Cameron lifted his hand, and her eyes widened. So many times, he’d almost touched her but then stopped himself. Would he stop today? His hand seemed to be in slow motion as it covered the distance, and then he simply cradled her cheek in his palm.
Kaytlyn leaned into his touch, bringing her own hand up to wrap around his. “It feels good to be touched,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t pull away.
His eyes got serious. “Kayt. I promised Jacob … we have to take things slow.”
Kaytlyn didn’t know exactly what that meant or what he’d promised Jacob, but though she longed to be closer to Cameron, she was in no rush. There was too much to deal with right now, and it wasn’t like she had time for something so sweet as romance. But oh, how she craved it—no, she craved him.
Yet she knew how determined Cameron was, and she would need time to heal from Jacob’s loss. She didn’t know what else to say but, “All right.”
Cameron gave her a tight smile, removed his hand, and gestured down the hall. Kaytlyn squared her shoulders and walked in front of him.
The limousine took them to the graveside service. Cameron stayed close by her side, and although he didn’t touch her, his sheer strength and presence felt protective and comforting. He was her friend and support, exactly what she needed. She had a hard time focusing as people gave their speeches: the governor of Idaho; one of Jacob’s longtime friends, who was now a general in the Army; an associate who headed the anti-trafficking battle in South America; and finally Larry, who said a few words as Jacob’s close friend and church leader.
There was a huge crowd, and unfortunately, Jessica and Peter had been seated right next to Cameron and Kaytlyn. Kaytlyn ignored Jessica’s sneaky dagger looks and Peter’s fake classy act. It still hurt that someone she’d been close to could betray her like Jessica did but she could feel Jessica’s hatred for her. It oozed from the woman. Kaytlyn kept her shoulders and back straight, her head tilted up, and her hands carefully folded in her lap.
When the 21-gun salute was finished and Larry gave a benediction, the local National Guard folded up the flag covering the casket and marched as a unit up to Kaytlyn. The soldier leading the color guard formally handed over the flag. With tears clouding her vision, Kaytlyn pulled the flag tightly against her chest.
The quiet hush over the crowd was broken by a wail of outrage. “Why are you giving the flag to her? I am my father’s only living relative!” Jessica shrieked.
The entire crowd drew in a breath. Cameron wrapped his arm around Kaytlyn as if to shield her. Kaytlyn wanted to just run back to the mansion and never have to deal with this woman, but it was time. The silence was so thick and heavy, it felt more oppressive than the warm August day. Kaytlyn was strong, though. She had been trained by Jacob how to be poised and gracious, and how to stand up for herself.
Every eye at the service was focused on Kaytlyn. She didn’t focus on Jessica but gave Peter an imperious look. “I am Jacob Tarbet’s widow, am carrying his child, and am the sole recipient of his estate.” Maybe she shouldn’t have thrown that last statement in there, and the middle one wasn’t true, but she might as well hit them with everything at once.
The silence after her statement was deafening. No one in the crowd so much as shifted their weight. Peter’s eyes narrowed and he focused on Kaytlyn as if determining how much of an adversary she was.
Jessica fell against her husband, her eyes widening in shock. Two seconds later, she went berserk. She started screaming insults at Kaytlyn, flailing in her husband’s arms to try to get at Kaytlyn, and making a scene worse than any spoiled toddler could dream of. Surprisingly, she said nothing about the baby, it was all about Kaytlyn stealing her inheritance and many references to Kaytlyn being a “tramp”.
Cameron released his hold on Kaytlyn, stepped in front of her, and in a voice as sharp as a whip commanded, “Stop speaking or I will cut your tongue out.”
Jessica drew back from him with a look of horror. Kaytlyn supposed that if you didn’t know about Cameron’s good heart, he would look terrifying. His build was strong, and the years of being in command in the military etched lines of authority into his face.
“Escort her out of here,” Cameron commanded.
The security team surrounded Jessica and Peter. Peter pivoted quickly to go, putting up no fuss. Kaytlyn thought that was smart of him. She knew Cameron wanted an excuse to go after the man and Cameron could easily tear him apart.
