“Well, then, since we don’t have to strategize, and we don’t have to nudge you forward, there’s only one other thing that we, as your best friends, need to know.” Iris sounded absolutely resolved.
Mercy nodded her head in agreement. Then she leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Just looking at the glow on you, I can see you’ve already had sex with those two Doms of yours. So, we need deets. Lots of hot, juicy deets. We’ll shut up and shovel this food in. You, girlfriend, start talking. And make it extra spicy.”
Rachel had never in her life told anyone anything about her sex life. But then until now you’ve had no one to tell and nothing to say.
That was true. So Rachel bowed to convention and started talking.
Chapter Eleven
“He’s been looking for me?” In that moment, Rachel was grateful that Brandon and Trace were outside with Libby, engaged in a badminton rematch. Of all the reasons she’d come up with in the few moments she’d had between finding out the Kendalls wanted to talk to her and when they arrived, this hadn’t even been a guess. “Why?”
Jake Kendall spread his hands, palms up. “We have no idea. Since I found out last weekend, I’ve got the P.I.s looking into it. They haven’t got anything of substance to report yet, but I wanted you to know before too much more time passed.”
“Rachel, did you ever take out a restraining order against Buck Cosgrove?” Adam asked.
“There was no need to do that. He’d never given me reason to be afraid of him. He didn’t contest the divorce or my having sole custody of Libby, either.” Rachel hadn’t wanted to tell anyone this, but she needed these men to understand—and she wanted to be completely honest with them. She had no idea what the hell Buck Cosgrove was up to, but it sure as hell couldn’t be anything good. She swallowed. “He not only gave me sole custody he also signed away his parental rights.”
The first time she saw that particular expression of anger on Adam Kendall’s face she’d immediately hoped he never directed that look to her. She knew these men well enough, now, to understand their ire was on her behalf.
“Son of a…” Jake exhaled heavily. “Sorry. I just…I just don’t get that. What kind of a man would do that?”
“I never understood—not until I moved here—how real men behaved, as husbands, as fathers. Now I do, and it shames me that I married him in the first place.”
“You believed the image he gave you of himself,” Jake said.
His statement shocked her, because it was the absolute truth. Likely reacting to the expression that she knew she wore, Adam gave her a very kind smile.
“You knew before you moved here that Lusty takes care of her own and that a security check would be conducted.”
“Yes, and I had no objections. In fact, I thought it wise at the time. I still do.”
“Well, our security checks go a lot deeper than most. From what I learned, I think your father, being elderly and from an earlier generation and regimented lifestyle, thought that arranging your marriage was his duty.”
“That was the conclusion I came to myself not that long ago.” She shook her head. “Is there anything about me y’all don’t know?”
“I didn’t know that piece of slime had denounced his parental rights,” Jake said. “But no, not much. The only people I’ve shared any information with is Kate Benedict, who’s head of the Town Trust, and my brother, here. And in the interests of full disclosure? That ‘check’ began when Kate first met you. I think at the time she had half a mind to take a broom to your ex and wanted the information.”
“Kate wouldn’t have reached for the broom, brother,” Adam said. “She’d have reached for her Colt 45.”
The image of Kate Benedict brandishing a handgun in Buck’s face put a smile on her own.
“How do you want to handle the situation, Rachel?” Jake asked.
“I don’t understand. What can I do except hope to hell he doesn’t show up here? I’m just really grateful for the heads-up.”
“You—or us on your behalf—can do quite a bit, actually. As I said, we have Mel, Connor, and April seeing what they can find out about why he’s looking for you. Whatever we learn, you will learn. Beyond that, we can do our best to intercept him if he shows his face in Lusty.”
“But…is there a legal basis for your doing that? I’m sorry. I’m confused. I can’t imagine that I have any options or choices at all about this situation.”
“That’s because you’re not used to having anyone in your life who has your back.”
Rachel looked over at Brandon. She hadn’t heard him come into the house. She didn’t want to think too deeply about the fact that having him there with her immediately settled her.
“You’re right, I’m not.”
“That was life before you came to Lusty. Lusty takes care of her own,” Adam said. “We’re authorized by the head of the Town Trust to see you get whatever kind of support you want. If you want us to intercept him, we’re happy to do that.”
From where Rachel was sitting, she could see Trace and Libby having sweet tea, sitting at their new patio table. She felt good when she thought what the future might be. Even if she and these two men didn’t stay together, she had no doubt that both Trace and Brandon would remain men her daughter would be able to count on, always.
“Mostly, I guess I just want to keep him away from Libby. He gave up his rights to her, which, as far as I’m concerned, says it all. I’ve never known him to be dangerous—he never tried to hit me or anything like that. But I understand that I didn’t know his true colors when we
