~~~~~~~

Just as I thought it would be, living with Raegan was as easy as breathing. I told her two weeks ago that she and I just worked and it was as simple as that. Those words couldn't have been truer, because we seemed to mesh so easily. It didn't hurt that Kate and Braden were as happy as two kids could be.

Although I returned to work—albeit reluctantly—I was shocked to realize how much I looked forward to returning home every afternoon. Raegan made my house a home and a place I wanted to be as much as I possibly could. Kate greeted me every afternoon as if she hadn't seen me in four years and it pulled on my heartstrings, not knowing if that was a good or bad thing. I continually tried to make a big deal out of coming home to her so she would know I would never go anywhere. I also had to tell Jace that I couldn’t travel anymore, but he seemed to be prepared for that so we began working toward moving me to a more permanent, finance-only position.

Quinn’s mom came into town this week, and tonight she asked if she and Jace’s mother could watch all the grandkids. Raegan was fluttering around the house nervously when I returned from dropping off Kate and Braden. Those two couldn't have been more excited to hang out with their cousins, as they called them. In fact, I’d barely gotten any hugs when I was saying goodbye. They were too preoccupied helping” with the babies.

The reason I’d taken them solo was that Raegan was supposed to be getting ready for our night out with everyone. When I arrived back at the house, her long hair was curled in loose mahogany waves, which I loved, and she had taken off the t-shirt and cotton shorts she’d worn all day. As I stood in the kitchen, she sauntered in wearing her bra and panties and reached into the cabinet for a glass. I watched her calves flex as she stood up on her tiptoes and then continued staring as she moved toward the dispenser on the refrigerator. When some of the water splashed her stomach, her ass pushed back and I became instantly hard. God, literally everything she did turned me on.

“House is empty,” I stated, hoping she would catch on—fast.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” she responded, while leaning her bare hip against the counter and sipping her water. “It’s too quiet.”

“Yeah, but we’re all alone. We’ve never been alone. I hear that when you’re a parent and you find yourself alone, you should definitely take advantage.” I smirked at her.

“Is that what they say, huh?” She smiled coyly and sat her glass down. I stalked across the kitchen toward her and grabbed her hips in my hands.

“I don’t make the rules,” I whispered into her ear and started to nibble slowly.

I growled when her hands ran up the side of my face and into my hair. She knew that drove me crazy when she did that— it made me feel so fucking wanted. Her lips met mine before I could move them further down her jaw. I pushed her against the counter and pressed my hands to her back soothingly so I could unsnap her bra.

“Right here, in the kitchen?” she laughed. “The blinds are open.”

“Right here in the kitchen,” I hummed against her lips. My fingers tweaked her nipples and she moaned while pushing them closer to me. I picked her up effortlessly, sat her on the edge of the counter, and moved between her thighs.

“Damn, I want you so bad,” I couldn’t stop myself from admitting.

“Mmm,” she let slip from her lips. Her nails grazed my scalp and then she pulled my face closer to hers. “Can we do that new thing from last night?”

Straight to my cock. That’s where her words struck me. “Tell me exactly which part was your favorite. I want to hear your saucy mouth,” I murmured, moving my hands toward her lace panties.

Before she could respond, three sharp knocks pounded the front door. I leaned my forehead against her shoulder and pretended that I hadn’t heard anything. Her hands began shoving at mine before I could finish my current task.

“Lane, the door!” she whispered, as if whatever asshole was at our door could actually hear us.

“Dammit, who the hell is that?” I groaned. Stepping away from her delectable body, I clenched my fists open and shut.

As I was moving away from her, she reached out to grab my shoulder. I looked up at her in question, and she cleared her throat while pointedly looking down at my crotch. I had a huge situation between my legs that my gym shorts were not concealing. Of course I fucking did! I was seconds away from thrusting inside of my girl. Sorry, buddy. I regrettably adjusted myself up into my waistband and concealed the bulge as much as I could with my t-shirt.

“Do not get dressed. I’ll get rid of whoever this is,” I seethed.

She hopped off the counter as I dragged my feet toward the front door. I took a deep breath and tried to reel in my temper before I bit off our visitor’s head. When I opened the door, some dude a few years younger than me stood on my porch, appearing way too damn impatient. As soon as he saw me, he started to peer around my shoulder, trying to look in my house.

“Yeah?” That was as nice I could get. My dick was in the waistband of my shorts and my girl was probably naked on my bed. This guy had better beat feet.

“Raegan Hayes here?” he asked. At the mention of her name, I immediately started to take him in. Who the hell was this?

“Can I help you?” I bit out.

“Yeah, by getting Raegan for me.”

“Not your servant. Tell me who you are and I’ll think about getting my girl.”

Your girl?” He faltered backward and I immediately locked up.

“You’re on my porch, man. I think you can show some respect and let me know who the hell you are.”

“Name’s Adam,” he spouted off, while continuing to look around my body. He had an accent that sounded like he was from Jersey, or at least he was trying to sound like he was from there. My inner New York cop wanted to come out and interrogate this douchebag. I already didn’t like where this was going. “Ree Ree!” he shouted past me.

“Get off my porch, asshole,” I growled. From behind me I heard a gasp and the shuffling of feet. I stepped inside and shut the door on my foot, letting it stay open only a crack. Raegan was barreling toward me and her eyes were as wide as a deer about to be struck by an oncoming eighteen-wheeler.

