Everything I Need Read online

  “Bravo! Bravo!” Campbell shouts as LeeLee bows and curtsies.

  “My little princess,” Mason exclaims. Wrapping his little girl up in his arms, lifting her high, and spinning around in a circle.

  More giggles and laughs fill the air.

  “Wow, LeeLee! What a performance. It was like I was in the ice castle!” Round cheeks smile wide at my praise. Her tiny arms wound tight around her daddy’s neck.

  “What’d you think, Mr. Merrick?” Lena’s small voice asks. Looking right at him. Full of all the wonder and curiosity and hope only a six-year-old little girl can possess.

  A deep voice rumbles before he clears his throat to answer. Two words.

  Two words full of so much my heart weeps.

  “Beautiful, LeeLee.” Her nickname falling past his lips for the first time.

  I melt. Right there. Catching myself before I fall a single inch farther.

  Because this man. He has me falling all over myself. Tripping and tumbling head over heels. I just remind myself of what I did earlier. I have to guard my heart until I know where he stands.

  “Yaaaaaay!” Lena cheers and bounces in Mason’s arms. Causing him to sway a step and wrap her up even tighter.

  “That was perfect practice for your play in a couple of months,” Campbell exclaims. Clapping her hands twice.

  “Oh yes, definitely!” I agree, nodding my head enthusiastically. Matching LeeLee’s excitement.

  “Play?” Merrick asks. Causing the four of us to look at him. Surprise hits me at the interest in his tone.

  “Oh, yes. Our little diva has a school play before the holiday break. The kindergarten class puts it on every year,” Campbell explains while she rubs a soft hand along her daughter’s back. “They put on a winter wonderland act of Christmas carols and holiday songs. It’s adorable.”

  LeeLee wiggles to get out of Mason’s arms. He sets her down after kissing her forehead. “I can’t wait to dress up all pretty,” she says as she spins in a small circle, fanning out her princess dress. “And sing all the songs. I love to sing.”

  Merrick chuckles deep and rough. “Seems so.”

  “Oh, say you’ll come, Mr. Merrick? Please! It’ll be so, so, so much fun!” She looks up at him. Tugging on his hand. More comfortable in his presence now. Brave to walk up to the big, brooding man.

  I look at him, my eyes as expectant as LeeLee’s. Hoping he’ll go. Commit to something in the future. Give me a little hope that he’s planning on sticking around.

  With me.

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” his deep voice promises.

  LeeLee jumps for joy.

  Matching my heart.

  PULLING UP OUTSIDE OF KEELYNN’s house, I cut the engine and silence surrounds us. Our breathing the only sounds filling the cab. I look over to see her head leaned back on the headrest, face turned toward me, deep green eyes taking me in.

  A thoughtful look blanketing her features.

  “Thanks for coming tonight.” Her bright smile is small—content—but no less blinding. Doesn’t matter which smile I get from her. Small, wide, toothy grin, or full of tease. Each and every one has my heart beating wildly and my blood rushing hot.

  Brings me to my goddamn knees this woman and her smiles. Just her.

  “Had a good time,” I finally reply. And I really did. Once the awkwardness on my part wore off of course. Seeing Lena felt like a hot blade tearing through my skin at first. But as the evening went on, she did nothing but put me at ease with her blonde curls and blue eyes and angelic giggles.

  Then listening to her sing, watching her perform, you’d have to be a fucking dead man not to melt at all her innocence. All diva and princess singing slightly off-key in her little girl voice.

  She reminds me so much of Lila. From the eyes to the attitude to their sweet, gentle way. Infectious. Heartwarming. Just pure little girl wrapped up in butterflies and goodness. I’ve no doubt that if they had the chance to meet, they would have been best friends.

  Lena may bring on painful reminders of a life and a love I’ve lost forever. But she also conjures up those beautiful memories I try to keep under lock and key. The ones that shouldn’t be hidden away. Because Lila deserves to be cherished, even if only in memory.

