The Richmond family dinner. Nate’s least favorite night of the month.

But it was a ritual that had yet to be broken in his three years with his girlfriend.

Sally came from a tight-knit family and every week, without fail, they got together for a family dinner. Whoever could make it showed up for a night of good-natured banter and interrupted conversation. They talked over each other, shared in-house jokes that had been running for years, and basically showed off, without even realizing it, how close they were.

Nate had agreed to try and make it at least once a month. He managed to find solid excuses to get out of all the other weeks. He would’ve tried to avoid every single one of them, but Sally’s blue-gray eyes made it impossible. She could put on a pair of puppy dog eyes like no one else he knew…and because she didn’t use them very often, they got him every single time.

Slowing his Harley Davidson to negotiate the corner, Nate drove them to the Richmond mansion.

It wasn’t officially a mansion, but Nate always thought of it that way. It was palatial, with two open living spaces, a kitchen with shiny black countertops that practically sparkled, six bedrooms, and a polished granite-tile entrance that made the place feel more like a museum than a home.

Michael Richmond had accumulated his wealth in construction, starting small with high-end houses that couldn’t be matched for quality. His business exploded at a time when the economy was rich and booming, and he soon shifted into property development, with a focus on building subdivisions, luxury apartments, and then branching off into hotels too. He now owned a nationwide real estate development company that made money from coast to coast. The guy could’ve retired at forty-five, when he moved his family to Aspen Falls, but he wasn’t prepared to leave the business completely. Instead he set up a Richmond Construction office in Aspen Falls and left the running of the rest of his company to his trusted directors, whom he kept in close contact with online and through business trips. The move to the peaceful town of Aspen Falls was entirely to do with his family, and so he’d spent the last thirteen years improving the town, not just with homes, but with development projects that ran the gamut. Nate had to give the guy that. He cared about their little town, and most of the projects they’d worked on were for the benefit of the people, not his pockets.

The engine rumbled beneath Nate as he accelerated down the last stretch of road. It was a quiet, tree-lined street, and the Richmonds lived right at the end of the cul-de-sac. It was such a large property it was like their own little world, hidden behind wrought iron gates and a stone wall that protected them. From what, Nate was never sure, but he’d kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t the most popular person in their lives, and he didn’t want to make things harder for Sally.

Her arms were snaked tight around his torso. He’d never get sick of that feeling. Sally on his Harley was the sexiest thing on the planet. He loved her arms around him, the way she snuggled in and made him feel like the most important man in the world.

Decelerating, he cruised through the open gates and parked between Xavier’s Audi and Annabelle’s Mini Cooper. Sally’s siblings knew how to buy ’em nice.

The most expensive thing he owned was his Harley, which he’d saved years for, finally treating himself on his twenty-fifth birthday. He was pretty sure Annabelle woke up one morning, decided she wanted a Mini Cooper, and so just went out and bought one.

Nate snickered and pulled off his helmet, glancing over his shoulder to catch Sally’s smile. She had the world’s best smile. It was like moonlight reflecting off a still lake, like fairy lights sparkling against an old barn wall. She fluffed her blonde locks back into place, winking at him as she placed the helmet behind her. He held her arm to steady her as she got off the bike, then leaned in to peck her glossy lips. How could he resist?

She made a sound of appreciation and draped her arms over his shoulders, deepening the kiss like she always did. Desire stirred in his belly, but was quickly tempered by a loud throat clearing from the front door.

“I see you brought your bike,” Michael called to him. “Sally’s car not good enough for you guys?”

Sally laughed and walked into his embrace. “Oh, please, Daddy. Nate’s bike is way cooler than my car. It’s a gorgeous, clear day. The weather’s warming up. Of course we were bringing the bike.”

Michael let the comment slide, but the sharp look he shot Nate over Sally’s shoulder said it all. I hate you driving my precious baby around on that thing!

Nate looked to the ground, pocketing his keys and rallying himself for a night of silent disapproval. Her family had never really warmed to him. When Sally first brought him into their precious fold, reserved was the mildest way to describe their behavior. Time had only strengthened that feeling, turning it from reserved curiosity to tight-lipped resignation. He didn’t know what he’d done to offend or annoy them, but he wasn’t about to let Sally go just because they didn’t like him.

As long as she was happy for him to stick around, then that’s exactly what he’d do.

With his arm protectively around his daughter, Michael Richmond led her inside, Sally chatting about her work week. She’d just come off four back-to-back night shifts at the hospital and always had some decent stories to tell. Her father’s pride bloomed to blinding as they left Nate standing in the driveway.

He wondered what that felt like—to have a parent’s undivided attention. He hadn’t had that feeling since he was five years old, and it was hard to remember.

