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I’m still crying when there’s a knock on the door. Without thought, I rush to open it, in case Jordan’s asleep. Only I regret doing so because standing on the other side is none other than Pierce Adler…holding a present.
CHAPTER FOUR
PIERCE
Auburn hair.
Creamy skin.
Sexy freckles.
Sad emerald eyes.
I watch Kelsie run back onto Main Street from the fire station with her daughter in tow. I knew who she was yesterday when I paid for some of her groceries. It’s a small town, and people talk. She’s the single mom who’s renting Mrs. Jenson’s house. From what the women have said, she’s quiet and keeps to herself. She works at the café on the corner, “The Busy Bean,” and is polite but guarded. Her daughter is in the same class as my niece Tilly, but never participates in the functions or parties. People are curious about where the father is, but nobody’s dared to ask, and Kelsie’s never shared.
My daddy’s in heaven now…
In the three years since my ex and I broke up, I haven’t so much as glanced at a woman. I’ve been focusing on my career, my family, building my house, and telling myself I need time to get over the wreckage my ex left in her wake.
My parents said I’d know when I was healed and ready to move forward, and they were right. Because as I watch Kelsie and Jordan disappear down the street, it takes everything in me not to scoop them both up and take care of them.
Kelsie’s struggling, trying to make ends meet. Doing the best she can with what she’s got. And it’s clear, despite the lack of money and materialistic possessions, she’s a damn good mom. She’s giving her daughter everything she has to offer, but I want to provide them with more. Hell, I want to give them everything.
I was with Tanya for over seven years, and I refused to take the next step. Even though I’ve only known this woman and her daughter for a minute, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to make them mine.
It sounds crazy. I know it does. But I don’t care. Because I can feel it. My dad knew my mom was the one after their first date. They were engaged after two weeks, and they married a month later—and they’ve been happily married for over forty years. My dad always says, “When you know, you know.”
With Tanya, I knew… I knew it was all wrong. That we weren’t a good fit. I felt it—the disconnect. Something always felt off.
Now, I feel it again, only this time, it feels right. So damn right. I’ve heard my brothers talk about it, watched them experience it. The electricity. The connection. The accelerated breathing and pounding of the heart. But until now, I never understood it.
Now, I get it. I felt it the moment our eyes connected at the grocery store, and again while she was here at the station. I’m not going to waste a moment questioning it. Hell no. I’m going to chase it, embrace it, explore it. There’s a chance I might be wrong, but I’m going to find out.
“What’s got you looking like your head’s about to combust?” my brother Beckett asks, strolling into the station. He’s the Fire Chief—took over for our dad when he retired a few years ago—but he’s off duty this weekend for my niece’s birthday.
“A woman,” I tell him, not beating around the bush.
His eyes go wide at hearing those words out of my mouth. I was bitter after my breakup. Pissed that I left my home and job for Tanya. Luckily, I went with my gut and insisted we take shit slow, refusing to ask her to marry me. Tanya wasn’t thrilled, but I compromised by agreeing to give the city a chance.
Only a few short months after we were there, I caught her fucking the married attorney she was working for, and I knew I’d made the right decision. We fought, then she begged, cried, and swore it was only once and would never happen again. She even tried to blame me, saying I was working too many hours and not giving her enough attention, but there was nothing left for me to say but goodbye.
“Do I know this woman?” he asks.
“Nope, but you will,” I tell him with a smirk. “Because I’m going to make her mine.”
He barks out a laugh. “Well, I can’t wait to see this.”
“Daddy!” Tilly yells, running over from petting Cinder. “I need to go see grandma. I gotta get a present from her to give to my friend Jordan so she can come to my party.”
“That’s sweet of you,” I tell Tilly, damn proud of my niece for her big heart. “But you don’t need to do that. Jordan will be there tonight with a present.”
