by J. M. Walker
“I needed to be sure.”
“Sure about what?” I cupped Coby’s hand that was in mine.
“I needed to be sure that we were who he wanted. I know it’s only been a month and I’ve only seen him a couple of times a week but when he started asking more about you, I knew that it was meant to be. I can’t explain it but he and I have this connection.”
“I get it.”
“So, mama,” Coby kissed my temple. “How does it feel?”
“I’m…” I smiled up at him. “I never thought I had any more room in my heart but I do.”
“I know it’ll take time. This is new for all of us but Zach needs us right now.”
“I know.” I gently nudged him. “Daddy.”
He chuckled, rubbing the scruff of his jaw and leaned down to my ear. “I wasn’t into daddy Dom and baby girl scenarios but that word leaving your mouth is hot as fuck.”
“Daddy Dom?” I raised an eyebrow. “Baby girl?”
His laughed hardened. “I’ll teach you, little one.”
“You’re a father now, Coby. You have to be respectable,” I teased, kissing his cheek.
His eyes twinkled and for the first time since meeting him, I saw that he was truly finally happy. Even before Tina got her claws into him, something had always been missing.
Zach leapt off the swings, taking that moment to run towards us and jump into Coby’s arms.
This was what Coby was made for.
“No,” Coby wrapped himself around the small boy. “It’s what we both were made for.”
My cheeks heated, not realizing I had spoken out loud.
“Can we get ice cream please?” Zach asked.
I brushed my fingers down his cheek. “Yeah, baby boy. We definitely can.”
We headed back to the main street in search of ice cream, but stopped in front of a building. It was marked Corps Security.
“This is the place?” I asked, turning towards Coby.
“It’s run by ex-marines.” Coby’s eyes flickered at that information. “They monitor residences and businesses. They helped me and...” He nodded towards Zachary who was trying to peek into the tinted glass window. He frowned when he couldn’t see anything.
Holding out my hand, I waited.
He smiled, taking mine in his.
“You’re back,” a large man came up beside us. “Just can’t get enough of this place, can you?”
Coby laughed. “We came back for him.”
“Well I’ll be damned.” The older man crouched. “Nice to meet you, little man. I’m Axel.”
Zach held out his hand.
Axel took it, his grin widening. “Looks like you’ve met some nice people.”
Zachary nodded, standing up straighter. “They’re my forever home.”
IT HAS BEEN six months since we spent the weekend in Hope Town, Georgia and five months since we adopted Zachary Brenson, now Zachary Porter. Our friends and family welcomed him with open arms, none of them surprised that we had adopted him.
Those three days gave Coby and I what we needed to get by. To get over the pain and guilt we were feeling for what happened so long ago. Now I was marrying him.
“Mama,” Zach stood at my side. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m happy, baby boy,” I kissed his forehead. “I promise.” I rose to my full height and turned to my stepbrother, Greyson Mercer. “How did you convince Coby to let you walk me down the aisle?” With my arm in his, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
“I just asked,” he grumbled, putting on a brave face for Zach.
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “There is no way that Coby would have said yes by you just asking him. Tell me, Greyson. What did you really say?”
He met my gaze, a hint of sadness flashing behind the dark blue depths of his eyes.
I looked away, guilt settling heavy on my heart like a ton of bricks.
Even though we were stepbrother and stepsister, there had been something more between us after our parents died when we were still kids. We ended up using each other to mask the pain. It was short-lived, but he ended up falling in love with me. And I would always love him a little more than a friend or a brother. Luckily for us, Coby understood.
“Don’t worry about it, Brogan.” He cupped my hand. “It’s time,” he said when the music changed. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Your lead, little man,” he told Zachary.
“Meet you at the end, Mama?”
“You bet, baby.”
“You’re perfect for him,” Grey whispered.
“No, he’s perfect for me.”
Greyson nodded. Once the music changed slightly, he led me down the aisle to the men I loved. One I was raising, and one I was marrying. It was odd in a way, having my first love give me away to my last. But after everything that had happened, Coby and Greyson became civil. Even though I knew it was only for me, I still appreciated them setting their differences aside so I could be happy.
When we reached the end of the aisle, Greyson turned me towards him and placed a soft peck on my lips.
I stood there frozen and worried that Coby would snap but when he didn’t, a breath of relief left me.
Grey pushed me gently towards Coby, placing my hand in his. “Take care of her.”
Coby nodded. “I will.”
Wanting to clean myself up after blubbering like a baby now that I was married to Coby, I went to our hotel room. I needed a moment to collect myself. Good thing Max had put waterproof mascara on my eyes.
“Mama.”
“I’m fine, baby boy,” I cupped Zach’s cheek. “I’m just really happy and super emotional right now.”
