Legacy by M.A. Foster
_____________________________
Katie
“Imissed you this morning,” Dylan murmurs into the phone.
It’s Saturday already, and I had a list of things I needed to get done. I left Dylan’s apartment early this morning and stopped by Hazel’s for a coffee—and of course I bought myself a new mug. This one says “Classy but I Cuss a Little.” I literally laughed out loud when I saw it.
“I knew if I didn’t get my ass up and out of there, I’d end up blowing off another day of responsibilities,” I admit. “I’m rewarding myself with a soak in my jacuzzi pool.”
“Did you get a lot done today?” he asks.
I lift my leg out of the water and inspect the dark red polish on my toes. “I did, actually. I cleaned my loft, did some laundry, played with my squirrel—”
Dylan guffaws through the phone. “That sounded really dirty.”
“You make it sound dirty,” I argue. “He’s acting weird. I think he knows there’s another man in my life, and he’s jealous.”
“If he likes Liam, then he’ll love me. Speaking of, what time are we supposed to meet Liam and Vanessa?”
“Not until nine.”
“Okay. I’m gonna finish up here, then stop by my place and grab some clothes. I’ll get ready over there.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll see you in a couple hours.”
* * *
As I’m heading upstairs to take a shower, my phone vibrates with an incoming call from an unfamiliar number. Normally I’d send those calls straight to voice mail, but since this number is local, and I’m in the process of putting my life back together, I swipe my finger over the screen and bring the phone to my ear. “Kate Bennett.”
“Katie,” a familiar male voice breathes. A voice I haven’t heard in over three years.
“What do you want, Danny?” I ask bitterly.
“I need to see you.”
“Oh, you need to see me?” I huff out a hollow laugh. “Forgive me if I can’t give a single fuck about what you need.”
“Katie, please. I’m so sorry for everything. Give me a chance—”
“You’re sorry?” I shriek, cutting him off. “You left me.”
“I know. Please, can—”
“No.” I stab the End button and block the number.
Reaching into the shower, I turn on the water, then strip out of my clothes before stepping under the warm spray. Tears fill my eyes as the second worst day of my life replays in my mind.
“Gabbi, I need you to come over.” Gabbi had just bought her condo in The Village and lived less than five minutes away from the apartment I shared with Danny.
“Katie, what’s wrong?” Her voice was laced with concern.
I looked down between my legs. My black yoga pants and the towel I was sitting on were soaked in blood. “I’m bleeding.”
“What? Where’s Danny?”
“He left me.”
“He what?” she shrieked into my ear.
Danny and I were struggling with the loss of our son. We spoke with a counselor before I was released from the hospital, but the moment we stepped inside our apartment, the grief hit us hard. We could barely look at each other, let alone speak.
Two weeks later, he left.
“Please hurry. There’s so much blood.”
“Honey, hold on. I’m on my way.”
“Katie!”
Startled, I let out a little scream. I turn my head to see Dylan standing on the other side of the glass. “How’d you get in here?”
He jerks open the shower door and squats down. His expression is a mixture of panic and concern. “I’ve been pounding on your door for twenty minutes. I called and texted a dozen times. I was worried, so I called Vanessa. She gave me the code to get in. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
Judging by the expression on Dylan’s face, he’s calling “bullshit.”
Standing, he reaches for a towel on the hook and waits for me to stand before he passes it to me. “I remember on my thirteenth birthday, my grandfather, Mac, said to me, ‘Dylan, now that you’re entering manhood, I want to give you some advice. If a woman says nothing is wrong, something is definitely wrong. If a woman says she’s fine, she’s not fine. If a woman ends an argument with the word whatever, she’s silently plotting your demise.’”
I can’t help but laugh as I step out of the shower. “Your grandfather sounds like a very smart man.”
He drops a kiss to my lips. “Wait until you meet Mimi. You’ll understand. Now, tell me why you were crying.”
“My ex called.” I heave a deep breath. “We haven’t spoken in over three years. I was caught off guard, and it opened some wounds that are still healing.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not yet.”
