“You’re kidding, right? You really believe Matilda Taylor and her mother didn’t know what her father was doing?”
“Well, why would they?”
“Because they were a happy family? Everyone saw them together every weekend. Then he leaves town with hundreds of thousands of dollars that weren’t his. They stay for a month and pretend they’re just as hurt as we are, before going to join him.”
Kayden’s muscles tensed.
“I don’t—”
“Ido,” the woman pushed, cutting her friend off. “I mean, has she actually told anyone where she went when she skipped town? They supposedly had no money, yet her mother didn’t need to sell the house when Matilda’s grandmother left it to them, and now Matilda’s suddenly back and living in it.”
“Why would she come back if she was part of it?”
“I don’t know, maybe they blew through the money, but trust me, evil is in a person’s blood. Her father had it, and so does she.”
CHAPTER 9
Exhaustion pulled at Kayden’s limbs as he completed his set of pull-ups.
Fuck, he was tired today. He’d slept like shit last night and he had no idea why. Itwas notbecause images of Jake grazing Tilly’s cheek continued to flash through his mind. And it definitely wasn’t because of those busybody older women at the market who’d been gossiping about Tilly.
Was it because he’d been having more and more thoughts of his father lately? He closed his eyes and still his dad was there, front and center.
“I lost the house, son.”
Kayden frowned. “What do you mean, you lost it?”
Pain laced his dad’s features. “Business has been down, and since Martin left with my savings, I had to sell.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to sell. You have six kids—we’ll all help you.”
“No. I knew you’d say that. I’m not taking money from my children. It’s already done.”
Kayden growled and dropped to the ground to complete a set of push-ups in the outside workout area beside the visitors center deck.
He didn’t want to be another person who blamed Tilly for her father’s wrongdoings. But then why was it that every day he spent around her, his head battled with his heart?
“You’re out here nice and early.”
Kayden’s jaw locked at the sight of Jake stepping off the deck. “Not really. It’s almost nine.”
“Yeah, but on a Monday, nine feels like seven.” He dropped his bag and pulled off his sweatshirt. “Man, the fresh air in these mountains is so good at this time of morning. I don’t know how you left for so many years.”
“Wasn’t that hard when I was always planning on coming home once I’d served.”
“You have two other brothers who also served, right?”
“Four. Two are still on active duty, while Cody and Eastern are out, but we all have different specialties.”
Jake whistled. “Impressive family.”
Kayden packed up his bag, not meeting Jake’s gaze. “Not really. Our father served and we all looked up to him.”
There was a beat of pause before Jake spoke. “Hey. Did I do something to upset you?”
Kayden froze, muscles tensing before he rose and faced the guy. “Why would you ask that?”
“I don’t know, just the feeling I get. I know things are tense between you and Theo, but I swear, I would never turn up to work hungover like him. Plus, you’re the team leader, and I don’t want to be on your bad side.”