He placed his hands on my face and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whispered, fresh tears welling in my eyes. “Now go see your Aunt Meeka.”
“Come here, Zach,” she stood at the end of the hallway with the rest of the girls. She gave me a small wave and blew me a kiss.
I laughed, shaking my head and heading into our hotel room. Shutting the door behind me, I leaned against it and took a deep breath. This was it. This was us moving on after the shit we had been through. This was us finally being happy.
With a huge grin on my face, I took a step further into the room when my gaze landed on an envelope with my name on it.
I recognized the handwriting almost immediately. It was from Greyson. Knowing he wasn’t into using technology because everything can get saved, he resorted to using paper. Unless he absolutely had to use a cell phone, he wouldn’t. It grated on my nerves when I needed to contact him and he refused to answer his phone.
I sat on the bed, holding the envelope in my hand and took a couple of deep breaths. Something about this item in my hand made me realize that it was finally over between he and I. Coby had been patient and kind when Grey demanded that he walk me down the aisle. He never explained why he had to. He just did. Coby didn’t argue. Not even once. It was like somehow he knew. Maybe he would have done the same if the roles were reversed.
Ripping open the envelope, I peered down at the handwritten letter staring up at me. My eyes moved along the words and I knew: it was finally over.
My beautiful Brogan,
You may not believe it, but I am so fucking happy for you and the fact that you have finally found your one. I know it’s hard to understand, but I do know that Coby is perfect for you. You’ve gone through life trying to please others, doing what they ask and only recently, have you realized that you have no one but yourself to make happy.
I have loved you since we were kids. After our parents died, I no longer felt like your stepbrother, but your protector and when Coby came into the picture, I knew you didn’t need me anymore. Not in the way I wanted you to think.
I never looked at you as a sister, even though I tried convincing myself that that was all you were, but my heart wouldn’t take it. It couldn’t. Not when you were right in front of me an
d yet, you were still so far away.
What we shared was a mistake. I get that, but it still won’t change how I feel about you.
That’s why I need to leave and not come back for quite a while. I don’t know where I’ll be. I don’t know where I’ll end up. But know that you are always in my heart.
I love you, Brogie. I have loved you as a child. I have loved you as a man loves a woman. I will love you until I take my dying breath.
I only pray that I can find the happiness that you share with Coby.
Both of you deserve the love you have for each other. Although I’m still pissed it was he who captured your heart, instead of me.
I laughed, wiping the tears from under my eyes.
I hope that made you laugh.
Please be happy. You deserve it.
Zach couldn’t ask for better parents.
Take care of yourself and I’ll be in touch soon.
Always and forever yours,
Greyson
“Oh, Greyson,” I whispered, letting the tears fall freely down my cheeks. I knew it would come to this but I never expected it to actually happen. It had been my biggest fear as the wedding date got closer.
“Little one?”
My back stiffened at the deep voice coming from behind me, and I roughly wiped the tears from under my eyes.
“Hey,” Coby sat on the bed beside me. “What’s wrong?”
The words froze on my tongue, so I handed him the letter instead.
A moment later, he sighed. “He told me he was leaving town.”
My head whipped around. “Really?”
“I should have told you.” Coby took my hands in his. “I’m sorry I didn’t. Your brothers made me promise that I wouldn’t say anything about it. They didn’t want you stressed.”
“I hurt him and I didn’t even mean to,” the guilt resting on my shoulders was enough to weigh me down. I didn’t need this on my wedding day. “I wish he would have said goodbye.”
“He left after the ceremony, according to the twins.”
Blake and Brox, my identical twin brothers, would have made damn sure Greyson didn’t ruin this day for us. And he hadn’t. Even after the letter. But I still wished I could have said goodbye to him.
“He’ll come around, Brogan. He needs time and maybe he’ll find someone,” Coby suggested, pulling me against him.
“True.” I wiped my cheeks, taking a deep breath. “I still feel guilty, but I get it. Those words would have been hard to say to anyone’s face.”
He pulled back, cupping my face. “It would be.” He smiled. “You know I love you, right?”
I covered his hands with mine. “I do.”
“Good,” he kissed my forehead. “Now, as much as I love seeing you in bed, Mrs. Porter, we have a party to finish.”
(Coby)
Watching Brogan with Zach stirred something inside of me. It made me want to give her a baby of her own.
It had been almost six months since we first adopted him. We grew together. Learned more about each other. And we healed. Zach was the glue our relationship needed.
While everyone was on the dance floor, I sat back and watched. My wife and son, laughing and dancing together. Our friends and family, drinking and celebrating our love.
Brogan would laugh and Zach would stand up straighter, proud of the fact that he did something to make his mama happy. I knew, because it was how I felt as well.
