Page 68 of Entice

“How?”

Crystal glanced at Tessa. “Tessa, I’m swearing you to secrecy until I’m ready to tell Sierra.”

“What?” Tessa looked shocked.

“Please.” Crystal knew she was asking a lot, but for right now, she needed to do this.

“I’ll keep it to myself,” Tessa said as she reached over and took Crystal’s hand.

“My family is a lot like yours; they don’t understand our life choices. I’m glad you had Sage to go to. When my father beat me, I had no one.” Tessa’s hand tightened around hers, and Crystal squeezed back.

“Your father raised a hand to you?” Brady’s features tightened, his eyes darkening.

“He did.” She swallowed. “The point I’m making is that I understand about family. I know you don’t want to press charges, and I get it.”

“Thank you. Do you still see your family?”

“No. There’s an advantage. They live in Kansas, so we’re not even in the same state.”

“But mine are.” Brady looked out the window of Tessa’s apartment. “I get what you’re saying. They’re not going to leave me alone even if we do win the case?”

“Maybe, and maybe not. I want you to prepare yourself. Seeing them in court tomorrow isn’t going to be fun, and it will be difficult to stare your family down.”

“I can do it. For me and for Sage.”

Twenty minutes later, Tessa gave Crystal a big hug, and then Crystal left the apartment. Crystal drove to Jordan’s home feeling better than she had in days. She’d faced her ghosts.

* * * *

“How’s Brady? Is he ready?” Jordan asked over dinner.

“He is.” Crystal pushed her food around on her plate.

“What is it, baby?”

“I’m not hungry.”

Jordan frowned, but he didn’t press; instead, he wrapped up her food and put it in the fridge. He pulled her from the chair and led her into the bedroom. “Shower,” he said, pushing her into the bathroom.

When she emerged, Jordan had turned down the sheets, and a bottle of oil sat on the nightstand.

“Come lay down on your stomach, baby.” He patted the mattress.

Crystal did as he bid. The scent of roses filled the air right before Jordan’s oil-slicked hands touched her back.

“So tense,” he murmured as he kneaded her shoulders.

“It’s been a long couple of days, and tomorrow is going to be no different.” Her eyes drifted shut as Jordan continued to massage her back. His soft voice and his touch were the last things she remembered as she drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

A small smile curved Crystal’s lips as she dressed Wednesday morning. Jordan had woken her early with gentle kisses and worked his way into making love. Her skin still tingled from his touch. She hated to leave his bed, but she needed to get home and change.

She slipped on a conservative outfit and put her hair up. After she met Jordan at the office, they went to the courthouse together. Jordan went into the courtroom with Sage. Crystal talked with the bailiff at the door before she went to check on Brady, who waited with Tessa in a nearby room.

She knocked on the door, and Tessa opened it. “Hi.” Tessa gave her a hug after letting her in the room.

“Hi.” Crystal looked across the room to where Brady paced. “Brady, you ready?”

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