Glancing at the thick low clouds in the sky made me feel anxious. Gibson was airborne and on his way back from Chicago to Breckenridge, Colorado and the weather was closing in. Gibson had thought ahead when we were building the retreat and we were fortunate to have our own runway on the far side of the hill. It was only a five-minute drive down our private road to home once he landed.

It wasn’t the flight that bothered me. For some reason I’d been filled with anxiety since the previous night. When Jonny his personal protection guy and close friend called to tell me the time they’d land I figured Gibson was busy, but when he didn’t call me himself like he usually did I decided to call him before they set off.

Nothing except a dire emergency kept him from making that normal call like he always did when he’d stayed away so the fact he’d got Jonny to call set alarm bells ringing immediately. Hearing the tone in his voice and the curt way he’d spoken to me during that three minute call gave me the indication I wasn’t wrong.

Call it instinct but we were so attuned I always knew whenever there was trouble brewing in our lives so when I asked him straight out if there was a problem, he’d deflected the question with one of his own. A minute later he concluded the call because he said being on his cell was preventing them from taking off.

All afternoon my mind wandered back to how Gibson had changed the subject and it gnawed at me until I felt an ache in my stomach and by nightfall my eyes were trained for the jet lights breaking through the sky as he headed for home. Waiting like that was like waiting for a pan of water to boil so I stood up and turned my back on the window to encourage him to land quicker.

We were so lucky with our cabin in the mountains. It was only two miles from the retreat but on the same three thousand acreage we owned. I headed downstairs from my bedroom and found Piper sitting in front of the fire in the great room. Her knees tucked beneath her skirt and pulled up to her chest. She looked so vulnerable and the sight of her tugged at my heartstrings.

“Everything okay, honey?”

Slowly her head turned and even in the low light of the fire at dusk I recognized the devastation on her face. “Yeah…just thinking.”

Moving to her quickly I dropped to my knees, “I know everything feels raw for you right now and you’re completely lost but Gibson and I are here for you, Piper. When Gibson comes home we’ll sit down and figure out some routines for you to help you through this terrible time. We know we can never replace your mom honey, but we’ll make you feel as wanted as we can. You are wanted…sometimes things happen for a reason. Some almost break us but others make us who we become. Both Gibson and I are testament to that.”

Tucking her cuff in her fingers she wiped her eyes with her sleeves. “I know. You don’t know how lucky I feel that we found you guys, and at the same time I feel terrible feeling lucky after what happened to my mom. I fucking hate that Colin. If only she’d never—”

“You don’t have to tell me how angry you are. Everything you’re thinking about him I’ve had the same thoughts about someone I once knew too…but that was a lifetime ago. Trust me, Piper, don’t allow yourself to become bitter and twisted about the man who doesn’t deserve your time. Focus on being what your mom wanted for you instead. It will be the best feeling in the world when you stick two fingers up to the man who tried to control you.”

Piper cast a sideward glance, wiped her nose with a tissue, and sniffed, “You’re so wise. I can see how you became a therapy person.”

“I’m not a therapist, Piper. I’m a survivor just like you are. I speak from experience and the best advice I can give you is to focus on what’s positive and ignore the doubts in your head. According to your mom you could be anything you want to be in life. She believed in you that much. Prove her right. Choose what you want and go after it. Nail it and then when you have we’ll find Colin and make him choke on your success.”

A soft giggle left her throat temporarily lightening her mood and it was music to my ears. “Boy, remind me not to piss you off, Chloe, you sound like you got this whole retribution thing down.”

I began to laugh when I heard the jet engines drawing closer and my attention was diverted. “Gibson’s coming home, I’m just going to see if dinner’s almost ready. You may want to go wipe that mascara streak that’s running over your nose before our rock star arrives.”

Piper gave me a genuine smile, “Thanks, Chloe. I mean it. I don’t know where I’d be without you and Gibson.”

“Don’t thank us yet, Piper, you haven’t lived with us,” I joked and turned toward the kitchen.