“Hey, asshole.” A firm hand slapped his shoulder before sauntering by.

Nate glared at the back of Xavier’s head as Sally’s little brother walked through the front door. The twenty-three-year-old, so desperate to be suave and charming like his father, glanced over his shoulder and shot Nate a half grin. He’d never pull it off. He may have owned the Richmond looks—fine, chiseled features, perfectly styled hair and expensive clothing—but the guy had too many clown-like tendencies to ever be as elegant as Michael. He sure as hell wanted to be, though. Nate didn’t understand why. He liked Xavier. Out of the Richmond family, he was the most tolerant of Nate. Yes, he called him ‘asshole’ rather than using his real name, but it kind of felt like acceptance in some weird way.

Nate sighed and followed Xavier into the house. Taking off his boots, he lined them up next to the shoe rack and glanced at the Grant Wood painting on the wall—vibrant greens and rounded trees, which made him feel like he could step right into the countryside. It was an original. Xavier had proudly boasted that fact the day it arrived at the house for Yvonne’s birthday two years earlier.

Sally screamed.

Nate jolted to attention, adrenaline coursing through him as he subconsciously reached for the weapon that wasn’t even attached to his belt. Thankfully no one saw his reaction. They were too busy laughing.

Nate padded to the living room archway in time to see Sally jumping into Emmett’s arms. Her eldest brother was obviously home on leave. His muscly arms wrapped around Sally as he lifted her off the floor. She giggled against him and kissed his cheek.

“It’s so good to see you! When did you get back?” She grinned up at him.

“This morning.”

She slapped his arm playfully. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were coming home!”

“It’s only for a few weeks.”

The smile on Sally’s face dimmed. “You’re doing another tour?”

“Not yet, but I’m due back at the base.” The tall Marine kissed her forehead, then glanced across the room at Nate.

Nate raised his hand in a half wave, but the gesture wasn’t reciprocated. With a resigned sigh, he spun toward the kitchen and found Yvonne Richmond wiping down the counter.

“Hello, Nate.” She gave him a polite smile.

It wasn’t what he wished for, but it was better than the silent looks of disapproval. Sometimes he wanted to scream in their faces, “What? What have I done wrong?”

But he didn’t need to.

He already knew the answer.

To them, he would never be good enough for their precious Sally.

He understood.

She was pure gold. No one would ever be good enough for her, but she’d chosen him and whether it was selfish or not, he wasn’t about to let her go.

“So, you’re not working today?” Yvonne pulled a beer from the fridge and popped the cap.

He took the cold bottle with a grateful smile. “Nope. All is quiet.”

“Well, that’s good. Let’s hope it stays that way.” Her tight expression told him there was more to the comment. She was silently trying to convey something, but he couldn’t figure it out.

Did they hate that he was a cop? Was that it?

Did he not work hard enough for their liking?

Gritting his teeth, he looked away and took a swig of beer, unable to help glancing at the clock on the wall. Only three hours to go.

“Hey, baby.” Sally’s arm glided around his waist. He encircled her shoulders and pulled her close. It was the most natural thing in the world. Resting his lips on the top of her head, he breathed her in and reminded himself why he put up with all of the Richmond bullshit.

Because he loved Sally.

Because she was the best thing that had happened to him since his mother was taken.

As his girlfriend started a speed-talking chat with her mother, Nate thought back to his own beautiful mom. She was like a warm breeze in the summer—both a relief and a comfort. Something to make him smile no matter what mood he was in.

He could remember the way his hand felt nestled inside hers. She’d squeeze it as they walked, singing him silly songs and encouraging him to join in. He’d start to jump over cracks in the pavement, and she would too.

“If you step on a crack, you marry a rat.” She’d giggle when he said that, and then turn the phrase into a song.

She was fun and light and laughter.

And then she was dead.

It only took thirty seconds.

They were skipping across the zebra crossing, jumping from one white line to the next when the car came out of nowhere.

She squeezed his hand.

She gasped.

Then he was shoved forward.

He would never forget the sting of the concrete scraping his hands and knees. The sound of crunching glass.

He spun back, trying to figure out what was going on, and stared in horror as his mother’s body flew through the air. She landed like a boneless rag doll, her legs and arms at funny angles.

“Mommy?” He crawled to her, unaware of the people rushing out of stores to help them. “Mommy!”

Her head was covered with blood. It smeared her porcelain skin and soaked into her golden hair. She stared up at the blue sky, refusing to look at him when he cried her name and shook her. Blood trickled down her cheeks—metallic red tears that marred her perfect face. Her skull was dented at the top. As he lifted her head and laid it on his lap, he squinted down the street, trying to see the black car that had taken his mommy away.

But it was gone.

She was gone.

And his life was over.