Jenna's dad had had a fishing cabin up in the mountains near a lake. He'd go there with his buddies to get away for a few days and drown some worms. Tom had liked going there with his dad as well.
"They were...diabolical. All the effort, lying, subterfuge. I never wanted the money. I would have given it to them if they'd just said to me that they didn't think it was fair. I just wanted the family. I didn't care about the inheritance."
"It was about more than just money, babe. Michelle resented you for years. As far as she was concerned you'd taken her sister, mother, and father. She wanted you out of her life. Tom just resented everyone. Period. I don't think he ever planned to share with Michelle when it came right down to it. I think he eventually planned to get rid of her too at some point."
Jenna still had nightmares watching Tom shoot Michelle...the bloodstain, her sister's shocked face. Michelle hadn't expected Tom to turn on her.
"Does Tom know that Michelle made a deal?"
"He does by now. I don't know whether that will change his defense. They'll point fingers at each other but I don't think that's going to work. They have a star witness in you. He held a gun to your head and told you that you were as good as dead. That's pretty powerful."
"I dread testifying."
"I know. If it comes to that, I'll be there for you every second. Hell, everyone is going to be there for you. They won't leave you alone."
His friends and their wives had truly been a blessing since she'd come back here and lived with Knox. His co-workers were amazing and she'd made friends with the females as well, now counting them as her friends too.
"I guess you and I are going to have to build a new family."
Kneeling down in front of her, he cupped her face in his hands. "I've been thinking about that a lot. I know it's fast and that we should wait, especially after everything that you've been through, but dammit, I just love you so much, and want to spend every day with you from now on. You're my future and my whole damn world."
It was the greatest and most wonderful run-on sentence she'd ever heard. The words had come tumbling out so quickly she almost hadn't understood. But she did comprehend. His expression said more than all the words he'd just spoken.
"I love you too, Knox Owens, and the answer is yes, I will spend the rest of my life with you."
His smile widened and his blue eyes had turned a deep color. "You're saying yes? Because I asked you to marry me, woman. Just in a sort of roundabout way."
She pressed her lips to his, her heart fluttering in her chest. He was the light in the dark. She'd follow him anywhere and everywhere.
"I said yes. You can't back out now."
"I don't want to back out. I want to build a family with you."
"You mean kids?"
"At least two. Maybe three. And maybe a dog too."
She reached over and turned off the burners on the stove. "Then dinner can wait. We better get started on those kids."
To her delight, he swung her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom. It wouldn't be easy; they both had scars, some deeper and uglier than others. They'd fight, they'd make up, they'd love and grow, building a life and a family together. As a team.
She couldn't wait for the future.
I hope you enjoyed Deceptive Truth! There will be more in the Serials and Stalkers series coming soon.
Thank you for reading.
About the Author
Olivia Jaymes is a wife, mother, lover of sexy romance and cozy mysteries, and caffeine addict. She lives with her husband, son, and two spoiled dogs in central Florida and spends her days typing on her computer with a canine on her lap.
She is currently working on a new cozy mystery series – A Ravenmist Whodunnit - in addition to her other ongoing romance series world – The Cowboy Justice Association.
Visit Olivia Jaymes at
www.OliviaJaymes.com
