"I can't imagine how the younger brother kept this to himself all of these years," Ella said. "It's just all so sad. And now his own dad has had to face charges, too."
Skip had been charged with assault for holding that knife to Mariah's throat, plus obstruction of justice. Months ago, he'd pled out and received probation and a hefty fine.
"They appear to have pulled together as a family," Ryan observed. "And I don't think that Seb is a danger to society."
"Do you believe his story?" Shaw asked quietly. "Do you believe it was an accident? Really and truly?"
"I've gone back and forth over that," Mariah confessed when Ryan didn't answer right away. "I want to believe Seb, and his story sounds credible. I sometimes wonder if it's my own cynicism that doubts him."
"Mine too," Shaw agreed. "But I'd want to believe him as well."
Rubbing his chin, Ryan finally answered. "I think I'm with Mariah on this one. I want to believe that Seb is telling the truth. I don't want to believe that a brother would kill another brother. If his parents can have faith in him, then I think that we should, too. We'll never be able to get Brad's side of the story."
"So your friend is finally resting in peace," Luke said. "Someone is answering for his death."
The conversation dwindled, and the group worked on a few more boxes. As the sun began to go down their friends went home, one by one, until it was just Ryan and Mariah. He flipped off the porch light as the last car drove away and locked the door.
Leaning against him, she pressed her head to his chest. She loved hearing his heart beating solidly under her cheek. It was somehow calming and exciting all at the same time.
"Are you tired?" Ryan asked. She'd been exhausted lately due to the pregnancy. "How about I run you a nice hot bath?"
They had a jetted tub in the master bath. It had been one of her requests when they were looking at real estate. She spent as much time as she could in it, knowing that in a few months it was going to take a crane to lift her out of it. She'd be taking showers for awhile.
"I'd love that. You're a pretty fantastic dad already. I think you're going to hit this parent stuff out of the park."
His arms slid around her middle, tugging her even closer. She could feel the heat of his body flush against hers. She'd never get tired of this. She'd been without him for so long.
I'm so grateful for a second chance.
"That's because I love you so much. And our baby. I want to make sure that you know how much every single day. This generation of the Beck family is going to change."
"Don't change too much. I love you just the way you are."
"I think we've both changed just enough."
Just enough. That's all they'd really needed.
A second chance at true love and a little bit of learning how to compromise.
Now they had their entire future spread out before them...together.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Gilded Craving. There will be more stories in the Cowboy Justice Association: Serials and Stalkers series. Coming soon.
Thank you again for reading.
About the Author
Olivia Jaymes is a wife, mother, lover of sexy romance and cozy mysteries, and caffeine addict. She lives with her husband, son, and two spoiled dogs in central Florida and spends her days typing on her computer with a canine on her lap.
She is currently working on a new cozy mystery series – A Ravenmist Whodunit - in addition to her other ongoing romance series.
Visit Olivia Jaymes at
www.OliviaJaymes.com
Gilded Craving: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 3) Page 21