  “LeeLee loves you. I can tell.” Keelynn interrupts my thoughts as if she knows exactly where my head’s at. Wouldn’t doubt if she did. “She’s a diva for sure, but she doesn’t sing just for anyone.”

  I smile at that. “Feel damn special then.”

  “You should,” she says through a small laugh.

  Then she breathes deep. Like she wants to say something else. Something more. And unease starts to blanket my skin at what she could possibly be thinking.

  But she thinks better of it before shifting and putting her hand to the door handle.

  Before she can even get the latch unlocked, I’m unbuckling. “Let me get that for you.”

  My heart constricts at the thought of leaving her alone tonight. At not holding that lush body close after getting lost in her deep curves.

  Stepping down from my truck, I round the hood then open the passenger door. Putting my hand out to help her down. “Thank you,” she replies softly.

  I place a hand to the small of her back and follow her up to the front door when she starts walking. She turns when we get there, leaning against the wood. Reminding me of how she looked the other night when I showed up late and unexpected.

  That night turned into one of the hottest of my life. Right along with our first time in her kitchen.

  Seems like whenever I get my hands on Keelynn Masters she lights right up. Like fireworks. Explosions of vibrant colors and blinding light.

  “Did you want to come in?” Her soft voice pulls my thoughts back to the here and now. But at her question they take a nosedive right back to soft curves beneath my hands and fevered moans piercing the air.

  I nod once. Firm. Because fuck, yes, do I ever want to come in. “Thought you’d never ask.”

  She giggles before turning and unlocking the door. “Well all right then.”

  Her soft laughter cuts off just as she walks through the doorway. Looking over her head, I see why. The entryway leading into her living space is a mess. Papers strewn throughout the hallway. The small lamp and table just inside the door toppled over. Broken glass from the light bulb and a few trinkets covering the floor.

  Instinct has me grabbing her quickly and gently forcing her back outside, out of harm’s way.

  “Merrick? What are you doing? What’s going on?” Her voice is full of confusion and traces of fear. Slight panic. Which has my blood boiling like hot fucking lava. If someone’s still in here, I’ll find them and fucking kill them.

  Grabbing hold of her hand, I practically drag her back to my truck. “I need you to stay here. Inside. Call 9-1-1 and report a breakin.” I open the door when we reach it, grasp her hips, then lift her in.

  After I get her tucked away safely in the cab she spins so her feet dangle out the side. Making like she wants to jump out and stay with me. “No, Merrick, wait—”

  “Keelynn, I’m serious. Stay here. Don’t move. Call the police.” I set her with a hard look to match my hard tone while my hand reaches out to the glove box. Opening it, I retrieve what I’m looking for and grab it. “And no matter what you see, or what you hear, do not leave this truck unless I or an officer are at this door.”

  “Oh my gosh, Merrick!” She gasps and pales. “Why do you have a gun?” Her tone is hurried and thick with emotion.

  Ignoring her, I ask, “Do you hear me? I need you to stay right here. Don’t leave this truck. And keep the doors locked.”

  Blankly, she stares at me. Eyes wide and full of tears and fear and what looks a lot like worry…for me. Her house, her personal belongings were violated. But here she is worried about me.

  Goddamn this woman.

  “Do you hear me, Keelynn?” I repeat. Keeping my anger at bay long enough to get her agreement. Not wanting to s
care her any more than she already is.

  She nods. “Be careful.” Her voice barely a whisper.

  I gently squeeze her knee to offer a small level of comfort before swinging her legs back inside and slamming the door. Keeping her safe.

  Then I’m taking determined steps back to her front door, throwing it open, and aiming my gun.

  Safety off.

  Finger to the trigger.

  Ready to take anyone out that poses a threat to Keelynn.

  Prepared to not let what happened before happen again. Not ever. I won’t lose someone else because I wasn’t able to protect them.

  That isn’t an option.

  Scanning the small hallway that leads into the open floor plan, I quickly move across the space. Back to the walls. Arms extended, shifting my gun side to side as I go.

  Making quick work of the downstairs, I bound up the stairs to the sparsely furnished second level. Confident it’s empty, but not taking any chances.