* * *

Less than fifteen minutes later, Gibson walked through the door and the air in the house shifted with his presence. “Chloe darlin’, where are you?” he called out from the hallway.

Glancing at the huge glass oven dish of lasagne in my hands I quickly placed it on the black granite worktop and made my way toward him. I didn’t get very far before he stepped forward closing the space and scooped me into his chest. Giving me a crushing hug he eyed my mouth, smiled and kissed me passionately. I stifled a moan and pulled away because Piper was around.

“Damn you taste good, darlin’,” he muttered in a raspy voice against my mouth as I tried to even out my breathing and heartrate. “Missed you, darlin’.” The look of longing in his eyes made my legs weak.

“Missed you too, baby. Are you hungry?”

Gibson’s grey eyes grew darker, his pupils dilating as lust filled his dirty mind as he let his eyes roam leisurely over my body. “Always,” he answered, his eyes widening slightly as he served me a cocky smirk.

Piper came into view before I could reply so I cleared my throat, made my way back around the countertop, and tried to concentrate on the food. I squeezed my thighs together because Gibson had turned me on and his continued presence made my bones melt.

Even after all the time we’d been together there wasn’t a day that went past when I hadn’t stared in wonder at how amazing he looked. Dark hair, piercing grey eyes, and lips that could satisfy me for days at a time.

Oblivious as to the effect he’d had on me he began to talk to Piper, his charming, charismatic ways oozing effortlessly as he put her at her ease and drew smiles to her lips even in her grief. Distracted I took the time to study how fabulous a person Gibson was. I was so lucky because I was one of the few who saw the man behind the rock star image his public saw.

When Gibson cleared his deep voice, it startled me back to their conversation but my eyes were still trained on his beautiful face. He’d only been gone a day but I’d missed him terribly. He smirked knowingly at my mind wandering and winked before he turned and moved away, “Just gonna wash my hands darlin’, food smells amazing I’ll be right back,” he called over his shoulder. My eyes followed his tall muscular back like one of his fans until he walked out of sight.

My man was a drop-dead-knock-out-gorgeous Rock God and although he was confident in his appearance he had no real idea of his true effect on both women and men. I believed it was perfectly within his capability to make any woman drop their panties or to turn most men gay had that been his sexual preference. Luckily for me it wasn’t.

Of course, being a lead singer in a top tier band like M3rCy Gibson knew he could have any woman he wanted. Offers came in droves. I think at one time he tried to take up as many as he could, but after a time for some strange reason he set his mind on me.

For a long time I had found that impossible to believe because I was definitely plain Jane and he really was ‘All That’, but he came after me when I couldn’t believe that possible. Ever since I’d managed to see past his legacy and focused on the man underneath I’d learned he was a generous, honest, and humble man. When I accepted that as fact I knew I could never trust anyone else to the depth that I trusted Gibson.

Making my way to the table I set the lasagne down and wandered back to the oven to grab the garlic bread. Gibson came alongside and swept my hair to the side exposing my neck. “You may wanna put that hot dish back,” he murmured in my ear before trailing his tongue down my neck. Dragging it back he gripped my hair and extended my face toward him. “Kiss me,” he demanded.

Conscious that Piper was at the table I pressed my lips to his and whispered, “Piper is watching.”

“So I can’t kiss my wife when I come home from work because my new daughter is watching me?” The way he said it I wondered if it was a joke until he turned and glanced at Piper. “You want me to pussyfoot around you or make you feel like the part of the family you now are?” he asked.

Piper smirked her face turning red and stuttered a reply, “I’d rather see a couple kissing and being affectionate any day of the week than what I experienced at home.”

Gibson immediately dropped his hands from me and I watched him tense. His fists balled as he strode around the counter and stared directly at Piper. “Sweetheart, you’re mine now. Anyone who comes near you will have to come through me. And trust me—that’s not gonna be a fucking issue. I got you.”

Instinct fired Gibson’s protective side and my heart raced with his bold statement about keeping Piper safe. He’d given her mother her dying wish to keep her daughter out of harm’s way when took her into our care. As soon as we laid Piper’s Mom in the ground Gibson’s attitude shifted from that of advisor to parent seamlessly and it had made my heart squeeze with pride when I saw how seriously he had taken his new role.