Zach may not have been a part of me. He may not have been my blood, but he was mine. I knew as soon as I looked into his pain-filled eyes. I just prayed that what his stepmother had done wouldn’t destroy him. Brogan and I would do our best to give him a loving home but that could only do so much.
I already sensed an air of confidence from the kid. Instead of being scared over what had happened to him, he stood up taller as if to say, “Bring it on, world. I’ll fucking own you and crush you in the process.”
I never told Brogan my thoughts. Not when he sat in our vehicle. Not when we brought him home. Not five years or even ten years later. But I could see it hidden behind the depths of his black eyes.
Zach Porter would divide and conquer. He would own the world and Brogan and I would be beside him every step of the way.
Thanks to Hope Town, Georgia, Brogan and I found each other again. We found that connection. That spark. That missing piece that was taken from us so long ago.
And as she looked up at me with longing in her beautiful eyes, I knew. This was where I belonged. All because of Hope Town.
THE END
J.M. Walker is an Amazon bestselling author who loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.
"Above all, be the HEROINE of your own life..." ~ Nora Ephron
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Make sure to check out the rest of the books in the Corps Security Kindle World
JB Salsbury – Fighting For Honor
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author JB Salsbury brings her Fighting series to Harper Sloan’s Hope Town in this Kindle Worlds exclusive, Fighting for Honor.
UFL fighter Caleb hasn’t been to Hope Town since he was eighteen. His next big fight takes place in Atlanta and the serene lakefront home from his childhood is the perfect place to train without distractions.
Until he stumbles downstairs to find a woman in his house. He’s met her before, and he’s never forgotten.
Honor was raised by her grandfather, Crazy Colonel Cartwright. Ostracized at a young age she was an outcast. Combined with her awkward personality and she became the local bully’s favorite plaything.
Honor and Caleb come face-to-face and feelings from fourteen years ago come rushing back—not all of them good.
She prefers to remain unknown, but she’s seen in public with the world’s most talked about fighter and thrust into a national spotlight that catches the attention of her childhood tormentors.
And they aren’t finished with her yet.
~
Felicia Lynn: How To Breathe
I can’t go back to the man I was any more than I can forget the memories locked inside me. Few men qualified for the mission and even fewer were willing to accept the required life sentence. Counting the days, good and bad, I exist as the world keeps spinning.
There’s a price to pay for a life with a greater purpose, but the healing of time is a damn liar. I’m supposed to be a dead man, and the silence couldn’t be more deafening. Even though I could never look back, I thought I’d taken enough out of that life to carry me forward. The success of the mission was meant to give the tragedy of my life meaning, but I’ve been stuck in this wreckage of my past . . . until now.
One look into her eyes disarms me. These walls I’ve built shouldn’t break on their own, but they crumble whenever she’s near. I’ve spent years waiting for a reason to breathe again, and now that I have her within reach, I’m not sure I can keep her. Is it possible to find both the missing piece of my soul and the remedy to my healing in one set of bright green eyes?
~
S R Watson Author – Deliverance
Bleu Loren
My life has never been my own. I've always been a rule follower—the obedient girl who always did what she was told. I played the part given to me and got engaged to the man my parents set me up with. He was supposed to be my Prince Charming. He promised me a happily ever after, only he delivered a nightmare instead. Now I'm on the run. No money. No plan. J
ust freedom. How ironic is it that my desperate escape lands me in a place called Hope Town? I lost hope a long time ago.
Beau Rivers Lair
I'm a manwhore. It's a known fact and exactly how I like it. I make my own rules and live without expectations. Returning to Hope Town to help the woman who raised me with her restaurant meant my past was here to greet me, but I refuse to allow the mirage of possibilities to engulf me a second time around. I don't believe in love or fairy-tale endings. There's lust, and there's screwing. I don't have time for anyone or anything outside of these two principles. There is no hope for me. Accept it or not ... you've been warned!
~
Cat Mason: Somethin’ Bad
Tequila can make a woman do somethin’ stupid.
Somethin’ bad…
After celebrating my birthday with my best friends turns into the most embarrassing night of my life, the last thing I expected was to see him walk into my bakery. The sexy smile on his face lets me know that he has no intention of letting me off the hook either. He doesn’t want an apology or an explanation.
He wants me.
The way Matt Hudson crashes into my life and bosses me around as if he has known me all my life is frustrating. What’s even worse is the power he has to bring me to my knees with the flash of one his panty-melting smiles. He steals my control without even trying.
Makes me want.
Makes me need.
Even when my life begins to unravel right before my eyes, there is a part of me hoping that the man my friends have dubbed Hunk P.D. may be something good to come out of all my heartache.
~
About Harper Sloan
Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.