He nods once. “I’ll respect that.” His eyes shift to my scar, and my hand instinctively moves to cover it. “Don’t ever be ashamed of your scars, Katie. They’re part of you—your story and the person you are today. Your scars are proof that you went through something painful and you survived. Unfortunately for people like me, not all scars are visible. For people like me who suffered the worst kind of heartbreak and no one had a fucking clue.”
My eyes fill with tears. “Dylan,” I breathe.
He steps forward and rests his forehead against mine. “I won’t push you to share your story. When you’re ready, I’ll share mine. Then maybe we can heal together.”
* * *
“Kate,” a deep masculine voice calls out.
I turn my head to see three men sitting in one of the booths. My steps falter when my gaze snags on a familiar face. Cooper Sullivan.
I give Dylan’s hand a gentle squeeze before leading him toward the table. “Mr. Sullivan.” I extend my free hand and shake his. “How are you?”
“Hey, I thought we were friends,” he teases. “Call me Cooper.”
I gesture to the man beside me. “This is my—” I shoot Dylan a sideways glance. “—boyfriend?”
Chuckling, Dylan holds out his hand and shakes Cooper’s. “I’m Dylan. Katie’s boy toy.”
The three men laugh as I smack Dylan playfully on the arm.
“You’re Jessica’s son,” one of the men says, and my attention darts to the man in the middle.
Holy mother of all hot men. The one night Gabbi decides to stay home.
He looks over at Cooper and says, “Your stadium was named after his great-grandfather.”
“Cooper’s family owns the Storm,” I tell Dylan.
Cooper raises his brows in surprise, as do I. “You’re Ella’s grandson?” Cooper asks.
Dylan nods as the man in the middle extends his hand across the table. “We’ve met before. I’m Ryan Davis. I’ve done a lot of business with your mother and grandmother.”
“Davis Customs.” Dylan nods. “I remember.”
Ryan gestures to the man beside him. “This is my cousin, Cannon.”
Dylan and I shake hands with Cannon.
Cooper stretches an arm along the top of the booth, a knowing expression on his face. “How are you doing?”
I twist my lips to the side. “I guess you spoke to Tom.”
“Actually, I spoke to Peter Welsh.” He scans my face as he considers his words. “I’m not a fan.”
I offer him a polite smile. Badmouthing my former coworker is unprofessional and a waste of breath. “He was a good mentor. He taught me a lot.”
“You’re sweet, Kate, but Peter is a fucking tool.” I stifle a laugh, but I feel Dylan’s body shaking with silent laughter.
“He is,” Dylan agrees.
Cooper waves a hand. “Kate designed this place and Bliss,” he says to his colleagues.
Both men raise their brows.
“You’re very talented,” Cannon says.
“Thank you.” I gesture to Cooper. “He’s very easy to work with.”
“Did you find another job?” Cooper asks.
“I’m going out on my own,” I tell him, my voice tinged with pride. “I sent you an email today.”
“You did?” Cooper frowns, patting his pockets, then pulls out his phone.
“Do you only specialize in nightclubs, or are you flexible?” Ryan asks.
“At the moment, I’m working with Dylan on a redesign, but I’m open to smaller projects in the meantime. I don’t know if you’ve been to Cafe by the Bay.”
“I have,” Ryan says. “Hazel seems to be doing well.”
“Hazel is incredible. I did the remodel while I was working on this place.”
Ryan’s gaze shifts to the side, and I look over to see Liam and Vanessa approaching.
“Hey,” Liam says, smacking Dylan on the back before extending his hand and saying, “Liam Mackenzie,” shaking hands with all three men.
Cooper grins. “I thought I recognized you when you came in. Cooper Sullivan.”
Liam tilts his head. “Sullivan? As in the Heritage Bay Storm Sullivan family?”
Cooper chuckles. “Among other things, yes.”
“Good to meet you, man,” Liam says, before arching his neck. “Where’s the restroom?”
I point to the doorway near the bar. “Go through that door.”
