Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
He looked nothing like the Nox who’d loved bespoke suits, sports cars, fine wine, and sophisticated women. The man who owned a penthouse in Manhattan, a villa in Tuscany, and a house right on Clifton’s sought-after Fourth Beach.
This guy was wearing torn jeans, a faded denim shirt, and looked like he lived in his car.
He stunned Kenny by giving her a long, tight hug.
“Hey, little monster,” he greeted affectionately. The silly nickname for Kenny was one only he’d ever used. He hadn’t referred to her as such in over two decades. “How are you? I’m sorry I’ve been such an absolute fucking…” He paused, then winced, before continuing, “Nox to you about your marriage.”
“I forgive you,” she told him with a smile, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him. “I’m so damned happy to see you, I’d forgive you just about anything right now. Except the fact that you’ve been so uncommunicative.”
He grimaced.
“Don’t worry, Gideon is always riding my arse about it too, as you know. I’ll try to do better, okay? It’s just been… I’ve been working through some stuff. I made a mistake and there were consequences. People were hurt, and there’s this woman who…”
He shook his head a little helplessly, the words sputtering to a halt. His eyes burned with what looked like anguish and remorse. It was more than he’d revealed in years. But he looked so pained to even admit that little, that Kenny knew it would take a hell of a lot more to get the full story out of him.
“I’m glad you came, Nox,” she told him, giving him another tight hug. “I’m sure it means a lot to Dad. To all of us.”
“I came for you, Kenny,” he confessed. “Wanted to make sure my favorite little sister was okay.”
“I’m fine,” she assured, her smile fading. “Right now, with all of you here, I’m absolutely fine.”
She meant every word. Being surrounded by her family was a great comfort to her.
Kenny looked around the room of laughing people, and could almost convince herself that she was happy.
Almost.
The house was ablaze with light, and the driveway was full of cars.
What the fuck?
Was Kenna having a party?
Smith parked his Land Rover behind a black Mercedes SUV and only after he grabbed his bag from the back, and caught a whiff of cigarette smoke, did he realize that there was a someone lurking in the garden, having a smoke.
“Evening,” a deep voice rumbled from the darkness. Smith peered into the shadows and could just make out the familiar face.
Cade’s personal protection guy.
Ah, fuck.
It looked like the in-laws were here.
All of them, if the number of cars in the driveway was any indication.
Shit.
“Hey,” he greeted the bodyguard, then jerked his head toward the house. “How long they been here?”
The man shrugged. “Couple of hours.”
“You okay out here? Need anything to eat or drink?”
“Ms. Jenson took care of that. I ate in the kitchen with the housekeeper. Popped out here for a smoke.”
“Right,” he muttered, then sighed.
Might as well get this over with. He tossed his rucksack over his shoulder and threw back his shoulders, bracing himself for what was to come.
They were all gathered in the living room, and didn’t spot Smith right away. His gaze swept around the room, noting the balloons, the discarded wrapping paper, the massive birthday cake, the incongruous Birthday Boy party hat on his formidable father-in-law’s salt-and-pepper head.
He was crashing the old man’s birthday party.
Just. Fucking. Perfect.
Kenny wasn’t there.
Every other fucking Hawthorne under the sun was in his house, but his wife was nowhere to be seen.
Nox looked up and tensed when he spotted Smith in the doorway.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” His angry demand cut across the laughter and overlapping chatter, silencing everyone. They all turned to face him, the women’s eyes going wide, and the men all bristling.
Smith placed his bag on the floor against the wall and stepped farther into the room.
“This is my house,” he replied, rolling his shoulders tiredly. “I live here.”
“Last we heard, you’d left,” Cade pointed out laconically, folding his arms over his chest. He had a look of extreme distaste on his face, as if he’d stepped in some shit and couldn’t quite figure out how to scrape it off his shoe.
“Fuck, I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to look worse than Nox does right now, but here we are,” Gideon breathed, his amused but contemptuous gaze raking over Smith in disdain.
Smith was well aware he looked awful. He hadn’t shaved since he’d gone camping with Kenna a week ago. His hair needed trimming, and his clothes were sweat-stained, grease-streaked, and grimy.
And he was absolutely knackered.
After wrapping up his business in Riversend, he’d finally left at noon, and had been on the road for seven hours—eight if one included the annoying stop in the middle to change a punctured tire.