Peter was a politician in public. Always. He would most likely be livid with Jessica’s outbursts today. Back when they were friends, Kaytlyn hadn’t liked how Peter seemed to control Jessica, but now she knew Jacob’s daughter was no better than her slimy husband. They both wielded their power behind the scenes, sneakily. This was the first open attack Kaytlyn had ever seen or heard of. She’d blindsided Jessica and Peter, just like Jacob had planned.
Jessica didn’t speak again, breaking from her husband’s grip and storming ahead of Kaytlyn’s security personnel. The crowd watched them go. After they finally loaded into their Tesla and sped away, there was a collective sigh and the murmuring began.
Cameron’s fierce gaze softened as he turned to Kaytlyn. “Are you okay?”
She waved one hand at the onlookers while clutching the flag in the other. “You think I care what that piece of work thinks of me?”
A smile broke over his face and Kaytlyn felt her knees almost buckle. He was so handsome that it took her breath away. He looked like he wanted to hug her as badly as she wanted to hug him, but the crowd was pressing in to offer their condolences. Cameron took the flag from her, sticking close enough to discourage anyone from so much as looking at her wrong. No one did. Hundreds of people came by to press her hand, share a kind remembrance of Jacob, or give her a hug. Many asked about the baby, but everybody was too classy to give voice to the unspoken questions: When had she and Jacob married, and why had she married a man thirty years her senior who had always appeared to be only her friend and business partner? Most of them probably thought it was for the money. Many of them probably felt bad for Jessica, as few had insight into how demented she was.
Finally, the crowd dwindled. Kaytlyn had been feeling stronger today, but now she was close to collapse.
Cameron discreetly put a steadying hand on her lower back. “What do you need?” he asked.
You. Sadly, she couldn’t say that. Not yet. They both needed time to mourn Jacob and get through whatever Peter and Jessica were going to hurl at them. Larry and Jacob had felt that this course would protect her baby, the businesses, the money, and the foundation, but Kaytlyn still had a sense of foreboding that she wanted to push away. “Would you be shocked if I told you I’m craving a Grumpy’s hamburger and fries?”
He grinned. “I’d say that’s the best news I’ve heard in a while.” He nodded to their security team, who cleared a path through the remaining crowd to a couple of Porsche sport utilities. “We’re going through the Grumpy’s drive-through,” Cameron said to Tyler, a young guy who always had a smile on his face.
“Yes!” Tyler pumped his eyebrows at Kaytlyn. “I like the way you think.”
“Thanks.” Kaytlyn waved to and smiled at the people who were watching them go, keeping her composure as Jacob had trained her to. As Cameron helped her into the back of the vehicle and settled in next to her, she was exhausted, but she’d made it through. Jacob was gone. It was time to somehow face the future without him.
Chapter Eight
Cameron had been raised to respect and revere women, but he’d never been so tempted to hit a woman as when he’d faced Jacob’s daughter at the funeral. His blood still boiled thinking of Jessica calling sweet, angelic Kaytlyn a tramp. All the while her loser husband stood there trying to appear dignified and unruffled.
They’d gone through the drive-through, eaten in the car, and had now arrived home. Kaytlyn had only eaten half of the bacon cheeseburger and a few fries, but at least she’d eaten. He just kept getting more invested in this woman, as
if his purpose in life was to protect and love her. Jacob’s caution to take it slow kept ringing in his ears. He would listen but it wouldn’t be easy.
Hours had passed, and the shadows of evening crept in. Kaytlyn was resting in her room, but Cameron felt so restless he could hardly stand it. He wanted to exercise—no, he wanted to punch something, or someone. Sadly he hadn’t been gifted with an excuse to punch Peter at the funeral. If only Peter would’ve been the one to start hurling insults at Kaytlyn. Smashing that man’s perfect face would help right so many wrongs.
Maybe one of his security guys would spar with him while Kaytlyn slept. He almost called to let the security office know he’d be away from Kaytlyn’s door for a bit and they needed to send someone to sit with her.
