Forever Freed

by Kathleen Brooks

  “My grandparents have horses that can pull a carriage,” Layne said without looking up from her phone.

  “Getting your dad’s tracing software off your phone?” Reagan asked.

  “Yup, you?”

  “Yup. Found it hiding in an app for photo filters,” Reagan told her.

  “Yes! You’re a genius. Thanks, Reagan. How is Riley doing?” Layne asked as her fingers flew over the keypad.

  “She’s so mad that she can’t be here she’s spittin’ nails. Matt made her stay at home and Mom is with her to make sure she doesn’t decide to drive into town and join us.”

  Evie had been filled in on all the town’s news and now she was putting two and two together. “So, your twin sister is Riley who is supposed to remain calm, right?” Reagan nodded. “And you’re both pregnant?”

  Reagan nodded again and Evie turned to Aniyah. “And you work with Riley. I’ve heard that you’re a force in Frankfort getting things done behind the scenes.”

  “Why, thank you, sugar,” Aniyah said proudly.

  “You’re welcome. Jackson told me all about you all. If Riley is on quasi-bed rest and she’s your matron of honor, why don’t we meet at her house tomorrow? That way she’ll still feel a part of it and can relax at home,” Evie suggested.

  “I’m already asking her,” Reagan said, looking down on her phone. She smiled and then turned the phone around. The text could be seen from across the room. YES!

  “Lunch tomorrow at Riley and Matt’s then.”

  “I just need a liquor store now so I can play with some of the drink ideas I have,” Evie told the group.

  “Come over to my in-laws’ tomorrow morning,” a woman said, joining them. “Hi. I’m Sloane Ali Rahman. My husband, Gabe, is talking to Jackson.”

  “Evie Scott,” Evie said, shaking her hand. “Will your in-laws mind?”

  Sloane shook her head and her curly, dark auburn hair shook with the motion. “Not at all. That way you can play around and then we can put in an order for just the liquor you need.”

  “Thanks. That would be great.”

  “Have Jackson drop you off at their house. There’s a gym and meeting rooms close by so he and his friends can hang out. I know how they get all overprotective when you get into a little trouble.”

  “My stepbrother killing me as ‘a little trouble.’ That’s a new way to think about it.”

  “It’s all in how you approach it. How’s tomorrow at nine and then we can drive over to Riley’s at noon?”

  “Great. Thank you.”

  As the evening went on, Evie’s table grew and grew. Tables were brought over to connect as Jackson, Lucas, and Talon joined them. Then Ryan’s wife, Sienna, and their son, Ash, joined in. By ten that night, Evie felt as if she had lived in Keeneston her whole life and as if these people were her own friends and family. Evie had already apologized to Jackson’s mom about the damage done to her shop. Paige and Cole had seemed more concerned with how she was doing than with the broken door and butchered mannequin, which had made Evie feel better. It was strange how a town she’d been in only a short time had more caring parental figures than she’d ever been around in her life.

  And then there were the young friends she was making. She’d snuggled with Zain and Mila’s daughter, Zaria. Met the adorable Emersyn, whose father, Nash, never put her down. Then she’d met Sydney and Deacon’s two children, Brynn and Donavan, who everyone called Van. The young families left, and then the younger cousins showed up.

  Evie laughed at Riley and Reagan’s younger twin brothers, Porter and Parker, who shared rodeo stories and dating stories. Colton and his younger brother, Landon, joined them too, along with some of the firefighters. Luke, one of the deputies she’d met, joined with his girlfriend, Dr. Ava. When Evie saw Ava, she felt like she was seeing an old friend. Then names kept coming as each person welcomed her into the growing group just as warmly as the last person had.

  By the time Jackson walked her home with Lucas and Talon, it didn’t seem like a protection detail. It seemed as if they had two friends with them. Jackson held her hand while they talked and laughed. It was the most terrifying of times, but the most she’s ever felt like herself. Evie wasn’t trying to take care of everyone and everything. She had friends now. She had a boyfriend. She had people telling her to call them aunt and uncle. And while Jonathan scared her, she found the strength inside her that she’d tapped into for sheer survival when she was younger was now developing into confidence. Jonathan would pay for what he was doing. That wasn’t her fault. She would help stop him one way or the other.