“Thanks.”
“Try not to hijack anyone’s date while you’re in there,” Cooper deadpans.
My mouth falls open in shock, and Vanessa bursts out laughing.
Liam smirks. “You heard about that, huh?”
“Everyone in the organization heard about it,” Cooper replies with a chuckle. “Riley is still catching shit for it.”
Liam holds up his hands. “That little stunt cost me eight grand.”
Cooper shifts his attention to Vanessa. “I’m glad it all worked out for you.”
“Worth every penny.” Liam kisses Vanessa’s temple, then heads for the restroom.
“Will Gabbi be joining you tonight?” Cooper asks with what seems like a hint of hope in his voice.
“Not tonight,” I tell him.
“I’m gonna go snag a table.” Vanessa points toward an empty booth. “It was nice meeting you all.”
I lift a hand. “It was nice seeing you, Cooper. And nice meeting you guys.”
“Nice meeting you, Dylan,” Cooper says, then to me he adds, “I’ll be in touch, Kate.”
* * *
Iwake up to an empty bed and frown. The house is quiet, but the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting in the air brings an instant smile to my face.
Slipping from the bed, I drag my tired, hungover body into the bathroom before heading down to the kitchen. One of my novelty mugs that says “Coffee Then Talkie” is next to the machine. Grabbing the creamer from the refrigerator, I make myself a cup.
Through the patio door, I spot Dylan seated on the outdoor sofa with his forearms resting on his thighs, a coffee mug in hand, having an intense stare-off with Rocky.
I snort a laugh as I walk to the door and slide it open. “What are you doing?”
Dylan turns his head and grins. “I’m trying to make friends with your squirrel.”
Stepping out onto the patio, I make my way over to the pail of treats. “The way to his heart is through his stomach.” Clicking my tongue, I open the pail and Rocky jumps from the tree, darting through Dylan’s legs and over to me.
“How did you end up with a pet squirrel?”
“I found him by my door. His eyes weren’t even open. I thought he was a rat at first.”
Dylan lifts a shoulder. “I mean….”
I push my lips out into a pout. “Hey.”
He lifts a hand. “Sorry.”
“I don’t know how he ended up at my door, but my guess is the mom put him there. I brought him inside and googled how to take care of a squirrel. I found a few blogs and rescue websites. Then I went to the pet store and bought the basics. They’re a lot of work. It’s basically like taking care of a newborn. You have to bottle-feed them, but instead of burping them, you have to get them to poop.” Dylan’s face pinches in disgust, and I smile, amused. “Last summer, I took him to the park and let him go. He darted right up the first tree. It made me a little sad, but I knew that’s where he belonged. I waited a few minutes to make sure he was happy, and then I went back to my car.” I pass Rocky another treat and gently scratch his head. “When I opened my door to get inside, he dove over my lap and landed in the passenger seat. I didn’t realize he’d followed me. He looked at me as if to say, ‘How dare you try to leave me?’” I let out a soft laugh. “He’s been with me ever since.”
“You’re his mom,” Dylan says simply, looking around my patio. “That tree looks so real.”
“My brother-in-law is a director in Hollywood, and he happens to love me, so he hooked me up.”
Standing from the sofa, he walks over to me. “You have a nice place.” He kisses my forehead and heads for the sliding door. “I was looking at your book collection this morning. I never figured you for a smut reader.”
My mouth falls open as I follow him inside. “It’s not smut. It’s romance.” I stop in front of my bookshelf and cross my arms over my chest. “Don’t knock it, Dylan. These are the books that will get you laid.”
He smirks at me from the sink as he rinses out his coffee mug.
I quirk a brow. “You don’t believe me?” Turning to the shelf, I grab a book and flip through the pages as I make my way to the kitchen island and slide onto a barstool. Dylan comes around the island to stand at my side as I read out loud.
