by Jen Talty
“You’re going to let it go at that?” She stared at him with wide eyes. “Mr. Third-Degree isn’t going to ask me another question about that picture?”
“No. I’m not. If you want to tell me, you will.”
“Wow.” She reached over him, finding the remote that was under a magazine. “There really isn’t much to tell. The placenta had separated from the uterine wall, and my baby died before she was born. It destroyed my relationship, which was probably for the best because I don’t think he would have made for a great father.”
He opened his mouth, but she pointed the remote at his face. “I won’t ever have children. What I went through nearly killed me, and not physically. This is a non-negotiable aspect of my life, and that’s why we can’t keep doing this because you will make a great father someday.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but I honestly don’t want to think about it. I want to live in the moment. With every other girlfriend I’ve ever had, plans were made. I like having no plans. Only, I do want to watch the news, if that’s okay with you.”
She smiled. “Is Coop going to sleep here all night? Because this bed isn’t big enough for the three of us, so one of you has to go.”
“Coop, down, boy.” Mason tugged at the pooch’s collar. “Go lie down.”
“Mighty presumptuous of you to think I’d rather have you in here than him, especially since I’m still kind of mad at you.”
“I’m still pissed at me too.” He turned the local news on before pulling her into his arms, tucking her backside up against his front. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
“You’re forgiven.”
He kissed her temple, knowing he’d do whatever it took to keep her in his arms every night for the rest of his life.
So much for living in the moment.
11
The next two days had to be the most nerve-racking days of Destiny’s new life. When she wasn’t with Mason, either his buddy Toby was keeping watch over her, or some FBI Agent. Sterling assured her this had nothing to do with Lucas and that she was safe from him and his constituents.
She, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. Didn’t matter that no one had left any Ho Ho wrappers around her property; no one had questioned Trip, and that made her nervous. Mason kept telling her not to worry about it, mostly because he’d stopped harassing her the second Jake had been found dead.
“Are you ready?” Mason called from the kitchen.
She glanced at herself in the mirror. Why she kept letting Mason in her bed had been a mystery. At the end of the day, they couldn’t have a life together. Even if she could tell him who she really was, he’d never forgive her for lying to him.
Again.
And she totally understood. If the tables were turned, and she’d had his experiences, she’d kick herself to the curb.
Soon, very soon, she was going to have to find a reason to end it. Or maybe she’d just start picking fights, so he’d end it.
Fucking coward.
“Wow. You know how to dress up a pair of shorts,” Mason said, leaning against the doorjamb with a knife and an apple.
God, that was a sexy look.
“I don’t know what I like better. You in the uniform, or you in the jeans with the badge and gun on your hip.”
“I’m liking this no uniform thing.” He popped a piece of apple into his mouth. “Are you going to be okay with my family if I get a call?”
“I thought you weren’t on duty?” What the hell had she been thinking when she said she’d go to this small gathering of his family in the park in the middle of town where everyone would see them.
“I’m technically not, but Blaine has our offices on some other assignments, so I’m backup.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go.” She eased past him as quickly as she could, but it wasn’t fast enough since he looped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his chest.
“You’ve met my family before; what’s the problem?”
“They think we’re dating,” she said.
“I think we’re dating.” He cocked his head. “Why do we keep having the same conversation over and over again? If you don’t want to date me, then start kicking me out of your bed.”
“You make that utterly impossible.”
He waggled his brows.
“You know this is going to end, right?”
“So you keep telling me.” He pressed his lips against her temple. “But your actions speak louder than your words. Now we best get going, or my family will think we’re late because we were too busy in the sack.”
“You’re insufferable.”
She followed Mason and Coop out the door and headed toward town. She loved that she could walk just about everywhere she needed to go. Small-town life was growing on her, and the idea she might someday have to leave sent chills crawling down her back.
“Uncle Mason!” a young boy yelled as they turned onto Main Street heading toward the park.
Coop howled with a happy gurgle as he tried to hurl himself forward, but Mason pulled him back.
“Heel,” Mason said, and the dog sighed but did as his owner commanded. “Good dog.”
“He’s getting better at listening, thanks to me,” she said.
“You are good with him. Hey, dude,” Mason said, holding up his hand for a good fist pound. “Brian, you remember Miss Baker.”
“You can call me Destiny,” she said, not liking the sound of Miss anything.
“My mom said you’re going to help plan a stellar Star Wars party, and paintball is going to be included!”
“That I am,” she said, reminding herself she needed to download all the Star Wars movies and give herself a crash course in everything from Yoda to the Dark Lord. “Maybe you can tell me some of your favorite parts so I can focus on those.”
Brian raised his hand to his chin and stared at the sky.
“You think on that and make me a list,” she said.
“I can do that,” Brian said, tugging at his uncle, leading them to the picnic area.
