by Street, K.
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
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Epilogue
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books By K. Street
Preview
Prologue
Chapter One
Copyright © 2018 by K. Street
All rights reserved.
Visit my website at www.kstreetauthor.com
Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser, Romantic Book Affairs, www.rbadesigns.com
Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com
Proofreader: Judy Zweifel, Judy’s Proofreading, www.judysproofreading.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN-13: 978-1792736735
For Mr. Street.
I will love you until I breathe my last breath; even then, I’ll love you still.
Prologue
Nash
I crossed my arms over my chest and silently stood there while Macy swiped the tears from her cheeks. She opened her car door; the interior light reflected in her blue irises as she climbed inside. Despite the dark night that surrounded us, I saw the hurt in her eyes. Felt it seep out of her pores and occupy the space between us.
She had just caught me with my tongue rammed down Becca Miller’s throat and my hand shoved inside her shirt. The same Becca who had been trying to catch my attention since we were in middle school. Becca didn’t give a shit that I was with Macy. Those two hated each other, and I had known how much it would hurt Macy, which was exactly why I had done it. Because hurting her was the only way she would leave, and I knew there was no way in hell I could let her stay.
Her gaze met mine. “I’ll never forgive you for this, Nash. Not for as long as I live.”
“One day, you will.” It was a declaration, and I hoped like hell I was right.
“The day I forgive you will be the day hell freezes over. Stay the fuck away from me.” Her tone was even; the words held finality. She closed her car door, started the engine, and put the car in drive.
I watched her taillights disappear into the night.
Agony.
Sharp and searing.
Worse than any pain I’d ever known twisted in my gut. It took every bit of strength I had to remain upright. For a split second, everything in me screamed to go after her. To try to fix it. Undo what I’d just done.
But I couldn’t.
I knew what was best for Macy even if she didn’t.
Her head was filled with romantic notions of playing house and going to the community college two towns over. That wasn’t going to happen, not when she had a full-ride scholarship at a university in South Florida. This was her chance to chase her dream, to get out of Jaxson Cove, and I’d be damned if I sat by and let her throw it away to be with me. She had no idea how bad things were at home, and they were getting worse every day.
I wasn’t good enough for Macy. I knew that, and apparently, so did her father.
If she stayed, she’d only end up resenting me. The same way my father had resented my mother for years before he finally packed his shit and walked out the door. I’d spent every day since he left attempting to pick up the pieces while trying to keep my mom from drowning herself in a bottle. And I was failing miserably.
Macy was too young to be weighed down by my responsibilities. She deserved so much more than I could give her right now. The strain of trying to hold it all together was almost too much for me to bear. There was no fucking way I could do that to her. Someday, I’d be worthy of her, and then I’d make her understand. She’d forgive me.
She had to.
Because I had no idea who the fuck I was without her.
1
Nash - Ten Years Later
I stood with my back to the wall of the large white wedding tent, facing the crowd. I hadn’t left this spot since I made my toast as the best man earlier. It was the perfect vantage point to watch Macy.
She looked stunning, and I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her the entire evening. Her gorgeous red hair was swept into some fancy twist, and the navy dress she wore clung to her body, tempting me with every movement she made. I yearned to touch her. To wrap my arms so tight around her that I’d feel her heart beat against my chest. I wanted to dip my head to the crook of her exposed neck and whisper the same two words I’d said to her dozens of times over the years. Only this time, Macy would accept my apology. She’d shiver as the warmth of my breath caused goose bumps to rise on her skin. More than anything, I wanted to take her to my bed, strip her down, and bury myself inside her so fucking deep, she’d forget the past and finally forgive me for what I’d done to her.
To us.
No matter how many times I’d told her I was sorry, we never moved past it. Macy had sworn she’d never forgive me, and like a fool, I hadn’t believed her. All those years ago, I’d laid the first brick that led to the giant, impenetrable wall erected between us.
I felt an arm go around my waist and glanced to my right to see Laura Jaxson, my best friend’s mom. I put my arm around her shoulders and drew her to my side in a half hug.
“It was a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it?” Her voice was soft, and I followed her line of sight across the makeshift dance floor, where my best friend, Tucker, swayed with his daughter in one arm while the other was wrapped around Camryn, his new bride.