“He props a knee on the mattress and pushes my thighs apart. ‘I love your pussy,’ he whispers before dipping his head and flicking his tongue over my clit. My hips jerk, and I bite down on my bottom lip to stifle a moan. Closing my eyes, I feel him crawling up the bed, trailing openmouthed kisses up my stomach, between my breasts, and along my neck before plunging his tongue into my mouth at the same time he slams his cock inside me.”
I lift my gaze to meet Dylan’s heated one. “Want me to keep going?”
Slowly, he takes the book and sets it on the counter. Then he pulls me to my feet and leads me upstairs to my bed, where he proceeds to reenact the scene with an explosive ending.
* * *
“Sorry I’m late,” I say as I slide into our usual booth. “I stopped by the cemetery first.”
“No worries.” Gabbi waves a hand. “I ordered for you.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re coming to the barbecue this afternoon, right?” Vanessa asks.
Liam is leaving for California tomorrow, so the family is getting together at Zach and Jay’s house for a barbecue.
“Of course. I’m going to Dylan’s straight from here and riding over with him.”
“Why aren’t you hosting the barbecue?” Gabbi asks.
“Because I don’t have the space for Liam’s family and friends, not to mention I still don’t have any furniture. Jay has the biggest house.”
“When are you going to finally furnish that house?” I ask.
“I figured I’d do it while Liam is gone. I need the distraction.” She directs her attention to me. “Speaking of distraction, how are things going with Dylan?”
“Fast.” I huff out a laugh. “Too fast.”
“Why do you say that?”
I shrug. “I just… I’m like a live wire with all these feelings running through me. It’s very overwhelming and intense.”
“It’s normal.”
“Is it?” My gaze bounces between them.
“Don’t ask me,” Gabbi says. “I haven’t been in a relationship since college.”
“I thought you said you were dating,” Vanessa inquires.
“I thought your New Year’s resolution was to find Mr. Right,” I remind her. “‘New year, new me’ and all that.”
“You were right. Resolutions are unrealistic goals we set for ourselves.” Gabbi lifts a shoulder as she reaches for her champagne glass. “Dating is exhausting. Dinner, drinks, and a game of twenty questions. I feel like I’m on a never-ending carnival ride, and all I want to do is get off.” She grins at her little quip before taking a sip of her mimosa.
I shake my head, amused.
Vanessa rolls her eyes and returns her attention to me. “The beginning of a relationship is always overwhelming and intense. It’s like you don’t even recognize the person you’ve become. It’s an adrenaline rush. The butterflies. Will he text me? Will he call me? The sound of his voice when he finally does call. Does he want me to sleep over?”
“Damn, Vanessa,” Gabbi interrupts. “Maybe you should be the one writing this book.”
“Ha. No one wants to read about a stubborn heroine who walked out on her marriage because of her insecurities.”
“Maybe the heroine was too young and needed time to grow up before finding her way back to her true love,” Gabbi argues.
“That sounds like a great story,” I add, grinning. “Second chance romance. I would totally read that.”
“Me, too,” Gabbi agrees. “Slap a photo of a shirtless athlete on the cover and yum.” She rolls her eyes to the back of her head. “Even better if he’s in gray sweatpants.”
I throw my head back and laugh as Vanessa tosses a piece of bacon at her. “Stop talking about my man’s dick.”
“Speaking of yum, we ran into Cooper last night,” I tell Gabbi. “He has very good-looking friends.”
“Yes he does,” Vanessa agrees.
“He asked about you,” I inform her.
She replies with a careless shrug. Translation: she’s not interested. Okay, then.
The waiter arrives with my breakfast, and I ask for a Bloody Mary.
Once he’s out of earshot, I clear my throat. “Danny called me yesterday.”
Gabbi raises her brows. “What did he want?”
“He needs to see me,” I say bitterly as I dig into my eggs. “I hung up on him.” I look up to see them both staring at me. “What?”
“Maybe you should see him,” Vanessa suggests.
“Why would you say that? Just hearing his voice makes me sick.”
“That’s because he’s a reminder of a very painful time in your life,” Gabbi says. “But he’s also Bennett’s father.”
“I know that. But did you forget the part where he left me?”
