I mutter a curse, and leaving her sleeping, I slip out of bed. I pull on a pair of sweats before walking to the kitchen, where I immediately make myself a cup of coffee. Yesterday was unexpected and brutal, the revelation of my past completely unplanned, but if there is anyone I would share my pain with, it would be Faith.
Somehow, we bonded, and I trust her as much as my brothers, which is odd. And something that unnerves me to no end. Also something I don’t want to think about too much, so I pick up my coffee mug, drink my caffeine, and begin scrolling through my phone, checking in on Landon and Tanner.
I missed a Saturday night at the club, and my partners aren’t pissed exactly, but they aren’t happy with me, either. Since there is no way I’m going to tell them I was reliving our shared past, I let them give me shit and take it as my due.
I finish my first cup of coffee and am on my standard second when my doorbell rings, startling me. I narrow my gaze.
I glance at my phone. Eleven a.m. Who would be here at this early hour on a Sunday? I stride to the door, glance in the peephole, and do a double take.
Unsetting my alarm, I unlock the door and swing it open. “Mom? What in the world are you doing here?”
Savannah Dare walks into my apartment, but instead of the tears I expect, I see anger in her blue eyes. “Your father wants me back. Of all the self-centered, ridiculous notions, he thinks I’m going to forgive and forget.” She meets my gaze and pulls me into her arms. “I’m sorry. How’s my boy?” she asks, hugging me tight. She smells like the perfume I associate with home, a light floral scent that saysMom.
“I’m fine. And we’ll talk about Dad. But why are youhere?”
“He showed up last night with his flowers and apologies and I told him to leave. He swore he’d be back this morning. I wasn’t ready to deal with him, so I left.”
“The state? Why didn’t you just go stay with Alex and Madison?” I ask of my brother and sister-in-law, who live nearby our mom.
“That’s the first place your father would look for me. And with the baby, I didn’t want to just show up on Sienna’s doorstep.” She rolls her suitcase into the entryway and meets my gaze. “Show me to your guest room?”
I rub a hand over my face, wondering how I’m going to explain away the fact that I have a woman staying in the extra room who is currently fast asleep in my bed.
“Jason?” As if on cue, Faith walks into the living area wearing nothing but my shirt from last night, buttoned and hanging down on her bare thighs. Her gaze lands on my mother and her eyes open wide. “Oh, my God. You have company!” She pulls at the shirt as if she can magically lengthen the fabric.
“Jason Dare, why didn’t you tell me you had a woman here?” my mother asks in a chiding voice.
“I was just about to,” I mutter. And though I’m a grown man and have every right to have a woman in my bed, I’m not thrilled that Faith’s face has turned beet red and she looks mortified.
I have no choice but to introduce them. “Mom, this is Faith Lancaster. Faith, this is my mother, Savannah Dare.”
I give Faith credit. Despite her embarrassment, she walks right up to my mom, extends her hand, and says, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“The same here. I apologize for interrupting. I flew in from Florida unannounced. I’ll just go—”
“No. I, umm… I’ll go get dressed and let you two talk.” Faith turns and flees back the way she came.
With a groan, I glance at my mother. “That went well.”
She tucks a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I’m really sorry. I should have called but I just took the six-a.m. flight.”
“It’s fine. It’s just that the situation with Faith is complicated. She’s staying here because she has some personal issues right now and despite her… being in my shirt, she’s using the spare bedroom,” I say instead of sayingdespite the obvious fact that we’re sleeping together. It’s awkward enough for everyone.
My mother nods in understanding. “I didn’t stay in a hotel because your father has contacts and private investigators. He’ll track me down. At least this way, once he finds me, he has to deal with us both. But given the circumstances, I can take a room. Or go stay with Sienna. I can help with the baby. I just didn’t want to intrude because they’re still newlyweds, but it’s really no problem.” She’s rambling.
“No.” Faith returns, dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, her hair brushed and pulled into a sleek ponytail. “I can go home. You stay here with your son.”
“Not happening, Faith, and you know why.” My words come out like a command and have her snapping her shoulders back and narrowing her gaze.
“I’m not putting your mother out. It’s not right.”
My mother looks from me to Faith, following the conversation although obviously not understanding the reasons behind our argument.
“Then you can stay in my room, and my mother can take the guest room,” I say. “Unless you want to go home and be a sitting duck for Colton to find you?” I fold my arms across my chest, daring her to challenge me.
Faith’s shoulders, the evidence of her strength and defiance seconds before, wilt as I make my point. “Okay. Thank you. I realize I’m putting everyone out, but you’re right. I have nowhere else to go.” Her hands come up to her neck as she obviously remembers being hurt by her brother.
I hate having to bring up those memories in order to get my way and keep her safe.
