by Brooke Page
He shook his head drastically, kissing my closed eyelids. “You could never be a monster. You need to think of all the women you’ve saved. There’s a bigger picture, and you have to focus on what you prevented, otherwise it’s going to eat you alive.”
“I don’t know how I’ll get past this,” I mumbled against his chest.
“We’ll get through it, together,” he promised, lifting my chin and kissing the corner of my mouth. “I’m not going anywhere. Not this time. Not ever.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, crushing my mouth to his, kissing him with all that I had left. He tasted so perfect, a flavor I thought I’d forever be fantasizing about in my desires.
My guilt was still a deep thorn, but Vance brought relief, and the shattered pieces of my heart merged together from the purity of his love. He kept his lips molded with mine, his arms cradling me tightly.
I stopped our tender kisses and choked, “Can you really live with what I’ve done?”
Vance brushed my cheek with his hand. “If you can live with what I’ve done.” He pressed our foreheads together. “I swear to you, your mom was never supposed to die. I had a facility set up for her outside of Harris. If I had known he was going to kill her, I’d have come up with something else to get you out of The Shore. I lost my mother to the same drug, I’d never want to put you through that pain.”
Tears rolled down both our cheeks. “I forgive you,” I choked. “I’ll always forgive you.” Looking into his chest, I asked, “You probably think differently of me now.”
The slightest bit of a smile grazed his lips. “The only difference is, I’m more in love with you now than the first time we stood in this very spot.”
My face lifted. “Really?”
He nodded, cupping both of my cheeks. “I love you, Lauren Owens, and if you’ll have me, I’ll love you for the rest of our lives.”
My arms locked around his waist, my gaze never leaving his. “Yes.” I blinked and sniffed, my wet eyes searching his face. “Is it really that simple?”
He smiled, tilting his head so our lips were brushing. “It is now.”
I kissed him, a soothing current calming my nerves. We’d been through the difficult, the terrible, to the absolute edge of hell, but we clung to each other, held on to our hearts through the fire. We conquered the darkness together.
I’d never let him go, and he’d always hold on.
The fight was over, and although we both had our share of scars, they’d heal, and our love would set us free.
Epilogue
Two years later
Vance
“Tessa might explode from excitement,” Lauren grinned, standing outside of a barn.
I snaked my arm around her waist, examining my handy work. It wasn’t huge, and I’d had contractors help, but I’d done my part putting it together. Tessa was turning eight, and had no idea we’d bought property twenty minutes inland from our home by beach at The Shore.
We’d bought a house on stilts down the road from YaYa’s, conveniently located in walking distance to a vacant commercial building. Lauren’s eyes went wide when she saw it, a spark flashing in them when she stopped in front of it on one of our walks. I squeezed her hand, the same idea popping into my head.
A few deals and signing of papers later, Everett Surf Co was created. Everett Surf Co provided the average beach goer supplies for all of their recreational activities. Including kiteboarding equipment.
Tessa loved the shop, especially the old Pacman machine I managed to buy from Pete. We’d visit Pete and Bonnie throughout the year, but going back was still hard for Tessa. She didn’t understand what happened with Colby, and we made sure she saw a counselor to help her.
“This will be good for her,” I encouraged, squeezing Lauren’s hip. “I know she’s happy here, but I don’t want her to lose sight of where she came from.”
Lauren’s head found my shoulder. “She’ll think of Colby when she’s here. She’ll be reminded of the good memories of him.”
I kissed her temple. “That’s good. She needs to remember her Dad.”
Lauren patted my chest with her palm. “Yeah, she’s got a pretty good stand in, though.”
I smiled down at her, tilting my head to give her a kiss, but was interrupted by a little hand smacking my shin. “You want up, buddy?” Squatting down, I scooped up Wyatt, our scowling eight-month-old, who was sitting on a blanket.
Lauren kissed his chubby cheeks, getting a giggle out of him.
Between the new store and a new baby, finishing the barn was a load off my shoulders, but I had more planned for the quiet property with a few trees but mainly open spaces.
“I spoke with an architect this morning while you and Wyatt were at the shop.”
Lauren arched an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? You talk to him about building another store further down the beach?”
I shook my head, loving her eager spirit to grow our favorite business. “We’ve got enough of those.” I still owned half of the strip’s shops from Marcus. “I was thinking a house.”
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded, unable to contain my grin. “I think a house just over there would fit perfectly.”
Lauren smiled, but then it faded. “I like our house on the beach, though. It’s near our store, and right on the beach.”
“We’d keep it for the busy season, or for when you’re mad at me,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes, but her grin remained. “When do I get mad at you?”
“You were pretty heated when I showed Tessa how to kitesurf,” I smirked, leaning over and giving her a chaste kiss.
She held up a finger. “Only because I thought you were going to have her go into the ocean by herself on one of those things!”
“Baby, I don’t like it when you go out there by yourself. No way I’m letting my little girl on one of those kites by herself. She’s what, 60 pounds?”
Lauren narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t know that.”
“I’m terrified when you’re out there without me,” I confessed. “I’d much rather ride tandem. Makes me less worried.”
“You just like my butt being pressed against your groin,” she joked.
I wiggled my eyebrows. “That is a perk.”
A car turned down the long driveway, and the anticipation we’d been preparing for was finally here. Colt and Marcy were bringing Tessa and YaYa here from school. They drove her real surprise all the way from Harris and wanted to stick around to see her reaction.
Tessa jumped out of the car, and Lauren ran to her, hugging her tight. “Happy Birthday, baby!”