“That’s why you should talk to him,” Vanessa says. “Get your answers and find some closure.”
“To be honest, Katie, I’m glad he wasn’t there,” Gabbi tells me. “He was barely hanging on as it was, and if he’d been there, I’m not sure he would’ve been able to live with himself.”
“He was a mess, Katie,” Vanessa adds, her voice cracking. “I felt so bad for him.”
Gabbi reaches over and places her hand on top of mine. “You’re finally moving on, living your life again, and I can’t even tell you how much I love seeing you so happy. Bennett is always going to keep you and Danny connected to each other. Make peace and give each other closure.”
“I know, and eventually I’ll talk to him. But right now, I just want to stay in my happy bubble with my hot, dirty talking boyfriend.”
Gabbi grins. “He looks like a dirty talker.”
“He’s a Mackenzie,” Vanessa adds with a snicker. “They’re insatiable cavemen.”
* * *
“Wow,” I gasp as the massive estate home comes into view. “It’s beautiful.”
“Remember that guy Ryan Davis we met last night?” Dylan asks.
How could I forget that beautiful man?“Yeah.”
“He custom-built this house for Marcus as a gift to Jay.”
I press a hand to my chest. “You’re going to make me cry again.”
He parks behind a Tahoe and gives me a thoughtful look. “I’m going to apologize now.”
My brows pinch in confusion. “For what?”
“My family.” He chuckles. “Don’t get me wrong. They’re the best, but sometimes they can be a little much. This is the first time I’ve ever brought a girlfriend into the picture.”
I lean over the console and press my lips to his. “I love that you just called me your girlfriend.”
“I love that I get to call you my girlfriend.”
I grin. “We’re that couple.”
“What couple?”
“The couple everyone is going to make fun of.”
He laughs. “Oh, they’re going to make fun of us regardless.”
A knock on the passenger window startles us both, and I jerk my gaze over my shoulder to see Cole. “Break it up, lovebirds, and come inside.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “Mimi is chomping at the bit.”
Dylan groans under his breath. “Are you ready?”
I smack a chaste kiss to his lips. “I’m ready.”
* * *
Stepping into the foyer, I quickly scan the interior, taking in the decor as Dylan leads me through the house. It’s beautiful and spacious. Dark wood floors, white walls decorated with black-and-white canvas prints, with splashes of color throughout.
I can’t believe I’m in Jayla King’s mansion. This is crazy.
“It’s about time,” a feminine voice calls out.
Turning my head, I see a group of women gathered in the kitchen. A petite older woman rounds the island and makes her way toward us. Her blonde hair hangs just above her shoulders. She’s dressed in a thin red sweater, dark jeans, and leopard loafers. I recognize her from The Brunchery, when Gabbi pointed her out. Ella Mackenzie, Liam’s mother and Dylan’s Mimi.
She’s adorable.
“Mimi—” Dylan starts, a hint of warning in his tone.
“I see you finally untied her from your bed so she could meet your family,” she blurts.
And she’s blunt.
I choke out a disbelieving laugh.
Dylan snorts as a gasp echoes from the kitchen followed by a chastising “Mother!”
“What?” She grins, wearing an innocent expression. “Can’t say I blame him. You’re stunning.”
“Thank you.” I hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Mackenzie.”
Waving off my offered hand, she says, “Please call me Mimi,” before pulling me into a hug.
A dark-haired woman cradling an infant to her chest hurries over. “Please excuse my mother. She has no filter.”
Dylan kisses the dark-haired woman on the cheek before introducing us. “Katie, this is my aunt Emerson. Jay’s mom.”
“Hi.” I grin and gesture to the baby. “And who is this little guy?”
“This is Trace,” Emerson says, passing him to Dylan before pulling me in for a hug. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. Vanessa speaks very highly of you.”
“She better,” I joke, turning my attention to Dylan. My stomach dips at the sight of him holding Trace. I swallow past the emotion knotted at the base of my throat and force a smile. “You’re a natural.”