“Destiny, it’s so good to see you again,” Kate, his sister, said as she waved from her spot on a blanket. “I’d get up, but…” She pointed to a toddler sleeping in her lap. “Jessica here decided it was naptime.”
“No worries,” Destiny said with a bright smile. While she felt safe with Mason, being around his family made dating him a reality.
Coop made a complete circle before lying down next to Kate, resting his head on her leg, nuzzling the small child.
That damn dog had gone and stolen her heart. Leaving him would be almost as hard as breaking up with Mason. Something she knew she had to do.
“And the man standing in front of that grill over there,” Mason said, looping his arm over Destiny’s shoulders and pointing, “is Harvey, Kate’s husband. He wasn’t able to make it to the party. And you remember my dad, William.”
“It’s good to see you again,” she said.
“Glad you could make it out tonight,” his mother Joan said as she pulled her in for a tight hug. “I don’t think you got to meet Trevor. He was pretty sick the night of Hannah’s birthday party.”
“Hi,” Trevor managed to squeak out.
She bent over, extending her fist, which earned her a smile and a quick pound. “My name is Destiny.”
“My daughter tells me you’ve got quite the impressive shop for an event planner,” Joan said.
“Thank you. I hope you’ll stop in sometime.” Destiny forced herself to keep her hands at her sides, when she really wanted to fold them over her chest, closing herself off from everyone. Never in her life had she experienced a normal family. Her mother had been so paranoid that as a child, Destiny never felt she could have friends over for fear of how her mother might act. Of course, Lucas’ family had all been criminals.
Nothing normal about that.
“Oh, Christ,” Mason mumbled.
“Watch your tongue, young man,” Joan said. “There are small ears lurking.”
“Sorry, Ma. But look who’s headed this way. I thought I finally made headway with her.”
Destiny dared to glance over her shoulder. A blonde wearing a tight, pink, strapless dress with four-inch heels clicking on the pavement strolled in their direction. “I’m shocked she’s not falling over in those things.”
“Hi, Joan,” Lilly called, waving frantically. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you, dear.” Joan greeted her with a fake kiss on the cheek. “You know my son’s girlfriend, Destiny, right.”
“I didn’t realize you two were an item now.” Lilly leaned into Mason, pressing her nasty paws on his chest. “Mason, I was hoping you could stop by my place. My security system isn’t working properly.”
Mason stepped back. “I wouldn’t know how to fix it. You’re better off calling the company that installed it.”
“Don’t they work for you?” Lilly patted his chest.
Mason chuckled. “You know it doesn’t work that way.”
“I bet they’ll respond quicker if you call over me.”
“I’ll call them in the morning,” Mason said, looping his arm around Destiny’s tiny waist. “Did you sell the Babcock place?”
Lilly frowned. “He put in an offer on a place in Michigan. If that falls through, this is his second choice.”
“That’s too bad,” Destiny said. “Any other perspective buyers?”
“I wish,” Lilly said. “I best be on my way. Enjoy your picnic.” Her heels clicked on the pavement as she made her way down the street.
Joan laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day that she didn’t throw herself at you.”
“You can thank Destiny for that.” Mason pulled his mom in for a big hug.
“Who wants a beer?” William asked as he held four in his hands.
“I’ll gladly take one,” Destiny said.
Mason took two and handed one to her. “Cheers to finally getting Lilly a new hobby.”
“I’ll clink to that,” William said.
Destiny grew increasingly uncomfortable. Her family life had been nothing short of horrible. She barely remembered her father. The only memory she had of the man had been of his poker buddies and their living room filled with smoke and booze.
After her parents split, her mother moved them to Delaware and never looked back.
She tried to bring up an image in her mind of what he looked like, but all she got was a hodgepodge of fuzziness. He might have had blue eyes. Or maybe gray. She thought he might be over six feet, but what did a three-year-old know about size?
And what did it matter now? He’d disappeared years ago, never to be heard from again.
Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She thought about not taking it out, because that could be seen as rude, but she couldn’t imagine who the hell would be contacting her. Almost no one had her number.
She glanced at the screen and froze.
Private number: Pick up some Ho Hos.
Her fingers hovered over the phone. Her pulse throbbed in her throat, nearly choking her.
“Everything okay?” Mason asked.
“I’m not sure.” Her cell vibrated in her hands. Sterling told her that if anything happened, like more Ho Hos showed, to let Mason and Blaine handle it, unless there was any reason to believe Lucas was behind a threat.
She always believed that possible. She glanced at the phone.
Private number: Don’t forget the Ho Hos. I have a hankering for them, Dad.
Dad?
“Come over here for a second.” She tugged at Mason’s arm, pulling him to the side. She didn’t want his family to see or hear this. She showed him her cell.
“I’m going to respond to this, okay?” Mason asked, holding her phone.
She nodded, unable to use her vocal cords.
Destiny: You have the wrong number.
Private number: sorry to have bothered you.
“That was weird,” she mumbled.
