Her dad leaned down and pulled her into his arms so she could cry on his shoulder. “I know, honey,” he murmured. “I know.”
And just like that the bond she’d always longed for with her father formed and grew out of the tragedy she’d experienced.
If only she could fix the bond between her and Chris.
* * *
At the low rumble of an approaching vehicle Chris pulled his head out from beneath the raised hood of his 1969 Dodge Charger and squinted to see who was bothering him on his day off. He’d done everything he set out to do: helped Warren Scott find the traitor in his company. Come to find out it had been a man Layla once dated named Mark Saunders. He was on her father’s marketing team and held a grudge when Layla turned down his offer to move-in together. He’d been planning to marry her and take over her father’s company. But her refusal sent him into a tailspin and prevented him from paying off the heavy debt he’d accumulated. He knew about the Defender program and knew it was a big payoff if he could steal it and sell it to the highest bidder. Pillow talk was how it started. Which pissed Chris off to no end. The thought of Layla sleeping with another man did not settle well.
To date, Saunders was in jail, awaiting his trial. It hadn’t been hard to get the bastard talking.
Chris rubbed his bruised knuckles. Not hard at all. He’d wanted the guy to put up a better fight, but he’d folded like a cheap suit.
As for Layla, they hadn’t been in contact since they left the island. Not that he expected her to contact him. Doubtful she felt the way he did. The pain of that truth kept him up at night. He couldn’t even think of being with another woman. He was so screwed.
A dusty, newer model, black four-by-four pulled to a stop in front of him and his oldest brother, Quinn, climbed out. Chris straightened and wiped his hands on a rag, propping a hip against the black beast.
“Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone?” Quinn demanded, striding across the cemented plot in front of the garage to where Chris stood. “Turn that crap down.”
Chris grinned and leaned inside to turn down the classic rock music that belted through the open windows. Quinn listened to Beethoven not Boston.
“It’s my day off,” he reminded his brother.
“Not anymore.”
He quirked a brow. He’d told Quinn he was done taking jobs for now. After Ryan’s death and losing Layla he wasn’t in any position to help someone. Hell, he could barely help himself these days.
Working on his car kept his head clear. Grounded him. He’d been putting off replacing the carburetor and fixing the dent in the hood in his car for months. Today he was getting it done. Not only because he needed the carburetor to drive it, but because he had put the dent in the hood when he found out about Ryan and a recent conversation with his mom put him on the path to healing. Fixing the dent was symbolic of fixing his heart and letting his grief go. Or so his mom had told him. He didn’t do that touchy-feely stuff but she was one smart woman.
“Why the hell not?”
“Just come with me.”
When Quinn used that tone there was no changing his mind so Chris tossed the rag on the engine block and followed Quinn to his truck.
“Where are we going?” he asked when they drove past headquarters, which consisted of a giant pole barn behind Quinns log cabin.
“You have a date.”
Quinn couldn’t have shocked him more if he told him the world was ending. “I don’t date.”
“You are tonight.”
What the hell was going on? “Turn around and take me back home. This is bullshit.”
Quinn ignored him and kept driving toward their parent’s house. Flabbergasted, Chris sent him a glare. “What the hell, Quinn?”
“Just shut up and go with it.”
He really wanted to punch his brother in the mouth right now but he refrained. Something was up, he just didn’t know what.
Quinn pulled into their parents’ driveway and parked next to Bailey’s new SUV. Everyone appeared to be home. All of his siblings and his parents. What he didn’t see was a car that didn’t belong.
“I have a date with the family?” He mused.
“Come on.”
Quinn got out and strode toward the house. Chris had no choice but to follow. They walked around the house to the back deck where everyone had gathered. Everyone was talking at once, laughing, telling tall tales, and for a moment Chris stood there with an ache in his chest that would never really go away. Ryan should be here. It just wasn’t the same without him. But, one thing about the Wolff clan, they came together in times of need and that meant more to him than anything. He hadn’t realized until this moment how much he missed his family. He regretted going off grid after the job with Layla. This is where he should be. With family. If anyone could help heal his broken heart, they could.
His mom spotted him first and hurried down the steps to hug him.
“Christopher. I’m so happy you made it. We’ve been waiting for you.”
He hugged her back, smelling vanilla and home.
She squeezed him a little tighter and said softly, “We’re all here.” Then leaned back to look him meaningfully in the eye. “All of us.”
He knew exactly what she meant and she was right. Ryan may be gone from this earth, but he would always be with them in spirit. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
She patted his arm and let him go. “There’s someone here to see you. And, I must say, I’m a little disappointed you didn’t bring her around before now.”
What the hell did that mean? She, who? Had everyone lost their damn mind?
He followed his mom up the steps and the small crowd parted. Everyone went silent as they watched him for a reaction.
Then he saw her. Sitting in the middle of the people he loved most in the world. Wearing a sexy blue dress, her green eyes wide and bright. Hopeful. Vulnerable.
Layla.
She rose to her feet and about knocked him off his with her smile.
“Hi, Chris,” she said.
She was here. And he was never letting her go.
He crossed the deck, pulled her into his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Feeling like the luckiest man in the world when she kissed him back.
When he finally lifted his head, he smiled at her and she smiled back. “Welcome home,” she said.
And he knew from that moment on she would forever be his home.
The End
Afterword
Thank you for reading Necessary Risk, Book 4 in my Wolff Securities Series. I really hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll consider leaving a review at one of your favorite online retailers. It’s a great way to help other readers discover new books. If you liked Necessary Risk and would like to read more, turn the page for a list of my other books. And if you don’t want to miss any future releases, please feel free to join my newsletter. Direct link: http://jenniferloweryauthor.com
Please follow me on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-lowery?follow=true
About the Author
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Lowery writes heartfelt military romantic suspense. Her work has been nominated for the Golden Heart. She debuted her first book in 2012 which made her dreams of being a writer come true, followed by her SEAL Team Alpha series and she loves her job as much today as she did then. She is delighted to bring you stories from the heart and hopes you enjoy reading them as much as she did writing them.
You can visit Jennifer at www.jenniferloweryauthor.com. If you would like to be notified of future releases, please join her newsletter. Direct link: https://jenniferloweryauthor.com
Please follow her on BookBub: Follow on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-lowery?follow=true
Also by Jennifer Lowery
Complete Booklist
Wolff Securities Series (romantic suspense)
Maximum Risk
Not Without Risk
/> Worth the Risk
SEAL Team Alpha Series (romantic suspense/military romance)
A SEAL’s Song
A SEAL for Christmas
A SEAL’s Duty
A SEAL’s Promise
A SEAL’s Christmas Surprise
ATCOM Series (romantic suspense)
The Maze
The Fall
Onyx Group (romantic suspense/mercenaries)
Hard Core
Sawyer Sisters Trilogy (romantic suspense)
Hard to Handle
Stand-alone Books
Murphy’s Law
Christmas With the Conroys
Short Stories
Taking Chances
Necessary Risk: Wolff Securities Book 4 Page 8