“I’ve had plenty of practice with two younger brothers, and Willow.” He glances over at me. “Do you want to hold him?”
No.Fuck. My chest tightens, but I force myself to breathe through it because they’re all looking at me.
My gaze darts to Emerson. “Do you mind?”
She shakes her head. “Not at all.”
“I should probably wash my hands first,” I offer.
* * *
“Isn’t he precious?”
I lift my gaze from the sleeping baby cradled in my arms and smile at Jessica as she drops down on the cushion beside me.
“He’s perfect.”
The last time I held a baby was after my sister gave birth to my niece. That was over ten years ago. I never got to hold Bennett in the hospital. Before the funeral, the director gave me the option to hold him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It’s not how I wanted to remember him. When I close my eyes, I see my son as a dark-haired, chubby-faced angel, with long lashes and a button nose. That’s the face I see when I close my eyes at night.
“Dylan was the sweetest boy,” Jessica says, pulling me from my thoughts. I follow her line of sight to her three boys huddled on the other side of the glass doors. “So affectionate and kind. Self-sufficient. Content. Just a well-rounded, happy child. I think he gets his gentle nature from his grandfather, Mac.”
“Or you?” I offer.
“I wasn’t that sweet.” She laughs.
“What was Cole like?”
“Exactly the same as he is now. I was so sick when I was pregnant with him. That should’ve been my first clue he would be the one to give me gray hair. He’s smart, funny, and very outspoken. He’s also the most emotional of the three, which makes him a bit of a hothead. If you hurt him, he’ll let you know about it. As tragic as it is—not that I would ever wish for anyone’s child to become a teenage parent—I think Willow is exactly what he needed. She grounded him and softened his edges. Harper is a big part of that, too. Cole fell for her hard and fast. One minute she’s introducing herself and the next they’re engaged.”
My gaze shifts to Zach and Jay snuggled up on the outdoor sofa in front of the fireplace. They’re talking to a pretty and very pregnant blonde who is standing in front of them. Cole steps beside the blonde, throws his arm around her shoulders and hugs her to his side.
“Who does the pregnant girl belong to?” I nod toward the group.
Jessica sighs. “That’s Olivia, and at the moment she belongs to all of us. She was dating Cole’s best friend, Carter.”
“Is that Carter’s baby?”
“Yes. She’s due any day now, and sadly he doesn’t know. Carter’s parents, Cheryl and Dane, were our neighbors and best friends. Cheryl and I were pregnant at the same time with our youngest boys.” She heaves a deep breath. “Then Cheryl passed away, and Dane couldn’t handle it. He withdrew from everyone, including his own kids. Last year, right after graduation, he packed up his boys and moved to California. Haven’t heard from them since.”
“That’s really sad.”
“It is,” she agrees. “It’s been especially hard on Aiden. He and Smith have been attached since they were babies. They did everything together.”
“What’s Aiden like?”
“The jury is still out on Aiden. He’s a good boy, but he’s at that age where he’s testing his boundaries. He lives and breathes baseball, and he’s very fortunate that he has two major league players in this family who are very invested in his talent. Now more than ever. The last couple years have been really tough on this family, and after losing his best friend he’s struggling to figure things out on his own. He’s got two older brothers who he looks up to, and sometimes he tries to put himself at their level. Max and I are trying to keep him focused on baseball and enjoying his youth. Cole didn’t have a choice, and Dylan….” She shakes her head. “My sweet boy just shut down. It’s like the lights went out, and there was nothing I could do to make him okay. It broke my heart. And then he comes home from London and he’s my son again.” She looks over at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s been a long time since Dylan has been this happy, and we know it’s because of you. Thank you for giving us our son back.”
* * *
Opening the bathroom door, I find Harper waiting. “Hey. It’s all yours,” I say as I step out.
“I was waiting for you,” she whispers before looking toward the great room, then back to me. “Can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure.”
Harper leads me around the corner to another foyer behind the kitchen. It looks like a mudroom but much nicer. She presses a button on the wall, and a door slides open.
