or rub against anything she was fine.

“Ryn.” Jackson dragged her name into two long syllables, like a jungle cat purring it.

“Mr. Knight.” She squeezed past him, making sure their bodies didn’t touch.

“Mr. Knight, huh?”

“Yes. I’m working … for you. It might be a good idea to keep things professional while I’m here.”

“That sounds like a terrible idea.” He towered behind her, bending down to kiss the back of her neck.

A flush of heat spread along her skin in spite of the shiver his touch evoked. “So … why is AJ selling his place?”

“Because he’s dying.”

Ryn turned toward the scratchy voice. Jillian emerged from her bedroom resembling something like roadkill.

“Welcome back, Sis.”

She brushed past him, wearing her panties and a shrunken red tank top, hair matted to her blotchy face. Although they were siblings, it was still a little awkward for Ryn.

“What do you mean he’s dying?” she asked in a small voice.

Jillian opened the refrigerator door. Jackson looked at her with a mild frown before moving his focus back to Ryn.

“He has a cancerous tumor in his brain, so he’s moving back to Portland with his parents. Treatment doesn’t look promising.”

A sting of emotion pricked the corners of her eyes. Ryn rarely saw AJ, but there was something about being in his home around his personal belongings that lent a sense of familiarity, a feeling that she knew him better than she really did.

“Jillian … I’m so sorry.” Ryn rested her hand on her chest, maybe to comfort her own heart, maybe because she felt the pain in Jillian’s.

Grabbing two things from the refrigerator Jillian placed them on the counter and stared at them: a bottle of Heineken and a juice box. Jackson opened the beer and dumped its contents down the drain. Jillian had no reaction. He inserted the bendy straw into the juice box and placed it in her hands.

“You’ve got this,” he said to her with a whisper of sympathy as he kissed the top of her head.

Ryn fell hard for Jackson, the way someone slips at the top of a steep hill and tumbles to the bottom, gaining speed and momentum the whole way down. She tried to stop it, but the force—his gravitational pull—was too strong. With each passing second her heart fell for that man … the one who loved his sister so completely.

Jillian looked at Ryn. A sad smile worked its way to her lips. “I’m going to pull it together soon, and then we’ll start planning the wedding.” She brushed past her with a zombie’s gait, straight to the bedroom and shut the door.

With wide eyes, she looked at Jackson.

“What?” He shrugged while biting back his shit-eating grin.

“You told her we’re getting married?”

“I may have mentioned it.”

“It’s a game, a-a ridiculous joke … some sort of twisted improv.” Her hands flailed in the air.

The dramatic emphasis to her point didn’t faze him. Narrowing his eyes, he rubbed his chin. “I’m sensing some sort of apprehension from you.”

“Apprehension? We’ve known each other for two seconds!”

“True.” He nodded. “But they’ve been the best two seconds of my life. I want more … more seconds with you.”

Flip flop. Head-over-heels. Tumbling down.

“I need to get to work, Mr. Knight.”

He killed her every time with his sexy grin. Backing her against the wall, he cradled her face and kissed her unconscious. Every time—a total blackout.

The white tape on the bridge of his black glasses came into focus first when she opened her eyes. “I’ve been meaning to ask … Why are your glasses taped together?”

He released her face, straightening to his full height. “Because Jillian busted them.”

“Why don’t you get a new pair?”

“Because Jillian would stop rolling her eyes every time she saw me.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“Yes.” His gaze melted over her body. Then he traced her lips with the pad of his index finger, trailing it slowly over her chin, down her neck, making a straight line to her breast. Stopping on her nipple, he circled once, bringing it to an embarrassingly hard peak before he grinned.

Smug bastard.

“Get to work, Miss Middleton.”

With an overload of confidence, he strode away. A few seconds later she heard the back door to the garage shut. Finally, she could breathe again. His inappropriate touch matched his look. Everything about Jackson screamed inappropriate, dirty, and sinful. Two questions bubbled in her mind: why did she let him touch her like that, and why did he stop?

“I’m going to Lilith’s.”

Ryn jumped at the sound of Jillian’s voice. “Sorry, you startled me.” She hoped it would explain her red face and the light beading of sweat along her brow.

“Where’s Jackson?” Jillian asked, pulling her wet blond hair into a pony tail as she slipped on her red rain boots.

Ryn took a deep swallow, gathering her senses. “Uh … the garage, I think.”

