Page 8 of Knotted Laces

Which is…moderately successful.

Mostly because the past is a clingy bitch. Being here. On the West Coast. In the Bay Area…

It brings back long-buried enemies.

This is where I grew up.

Before we swapped coasts, and before things got really bad there…they were badhere.

But even with that in my head, I know needed this change, needed the chance to work on this case, and as much as I miss the day-to-day with Lex—we were partners in the FBI together for ten years, for God’s sake—it’s good to have a fresh start.

My life here is long over.

My demons are back East.

Along with Lex.

Because now he has Frankie. Hell,allthe Jacksons on the East Coast are matched up and blissfully happy and…

That’s not my future.

Sighing, I clench my back teeth together and deliberately pick up my cookie, taking small bites until it’s gone, until I’m focused on anything that isn’t…

Well, that isn’tmyfamily. My past. And…what I won’t ever have.

Luckily, with the Jacksons around, that’s not all that hard.

Six brothers (though Lex isn’t technically a bio-relative, he’s more like me—swept into the fold and not let go). A movie star adopted sister. Five daughters by marriage and a gaggle of kids.

Which means there’s always something interesting happening.

Like Cam—who’s grown into his adult body and is somehow sporting even more muscles since the last time I saw him—getting noogies from Carter. And then Chance. And Connor. And Caleb. And…Lex, who can’t resist joining in.

Cam takes the teasing good-naturedly for a few minutes thenbats them away, “Well at leastIcan actually lift more than five pounds in the gym.” He pats Lex’s flat stomach, pokes at Carter’s side. “You guys have been packing the pounds ever since you got hitched?—”

Lex growls and I smother a smile, knowing he’s sensitive about his not-so-six-pack since he hooked up with Frankie. The funny part is that she owns a health store, so it should be easy. Unfortunately for Lex, she’s also a great cook, along with Martha and Sophie,andall the Jackson daughters by marriage. None of which is easy on the waistline.

It’s only because of my recent transfer to the Oakland office that I’ve managed to continue to fit into my jeans.

But I’m not above buying a size up either.

“You’re dead,” Lex mutters, taking a step toward Cam.

Who, grinning, darts away, hustling across the kitchen to Martha. He wraps his arms around her from behind. “Save me, Mom!”

She tilts her head back and lifts on tiptoe to press a kiss to his stubble-covered cheek. “I love you.”

My heart pulses—because it’s sweet and heartfelt and it’s the truth. And also because Martha barely gets the words out before I realize that Chance has sneaked up behind Cam. With a growl,he scoops his littlest brother up like a sack of potatoes and starts hauling him from the room.

“Ack!” Cam grunts, arms and legs flying. “Chance!”

“Nice try, bubby,” Martha says, moving between the flying limbs with all the experience of a mom of eight. She pats him on the cheek. “But you created this monster, so now you get to pay the piper?—”

With another grunt, Cam executes a move that has my law enforcement heart lurching in my chest—because it’s fucking impressive and shows exactly how strong the youngest Jackson brother has gotten.

And handsome.

That smirk. The stubble. The gorgeous hazel eyes. The ass that any woman would be lucky enough to grab on to as he plunged deep and hard and?—

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