Page 89 of Unlawful Seduction

Unfortunately, the tiniest things could still set me off.

“Of course I’m smiling, Hank. Why shouldn’t I be?”

He knew me too well. “Be good to yourself, Mal. Heartache takes time.”

“So I keep hearing.” What I’d endured had been the talk of the town for almost a year. People had acted like I’d died on that mountain instead of traipsing almost a mile through the ice and snow. But I’d made it.

Because of Beckett’s sacrifice.

Sighing, I grabbed my card, sliding it back into my wallet. I loathed when the townspeople gave me that look. It was the one that expressed their concern I might go over the edge, losing my shit. I was much stronger than that.

That didn’t mean I hadn’t lost it several times when I was all alone. Well, almost all alone. I’d had Jax for a couple of months.Then he’d run away and I’d felt empty inside, so much so that I hadn’t eaten for a couple of weeks, sick as a dog.

I couldn’t go down that road again. I just couldn’t. I’d worked long and hard to bring myself up by my bootstraps. I was even dating, although I wasn’t certain using a dating app was in my best interest. There were some real duds out there. Or maybe I was just too picky. I needed to be. It wasn’t just about my life. I had a son to consider.

“Well, I’m just happy you are.”

“Thanks, Hank. When are you going to retire?” I shoved the small bag into my purse, noticing Sampson was pulling on his leash, something he rarely did unless he was excited to see a friend.

“Me? Never. This place keeps me young.” He grinned and patted his hands on his puffed-out chest.

“Uh-huh. The real ladies’ man, I see. Just take care of yourself.”

I groaned when I noticed Brady was already making a mess of the candy. He could do that within a split second of tasting any sweet treat. I had no clue how he managed the art.

“Come on, Brady. Let’s get home. Maybe Mama Fairy has a little surprise.”

He threw his head back, his grin creating a deep ache. As I’d tried to do from the beginning, I shoved the anguish aside. I couldn’t relive the past or change the outcome.

“See you later.” Hank waved and I moved toward the exit, reminding myself I needed to purchase another case of wet wipes when I went to Costco next. We went through them quickly.

The bell on the top of the door jingled as we walked out and Sampson jerked me forward, almost ripping off my arm.

“Sampson. Whoa, dude.”

Brady suddenly gasped.

“Mommy. Wook! It’s a dog just wike ours.”

I noticed Brady had his arm outstretched, pointing toward something at his eye level.

Sampson barked, but only one time. I lifted my head slowly, first noticing Brady was right. The dog was exactly like Sampson, a white German Shepherd.

No. It wasn’t possible. All the air was sucked from my lungs the moment the unknown dog whined.

My blood ran cold as my gaze hit a pair of muscular, long legs in jeans. I suddenly couldn’t breathe, my pulse skyrocketing. I lifted my gaze further as the dog slipped from his owner’s hand, lunging toward me.

Tears immediately flooded my eyes and all I could do was whisper his name.

“Jax.” He licked my face as Brady giggled. I tilted my head toward the mountainous man standing in front of me, staring into the most intense pair of deep green eyes I’d ever seen.

Not true.

That I hadn’t seen in four horrible, guilt-ridden years. Beckett.

“See, Mommy. See?”

The deep eyes stared back at me, Beckett’s expression unreadable. But as I’d done with Jax, he slowly shifted his gaze to the little boy standing beside me.

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