AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know, beyond Team Bree.”
“What did they say?”
“I stole you from your wife and broke up your happy family.”
“What the hell?” he snaps.
I look behind me. My mother’s head comes up, asking, “Is everything all right in there? Need help?”
“Yes, Mom. We have it covered.” I shake my head at the fury in Landon’s eyes. Not with my mother in hearing distance.
He takes my hand, leading me to the bedroom, closing the door. The first thing he does is take me in his arms, holding me. My hand comes around him, soaking in the warmth. Expelling a breath, a quiver runs the length of my body, and my lip trembles.
“Baby, don’t listen to them. They don’t know a thing about us.” I bite my lips and grunt, near tears. He runs his hand up my back. “Don’t do that, don’t let them do this.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve heard some of those things hurled at me, mostly behind my back. It’s been a while. It took me back to that place I don’t want to be.”
“I’m sorry about that. I should have been there with you. To protect you.”
“No. I know you would have, and you would have gotten yourself into trouble. Those women…said things. Things his family called me. Said I was destroying his life.”
“What!” He pulls back. “Those people are whacked-out-of-their-brains crazy, exactly like him. They should have been begging for your forgiveness for the son of a bitch they raised. He tore your life apart. They should have been brought up on charges along with him, for trying to defend that fucker.” The anger and hurt in his eyes is jarring but understood.
“Yeah, well, his sister contacted me through their family lawyer by letter, asking if they could see Jacob.”
“Tell me you threw that shit in the garbage.”
“I ripped it up as the last line was read.”
“Could they get visitation if they—”
“Hell, no.” I cut him off. They have no rights, and it’s going to stay that way.
He visibly relaxes, some of the anger fading from his tense muscle around me. “That’s good. Did you tell your mother or Shay?”
“That’s the last thing I would do. I don’t know what they’d do. I only know I don’t want Shay to get locked away. She would do anything to protect Jacob.”
“I know she would.” His hand moves across my cheek tenderly. “I’m sorry about those women. They had no right to say anything to you. I’ll fix it so it doesn’t happen again. I’ll talk to Bree.”
“No, don’t. I don’t want to put you in the middle of this.”
“Too late. I’m one of the reasons you’re almost in tears. They’re ruining time we should be spending together, happy with Jacob, and yes, even with your mother.” He somewhat smiles. “You should be smiling.”
“I was looking forward to today.” He squeezes my arm. “We can still make this evening happy.”
“I should have just sucked it up and not said anything.”
“Don’t ever do that. When something is bothering you, it bothers me. You always tell me. Got it?”
I nod my head, touched by how much he cares. He puts his hands on the side of my face, tilting my head up, staring into my eyes like he’s seeing inside me.
“Forget those women, Lace. They can’t be half the woman you are. If they only knew your strength, the beauty inside you.”
“Beauty inside, uh?”
“Yes. Beauty within.” He leans in, kissing me, soft but sure, stoking feelings in me no one can but him.
The shrill calls of a child right behind the door put a halt to the best part of my day. “Can I have a drink, please? Grandma said to ask you if it was okay.”