“Thanks, Mom!”
Warmth filled me from their interaction. Tessa had grown so much in the past few years, and I loved every new change.
Marcy ran over to me, grabbing Wyatt and kissing his cheeks. “Aunt Marcy needs her baby fix!” she cooed. Wyatt only scowled at her. “He sure looks like you, Vance,” she teased, keeping her voice high.
I shook my head and ignored her, sending a smile to Tessa when I approached her. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart.” She held her arms out to me, and I instinctively picked her up and spun her. She laughed until I set her back on her feet.
“What are we doing here?” she asked, walking toward the barn. Lauren and I met each other’s gazes with grins.
“Why don’t you come find out?”
Tessa took each of our hands, letting us guide her into the barn. A smile was plastered to her face when she saw the streamers and balloons, a banner hanging across the middle that read, Happy Birthday, Tessa.
“Wow!” she exclaimed, running to a table that had a cake with a horse on it. “Thanks, Mommy! Thanks Vance!”
I loved her humbleness. She would have been grateful for the cake and decorations alone, but the biggest surprise was yet to come.
I took her hand, leading her past the table. Lauren and the rest of the group followed. “You’re eight now, so your Mom and I think you’re ready for a bigger responsibility.”
Tessa furrowed her brows. “Okay?”
I stood her in front of a closed barn door, then let go of her hand, unlatching the top half and swinging it to the other side.
“A HORSE!” she shrieked. “Are we going horseback riding for my birthday?”
Lauren crouched down next to her. “Starting today, you can go horseback riding whenever you’d like.”
Tessa’s eyes went wide. “I get to keep it?”
We all laughed. “She’s all yours, as long as you promise to take care of her.”
Tessa squealed, running to where the horse hung her head outside of the stable. Tessa stood on her tiptoes, stroking the nose of her gently. “I can’t believe it! Can I name her?”
“Whatever name you’d like,” I said, opening the other side of the door and grabbing her by the reigns. The horse walked out of the stall, and Tessa couldn’t contain her excitement. She was bouncing all around, but her hands were gentle when she stroked the horse.
“I want to name her Pepper, because she has speckles.”
“That sounds like the perfect name,” Lauren smiled, coming over and hugging on the side.
“Vance, do you think I could ride her on the beach?”
I smiled, her love for the beach matched her mom’s. “She loves water. That’s why we picked her for you.”
Tessa giggled, and the horse nuzzled Tessa’s head, puffing out air from her nostrils.
“I think she likes you,” Lauren grinned.
“I love her! Thank you!” Tessa cheered.
***
After cake and celebrating Tessa’s birthday, a tutorial from a rancher who would be helping upkeep the stable for Pepper, and a very long ride, we’d left the barn after sunset with two very tired children.
Lauren carried a sleeping Wyatt inside, while I carried Tessa.
I laid her in bed, carefully pulling off her boots and sliding her feet under the covers. When I kissed her goodnight, she turned into me, her arms wrapping around my neck. “Thank you, Daddy,” she said groggily,
I kissed her forehead, and she turned into her pillow to crash. She didn’t call me dad often, but it nearly brought tears to my eyes whenever she let it slip. Lauren switched places with me, tucking Tessa in while I kissed Wyatt goodnight, both of us meeting in our bedroom.
“Today went perfectly,” Lauren sighed, flopping down on her back on our bed.
I fell next to her on my side, holding my head with my hand. “You think so?”
She turned to her side, kissing me sweetly. “Yes. I don’t think it could have gone any smoother. You are a wonderful Daddy.”
“She’s been through a lot. I only want her to be happy.” I ran my hand through Lauren’s hair. “I want all of us to be happy.”
“We are,” she gently pushed me to my back and crawled on top of me. “This life, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of; I can’t imagine it getting any more perfect.”
I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her butt. “You deserve it.”
The corners of her mouth lifted. “So do you, Vance.”
I met her smile, tilting my chin to kiss her.
She was right.
“Yes. We do.”
The End
For more information on how to stop Human Trafficking:
POLARIS: National Human Trafficking Hotline
“Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery-a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 20.9 million people around the world. And no matter where you live, chances are it’s happening nearby. From the girl forced into prostitution at a truck stop, to the man discovered in a restaurant kitchen, stripped of his passport and held against his will. All trafficking victims share one essential experience: the loss of freedom.”
- Polaris:National Human Trafficking Hotline
Did you enjoy this story? Be sure to check out OBSESSION, another high suspense, intense story by Brooke Page.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I never would have finished this book if it weren’t for my husband. All of the nights he allowed for me to escape to the coffee shop and write until they closed were what made this book possible. I’ll love you forever, baby.
To my supportive parents and children for cheering me on and keeping me focused.
To my bestie Amanda, who’d listen to my crazy ideas, helping to guide me in the direction I knew I wanted, but needed clarification.
Thanks to my amazing editor Erin Noelle, for putting up with my repetitive words and scattered thoughts, keeping my plot in line and organized.
And of course, my family at Vaskobooks, for putting all of the pieces together to release The Riptide Series. I will be forever grateful for your faith in me as an author.
Connect with Brooke:
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Books By Brooke Page
Conklin’s Trilogy:
Drawn to You (#1)
Molded For You (#2)
Bound With You (#3)
Forever With You (#3.5)
Obsession Trilogy:
Obsession (#1)
Hide (#2)
Seek (#3)
Steamy Hot Shots:
Wicked Wedding
Craving The Cowboy
Dangerous Lies
Bad Boss
A Very Bad Boss Christmas