Page 90 of Unlawful Seduction

The little boy who had his father’s eyes.

A sob rushed up from my throat. I had no idea what to say or if there was anything that could be said.

But I remembered.

Not like the experience had been years before. The memories were fresh and alive, as if they’d occurred just last month. Or maybe yesterday.

The memories were raw and biting just like they’d been during the first few months. Images and thoughts had paraded through my mind in an endless loop, repeating.

Endlessly.

No sleep.

No food.

Just anger.

They’d almost consumed my life and they were already threatening to do so again.

Beckett looked different, the four years creating more lines in his rugged face, his hair two shades darker, but there was no doubt the man standing in front of me was the man I’d started falling in love with and had lost on that mountain. There’d been a body, but it had been unidentifiable given the horrific, fiery crash. Or maybe the coroner hadn’t tried hard enough to ID the victim. I hadn’t pushed the issue, giving the identification based on a piece of clothing that hadn’t burned up in the flames.

I was close to hyperventilating. This was too much. Too uncontrollable. I couldn’t handle it. Both Jax and Sampson were nuzzling my legs and I knew at that moment I was about to lose it.

“Jax. Heel.” Jax obeyed his master, but not without whining just once, giving me a longing look. The dog had protected me. He’d helped me survive. He’d allowed me to throw my arms around his neck and cry myself to sleep night after night for three solid months. He’d been there when the police had found a crossbow, asking if I wanted it. He’d been there when I’d kept it inside, staring at it for two weeks before locking it away in the barn.

The bond was still there, but this wasn’t my life. This wasn’t anything. I just…

I had to stay strong for Brady.

Very slowly the man I’d believed dead locked eyes with my son. He was seeing his own eyes in the little boy.

Beckett always knew what I was thinking or feeling. Today was no different. He nodded to Brady before snapping his gaze in my direction once again. Then he just turned away, walking down the sidewalk as if we didn’t have a history.

As if we didn’t know each other.

As if I hadn’t birthed his own flesh and blood.

I watched him head to a brand new Dodge Ram, opening the driver’s door and allowing Jax to jump inside. The entire moment was unreal. This wasn’t really happening.

My legs wouldn’t move. I was aware Brady was jabbering on while Sampson was pulling on his leash, but all sound wassucked into a vacuum. Wait a minute. Beckett wasn’t going to acknowledge we knew each other?

Before climbing in, he turned his head, once again staring at me just like he’d done moments before he’d sent me away. Moments before he’d done everything in his power to save my life at a loss to his.

But here he was in person, back in Stowe. When he climbed in, I forced myself to look away, shutting down the tears already forming in my eyes.

“Mama. Did you see? Did you see de puppy?”

“I did, baby. He looked just like Sampson. Huh?” I could barely keep the sobbing sound from my voice and didn’t feel my feet as I headed to my truck, a gift I’d given myself after Brady had been born.

Somehow, I managed to get him strapped into the car seat and Sampson harnessed next to him without feeling my fingers. I was shaking like a leaf, certain I’d just lost the last portion of my mind.

I’d seen a ghost. That had to be it.

I’d almost convinced myself that was the case until my sweet little boy brought it all back to reality. Thankfully, I’d thought to take the candy away from my little man or he would have consumed the entire stick. Maybe I’d suck on it on the way home. Thank God I didn’t have a bottle of wine in the truck, or I’d suck that down as well.

“Who was dat man, Mommy? He wooked mean.”

I finished fastening my seatbelt, closing my eyes briefly and leaning my head against the headrest. “I don’t know, baby. Just a nice man with a beautiful dog.”

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