Page 53 of Mine to Protect

Neither did she as she cried out his name, over and over again.

He felt her tighten around him, gripping him as her climax tore through her body to his, forcing his orgasm and causing him to thrust into her with such force that he nearly slipped.

It wasn’t the most romantic encounter, but it was sensual, and it was filled with love.

“I’m crazy for you,” he whispered.

“You’re crazy, all right.” She kissed his neck and sighed. “Now, let’s actually get clean, so I’m not naked when I see your mother again.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

“This is amazing.” Shelby stepped into the two-story foyer of Rebecca and Steve’s home.

Or maybe mansion.

Shelby guessed it to be at least eight thousand square feet. If not more.

“It’s too much, and I’m trying to talk my future husband into downsizing.”

“But I like it here.” A handsome older man appeared. He wore khaki shorts and a golf shirt. “Hey, honey. Sorry you had a long day and night at work.” He leaned in and kissed Rebecca. “You must be Rhett’s girl, Shelby.”

“I’m not sure that’s an official title. Yet.” Rebecca reached out and squeezed Shelby’s arm. “But from what little I know so far, if it is true, I would approve.”

Shelby guessed that was a good sign.

“Welcome to our home,” Steve said. “I’m headed out to play some golf. I’ll be home for dinner.”

“Unless something crazy happens in this case and my boys can’t handle it, which I doubt, I should be here.” Rebecca hugged her fiancé and then led Shelby through a massive great room. A wedding picture hung over the fireplace. Rebecca pointed. “That’s from Jamison’s wedding. The baby of the family.”

“You have some seriously handsome boys.”

“I’m not going to deny that.” Rebecca looped her arm through Shelby’s. “Let’s grab a mimosa and sit out on the pool deck.”

“Sounds good to me.” Shelby tried not to stare at everything in the house, but it was impossible. She suspected that only the finest, most expensive things filled the home, which she found odd because Rebecca seemed like the kind of woman who didn’t like flashy things.

Shelby stepped through the massive sliding glass doors from the kitchen and out onto the patio. She’d thought Rhett’s house was spectacular.

But this place was breathtaking with its view of the ocean and massive pool. Not to mention the two hot tubs and the side yard with all the games and putting green.

“I know. This is all Steve. Not me,” Rebecca said as she stood in front of a summer kitchen. She opened a bottle of champagne and made two mimosas. “If this weren’t his dream home, I’d push harder to sell. Not to mention, my youngest boy, who happens to be Steve’s biological son, loves to bring his little girl over here. All my kids like to come here with their families, and my ex-husband and his girlfriend come, too. It’s become the center of our family, and I’d be a bitch if I took it away.” She handed Shelby a glass. “I’ve worked too hard to get my boys to forgive me for my affair. I’m not going to do anything to rock the boat. And this may sound insane, but if that means living here, then that’s what it means.”

Before Shelby left the house, Rhett had told her to be open and honest with his mom. That Rebecca had a strong bullshit meter and hated when people weren’t real. She’d rather have a difference of opinion than deal with people who had done what she’d done to her family.

Lie.

Shelby hadn’t gotten the opportunity to find out what that meant since his mom had shown up, but she opted to take it at face value.

“That does sound a bit crazy,” Shelby said as she took a seat in one of the lounge chairs in front of the pool, facing the ocean. “Do you mind if I ask why you don’t want to live here? I mean, it’s a beautiful house.” Another piece of advice from Rhett was to ask questions and be genuine. Shelby had an inquisitive nature, so she went with it.

“What do you know about my history with my son, Jamison?”

“Honestly, not much.”

“To make a very long story short, I had an affair with Steve while I was still married to my first husband. Rhett’s father. I got pregnant. My ex and I decided to raise Jamison as ours, and Steve walked away. When it all came out, my boys couldn’t forgive me. Well, Jamison couldn’t. The others came around faster.” Rebecca set the bottle of champagne in a cooler thing and leaned back in her chair. She raised her flute and sipped. “It was compounded by the fact that I was a bit on my high horse, believing that because my ex-husband Dalton and I made decisions that we thought were best for our family, my boys should just agree. But lying is never a good decision.” She sat up taller and glanced over her shoulder. “Steve bought this house when everything in my life was upside down. Sometimes, this place reminds me of my mistakes, but then I look at that picture of my entire family with my ex included, and I wonder why I’m being so ridiculous.”

“Do you want a stranger’s two cents?”

“Sometimes, it’s better to hear something from an unfamiliar face.” Rebecca arched a brow. “Don’t hold back.”

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