by LeAnn Ashers
Cherishing His Forever
LeAnn Ashers
Cherishing His Forever
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Cherishing His Forever is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Except as permitted under the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author.
Designer: Regina Wamba
Photographer: Regina Wamba
Editor: Stephanie Marshall Ward at Eats, Shoots, Edits
Formatter: HJ Bellus
Note to Readers
I am sure those who have read Loving His Forever will notice some things in Cherishing His Forever that aren’t lining up as they should.
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I wrote Loving his Forever in 2016, and things change—my writing style changed. So in Loving His Forever, I am taking some things out and adding things in. Many of the scenes with Jessica only have minor changes.
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To clear up any confusion.
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Thank you.
Love, LeAnn
Contents
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
Epilogue
About the Author
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Prologue
I stare down at the pregnancy test in my hand and blink in disbelief. I’m pregnant? This continues to repeat over and over in my head.
I hear a loud bang outside my bathroom door, and I shove the test into the bottom of a tampon box under the sink. “One, two, three,” I whisper so I can collect myself, so he doesn’t get suspicious.
I look at myself in the mirror. The dark circles under my eyes stand out dramatically against my pale skin.
“Where the fuck are you?” my so-called boyfriend, Lee, yells from the living room. I close my eyes, my stomach turning at the sound of his voice.
I reluctantly open the door and face the man I hate with everything in me, though leaving has proven to be much harder than I expected. I step out into the hallway. He’s standing there with one of the people he calls his friends, but I know the truth.
I know all of it.
His friend gives me a creepy-ass grin that would give The Joker a run for his money. I curl up my lip, not even trying to hide my disgust.
Lee watches me as I get closer to him. He wraps his arms around my middle and goes back to talking to his friend.
I met Lee a year ago. He came into the restaurant where I worked, and he wanted to pay his compliments to the chef. I walked out to talk to him, and that was history.
He was sweet and kind and treated me great, but I learned that was a facade. One day I was talking to one of my coworkers and he flipped out on me, cussing and yelling, and grabbed my arm, leaving bruises. Then my weight started to be an issue, and I couldn’t go to the store without him following me.
It got worse and it’s to the point that I am in a prison. That was enough to convince me to leave, and I did—well, I tried. He found me, literally dragged me back by my hair, and put a gun to my face, telling me if I ever left again he would kill me.
After that he didn’t hide who he was; he works for the fucking cartel. He is the guy who makes sure if people don’t pay up they’ll regret it.
He has all these people making sure I’m where I’m supposed to be, and when I leave work he is waiting for me.
Little by little I have been saving money, and now I have enough that when I run I will be alright, for a little while, until I can get on my feet. One of my friends told me that a place in Texas takes women who are on the run from abusive situations, and they’re in need of a cook. It’s perfect.
I used her laptop because he tracks everything I do. I realized that when I met an old friend for lunch and Lee asked me about it once I got home. He has become obsessed, and I am on eggshells all the time. I am terrified of him.
Right now I just want to walk into my kitchen, grab my skillet, and bust him on the side of his face, but he has people who could kill me.
I just need to get out of here.
Now that I am pregnant, it needs to happen now. I will not allow my baby to grow up in this, and I will not allow myself to deal with it anymore either.
So I pretend, smile, and bide my time.
I cover my mouth, trying not to cry out, as Lee kills someone right in the middle of our living room.
Lee stomps on their face. “You will never question me again, will you?” he gloats, and my stomach turns as vomit crawls up my throat. I watch in horror as he calls someone. I can’t hear what he is saying, but I hear laughter.
He is sick, and I think that he has lost whatever he had left of his mind. I understand defending yourself and your family, but this is different.
Tonight, I will leave.
I go into my bedroom and pretend that I slept through every bit of it but, on the inside, I am shaking.
I lie in bed staring at the clock on the nightstand. My back is to him. He fell into bed an hour ago and started snoring soon after, but I wanted to make sure he’s in a deep sleep.
When he left earlier I secretly packed a bag. I just grabbed enough clothes for a few days and my toiletries.
I wish I had family to turn to. I was in foster care my whole life until I aged out at eighteen; then I went to college. I wish I had a dad who I could turn to, someone I could tell about what’s happening in my life. But I can do this alone. I have dealt with too many horrible things to put up with this situation. I am determined to be happy.
I push the blankets off me slowly and slide down the edge of the bed. I went to bed in leggings and a large sweater so I could literally just walk out the door. I take my bag from under the bed, put it over my shoulder, and double-check to make sure my money is in the side compartment; it is. I set my phone on the nightstand. I don’t have anyone to talk to anyway, and I don’t want him to track me, which is why I’m leaving all my jewelry.