“Whoa, baby.” I held my hands out to stop her. “If you think for one second I’m about to let your fine, NAKED ass out this door, you’re sadly mistaken.”

She looked down at her body and gasped, apparently realizing she was almost completely exposed. She dashed down the hall and returned with a cotton dress thrown haphazardly over her head. I didn't like how quickly she was trying to get out there to see this guy.

“Ree Ree?” I asked her in a hoarse whisper, as she ran on bare feet back toward me.

“You’re mad?” she breathed. She lifted her hands up to my chest and I loved the warmth that poured out through my thin shirt.

“Never at you, babe.”

“I just need to know why he’s here. Please, just let me talk to him. Alone.” Her voice was small, but it was also final. There was that word again… alone. Except this time it didn't include me.

“I don’t like this,” I admitted. Maybe to anyone else this would seem as if I was being a possessive caveman, but our situation wasn’t normal. She had been kidnapped, for Christ’s sake. I think my feelings were justified. Now someone from her past life was here—in Texas—and all of my protective instincts were lighting up. I wanted to grab Raegan, go get our kids, and keep them all within my sight.

“I don’t either, but he’s harmless…” She waved it off as if she really believed her words.

“I’ll be on the other side of this door. That’s as alone as I can let you be. Please, don’t push it, Rae.” I straightened her dress for her, pulled it up higher to cover her cleavage, and looked into her blazing green eyes—the very eyes that I had come to enjoy seeing open every morning and close every night. No one was going to take that away from me.

She moved for the door and I leaned in to kiss her forehead, right over her scar. I didn't mean to remind her it was there, but it was my comfort that she was actually here. She rubbed her fingers over it self-consciously and shut the door behind her.

RAEGAN -

Shit, shit, shit, shit! When Lane and I had been interrupted in the kitchen, the last person I ever imagined would be at our front door was Adam. Adam Murphy aka Braden’s father. Even though he didn't deserve that title.

I could tell that Lane didn't know who he was yet; he just didn’t appreciate the attitude I have no doubt Adam gave him. Adam had nothing on Lane—literally, nothing. His build was scrawny compared to Lane, and not once had he ever looked at me as if I rose and set the sun all on my own, which was basically the way Lane looked at me on a daily basis.

There had been a time when I would have followed Adam anywhere. I knew he was an extreme gambler and he set off on trips to Vegas constantly. If at any point he would have asked for Braden and me to come with him, I would have. I would have dropped anything for Adam. I was also nineteen and an idiot.

I thought Adam had been just as crazy about me as I had been about him. He was always showering me with gifts and showing up wherever I was to surprise me. I wouldn't hear from him for a week or more, and then he would pull this big romantic gesture and I would melt at his feet. Looking back, it had all been so childish.

Then, I found out I was pregnant. I made the mistake of telling him right before we went in to see a movie, but I just couldn’t hold it in anymore and he had been off to God-knows-where the previous four days. At first, his reaction seemed totally normal. He was speechless. A tight smile stretched across his face and he grabbed my hand. I knew that he would need time to process the news.

When he excused himself halfway through the movie to go to the restroom, I clearly remembered a sinking feeling in my stomach the second he turned out of my sight. I made myself wait a full five minutes, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. The restrooms were empty. Yeah, I checked. He ditched me, changed his number, and moved. I had never known someone to be so desperate to disappear.

Of course I would have preferred some help, but I was okay with it being just Braden and me. Adam had come back around at one point wanting to talk, and begrudgingly I’d agreed to meet up with him. Turned out, I didn’t make it to that little reunion because I’d been kidnapped. And then it was just Braden, Kate, and I. Now we had Lane, and I didn't want any newcomers to mess things up. I was happy. Braden was happy. Why was Adam here? And now in Texas, of all places. Guess I was about to find out.

I stepped out onto the porch and looked up into his eyes, cringing when I saw them. I had forgotten how they were an identical match to Braden’s. Braden had my naturally tan coloring and brown, almost black hair, but he also had Adam’s brilliant golden eyes. Looking at Adam’s eyes was like viewing Braden twenty years down the road. My throat choked up at the idea.

Adam looked me over and gasped when he’d finally made a full perusal. “Your head, Ree Ree.” His hand moved to gently brush down the side of my face and I knew he was touching my scar. That damn ugly scar—I would never be able to cover it up. The only reason it was starting to not bother me was that Lane seemed to adore it.

“Don’t call me that, Adam, I never liked it,” I whispered. His hand made me instantly uncomfortable.

Before I could swat it away, the door swung open and Lane’s bulky figure stepped out behind mine. “Hands down if you want keep them attached to your body.” His eerie calm yet menacing voice demanded compliance. I turned to see him looking intently at Adam’s face and saw the moment realization hit him. Stepping further into Lane’s body, I hoped to tamp down the emotions bubbling out of him.

“You’re Braden’s sperm donor?” he growled. I wanted to chuckle at that.

“Dad,” Adam corrected. “I’m his dad and Ree—” He caught himself from saying my old nickname. “Raegan and I go way back.”

“Oh, I’ve heard. I know all about your disappearing act. Where were you when they went missing? You sure as hell weren’t looking for them. You sure as hell weren’t talking to police. We didn't know a damn thing about you.” Lane tried to step closer to Adam, but I braced myself and tried to hold back as much of his weight as I could manage. “Better yet, where were you when your son was born?”