Piper’s eyes filled with tears, so I called her to help me by placing the water jug and wine on the table to give her the chance to collect herself then we all sat down and Gibson began helping us dish up the food.

Minutes later we were all eating silently and it struck me we’d never had such a quiet dinner with no conversation. My gaze turned to Gibson and I could tell by the way he was eating he had something big on his mind. I mulled over whether to bring it up while Piper was at the table but then I remembered what Gibson said and figured if Piper was really going to be treated as one of us then that should start from the word go.

“Alright, out with it. Gibson Barclay, I know you. What’s bugging you? Don’t tell me there’s nothing because I don’t like liars.”

“Have I ever lied to you?” he asked his eyebrow raised in question with his fork poised near his mouth.

“No, but there’s always a first time,” I replied.

Gibson scowled, “You know me better than that, darlin’,” he replied and began poking his food on his plate with his fork.

“I do. That’s why I know there’s a bug up your ass. So are you gonna tell me?”

Gibson’s eyes darted to Piper then back to me. Pain shot through them and the only other times I’d seen that look was when he felt helpless and something had hurt me. He glanced to Piper and I saw he wasn’t ready to have this conversation.

An uneasy feeling washed over me, spurring my heart rate to spike, because from the look that passed between us it was clear whatever he was holding back was serious.

Searching his face I couldn’t believe for one second he’d cheated on me. We were solid as a couple. Weren’t we? A silent conversation happened between us right there at the table and I knew from the fleeting plea in his eyes it was something he had no control over.

Infidelity wasn’t the issue. Wracking my brain while I looked for clues I noted a lack in his usual masculine confidence. Normally Gibson exuded his alpha male trait without even being aware of it. I couldn’t allow myself to think too hard about that because my confidence was easily dented when it came to loving a man like Gibson.

Our mood must have been more overt than we thought because Piper slid her chair back and began putting the plates in a pile on top of hers.

“Leave it, honey. Gibson and I will do it. Go relax in the den we’ll be in there shortly.”

“Actually, I’m pretty tired, Chloe, if you don’t mind I’m going to get an early night. I haven’t been sleeping that well, but I think tonight I just may be able to do that.”

Gibson stood and stepped away from his chair rounded the table and pulled her into a hug. Leaning back he looked at her with affection. “I know it’s really tough for you right now. Tomorrow we’ll get some plans together and at least you’ll be able to form some kind of routine. It’ll help to know what’s coming day to day until you feel more in control of your feelings.”

Seeing the way she had the confidence to sag against his chest was important. It made me understand how clear her dependence was on us and how Gibson’s words had comforted her. Scraping my chair back against the wooden floor I stood and stepped forward. Piper left Gibson’s arms and walked into mine.

Piper squeezed me tightly. I heard her swallow hard before she pulled back and gave me a watery smile. Her mouth quivered as her tears brimmed and in barely a whisper she muttered, “Thank you.” I patted her back, releasing her from my hold as both Gibson and I stood quietly as she left the kitchen.

The second she’d gone Gibson began clearing the table and I placed my hand over his. “No. Later. Whatever it is you have to tell me I want to know now.”

Looking solemnly into my eyes Gibson swallowed, nodded slowly and closed his eyes. When he opened them again he took a deep breath, grabbed my hand tight and led me into the great room. Spinning me slowly into position he sat down gently on the sofa with me.

From the way he’d taken care to make me comfortable I knew the news was bad. His gesture fueled my apprehension. Panic rose in my chest and the only thing that helped me was whatever he had to say was difficult for him.

“Chloe, darlin’ you know how much I love you, right? I’ll never give you cause to question that.” Gibson usually never cared about tact when he had something to say. He’d always been forthright and unfiltered, especially when he was frustrated or angry about something and that was definitely the vibe he was giving me at the time. Instead of reassuring me the way he was struggling to tell me and the way he was treading carefully only made me fear the worse.