“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed.
“I’m so glad my boy finally got his head out of his ass. Don’t you think it’s about time you do the same?”
I glanced down at her with a look of shock. “Mama J.”
“Don’t you Mama J me.” She poked me in the ribs, and then she put her hands on her hips and faced me. “How much more time are you gonna waste, tiptoeing around Macy?”
“I’m not tiptoeing.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve done everything, short of hog-tying her. I can’t force her to forgive me.”
“So, what? You’re just going to give up?”
It had taken years for Macy and me to be in the same room together without her walking out as soon as she laid eyes on me. We were finally in a place where we
could coexist. The more I pushed Macy though, the more she always pulled back.
“It’s complicated.”
“Well … uncomplicate it.” She patted my arm and walked away, heading in Tucker and Camryn’s direction.
The DJ’s voice filtered through the speakers. “The bride and groom request that everyone join them on the dance floor as they share their final dance this evening.”
The strains of “Perfect Storm” by Brad Paisley filled the air. As I listened to the lyrics, my eyes zeroed in on Macy’s back.
I crossed the space between us.
Her spine straightened as though she felt my approach. Like she was bracing herself for impact. With only a few feet left separating us, she slowly spun my way.
Our eyes met, and I held out my hand to her.
She glanced to my outstretched palm.
“Come on, Mace. Dance with me.”
“Nash …” Her voice trailed off.
I stepped into her space and brought my hand up, hooking my thumb under her chin. “One dance. Then, you can go right back to hating me.”
“Okay,” she agreed, not meeting my eyes.
I pulled her in close and breathed in her sensual scent, wishing like hell the hands of time would stop.
2
Macy
When I was enfolded in Nash’s arms, everything around us faded into the background. I lost myself in the moment. In the way his warm, woodsy scent encircled me. How the scruff of his jaw tickled my temple as he sang the lyrics in his deep, gravelly voice, just loud enough for me to hear.
I’d always loved to listen to Nash sing. It still made my belly flutter the same way it had when we were young. I wanted to stay here in this moment and just … be.
As the last note of the song trailed off, Nash whispered against my ear, “Mace.”
The way he’d said my name made it sound like some sort of plea, and it nearly sliced me to my core.
Once again, the DJ’s voice poured through the speakers as he asked everyone to gather to bid farewell to the bride and groom.
The spell was broken. I stepped out of Nash’s hold, and for a brief second, I met his eyes. The love and longing I saw in them was too much.
Secrets I kept buried within the hollow place in my chest clawed at me. Guilt settled over me like a weighted blanket. Instead of being comforted by the heaviness, I was crushed beneath its heft.
Nash lifted his hand to my cheek. Before his fingers made contact, I took a step back, and reality dropped like a veil between us.
“Thanks for the dance, Nash.” I glanced over my shoulder before turning back to him. “I’m going to go say good-bye.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond before I crossed the distance to where everyone was beginning to congregate.
As soon as I reached Camryn’s side, she pulled me into an embrace.
When she stepped back, her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I feigned innocence.
“Uh-huh.” She laughed.
When Camryn had been looking to relocate to Jaxson Cove, I was her real estate agent. I knew I liked her before I ever met her in person. Playing matchmaker between her and Tucker wasn’t my intention. The fact that the perfect house for her had happened to be next door to my longtime, single, childhood friend and his sweet daughter was purely coincidental.
Camryn hugged me again. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” I wiped my eyes and gave her a playful nudge. “Go on. Y’all need to get out of here, or you’ll miss your flight.”
Just then, Tucker came up behind Camryn and wrapped his arms around her waist. “She’s right, baby. We need to go.”
“I know. Just let me hug our girl one more time,” Camryn said and stepped from Tucker’s arms. “Where is Shayne anyway?”
A shriek, followed by a burst of giggles, was heard over the soft music that played in the background. Nash swooped Shayne up into his arms and spun her around, his smile nearly as big as hers. My heart constricted at the sight of them.
“Two minutes,” Camryn promised and set off for the two of them.
Tucker turned to me with a smile that lit his whole face and pulled me into an embrace.
I circled my arms around my oldest and dearest friend. “I’m so happy for you,” I said, giving him a tight squeeze.