  “Where are you two staying?” Evie asked as they stopped in the back of the apartment near Jackson’s SUV.

  “Did I not tell you?” Jackson asked, and she could clearly hear he actually did forget to tell her. “We have two options. One, we can all go hang out with my parents and sister.”

  “Or?” Evie asked slowly. They were great and all, but it did seem a little awkward.

  “Or we can check into Miss Lily’s bed-and-breakfast.”

  “I vote that one,” Lucas said as soon as the words were out of Jackson’s mouth.

  “Me too,” Talon said with a nod.

  Jackson sighed as he looked at them. “You can’t be messing around with Poppy and Zinnia while this is going on. Eventually you two need to decide if there’s something there and take a risk and ask them out or move on. This limbo is killing us.” Jackson turned back to Evie. “Poppy and Zinnia do most of the work at the bed-and-breakfast now that the Rose sisters have retired.”

  “Ah,” Evie said before looking at her two bodyguards. “So, what will you all do for me if I vote in favor of the bed-and-breakfast?”

  “We’ll bring you breakfast in bed,” Lucas offered and received a glare from Jackson for it.

  “We promise to keep you safe and not be distracted. But it would be nice to have more time with them. I know Jackson’s parents and sister. They’ll want to join in and sometimes it’s easier to keep things secure when we don’t have rogue family members running around. Sorry,” Talon said softly to Jackson.

  Evie looked at the men and looked at Jackson. She’d heard about the hard times they had gone through together and the evil they’d seen. If Talon and Lucas were as good as Jackson said they were, she was safe. And if Poppy and Zinnia could bring them happiness after the evil they survived, that was the least she could do.

  “The bed-and-breakfast does sound nice. I’ve never been to one before.”

  “I’ll clear the apartment,” Lucas said, turning to Talon.

  “I’ll check the perimeter.”

  “Then let’s go get packed,” Jackson said, placing his hand at the small of her back and leading her toward the stairs. There was still crime scene tape and bloodstains but the bodies had been removed. Evie shivered. A quaint bed-and-breakfast was just the thing to put an end to this nightmare for the night.

  26

  “We’re so glad you decided to come here,” Miss Lily said, opening the door to the bed-and-breakfast. The patio lights were on and Evie had been able to see the beauty of the old white Victorian house set back up the hill from Main Street. Christmas lights were being put up around town and the bed-and-breakfast was no exception.

  Lights were strung and beautiful white and red poinsettias filled the rooms as Miss Lily showed them the first floor. “We had a feeling you’d move here, so I’m covering for the girls until they close the café. I’ll also be over in the morning with my sisters and our husbands to help with breakfast. Jackson has my number if you need anything. The girls will be back within the hour.”

  “Thank you, Miss Lily,” Jackson said as she handed him a room key.

  “I assume you want one room or will you be shockingly traditional and go for two?” Miss Lily looked to Evie and she looked to Jackson. They slept together last night, but no one knew that. If they shared a room, everyone would know about it. Probably before they even closed the door.

  “One,�
� Jackson answered for her. “She needs to have one of us with her at all times.”

  Miss Lily snorted as she handed another key to Lucas and a third to Talon. “At least you’re not trying to sneak in unnoticed like Zain tried to do with Mila. He must have gotten it from his father, because Mo was the same with Dani. So many others too. None of them could get by me.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” Talon said with a grin, but the grin vanished as she quickly grabbed his and Lucas’s ears and dragged them down to her face.

  “But that doesn’t mean I will put up with hanky-panky in my place. There will be no ‘protecting’ my girls, do you understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” both big men answered immediately.

  Evie stared in surprise. Miss Lily couldn’t weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. But she had the men almost on their knees, and she knew right then that any romantic notions the men had about Poppy and Zinnia vanished.