“Agreed, especially since your father is dead. Trip was picked up earlier today by the Feds for a ‘discussion’ regarding a different matter. My friend Sally wouldn’t give me too many details. But I’m going to give her a call. We might need to take a look at your phone so don’t delete that string of texts, okay?”
“I hope they arrest that asshole soon. I’m sick of being the target of whatever cruel joke he’s playing on me, and the worst part is no one can figure out why. It makes no sense.”
“You’ve had no run-ins with Trip when you got to town, right?”
She cocked her head and glared.
“I’m being a cop, not your boyfriend.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t like your tone.” She shook out her hands. “No. I’ve had no encounters with Trip at all.”
“Now my phone is going off,” Mason said. “And it’s Blaine.”
Destiny watched as Mason took a few steps toward the street. His hand was firmly planted on his hip as the other one cradled the phone against his ear.
“What’s going on, dear?” Joan asked.
“Mason is on the phone with Blaine and look.” She pointed to the fire station just as the siren sounded.
Joan looped her arm through Destiny’s and tugged her toward the picnic table. “Whatever is going on, Blaine and Mason will handle it. They are both very good at their jobs. Did you know that when Kaylee first came back, she was on the run from the mob and shortly after, ended up in witness protection after she helped Blaine nail the bastards.”
Destiny’s heart plummeted to her gut. “Doesn’t witness protection mean she had to disappear?”
“Her location was kept a secret until trial, but then she came home to Blaine, and they got a second chance.” Joan smiled as if she single-handedly brought the two lovebirds back together.
“They aren’t worried about the mob coming for her?”
“I suppose they could be, but it’s not something we generally talk about, and it’s been about five years, so I think they’re safe.”
She wondered if she’d ever be safe. Had they been able to arrest the head of the drug ring, maybe she would be, but instead, they pretended to kill her.
Lucas had to know that was bogus.
“That sounds like some pretty scary stuff,” she said.
“It was probably the most talked about event this sleepy little town has ever had. But there was so much more to the story between Kaylee’s father being murdered and finding out who her biological father really was. It was crazy.”
“Sounds like it.” Destiny took a seat at the picnic table and accepted a small glass of wine. Families milled about, sharing food and drink. It looked like the perfect setting for a postcard.
“Destiny,” Mason called with a grim look. “Your silent alarm at the shop was tripped.”
“What?” She jumped to her feet. “When?”
“A couple of minutes ago. So did another business, but we need to go check it out. Blaine is already there.” He took her by the arm and rushed her across the park.
“Look at this guy again and tell me if you remember him at all.” He held up his cell phone.
She took the phone, hoping her hand didn’t tremble. A tall, broad man wearing an expensive suit smiled on the screen. “That’s the businessman I saw with Lilly.”
“He was seen in town today.”
“I thought Lilly just said—”
“I know what she said. I was there, and that’s why I’m concerned. And he showed up in these parts the same time you did.”
“What exactly are you implying?” Heat flared in her gut. She clenched her hands behind her back.
“I’m not implying anything. I’m making an observation. We know he’s tied to George Charleston, who is bad news.”
“I don’t know either man.”
They walked in silence for the next few minutes. She smoothed down the front of her shorts, reining in her anger. But she wasn’t angry at Mason, though she might end up taking it out on him. That might be one way to end th
is relationship that shouldn’t have started in the first place.
By the time they got to her storefront, a fire truck and one police car were parked outside. Blaine talked to a group of kids, his long hair pulled back into a ponytail.
A woman holding a small boy and obviously pregnant waved from the street corner. Destiny recognized her as Carol, Scott’s wife and Mason’s ex-girlfriend.
Another reason she should hate the small town of Thief Lake, but she had actually grown to love it.
And Carol was nice too.
“Stick with Carol. I’ll be right back.” He waved and then took off at a jog.
Mason glanced over his shoulder. Carol and Destiny looked as though they were old friends. That eased the growing pit in the center of his gut. He hated the fact that he still felt like the woman he was falling madly in love with had a secret. He couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out why his instincts believed so wholeheartedly that Destiny was lying to him about something.
“How are things going with her?” Scott asked.
“Well enough.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re taking things slow,” Mason said.
“You don’t know the meaning of the word slow when it comes to women.” Scott slapped him on the shoulder. “I know you, man, and you’re in love with her.”
“I’ve only been dating her for a like a week. How is that even possible?” Only he knew for a fact that Scott was right.
“Because we’re talking about you. I’ve never known you to do anything half-assed.”
Blaine sauntered over to where Mason stood.
“Just the two businesses were tripped?” Mason asked Blaine, getting right down to business.
“The dog shelter went off three minutes before Destiny’s Dreams.”
“She never got a call from the security company,” Mason said, rubbing the back of his neck. They always called immediately, without fail, and that worried Mason. “Lilly said she was having problems with her system.”