Suddenly, her door sprang open. Her hair was mussed and her eyes looked heavy. She was still wearing that silky black dress that hugged her curves. He would’ve thought losing so much weight would make her lose those curves, but the pregnancy was filling her out in all the right spots. His stomach swirled with desire for her, and he wondered if he could bend, or more likely break, the “taking it slow” rule by sweeping her off her feet and kissing her until neither of them could catch a breath.
“Larry needs to meet with us,” she said shortly.
Cameron’s fantasies all popped, and he stepped back, letting her go ahead. They walked through the wide hall toward the main staircase. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Apparently, they’re already filing suits.”
“That was quick. Do you know what they’re claiming?”
She shook her head.
Jessica had only found out that she’d lost her inheritance this morning and Peter should be trying to cover his butt after unethically using Kaytlyn’s egg without her permission. They shouldn’t have any quick or easy recourse in Cameron’s mind.
They strode down the staircase and into Kaytlyn’s office. Kaytlyn stood behind the desk, biting at her lip and looking so small and uncertain, he wanted to cradle her close. The doorbell rang, and half a minute later, one of his security guys escorted Larry in. Kaytlyn and Cameron each shook his hand; then he gestured for them to sit, and they both did.
Larry was a tall man with short, curly hair and a slight stoop. His green eyes were sharp but kind.
“How bad is it?” Kaytlyn asked, perching on the edge of the chair. Obviously, her mind had been going to worst-case scenarios. Cameron should’ve reassured her somehow.
“Well … Jessica’s pressing a suit against Cameron for threatening her.”
Cameron guffawed at that. “Bring it on.” He was secretly pleased, though. If he took the heat off of Kaytlyn, that would be great.
“But she’s also digging deep and going at this from every angle. I’m not worried,” Larry reassured her quickly. “Everything is already in your name. We’re solid. We just have to make sure everything is in line to fight the stuff she’s trying to throw at you. Their lawyer, Bridget, is a friend of mine—”
“Why would a friend of yours represent them?” Cameron asked.
“You have to understand that most people like and respect Jessica and Peter.” He tilted his head. “I always liked her—thought of her as an adopted niece, honestly—until Jacob revealed what she’d said to him and broke his heart in the process.”
Cameron nodded. He’d met people in the military who were like Jessica and Peter: they told you exactly what you wanted to hear, smiled while they did it, and then stabbed you in the back.
“Because her lawyer and I are friends, we have a lot more information than we normally would,” Larry continued.
Cameron’s eyebrows arched.
“Don’t get me wrong. This is an important case, and Bridget wants to win. She’s a with-it lawyer, and she loves Jessica and believes everything she’s telling her. Honestly, a lot of people were upset with Kaytlyn today for blindsiding Jessica at her father’s funeral.”
Cameron hadn’t thought of it like that; it made sense. If they thought highly of Jacob and Jessica, they could think of Kaytlyn as a scheming outsider.
“I think Bridget actually shared so much to pretend to buddy up to me. She doesn’t know how deceitful Jessica is, and she thinks I’m only representing you out of loyalty to Jacob. But most of this info and the suits they’re filing are more of a scare tactic, hoping you’ll get scared and settle. Maybe they think that I’m getting old and don’t want to fight. There’s only one matter that’s a huge concern for us. So let’s just plug through what they’re claiming and what we need to do.”
Kaytlyn nodded for him to proceed. Cameron wanted to know what the one huge concern was.
“Of course it’s all about the money and they’re claiming you two are lovers and threatened and manipulated Jacob into changing the will on his deathbed.”
Cameron rolled his eyes. Of course they had no clue how hard Cameron had fought to not act on his love for Kaytlyn. Everything Jacob had done was to protect Kaytlyn from Peter and Jessica.
“I think we’ll be fine there,” Larry reassured. “The will was changed and all of the business and assets were transferred two months ago, definitely not on his deathbed. I can get witnesses that you two have never manipulated or threatened Jacob. The more concerning thing, and it’s a big one …” Larry looked down. “They have proof that you knew it was your egg, and you signed away the rights to the baby.”