  “My sisters and I know things and if we don’t, John does. Remember that,” Miss Lily warned as she let go. “Speaking of my husband, he’ll be wondering where I am. Goodnight, y’all. And Jackson?”

  “Yes, Miss Lily?”

  “When I say no hanky-panky, I mean it.”

  Evie almost laughed as Jackson’s face fell. “Yes, ma’am,” he mumbled sadly before bending down and picking up their bags.

  Talon and Lucas led the way as Jackson walked up the sweeping staircase behind her. When Evie made it to the second floor, she saw a beautiful wide hallway with a window and a seating area across the room from the stairs. On each side of the hall were two rooms. A gleaming side table with flowers sat between the two doors on each side. On the table to the left were white poinsettias and to the right were red ones.

  “This is us on the left. You’re here,” Talon said, pointing to the second door on the right.

  “Lucas, stay with Evie. Talon, you clear the left, I’ll clear the right,” Jackson ordered.

  Guns were suddenly produced and the men went into each of the rooms. Lucas had a weapon he kept lowered and was constantly turning to make sure he saw everything. “It’s so fun to see Jackson with a girlfriend. Most of his dates don’t last long and he hardly ever gives them the girlfriend label.”

  “Why’s that?” Evie asked as she tried to keep up with Lucas’s constant scanning.

  “Jackson’s like my dear Bertha. Lots of growling, but all squishy inside. Women think he’s handsome, and he puts on this carefree attitude away from work, but they realize when they try to push him, he will growl and off they go.”

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t bite,” Evie said with a shrug. She learned that real fast.

  “Right, but you’re one of the first to stick around and find out.”

  “It’s all clear,” Jackson said as he and Talon walked out of the final rooms. “We’ll be in the room for the rest of the night. We’ll have breakfast at eight. Meet you all there to lay out the rest of the day.”

  “Is every minute going to be accounted for now?” Evie asked, suddenly feeling caged in.

  “Yes. But you won’t be restricted in what you do. We’ll just make sure you’re with one of us,” Jackson explained. “I’ll take the first shift,” Jackson said to Talon and Lucas who nodded.

  “I’ll take the second,” Lucas told them.

  “And I’ll take the third and then we’ll all meet for breakfast,” Talon agreed.

  “Wake me with anything out of the ordinary,” Jackson ordered.

  “Night, guys. And thanks for looking out for me,” Evie said with a smile as Jackson opened the door to their room for her.

  They all said goodnight as Evie took in her new home for the next little while. There was a large four-poster bed against the wall facing the street. On each side of the bed were two large windows. Evie walked to the far window and looked out to see a bare tree that reached toward and above the house. “This tree would be perfect for climbing.”

  “You like climbing trees?” Jackson asked as he closed the blind closest to him and made his way around to her window to look out.

  “I did. I climbed them in the park when I was little.”

  “You’re right, this is a good one. Someone could climb up and get into the room, though.” Evie’s smile fell. Now the tree looked menacing.

  She turned away from the window and walked along the far wall where another window was. She looked out. No tree. Only the house across from them. “Jackson!” Evie gasped as she saw the figure in the window. “Someone’s watching us.”

  Jackson ran over and then shook his head. The dim light that outlined the person across the yard from them was turned up and there was Miss Lily with a pair of binoculars. Slowly she held up her finger and wagged it. “That’s just Miss Lily reminding me there’s no hanky-panky,” Jackson said with a smile as he waved sweetly and lowered the blinds.

  “Seriously?” Evie asked, laughing at herself now for being afraid of a woman who had to be over a hundred.

  “She hosed down Zain when he tried to sneak out of Mila’s room. I think on that very tree.”

  “No!” Evie started, laughing harder as she tried to picture it.

  She followed Jackson into the beautiful bathroom with a shower and a claw foot tub. Once satisfied everything was secure, Jackson took a seat on the bed and set his watch. “Don’t worry if you wake up and I’m not here. Every once and a while over the next four hours I will take a walk around the property.”