Jillian nodded. Opening the front door, she stopped and looked back at Ryn. “He likes you.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he’s liked a lot of women.”

Jillian shook her head. “Truth?”

Ryn squinted a bit. Did she want the truth? After a few seconds, she nodded.

“My brother has fucked a lot of women, but I don’t think he liked any of them. He liked sex. Period.”

The door closed behind her leaving Ryn with a lot to think about.

*

As expected, Lilith waited for Jillian with a patient smile and eager ears. Dodge didn’t say a word when she walked through the door. He just gave her a hug and a sad smile before leaving.

“He’s not good with emotions.”

Jillian nodded at Lilith. “There’s really nothing to say.”

“There’s everything to say, dear. You let him go.”

Jillian plopped down on the couch. “I did,” she replied with a deep sigh. “It was never going to work out anyway. The guy refused to take me on a real date … one with cloth napkins.”

Lilith smiled. “You’re an amazing woman.”

“Well I don’t feel so amazing right now.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Jillian closed her eyes. “Yes, you can just listen.”

*

Day

“Dammit, Jones!”

Jessica jumped out of bed, leaving a mattress covered in tangled sheets and a collapsed wall of pillows, but no Luke. Then it registered, the angry voice came from the other room.

“What’s going on?” she asked as Jones ran to her. Picking him up, she kissed his head.

Luke had a murderous look on his face as he scrubbed the floor on all fours, wearing a T-shirt and pajama bottoms. “I took your dog outside, but he refused to do his business, instead deciding to hold it until we came back up here.”

She giggled, setting Jones down. He ran into his kennel as if he’d been sent to jail. Luke put the soiled paper towels in a plastic bag and washed his hands.

“Are you laughing at this situation?” The look he shot her over his shoulder would have killed a lesser woman.

“I can’t even count how many times I’ve yelled ‘Dammit, Jones,’ but never at the dog.”

Luke dried his hands. “I’m not laughing.”

“Of course you’re not.” She bit her lips together.

He grabbed her arm and yanked her into his chest, stealing her breath. Then he turned them around and lifted her onto the counter. She ran her hands through the sexiest unkept hair ever.

“You woke up alive,” she reminded him with a beaming smile.

Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he mumbled, “Indeed, I did.” With a smooth, swift stroke he pulled her tank top off, returning his mouth to the sensitive skin of her neck. His hands cupped her breasts with firm pressure. “In fact…” his hands slid down and he curled his fingers around her panties, working them under her backside and down her legs “…I’ve never felt so alive.”

“Luke,” she whispered with an impatient need, grabbing the hem of his shirt.

He helped her by pulling it off and sliding down his pants. No underwear. She smiled. He smirked and it was so damn sexy.

The hiss of his breath filled the room as she stroked him. He rested his hands on her legs and closed his eyes, letting his chin drop to his chest.

“So I’m moving in?” He was steel in her hand, a pinch-me moment to think that she, fucked-up-in-the-head Jessica, had such a visceral effect on him.

Gripping her ass, he tugged her to the edge of the counter then pushed her legs apart. Looking into her eyes he promised her forever before his lips spoke the actual words. “I’m never letting you go.”

She shivered as he slid inside her, claiming her lips with his, her hair with his hands, and her soul with every beat of his heart.

*

“I’m driving.” Jessica punched as much confidence into her demand as possible when Luke picked her up to meet her family for dinner. They decided to wait until he met her parents before they jumped into cohabitation.

“Get in, babe.” He shook his head as she went to open his door, but not before he slammed down the lock.

The scowl on her face held great promise of a beating later that night. She reined in her stubbornness and got in the passenger side, but only because they were going to dinner with her parents.

“If I didn’t love you so damn much, I’d hate you for being so possessive and selfish. You have four siblings. How is it you don’t know how to share?”

Luke smiled as he pulled away from the curb.

They were the last to arrive, only because her parents and Jude arrived early. It was no surprise they wanted to interrogate her brother to see what he knew about the man she deemed worthy of meeting her parents. Jessica’s secret was safe, although Jude was not happy that her brilliant therapist had crossed all ethical lines with her.

“Hey!” She released Luke’s hand to hug her parents as all three stood to greet them.

“This is a mistake,” Jude warned in her ear when she hugged him.