“No.” Kaytlyn rocked to her feet, horrified. “No,” she repeated as if that would make it true.
Larry pulled out some papers and set them in front of Kaytlyn. She looked them over then pushed them away with a shaky hand. “I trusted them,” she muttered.
Cameron’s gut clenched. So it was her signature.
“They told me I had to sign to be a surrogate. I had no idea …” Her face was pale. She sank back into the chair. “They can’t have my baby,” she said fiercely.
Larry nodded. “I know. We’re going to fight them. There have been cases where the judge has ruled in favor of the surrogate. The judge will have the final call after their evaluation of your mental state, your relationship with Jacob will come into play, your current relationships,” he glanced at Cameron, “and how strong your claim to the child is.”
“It’s my child,” Kaytlyn replied heatedly, cradling her arms across her abdomen as if to protect the baby.
Oh, how Cameron wanted to soothe her. After Larry left, if she let him, he’d hold her and find a way to make all of this right. Yet he was only a simple soldier, and this wasn’t something he could win with fists or battle tactics. Instinctively, he thought there was no court that would take a woman’s baby away, and there was no way they could prove Kaytlyn would be an unfit mother. Yet she’d signed the baby away, unknowingly, but it was still there.
“I believe we can win. For sure with the will and possibly with the baby.”
“They can take the money.” Kaytlyn covered her abdomen with her hands.
Cameron loved her. Of course the baby was all she cared about.
“It’s okay,” Larry reassured. “We can win both. We just have to make sure everything’s in line, and you’ll have to go on the stand and testify that you didn’t know you were signing your baby away. Our chances are great. I have some ideas to make the unfit mother thing even harder for her to prove and prove Peter’s infidelity and Jessica’s instability.” Larry placed a hand over Kaytlyn’s. “Jacob was one of my closest friends and the man I most admired out of everyone in the world. I’m going to fight for you and the baby.”
Cameron felt marginally better. Larry was a respected lawyer. Hopefully, Jessica and Peter would have no case. Maybe they’d get awarded some money and disappear. He could hope so, as the thought of them taking Kaytlyn’s baby was horrific. He’d give them all the money and vote for Peter himself if it could somehow prevent handing Kaytlyn’s innocent child over. If it came to that, he’d take his ten million and hide Kaytlyn away in some foreign country where they’d never find her.
“I have to show you some of the evidence she has,” Larry said.
Larry started spreading pictures across the desk and explaining them. There were pictures of Cameron and Kaytlyn on the hikes they used to take, time-stamped to show they were taken while she was married to Jacob. One showed him holding her close. The truth was that she’d tripped and almost fallen, and he’d grabbed her and lifted her up to protect her.
Even worse, there were pictures of him carrying Kaytlyn from Jacob’s room to her bedroom the day Jacob had died. It looked like he was carrying her straight to bed.
“How did she get these?” Cameron demanded. Those would have to be from the security cameras. No, the angles weren’t right. With all the windows in the mansion, they could be from outside.
Kaytlyn was staring at the pictures in concern.
Larry shook his head. “A drone?”
At least he didn’t have a leak in his security team. He’d have to look at their sensors, though, and make sure a drone couldn’t get through them from above. It wasn’t a threat he’d considered. “How did she know to be compiling all of this?” Cameron asked.
Larry arched his brows. “From what I dug out of her lawyer.” He smiled grimly. “Jessica has despised Kaytlyn for a long time and was planning to go after the foundation and the fifty million that Kaytlyn was promised in the original will as soon as Jacob passed. So she’s been assembling her arsenal. And maybe she was afraid Jacob would pull something like this after her fit.”
Kaytlyn shook her head. “She thought she was inheriting billions, but she couldn’t stand the thought of me getting anything?”
“Her hatred seems to run deep.” Larry pulled out more pictures. “The pictures get worse.”
Cameron stared. There was a picture of Kaytlyn shooting a needle into her own arm, partially concealed by a bunch of pine trees. It was followed by a picture of Kaytlyn handing over money and taking a bag of what appeared to be cocaine. Maybe at a park?
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