  I clear the two small bedrooms and the half bath upstairs, just as I did Keelynn’s bedroom, the living space, kitchen, and bathroom downstairs. Whoever was here before, isn’t here now.

  Lucky motherfuckers.

  As I hurry down the stairs, sirens start to wail from a distance. Getting closer and closer.

  Throwing the front door open, I look to my truck and start toward it. Seeing that Keelynn listened and stayed inside like I told her. Thank fuck, because if she didn’t I would have lost my shit.

  Once I’m within a couple feet of her, she pushes the passenger door open and jumps down. Launching into my chest just as I make it to her. Causing me to falter back a step as I wrap her up in my arms.

  “Oh God, Merrick! You were only gone a few minutes but it felt like forever,” she cries into my neck. Her arms wound tight around my neck, holding me just as tightly as I’m holding her.

  I drag my hands down her back and then up again along her sides to her arms. Gently grabbing hold to gain a sliver of space between us to see her face. Fucking hating the two inches that separates us now. “House is pretty trashed, but it was empty,” I tell her. “You’re safe, baby.”

  She nods her head, letting out a small sigh of relief, just as the sound of tires squealing sound off next to us. Two cop cars slamming to a stop. Blue lights flashing.

  Three officers climb out of the two cars and walk right over.

  The oldest of the three addresses Keelynn first. “Ma’am. We got a call of a breakin. Everyone all right?”

  “Yeah,” she breathes out. Stepping closer into my side so I can wrap an arm around her. “Just shaken up a bit,” she admits.

  They nod in understanding before the youngest of the three looks to me. Before he even asks, I speak. Repeating what I just told Keelynn. “The house is tossed, but it appears to be empty. Got her to the truck to keep her safe and took a look inside and didn’t see anything.”

  Another round of understanding nods as the middle cop takes some notes. “I’ll need statements from each of you while they investigate inside. We’ll stay out here until we get the all clear and then can move inside if you’d prefer, Miss Masters.”

  After Keelynn gives her account of walking in and then being rushed out by me, I give mine. Again letting him know I went inside to make sure she was safe and that the house was clear. Telling him what I saw and how long we were here before they showed up. Filling him in on the hours we were away from the house.

  They check the house over to be sure but confirm what I already knew. It’s ransacked and empty. But they fill me in on a little tidbit that has my once calming anger igniting all over again.

  “No forced entry, ma’am,” he addresses Keelynn.

  “Keelynn, please.”

  “Do you remember if you locked your door, Keelynn?”

  Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, green eyes dart up to me before looking back at the three uniformed officers in front of her. “Well…no.”

  “What?” I explode. How can she be so damn careless?

  “Sir.” One officer tries to calm me.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “But I never do. Never thought I needed to.”

  I heave a breath at that. Trying with all of my goddamn might to rein in the fury I feel right now. “That’s gonna fucking change, Sunshine.”

  She blinks once, nodding.

  After finishing up and thanking the officers, I see them out before pointedly looking at Keelynn as I lock her front door behind them. “This stays locked. When you’re home. When you’re gone. At all times. You hear me?”

  Her head nods once in understanding. “Yes, sir,” she mocks.

  “Don’t get smart, Sunshine. This is fucking serious.”

  “I’m not,” she huffs. “But don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit? I mean, you want it locked when I’m home, too. What’s the point? I’m home.” She emphasizes the last word, as if it will matter.

  “You think I’m overreacting? Keelynn, your goddamn house was broken into. Hell, you invited the perps right in because the door wasn’t locked. If anything, I’m damn calm right now. If I wasn’t so pissed and was thinking clearly, I’d have half a mind to toss you over my shoulder and carry your sweet ass out of here.”

  She crosses her arms over her ample chest. Just looking at me before her arms collapse against her thighs as she releases a heavy breath. Eyes turning worried and sad, brimming with tears.

  I take the two steps to get to her and wrap her up tight into my chest. My lips going to the top of her head where I kiss her softly and murmur my reassurances to her.