“Shut it.” She batted her eyes at him, feigning innocence. “Mom and Dad…” she gave Jude a barely-detectable scowl “…and Jude, this is Luke Jones, my … boyfriend.” She said it like a question as she looked up at Luke with a bit of apprehension. Boyfriend seemed so childish for a distinguished psychiatrist.

He kept his eyes and friendly smile focused on her family, so she assumed the label was okay.

“Luke, these are my parents, Grant and Sunny, and my brother, Jude.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He shook their hands, then they all sat down at the table two seconds before the waiter rushed over to get their drink order.

Jessica ordered wine. Luke ordered beer—a local brew. Grant nodded in approval. Jessica rested her hand on Luke’s leg. A silent thank you.

“So Jessica told us you’re a doctor.” Sunny smiled.

Yes, she had told them that, but they already knew. They knew more about Luke than she did. Since Claire’s death, her father made every move Jessica made his highest priority. He and Jude had both offered to fill her in on all the details, but she didn’t want to know, at least not that way. Luke would share his past on his own time.

“Yes. I’m a psychiatrist.”

They nodded.

“Our daughter’s psychiatrist?” Grant questioned.

That … that was the one piece of information they didn’t know. She begged Jude to keep it a secret, to make sure their father never found out.

“I was.”

Jessica turned toward Luke. Stunned. There was no other word. Not in her wildest dreams did she imagine him telling them that, not with his professional career at stake. A bubble of silence enveloped their table.

Grant looked at Jude. Of course he wondered how that bit of information failed to make it to him. Jude glared at Jessica with apparent anger over the secrecy that was blown with two simple words from the good doctor himself.

Grant cleared his throat. He was a dark-haired, burly man with a Tom Selleck mustache. Most people found him intimidating. Jessica, however, was a daddy’s girl and knew his softest side. That side wasn’t on display during dinner. “And now you’re romantically involved?”

“I’m in love with your daughter.”

“Enough to risk ending your career?” her father continued as Jude and Sunny watched like spectators at a Wimbledon match.

Jessica feared the answer. The question weighed heavily on her own mind. Truthfully, she didn’t know what she wanted his answer to be. Thinking of herself as a monster for so long made it easy to feel unworthy of Luke’s love, and even more unworthy of him taking such a life-changing risk for her.

“Yes.”

Sunny looked at Jessica, both of them teary eyed.

Grant nodded. “And dealing with her past?”

“It’s my number one priority.”

Another nod. “If you hurt her—”

“I’m certain I won’t live to tell about it, sir.” Luke smiled and finally, so did her father.

It seemed Luke had passed her father’s test and everyone relaxed, except Jude. The thing she loved most about him was also the thing she hated the most. He believed no man would ever be worthy of his “little” sister. There was a better chance of San Andreas making Vegas a beach town than Jude accepting Luke as a worthy man.

“So … we have a bit of news.” Taking a breath of courage, she forced an uneasy smile.

“You’re getting married?” Sunny jumped in with a hopeful guess. Jessica inherited her mother’s beaming smile, but not her curly auburn hair that she wore long and wild like the seventies hippy her name implied.

“Uh … no.” Jessica gave Luke an apologetic look. They had never discussed marriage. He almost went down that road, and perhaps he didn’t care to do it again. It didn’t matter to Jessica. She would take him however she could get him. Everything else was inconsequential details.

“You’re pregnant?” Jude crossed his arms over his chest, a devilish grin on his face. The smug pot-stirrer knew better. He just liked fishing for a reaction. Some things never changed between them.

Sunny went from hopeful to terrified and Grant looked ready to kill.

“No! Jesus, Jude. Stop being such an ass.”

The urge to stick her tongue out at him overwhelmed her. Another habit that felt impossible to break. However, the one thing she wanted more than to be that childish twin was to make Luke proud, so she pulled on her big girl pants to regain her composure.

“Luke got me a dog, Jones. He’s amazing.”

The frown on Luke’s face showed his objection to that statement, but he didn’t say anything so she continued.

“He asked us to move in with him and I said yes.”

“You live in a safe part of town?” Grant asked.

Jessica rolled her eyes. It was a ridiculous question. In all his background checks, Luke’s address had to be at the top of the list. It was possible he had a satellite put in space just to follow his daughter.

“Yes. It’s a newer building with underground parking and video surveillance.”

Jessica opened her mouth to speak, then closed it before the words came out. She wanted to remind her father that she had the skills to take care of herself, but once Claire died her father trusted no one, not even his own daughter.