As I make my way across the room, I look back at him one last time. I did love him once, but now I’m just filled with fear and resentment. I close the door gently. Our door swings outward, so I prop a chair in front of it so he’ll have a hard time getting out. Especially since he put bars on our windows a few months ago.
I walk out of the apartment, the cool night air chilling me, and it hits me like a ton of bricks that there’s no going back after this.
The bus pulls up to the stop and I get on; then it drives by my apartment building. The bedroom light is on, and I slide down in my seat with my eyes closed. I can feel eyes on me; a lady is sitting across from me. “You okay?” she asks.
For the first time in a long time, I smile. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
Chapter 1
Jessica
Six Months Later
I laugh with Braelyn and Sydney. We’re at a restaurant for girls’ night, eating dinner. It can’t be too much of a girls’ night for me, considering I am eight months pregnant.
I rub my belly as Braelyn tells me about Liam liking this girl at school named Paisley, who’
s the daughter of one of the MC guys I work for.
When I first arrived in Texas, I headed straight to the women’s center, and I was taken to Kyle, the president of the MC. His wife, Crystal, was in his office too. I was hired to cook for most of their events and run the kitchen for the women’s center. I was super wary of working for an MC, but they turned out to be amazing people—literally the best—and they made sure I was safe. I love all of them.
Soon after I was hired, I told them my story because, honestly, I was in danger; they needed to know that. They listened, and Crystal hugged me and told me, “It’s over now. You’re safe.” They gave me an apartment next to the center and a credit card under a different name, so I can’t be tracked.
I am so blessed that they helped me, and now I have new friends—and their husbands—in my life..
And Chase.
Chase is someone I can’t put my finger on; he is so confusing. One second I think he might like me, but then another part of me is like hell no, I am way too pregnant for a guy to be interested in me.
Chase is Ethan and Kane’s best friend. The other guy is Isaac, who is super nice, and he is dating Emily, who is the sweetest.
I push my newly cleaned plate in front of me and sit back in my seat, rubbing my belly gently. I am having a baby boy, Hunter. I am so excited to meet him. I am going to be the mother that I never had.
When I got here I decided to do therapy. I wanted to be the old me, who spoke her mind and didn’t take shit. Someone who was happy.
The front of the restaurant opens and, much to my surprise—yeah, right—Ethan and Kane walk inside. They can’t leave their women alone for a couple of hours. Then Chase walks in.
He is probably the most beautiful man I have ever seen. He is tall and lean but really muscular. His smile just lights up his whole face, which is enhanced by his beautifully styled dark hair. He’s wearing light blue jeans, boots, and a V-neck shirt that clings to his chest and arms. He should come with a warning label, because a lady is liable to faint on sight, especially when he flashes that smile.
But do I let him know that he affects me? Absolutely not.
He pulls out a chair from a table behind us, sets it down directly beside me, and plants his ass in it. He grins at me. “Well, if it isn’t the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I roll my eyes so hard I’m not sure how they don’t fall out of my head. “Can you get any cheesier, Chase?” I tease him, but deep down I secretly like it.
He chuckles, arching an eyebrow at me as if to say, That is a dumb question. It totally is, because soon he’ll start whipping out even cheesier pick-up lines.
I turn my back to him.
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Chase
I grin at her back. I love that she’s dismissing me. The moment I met her, I wanted to unlock all her secrets.
She is so fucking happy all the time, but the sass that comes out of her mouth drives me crazy. I find myself going out of my way to bug her; her face gets red and her eyes widen as if she’s ready to throttle me. I kind of wish she would. That way I could finally feel her skin on mine, even if it’s because she’s trying to kill me.
What a great way to go.
I chuckle and look at the others, who are watching us. Jessica and I have been going back and forth for months.
I am curious about her past. Based on her accent, I think she’s from a state up North, but that’s all I know about her except that she came here alone and pregnant.
Ethan, Kane, Isaac, and I were Navy SEALs. We got out together, and we all moved to Ethan’s hometown, Raleigh, Texas, a small but growing town.
My family lives a couple of hours away, but we all kind of stick to ourselves. We come from old oil money, and I’m the kind of rich where I could spend and spend but never reach the bottom of the pit of money. But even with all this wealth, I wanted to serve my country and play my part.
The checks come for the ladies, and I grab Jessica’s before she can pay. If looks could kill, I’d be dead ten times over right now. I slide the waiter my card, and Jessica turns around in her seat, facing me.
