The front door swings open, and Carter smiles when he sees my car. He prances down the front steps and heads right for the back door. “Hey, pumpkin,” he says, smiling from ear-to-ear as he gets Amelia out of her car seat.
Amelia hugs him so tightly, you’d think it’s been weeks since she’s seen him, not just days.
I see movement along the far side of the driveway and my heart races. Is now the time Cyrus is going to snap and do something crazy? Then I see it’s just Allie, and I breathe.
“Hey, you two,” she says as I get out of the car. She turns to Amelia. “I heard you were coming and thought you might want to help me out with the twins for a bit. And guess what? I taught Alex how to say your name. It sounds more likeMila, but it’s sooooo cute. Come and see?”
I look at Carter, who’s still holding Amelia. “It’s okay,” he says. “I asked Allie to take her. You’re not going to want Amelia to listen in on what you’re about to hear.” When I stiffen, he holds up a hand. “That came out wrong. It’s good for us, you, her. Just not things appropriate for four-year-old ears.”
Allie sees my hesitation. “Asher is home. We’ve got her. I promise.”
I turn to Amelia. “Stay inside, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.” She wiggles out of Carter’s arms and puts her hand in Allie’s.
As they walk away, I ask Carter, “What does Allie know?”
“Only that you have a douche of an ex who has threatened you.”
I cock my head. “And that’s all?”
It’s a stupid question. Allie’s texted me over the past few weeks, wanting to make sure we’re okay after our hasty departure. Asking if we need anything or if there was anything she could do. I never got into specifics. I just said we were fine and Carter was taking care of us.
He looks right into my eyes. “That’s all. Everything else is nobody’s business.” He nods to his house. “Come inside. I promise you want to hear this.”
I walk up the front steps and enter, Carter following. What am I walking into? Who is inside? Suddenly, I wonder if it’s my dad and Carter has forced the reunion I’m not quite ready for. But when I step into the living room, all I see are two strangers.
“Kenna Bennett,” Carter says. “Meet Jonah Calloway. He’s the guy I was telling you about.”
“The security guy?”
Jonah stands and holds out his arm. “One and the same. Nice to meet you.”
I shake his hand, but I’m not happy about it. Nor am I pleased with the large man standing behind him. Is this some attempt to set me up with bodyguards so Carter can convince me to keep the money? I look around his house, the house that can use a fresh coat of paint. A kitchen renovation. New flooring. My heart sinks. Did Carter come home from the cabin on Saturday and think of how much better his life could be if he had a rich girlfriend?
Jonah nods to the other man. “This is Ethan Stone, a friend of mine.”
“Ma’am,” Ethan nods.
Friend?I look between all of them. “I don’t know what the point of this meeting is. But I’m not sure I like what’s going on. I’m feeling a bit like I’m being ambushed.”
“It’s nothing like that,” Carter says. “Sit, and hear what they have to say.”
Reluctantly, I sit on the chair opposite the couch, arms crossed over my body, hands tucked into my armpits as if to protect me from the three men who might be conspiring against my wishes.
“Drink?” Carter asks.
“No. Just get on with it.”
Jonah clears his throat. “So you know Carter had me looking into your ex-husband.”
I nod.
“Well, there’s been a new development. He’s been arrested.”
I sigh and shake my head, addressing my words to Carter. “I told you it won’t work. He has too many connections. I’m not going through this again and—”
“Sweetheart.” Carter walks over, sits on the large arm of the chair, and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Just listen to Jonah for a minute. Hear him out, okay?”