  “I just don’t understand who would want to do this. I’ve lived here my whole life, know practically everyone in town, and I can’t imagine who could do this.” She sniffles slightly. The impact of what happened tonight finally hitting her.

  “I don’t know, baby. But if I ever find out…I’ll fucking kill them.”

  “Oh, Merrick. Stop it.” She hits at my back where her arms are wrapped around me.

  “Mean it, Sunshine. No one scares you like this and gets away with it.”

  As I release her from my arms and step back, a slip of crisp white paper tucked under a pile of paperwork on the now unorganized entryway table catches my attention.

  Any other day it would have been nothing.

  Any other day it would have slipped past my notice.

  Any other day it would have just remained as any old receipt.

  But today isn’t any other day.

  Today’s the day that irrevocably changes my life forever. Because today I have to make a choice. Either walk away for good or claim her as my own.

  And after being inside of her, and seeing that smile light up her face whenever she sees me, there’s no fucking way I’m leaving my second chance behind.

  “What’s this, Keelynn?” I snap as I rip the receipt out from under the pile of papers.

  Confusion clouds her face as she looks from me, to the receipt, then back to me again. “A receipt?” Her reply more a question than an answer.

  “Where’d you get it?” My patience all but shattered. My tone giving everything away.

  “From the plumber who made the repair.” Her brows furrow as my face tightens further. “Why does that matter?”

  I see the flimsy paper shake in my grip. Revealing the tremble of anger and worry rolling through me. Looking down I catch the name of the plumbing company again. Corsetti’s Plumbing.

  Motherfuckers.

  I don’t know how they found out about her. Fuck, I don’t know how they found out about me. But the last few months are starting to make a whole lot more fucking sense. Her unexplained flat tires. The graffiti on her storefront. But this has gone too fucking far.

  I make a fist, crumbling it in my hand as I look back up to see Keelynn’s eyes intent on my every move. Confusion, unease, and worry flirting across her face.

  I take a deep breath, trying to buy some time, to calm down. Because I can’t reveal why I’m reacting this w
ay. Not the truth anyway. Because she has no fucking clue why I’m really in town. She has no clue I’ve been watching these guys’ every move.

  Not close enough clearly.

  “Merrick, what’s going on?”

  I blow a deep breath. Reining it in. Trying to think. To cover my sudden reaction. “Have you used them before? For repairs?”

  “No.” She shakes her head. “This was the first time. I hadn’t heard of them until I was looking for someone to call and luck would have it their flyer ended up on my car windshield outside of the bookstore. Saw they were local and gave them a shot.”

  “And when did you have them come in?”

  “Right after the Michaels brothers finished repairing the roof and kitchen a couple of days after you had inspected the damage. So earlier in the week. The sink started leaking—Merrick, why does this matter? Why the twenty questions?”

  I stop to think again. Figure out how much to say. If anything.

  Goddamn it.

  “So it’s been a few days. The guys give you any trouble? Seem odd or act weird?”

  “Not at all. Why? You think they had something to do with this?”

  “It’s a possibility.”

  “Why would you think that? React that way to the receipt?”

  I pull her back into me then. Relishing in the feel of her body against mine. All her soft to all my hard. Buying some time to process all I just figured out in the matter of seconds.

  They’re onto me—know I’m here. They have to. Because no way is Corsetti’s Plumbing leaving a flyer on her car a fucking coincidence. These fuckers somehow know I’m here and they’re playing it low for a reason.

  One I plan to fucking find out before ending them all.

  SCREAMS RIP THROUGH THE AIR as bullets explode around me. I’m frozen in place.

  Panic.

  Confusion.

  Fear.

  They all consume me as I watch on in horror.

  My wife riddled with bullets. My daughter screaming for her life.

  Then as quickly as my shock and fear held me in place, I snap out of it. Sprinting to their sides. Throwing myself on top of them. Praying I can save them.

  Gasping awake, my body feels as if it’s on a block of ice doused in flames. Hot and cold all at once.