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“Oh, great. So, what, you’re just going to cash in on all your favors for me, a total stranger? That’s too much.”
“It’s my decision,” he says. “All you have to do is let others take care of you and your girls for once. What have you got to lose?”
Not much at this point. He’s right, I need help. I need to keep my babies safe and fed while I rebuild my life. And if Kellan is willing to help me, why the hell not? I will need to find out what the conditions are, the details. I’m hoping there isn’t a catch, but even if there is, it can’t possibly be worse than freezing to death on the side of the road or having to deal with Daniel ever again. I shudder at the mere thought. And to think I was ready to give that man my whole life. For better and for… gah. Lies. All lies. I married a monster, and this is the price I have to pay.
Kellan takes Annie while I handle Miley as we make our way across the driveway and up the stairs leading to the front door of the mansion. We’re greeted by a tall man with dazzling blue eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.
“Avery, this is Luke,” Kellan says.
Luke gives me a polite nod, his gaze softening at the sight of my daughters sleeping soundly in our arms. “Welcome, Avery. Consider this your home for as long as you need it,” he says.
He’s in his mid-thirties, I’m guessing, much like Kellan and Fallon, and he is just as well-built. His jeans hug his muscular thighs, while his sweater is taut across his chest and shoulders. The term eye-candy comes to mind.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” I reply humbly. “We’ll be out of your hair in no time, I promise.”
“There’s absolutely no rush,” Luke says, a smile testing his lips. “Come on, let’s get the little ones to bed first, and then we can talk about what you need.”
Kellan gives me a quick wink. “I know where he keeps the good scotch.”
I smile as I follow the two men inside, although I struggle to breathe once I take in the enormity of this place. The foyer is huge, with an elegant marble floor and modern wood planks on the walls. There’s plenty ofnineteenth century art hanging everywhere, the gilded frames carrying subtle marks of the passage of time. Every side table features mother-of-pearl inlays, and there are Chinese-style vases everywhere, each loaded with an assortment of surprisingly beautiful and finely crafted faux flowers. As an interior decorator, I can’t help but register all these marvelous details.
We go up the stairs and down a dimly lit corridor in the west wing of the mansion. The girls’ room is decorated in a classic western style, with oak and walnut furniture, plaid patterns in shades of brown and green, and soft linen curtains hung over tall windows. There’s a bed big enough for both girls to comfortably sleep in, and as we settle them in together, I kiss each of my daughters on the forehead, breathing a sigh of relief.
“I have friends who come to visit occasionally,” Luke says as I carefully close the door behind me and join him and Kellan in the hallway. “Some of them have small children, so I’ve made sure I could provide them with all the comforts of home. As soon as Kellan called, I knew I’d be able to accommodate the three of you.”
“Again, I cannot thank you enough for this,” I reply.
“And again, please, don’t worry about it. We’ve got service staff coming in on a daily basis to clean and cook, so your girls will be well-looked after,” he says.
My heart is growing to the point where it feels as if it might explode. This really is too much, but I am too overwhelmed and exhausted to argue. Besides, I shouldn’t. I need to accept the kindness of strangers, just like Kellan said. So I offer a nod of appreciation and a soft smile. “They’ll be hungry when they wake up.” “We should call Helen,” Kellan tells Luke.
“Who’s Helen?” I ask as we make our way back down the stairs and into a lounge area on the ground floor.
“My aunt,” Kellan says. “She’d be happy to help and she’s an excellent babysitter.”
“Oh, I can’t afford a babysitter. I can look after my girls.”
The sheriff takes a seat in one of the massive leather armchairs by the window, pointing at the other one next to him. “Make yourself comfortable.”
“I’ll cover the babysitting expenses,” Luke says, walking over to a beautiful ebony cabinet with hand-painted doors. I notice a subtle limp as he moves, but he doesn’t seem to be in any kind of pain. It must be an old injury.
“Why on earth would you do that?” I ask, my breath faltering.
Luke gives me a sideways glance as he takes out three tumblers and a bottle of Laphroaig whiskey, bringing everything over to the coffee table in front of us. “Because you need some time for yourself,” he says. “Come on, Avery. I know enough about what you’ve been through to understand that you could use the respite. It doesn’t cost me much, and Kellan’s aunt could also use some paid work.”
“I’ll pay you back,” I insist.
“I’m not worried about that,” he says and pours a generous amount of whiskey in each glass. I’m immediately enthralled by the smokey fragrance that accompanies the dark amber liquid as it settles.
I shake my head. “I insist. I pay my own way,” I say stubbornly.
He nods and gives me a soft smile. “Alright, but until then, rest assured that all of your needs will be taken care of.”
I can’t help but question their generosity, though. I look over at Kellan. “Why are you all doing this?” I ask. “I mean, your brother is fixing my car. Your friend here is giving me a place to stay and food, not to mention a stiff and delicious glass of whiskey which, by the way, I’m probably gonna finish that bottle tonight. And you made all these calls on our behalf… why? I understand kindness and generosity, but it still feels like it’s over the top.”
“Avery, let me tell you a little story about us,” Kellan says, his gaze bouncing between Luke and me. His friend takes a seat on the couch, quietly sipping his whiskey as he watches us with curiosity. “Luke, Fallon, and I were Navy SEALs. Far from home, always in combat mode, always fighting and watching each other’s backs in the most hostile places on Earth. The three of us have been through unimaginable moments together and have come close to death more than once. Hell, we damn near lost Luke during our last mission.” He pauses and finishes his whiskey in one gulp, then pours himself another. “We’ve seen what violence does to innocent people. And we’ve seen what happens when those innocent people don’t get the help they need. So we made an oath upon returning to the states.”
“We swore to help those in need, no matter what,” Luke continues. “It costs us little to nothing to do it. It’s pennies, Avery, I promise. Barely a blip in the bank account.”