  “What if I need you?” Evie asked as reality settled back in.

  “Scream and Lucas or Talon will be here in seconds. Or text me if it’s not an emergency.”

  “Is needing you to kiss me an emergency?” Evie tried to blink her eyes innocently, but she ended up laughing. “I’m not very good at being seductive.”

  “And because you aren’t is exactly why you are so damn sexy.”

  Evie’s laugh was cut short by Jackson’s lips. This time there was no soft start, but instead a deep hunger as he pulled her tight against him. They were chest to chest, hip to hip, and Evie couldn’t get enough.

  Jackson pulled back and looked down at her before slowly raising his finger to his lips, “Shhh or Miss Lily will hear. I have no doubt she has some kind of spy contraption pointed at the room to make sure there’s no hanky-panky going on.”

  Evie struggled not to laugh as Jackson went around and turned off all the lights except the one in the bathroom and turned on the shower. He turned to her then, his body outlined by the light from the bathroom as he stripped off his shirt. Evie loved counting those little ridges along his abdomen. It did the opposite of counting sheep. Her body revved to life as she watched him push his jeans to the floor.

  “I know all the secrets to evading sound recordings,” Jackson whispered as he picked up his phone from beside the sink and turned on some music that left her swaying with its building beat. Jackson crooked her finger at her and held open the shower door for her. Clothes were dropped along the way into the bathroom and when Jackson took her slowly in the shower, muffling her cries with his lips, Evie felt every inch the sexy seductress.

  * * *

  Jackson snuck from the room four hours later. He made sure he hadn’t woken Evie when he slid from the bed and got dressed in the dark. Not a seductress? Ha! There wasn’t anything Evie did that didn’t turn him on.

  “You have it bad,” Lucas whispered as they met in the hallway.

  “Why do you say that?” Jackson asked as he zipped up his winter coat.

  “You’ve got a goofy little smile. I’ve seen that smile before.”

  “When?” Jackson looked up at Lucas who was still in a T-shirt and shorts even though it was freezing outside.

  Lucas held up his hand as he ticked them off his fingers. “Nash, Dylan, Aiden, Walker . . . basically every wedding we’ve been invited to here in Keeneston. It’s the smile of a man in love. Also, you have that same little twinkle in your eye as Boris has when he comes to visit Bertha.”

  Jackson shook his head
slightly. “Who’s Boris?”

  “He’s the dad to Bertha’s cubs.”

  “I look like a polar bear?”

  “Yeah, he only visits Bertha when he’s ready to mate,” Lucas said as if Jackson were an idiot.

  “Well, then. I’m going to do a round if you can stay close. I’ll be right back and then hand off the shift to you,” Jackson said as he thought about himself as a mating polar bear. He been growling during their shower and, at one point, she did bite down on his shoulder to stop herself from screaming. And he couldn’t wait to get back into bed after his turn walking the perimeter. He planned on doing this thing with his tongue as a way to wake Evie up. The thought hit him suddenly: he was Boris.

  27

  Jackson awoke to his hand covering Evie’s breast and her head resting on his opposite arm as he spooned her. He never wanted to move. Unfortunately, it was time to check in with his team.

  “No, don’t get up,” Evie mumbled as she clutched her hand to his.

  “I have to, sweetheart,” Jackson whispered and then clamped his mouth shut. Calling her that sounded so right. Instead of getting out of bed, he held Evie close to him as he breathed her in. The scent of her, the feel of her in his arms, and the way his heart seemed to beat just for her . . . Lucas was right. Jackson was falling and falling hard.

  Evie breathed in deeply and Jackson felt her body go rigid. “Do I smell breakfast? Something smells delicious.” Evie shot from the bed and started looking for her clothes.

  “Really? You’re leaving me for food? I thought you didn’t want to get up.” Jackson propped his head on his hand and watched her searching for clean clothes.

  “That was before I smelled whatever it is we’re having for breakfast.” Evie pulled on a pair of jeans and sent him a saucy wink before practically skipping into the bathroom.