“Well, I hope you two are happy and maybe someday you’ll make a real commitment beyond just playing house.” Grant tipped back his tall glass of beer, keeping his eyes on Luke.

“So … shall we get the waiter back over here to take our order?” Sunny, God bless her, she knew how to save the day, even if she was the one to first mention marriage.

*

They survived dinner, just barely. There wasn’t much to say on the drive back to Jessica’s. Luke shut off the engine and they both sat in more silence.

“I’m going to marry you.” Luke kept his eyes trained on the parked car in front of them.

“You don’t have to say that. It doesn’t matter what they think. I’m not waiting for you to get down on one knee.”

He climbed out of the car and opened her door, offering his hand. She took it and let him lead her up the stairs. Before she could fish out her keys, he kissed her. His touch healed her more than anything. Luke gave her strength, he gave her hope, he gave her life.

“I won’t get down on one knee,” he whispered over her lips. “I’ll get down on both knees because I won’t ask you to marry me, I’ll beg you to marry me.” Feathering his lips down her neck, he continued to whisper, “But for now, I need to give you back the life you lost. I want you whole … complete. When I marry you, I don’t want to share you with your past. I want it to only be us and our future.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him like her life depended on it, and maybe it did. “I love you … I love you … oh my God I love you so much.” She hung from his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist.

He chuckled and kissed her on the lips at the same time. “Pack an overnight bag and we’ll get the rest tomorrow. We need to get home and let your mutt out of his kennel.”

Home.

They were going home. Really, Jessica was already there. Luke was her home. He would forever be her home.

Chapter Thirteen

Knight

Forty.

Over the hill.

The view was good from the other side. The forty-something had a birthday date with her twenty-something daughter and thirty-something boyfriend. Boyfriend? While the term implied something more than friends, “boy” screamed cradle-robbing cougar.

Jackson Knight had become more than a fun-banter-role-playing fantasy. She fell for him for one reason: he loved his sister. Who falls for a guy because he loves his sister? Someone who lived her entire adult life wishing a man would wrap her in his protective arms, kiss her on the head and say, “You’ve got this,” in her darkest hour.

That man deserved to see Ryn in a new dress, one that said, “This is how sexy you make me feel.” As an unexpected gift, Maddie rearranged her work schedule to spend the day with her. Though instead of a spa day, they decided on shopping, but only after Ryn agreed to buy Maddie a new dress as well.

The new adult age was a difficult time. She remembered it all too well. The early twenties felt like legal freedom without the maturity to go with it. Too old to justify holding onto the selfishness of adolescence, too young to really let it go. At least that’s how Ryn saw it from the outside. She went from child to mother and skipped the wild freedom of her twenties.

“So tell me about this Jackson guy,” Maddie asked as Ryn slipped into her black strapless dress that showed a lot of leg and too much cleavage that was not perky enough to hold it in place well. Maddie assured her she looked hot “for a mom.”

As expected, she regretted caving to Maddie insisting she buy that dress. It didn’t make her feel young, it made her feel like a forty-year-old woman trying and failing to hold onto her youth. But once she saw past her insecurities to the woman in the mirror, she had to admit the reflection had a little sex appeal going on in that dress.

Ryn turned, letting Maddie zip it for her. “He’s from New York and he teaches piano lessons.”

“Piano lessons? Really?” Maddie wrinkled her nose. “What is he like … eighty?”

Nerves hijacked her body, starting with her heart pounding in her chest. They’d had dinner several times since she last cleaned his house, and each night ended with kissing that felt more like mouth fucking and Jackson’s hands making bolder moves exploring her body, but always on the outside of her clothes. Wound tight and ready to self-combust was an accurate assessment by that point.

“Actually, he’s a little younger than I am.”

Maddie applied a thick coat of dark purple lipstick that looked quite hideous, but Ryn didn’t dare say anything.

“Is he weird?”

Ryn laughed. “I don’t know how to answer that. I’m not sure how your generation defines ‘weird.’”

“Well, what kind of car does he drive?”

“A PT Cruiser.” Ryn’s voice bubbled with amusement.

Maddie paused mid stroke, wide eyes looking at Ryn’s reflection in the mirror. “You’re kidding.”

Ryn shook her head.

