NO MATTER WHAT I said, Coby didn’t believe me. Even with his ring on my finger, he still didn’t seem convinced that I was his. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes when he thought I wasn’t looking. I hoped, no, I prayed that after this weekend away with each other, that his doubt would change.

I loved him. I would spend the rest of my life with him. The ring on my finger proved that. But I wasn’t a fancy girl. I meant what I said when I told him he could have proposed with a piece of string and I would have accepted it. I would have worn it proudly.

“That’s the place we’re staying,” Coby said, squeezing my knee.

I followed his gaze and saw a beautiful house not too far off in the distance in front of us.

“Really? It’s huge,” I sat forward, taking in the sight before me. The house sat on a small hill. It had a modern, but rustic, feel to it. The window shutters were a robin’s egg blue while the brick of the house was a deep red. “I thought bed and breakfasts were smaller houses where people just opened up their bedrooms for the public.”

“In some cases, yes, but I did some research,” Coby handed me his phone. “The website about the place said that the woman who owns this property lost her husband to cancer a couple years ago.”

“That’s sad,” I said, checking out the pictures of the mansion.

“He left her with a small fortune and this big house, so she decided to share its beauty and open up a Bed and Breakfast. It has about fifteen rooms that are rented out to the public. She lives there as does all the staff, except for the people who maintain the grounds. Apparently, this house had been in her husband’s family for over a few hundred years. There’s quite a bit of history there.”

“That’s incredible. Thank you for this, Coby,” I kissed his cheek. “How far is Hope Town from here?”

“A couple of miles. We’re headed there now because you, beautiful girl, have a hair appointment.”

I grinned. “What, you don’t like this mop of curls?”

Coby smirked, rubbing the scruff on his jaw. “Just don’t get it cut too short. I need something to be able to hold onto while I’m fucking you from behind.”

“Geeze, Porter,” I shivered. “Way to leave nothing to the imagination.”

He laughed, the sound booming through the inside of the SUV.

My smile grew. This was the side of Coby I fell in love with. The dark, possessive man that came along with it was delicious as hell, but this fun, carefree part of him was what I lived for. Knowing I was the only one who ever saw it, I wrapped my arms around it and held it dear to my heart.

“What?” he asked, a moment later.

“Nothing.” I couldn’t help but stare at him. He was perfection. He was mine.

 

(Coby)

 

“You’re back.”

I jumped, again, at the deep voice coming from only a few feet away. I stood from the chair in the waiting room at Corps Security and locked eyes with Axel. Two other men stood on either side of him. One was a beast and one was younger than both of them.

“I am,” was all I could say.

“You’re nervous,” one of the men I hadn’t seen before, said.

“Fine,” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I am. I just proposed to my girl this morning. Thank fuck she said yes. She’s getting her hair done at Sway’s and I’m here wondering what the hell I’m doing.”

“Sway’s a good guy. My daughter works there,” Axel said. “Your fiancée is in good hands. But that doesn’t explain why you keep snooping around our place. You got a problem, son?”

“No. Yes. Fuck. I don’t know.”

The larger of the three men grinned. “The name is Greg Cage,” he stuck his hand out. “You remind me of our kids.” He nods to the third man.

Axel grunted.

“Everyone younger than you reminds you of us, old man,” the younger guy between them joked.

“Axel, you deal with this while I deal with Cohen.” Cage gripped the back of the guy’s neck and led him down the hall.

“Family?” I asked Axel once we were alone.

“Yes,” came his cold reply. “Now I don’t know what you want but this shit has to end.”

“Listen, I usually make smarter decisions than this but that boy, Zachary Brenson…I need to know where he is.”

“Why?” Axel crossed his arms under his broad chest.

“Some shit happened in my life about six months ago. If it wasn’t for my fiancée, I’d probably be dead or neck deep in a bottle, but she saved me and I think that boy could…I just want to meet him. That’s it.” Even if I wasn’t allowed that, I wanted to find out more about him. I needed to know what happened to the step monster who potentially destroyed his life.

“Fine,” Axel walked around the receptionist’s desk. “How long are you staying in town?”

“Until Sunday. I brought my fiancée here to celebrate. She’s never been to a club before so I’m taking her to Dirty Dog tonight. I want to give her the whole Hope Town experience.” Fuck me, I was rambling. I didn’t ramble. Ever. Why the hell did this guy make me nervous?

“What are you hoping to gain by meeting Zachary?”

Raking a hand through my hair, I gave a small shrug of my shoulders. “Honestly, I have no fucking idea. Something about his story calls out to me I guess. It doesn’t make sense. Hell, I shouldn’t even be talking to you about this. I don’t talk to anyone but my woman.”

Axel chuckled. “Yeah, I know how that is.”

“My fiancée and I have been through a lot, together and apart. I think Zach could be that…glue we need.”

“Are you wanting to adopt him?” Axel sat, his hard stare boring into mine.

“I want to meet him first and then whatever happens,” I let out a slow sigh. “Happens.”