“This house has an elevator?” I ask, following her inside the small space.
She snorts. “This house has everything.”
The door closes, and she turns to me. “If anyone asks, just tell them I was giving you a tour.”
My brows pinch. “Okay.”
“I’m glad you’re here. I’ve wanted to talk to you ever since I saw you at dinner.”
“I wondered if you remembered me.” The door slides open, and we step out into the hallway.
“Are you kidding? I was mortified.”
I follow her into what looks like a game room. There’s a bar, a pool table, and a movie screen stretched across the back wall.
Turning to me, she says in a soft voice, “I wanted to talk to you privately about what happened at the cemetery.”
“Dylan doesn’t know about my son,” I cut her off. “Our relationship is still very new, and that’s a part of my life I’m not ready to share with him yet.”
“I understand.” She nods. “I’m sorry for your loss. And I want to apologize for Willow. She’s very headstrong for a threenager, and she thinks everyone with dark hair looks like her angel mommy.”
I smile. “It’s okay. I thought it was very sweet and thoughtful, to be honest.”
“She gets that from my sister. Not that Cole isn’t thoughtful,” she rushes out. “She also gets her sass from my sister.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, too.”
“Thank you.” She averts her gaze briefly and clears the emotion from her throat. “Jade was the only family I had. When she died, her friend Mia took me in. She was good to me, but I’d never felt more alone. I got myself into a bad situation, and I made up lies to protect myself. If it weren’t for Jay’s friendship and Emerson’s protective instincts, I’m not sure I’d be here. I love this family, and I’m very lucky to be a part of it.”
“I’ve heard the same from Vanessa.”
“You know, I always wondered what kind of woman was capable of taming Liam Mackenzie. Vanessa is exactly what he needs. He’s very….” She rolls her eyes upward. “I don’t know. Intense. As are all the men in this family,” she adds. “He didn’t like me for the longest time, but Vanessa has made it a lot easier to be around him. Anyway.” She waves a hand. “I didn’t mean to dump all over you. I just felt like it was easier to talk privately. And your secret is safe with me.”
* * *
“There you are,” Vanessa calls from the foyer as Harper and I descend the stairs. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” Her gaze bounces between us.
“Harper was giving me a tour,” I tell her as we reach the landing.
“I’m gonna go check on Willow,” Harper says, continuing through the foyer and heading toward the back of the house.
Once she’s out of earshot, I turn to Vanessa. “I need to tell you something.”
“Yeah,” she murmurs before looking over her shoulder. “Come on.”
I follow her down a hallway, through a set of double doors, and into an office.
I move over to the sofa while Vanessa closes and locks the door.
Taking a seat on the cushion, she turns her body to face me. “You go first.”
“Remember that day we met at the cemetery before I left for London?”
“Yeah.”
“Harper was there with Willow,” I tell her. “Willow came over to me and gave me a daisy for my angel.”
Vanessa presses a hand to her chest, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “That’s so sweet.”
I nod, smiling. “It really was. Then she told me I look like her angel mommy.”
Vanessa gasps, and her eyes widen. “Oh, my God. What did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything.” I shrug. “Harper was mortified, and she apologized. When I saw her at your house for taco night, I wasn’t sure if she remembered me. I was on edge all night, hoping she didn’t. Anyway”—I wave a hand—“she did recognize me. She took me upstairs so we could talk in private. She wanted me to know she wasn’t going to mention that day at the cemetery. She apologized for Willow and explained that Willow thinks everyone with dark hair looks like her angel mommy. She told me a little about her sister, and how Mia took her in after she died.”
Vanessa sighs. “I wanted to tell you this, but I didn’t want to do it over the phone while you were in London.”
My brows pinch in confusion. “What?”
“Willow’s mother died in ‘that’ accident.”
I suck in a breath. When Vanessa says “that accident,” she’s talking about my accident.
“I feel like this is more than a coincidence….” She shakes her head as if unable to find the right words.
It’s not a coincidence. It’s a horribly painful twist of fate.