“Oh my God, only old people drive those things. Is he short and suffering from male-pattern baldness? He wears plaid pants pulled up to his armpits with a bowtie and a fedora, doesn’t he? Oh, Mom, you can do better than that.”

“He’s good looking. Just keep an open mind, okay?” She slipped into her black heels.

“Have grandma and grandpa met him?”

“No. This will be their first time meeting him as well.”

“I’m sure they’ll love him because he sounds nothing like Dad, which is unfortunate because all my friends think he’s hot. It’s pretty weird hearing that because he’s my dad, but it’s kind of cool too.”

Ryn bit her tongue, she always did—but she wouldn’t forever. Maddie’s days of believing her father walked on water were numbered.

“So where is he taking us for dinner?”

“I don’t know. Some place fancy I assume since he insisted we dress to the nines tonight.”

“He’s paying?”

Ryn nodded as they walked down the stairs with Gunner in tow.

“Is he rich?”

“I don’t know anything about his bank account.”

“Well he teaches piano lessons for God’s sake, he can’t be that rich.”

“Money isn’t everything, my dear child.”

“Clearly it isn’t to you, or you wouldn’t have left Dad.”

Another dig that kept getting harder to ignore.

“Oh my God, Mom!” Maddie called looking out the front window. “It’s not just a PT Cruiser … it’s a purple PT cruiser with wood panels. It’s totally like Barney meets National Lampoon’s Vacation.”

“Be nice, please.” Ryn grabbed her purse and kissed Gunner on the head.

“Oh. Fuck …”

“Madison!” Ryn scolded.

“Sorry but … he … he just got out. No way … no freaking way.” Maddie plastered her face and both hands to the window.

Ryn opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. Jackson grinned as he met her with a dozen red roses.

“Happy birthday, beautiful.” He bent down and kissed her, keeping it PG … maybe PG-13.

“Thank you.” She smiled back, reaching up to rub the pad of her thumb along his lips to wipe off the transfer of lip gloss. “Let me just put these in water. Maddie!” She jerked her head toward the door when she saw her daughter still gawking in disbelief out the window.

Maddie peeked around the door.

“Maddie, this is Jackson Knight. Go say hi and be nice while I put these in a vase.”

“Nice to meet you, Maddie.” Jackson offered his hand.

Maddie took it and whimpered a little when the arm of his suit coat rode up enough to share a glimpse of a tattoo. “H-hi,” she stuttered.

He released her hand, but hers stayed frozen in midair for a few seconds.

“You look beautiful in your dress as well, and you have your mom’s eyes.”

She nodded. It seemed as if that’s all she could do. Maddie looked like a younger version of Ryn except with her dad’s dimples. Maddie’s pin-straight blond hair cascaded to her butt. She looked and carried herself with a model’s posture, yet Jackson’s eyes stayed on Ryn. Falling never felt so good.

“Ready?” Ryn asked, shutting the door.

Jackson offered one arm to Ryn and the other to Maddie, escorting them both to the car.

“Maddie’s disappointed you’re not balding or wearing a bowtie and fedora.”

“Mom!” Maddie shrieked as Jackson opened the back door for her.

He chuckled. “At one time I had my head shaved. I considered getting a tattoo on the back of it, but it never happened.”

Ryn had never seen her daughter stunned into complete silence. It was kind of nice for a change. Jackson shut Maddie’s door and walked Ryn to the other side.

“Your dress is going to put an end to my celibacy,” he whispered in her ear before opening her door.

She gulped, thankful for the pantyliner she decided to wear because only the hottest women wore them on dates.

“So be prepared.” He pecked her cheek.

“O-kay.”

That one word stutter of a response brought a seductive grin to his face as he opened her door. She couldn’t stop thinking about that promise—a promise of sex—her age, her body, his past, his expectations, her minimal experience, his expertise. It overwhelmed her.

“So, Maddie, what made you want to become a lawyer?” Jackson asked.

After a few seconds of silence Ryn looked over her shoulder at Maddie in the backseat. “Maddie, he asked you a question.”

She closed her unhinged jaw and swallowed, eyes still glassy. “Uh … money. And I like to argue.”

Her mother smirked. “She won quite a few awards on the debate team in high school.”

“I thought about law school at one point,” he said.

“And you chose piano instead?” Maddie asked with a condescending edge.

“In college it’s called music, but I didn’t get a degree in music. It’s just a hobby. If you don’t have passion about your pursuit in life, it will never take you where you want to go.”