“How ya doin’ good looking?” I ask her.
Her lips twitch; I can tell that she is trying not to smile. “Not so good,” she grumbles and rubs her stomach dramatically.
I sign the check. “Let me take you home, Jessica. It’s on the way for me.” It’s not, but I just want to spend some time alone with her. She looks at the girls, biting her lip. She finally nods. “I am ready to go to sleep, so yes. Thank you.” For the first time, she smiles at me. It’s like a punch to the chest. I get fucking warm all over, and I know I want to see her do that over and over again.
She is gorgeous, but when she lets go and smiles like that, it’s out-of-this-world beautiful.
I walk by her side to my truck, which is parked close to the entrance. I open the door for her and put my hand on the small of her back, helping her inside. She closes her eyes and rests her head on the seat. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
She nods. “I am just tired from work today, and the heat is a killer for a pregnant lady.”
I watch her for a few beats, to make sure she is fine, before I shut the door and climb into the driver’s side. I turn the air on full blast and adjust it so it’s blowing on her, and she moans and rubs her temples.
Fuck, Chase, don’t think about that moan that just came out of her mouth.
All of sudden she hisses loudly and touches her stomach. My eyes widen in fear that she could be going into labor. “Jessica…” She takes my hand and presses my palm against her belly. I grin at the powerful kicks. “Someone’s strong.”
She laughs. “Hunter is going to be a football star, I just know.” She rubs her stomach, smiling. She seems to be deep in thought. We drive in silence, and I peek over at her from time to time, until I pull up outside her apartment, which is on the MC property.
* * *
Jessica
He walks around the truck to help me out of the vehicle, and I’m unsure of what to do.
Do I invite him in?
What do I want to do?
I honestly don’t want to be alone, but would it be overstepping, or just too much, to ask if he wants to watch movies with me? My pregnancy hormones have me extremely emotional; I just want to cry half the time.
Don’t get me wrong—I am beyond thankful. I’m in a very good place in my life, and I’m out of that old horrible situation, but I am lonely. I never thought I would be pregnant and on the run from the father of my child, scared of what he is capable of.
But here I am, in a huge ball of confused mess.
He takes my hand, and with the other he gently touches my hip, helping me out of the truck.
I finally decide to throw caution to the wind. “Do you want to come inside and watch movies?”
His eyes widen like he can’t believe I asked him that but, honestly, I’m sure I’m a very confusing person. A smile slowly slides across his lips, and he nods. “I would love that, darlin’.” I return his smile and open my door.
When we walk inside, he takes in my house. I haven’t added many personal touches to the place. I have no pictures of family to put up. I did have pics of old friends, but when I moved I needed a new start, so I left many things behind.
I grab the remote off the coffee table and turn on the TV, sitting on the couch and pulling my feet under me. I’ve been on my feet all day long, and they’re beyond swollen.
I’m not sure how much longer I can keep on working, but Kyle and Chrystal did tell me that I can take off anytime and I will get paid for up to six months maternity leave, which is a godsend.
Chase sits down beside me, not at the other end of the couch as I’d expected. I try to pretend that I don’t notice or it’s not a big deal—but oh, it so is. I am fully aware of everything that is Chase and the powerfully beautiful man he is.
I select Twister, one of my favorite movies.
“I love this one,” he tells me, and I get a
s excited as a freaking schoolgirl that he likes the same movie I do.
I pull my hair down from the bun at the top of my head; I can feel a headache forming.
Chase is staring at me. “You have the most beautiful hair, Jessica.”
I try to hide my smile. “Thank you, it is pretty grand,” I tease and he laughs, sinking further into the couch.
“Is someone a bit conceited?”
I laugh, feeling myself easing around him. “Hey, who wouldn’t be if they looked like this?”
He winks, looking me up and down. “That’s right, darlin’.”
The air is sucked out of my lungs. I know he is probably teasing me right back, but I can feel the heat behind his eyes.
We sit together in silence, letting the movie distract us. I lift my feet onto the couch, and I wince at the sight of them.
“Here.” Chase sits up and pulls my legs into his lap; then he proceeds to massage my feet without a second thought. He is not even looking at me; his eyes are glued to the flipping movie. I can’t look away from him as I try to grasp that his hands are on me.
I know that getting a massage from someone is, ideally, not a big deal, but I’ve never had anyone do something nice for me, so this is huge.
Being a foster kid, it was rare for anyone to even pay attention to me. I got used to being alone, taking care of myself, and I looked for attention from the wrong person.