“Did I ever say thank you for being such a scheming pain in my ass?” He chuckled.
I poked him in the ribs, and he dropped his arms from around me.
“At least a hundred times.”
“Well, consider this one hundred one.” He grinned, and then it fell away as he grew serious. “Nash, he still—”
I didn’t want him to finish that sentence. “Now, who’s being a pain in the ass?” I joked. “Go get your bride and get out of here.”
He held his hands up in surrender and took a step back. “One of these days, you’re going to have to just accept that some things are meant to be.”
“Uh-huh.” I screwed my lips and nodded, giving him a yeah, right look.
Tucker’s smirk was back. “You know you love me.”
“I do.”
“Love you, too, Macy.” He gave me a wink and headed off in the direction of his new wife while I stood, watching after him.
“It’s nice to see them so happy, isn’t it?” Laura asked from beside me.
I threw a hand over my heart. “You scared me half to death.” I gave her a smile. “Yes. Nobody deserves happiness more than Tucker and Camryn.”
“Oh … I don’t know about that, honey. Seems to me you’re pretty deserving of some happiness as well. So is Nash.”
Subtlety had never been Laura’s strong suit.
Great. First, Tucker, and now, Mama J.
“I’m happy.”
I am. Aren’t I?
“Macy, I’ve watched all of you kids grow up. You and Nash have always had a connection. You two have loved each other since you were barely knee high to a grasshopper.”
“Well, things change,” I repeated the same sentiment I’d said to Tucker.
“I don’t think they’ve changed as much as you’d like to think.”
“Mama J … you meddle worse than my mother.”
“Well, when you start listening, I’ll stop meddling.” She laughed and patted my shoulder. “You’re still okay to keep Shayne over next weekend, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I couldn’t wait to spend some time with Shayne. We were long overdue for a girls’ day.
“Tucker and Camryn will be back from their honeymoon next Sunday, so y’all can just meet them at the house and join us for Sunday supper.”
I had a feeling she meant Nash, too, as part of that “y’all,” but she was one hell of a cook, and nobody in their right mind turned down an invitation to eat Mama J’s food.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“They’re never going to make their flight.” Laura nodded across the tent where they were still standing. “Come on; let’s see if we can light a fire under them.”
She linked her arm with mine, and we strode over to the group.
Most of the other guests had already called it a night. After another round of hugs, Tucker and Camryn finally were on their way.
“All right, Sassy Pants, are you ready to go?” Laura asked Shayne.
“Yes. Being fancy is exhausting, and my dress is getting itchy,” Shayne declared.
Laura tried unsuccessfully to hide her grin. “Well, give hugs, and we’ll get you home and out of that dress.”
“Thank goodness.” Shayne smiled at me, opened her arms, and said, “Bring it in, Aunt Macy.”
I knelt and tugged her into my arms. “Love you, Butter Bean,” I whispered into her ear.
“Love you, too.” Shayne released her hold and turned to Nash.
Without any prompting, Nash lifted her into his arms and squeezed her tight. “I love you, Monkey.” He kissed the top of h
er head.
“Love you, too, Uncle Nash.”
Nash looked at Laura and then to me. “Come on; I’ll walk you ladies out.”
“Uncle Nash, can I have a piggyback ride?” Shayne asked, pushing out her lower lip and batting her eyes.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Nash turned to mush the same way Tucker did when it came to Shayne. That look was their kryptonite, and Shayne played them like fiddles.
“Sure.” Nash shifted to face me. “Mace, do you mind giving me a hand?”
“Not at all.” I stepped closer and helped Shayne slide from Nash’s side to his back.
Shayne wrapped her arms around his neck. “Giddyup, horsey.”
We all laughed and walked through the parking lot to Laura’s car.
Normally, I kept a safe distance between me and Nash. My body had some sort of muscle memory when it came to him. The magnetic pull between us tonight had been too strong for me to fight, and when he’d asked me to dance earlier, there was no way I could have denied him. His scent still lingered on my skin. I both loved and hated it at the same time.
After Nash settled Shayne into her car seat and made sure she was buckled in, we waited for Laura to start the engine. They drove off with a wave, leaving Nash and me alone.