“Pfft … if I followed my true passion I would be in medical school at Harvard.”

“Why aren’t you?” Jackson looked at her in the rearview mirror.

“My dad won’t pay for my college because somebody pissed him off. But I’m not mad at him … my dad’s the best and he still sends me a nice allowance for other things.”

Another dig at Ryn. Jackson rested his hand on her leg, she returned a weak smile. Just because she’d learned to tolerate it, even expect it, didn’t make it hurt any less.

Seeing the restaurant parking lot filled to capacity, Jackson let the ladies off at the front door and searched for a parking spot down the street.

Ryn’s parents were already seated.

“Happy birthday, baby girl!” Her mom hugged her and so did her dad.

“Thank you.”

“Where’s this mysterious guy?” her dad asked.

“Oh my God.” Maddie plunked down in her chair and rolled her eyes. “Wait until you meet him. He’s so out of her league. No offense, Mom. But seriously, guys like him don’t date women in menopause. There must be something wrong with him … like maybe he just got out of prison and he has mommy issues or—”

“Madison!” Ryn warned and Maddie jumped. “That’s. Enough.”

She wasn’t in menopause yet, even if her hormones hadn’t received that memo.

Maddie sank in her chair while messing with her phone. “Christ, Mom, you don’t have to reprimand me like a child.”

“Then stop acting like one.”

“Okay, this is supposed to be a celebration. Let’s all calm down a bit.” Ryn’s mom smiled as Jackson approached the table.

The birthday girl staving off anger to the point of near tears, forced a smile. The knowing look on Jackson’s face confirmed she wasn’t hiding it well.

“Jackson, these are my parents, Ryan and Lynn.”

“Bet you can guess how my mom got her name,” Maddie mumbled, still staring at her phone.

“Nice to meet you.” Jackson offered his hand as both of her parents stared.

“Mom, Dad!”

They shook their heads. “Sorry, uh … nice to meet you too. Thank you for inviting us to dinner,” Lynn said as they took their seats.

“My pleasure. I’m quite fond of your daughter.”

They nodded. Of course they wouldn’t be as bold and inconsiderate to ask why, but Ryn could still see that question on their faces. In all fairness, she still pondered it too.

“We just want her to be happy.”

“Done.” Ryn smiled, looking over her menu. “Maddie, your friends can wait. Please put your phone away.”

Maddie rolled her eyes again. The waitress took their drink orders, ending with Maddie.

“I’ll have your most expensive scotch.”

“Madison—”

“What? I’m twenty-one and Jackson is paying so …”

Jackson grinned. “Absolutely. As long as you drink every last drop.”

Maddie smiled, batting her eyelashes. “Of course.”

The waitress brought their drinks and took their dinner orders. Maddie grimaced, taking a small sip of her Scotch. She might as well have ordered a glass of gasoline.

“I’m impressed a young girl like you enjoys Scotch. It’s usually an acquired taste.”

She took several big gulps of her water then cleared her throat. “Well I’m a lot more mature than what I’m sure my mother has led you to believe.”

“Clearly.” Jackson took a long pull of his beer then smiled at Ryn’s parents. “Are you both retired?”

“Ryan is, he retired from Kiewit as a civil engineer. He worked there in Atlanta then transferred to Omaha when Ryn…” Lynn’s eyes shifted to her daughter’s “…needed us. I still work twenty hours a week as a pediatric nurse.”

Ryn needed her parents when she decided to leave her abusive husband. It took an army of support to find the courage to leave the man who threatened to kill her.

“Look, it’s Dad!” Maddie jumped out of her chair.

Ryn looked over her shoulder and froze. Jackson turned to watch Maddie run into the arms of a tall man with copper-blond and gray hair, a custom-tailored suit, and a gold Rolex.

“He can’t be here,” Lynn whispered to Ryan.

“I see my lovely wife is celebrating her fortieth birthday.”

The hair on the back of her neck stood erect. Would she ever hear his voice and not tremble?

“You look amazing, Ryn … you always did,” he whispered in her ear.

“Can he join us?” Maddie beamed, but Ryn knew his being there was not a coincidence.

“No. He can’t and I have a restraining order to prove it.”

“Jesus, Mom, it’s dinner. Not a reconciliation.”

“Yeah, Ryn … we both know the restraining order is because you can’t control yourself around me. After all, that’s why Maddie was conceived.”