by Jordyn White
As Brett leads me by the hand into his room, I try to remember every moment from tonight and tuck it into the pocket inside my heart. Which is a good place for it.
Epilogue
Lizzy
I’m parked in front of a small, older foursquare house in Galesburg, Illinois. There’s a front porch and big front windows with wide, wooden frames. The house is light green with dark green trim, and is the residence of a certain Mason Reeves.
Brett thinks I’m crazy. So does Corrine. No one else knows I’m here.
Well, except for George Hollister, who gave me the information I requested without the faintest of protests.
So maybe this is the right thing to do, and maybe it’s not, but I’m here now and I’m going for it. There’s what looks to be a thirty-year-old Corvette and a much newer Harley Davidson in the drive, so hopefully he’s home.
I step out of the rental car, hitch my purse over my shoulder, and shut the door. Eyes on the house, I stand there taking a few deep breaths, which materialize in the air in front of me. It’s considerably colder here in November than it is in Central California.
I rub my damp palms on the sides of my jeans, wishing I’d thought to bring some gloves, then tuck my hands under my arms for warmth. At least I have a jacket. Taking one last, resolute breath, I make my way down the sidewalk, up the wooden steps, and to the door.
A moment’s hesitation, then I knock quickly so I can’t chicken out.
There’s silence for a few seconds, then the clomping of heavy steps as someone comes to the door. The door swings inward to reveal a rather massive specimen of a male. He’s my age, so I maybe could safely assume this is Mason Reeves, but he doesn’t look remotely related. He’s broad shouldered, tall, and covered in bulging muscles. He’s perfectly proportioned, for a male of this type, and good-looking to boot, so I imagine he and his Harley could go bare-chested in a pinup calendar no problem.
But right now, I’m mostly keenly aware of the fact that this guy outsizes me more than most, and I hope that’s not going to be a problem if he doesn’t like what comes next.
“Yeah?”
“Um... are you Mason Reeves?”
He glances over me up and down. Not in a sleazy way, more like he’s trying to take me in and figure out who I am. In fact, while he’s not exactly friendly, his eyes are non-threatening, which soothes my nerves some. “Who wants to know?”
I stick out my hand. “I’m Elizabeth Rivers. Lizzy.”
His eyes harden immediately, and my heartrate speeds up. He looks at my hand. He doesn’t take it. “What are you doing here?”
I drop my hand. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk to you.”
He starts to close the door but I put my hand on it and stick my foot between the door and the jamb, cringing at the fear that his muscly arms are going to crush my foot anyway. I say urgently, “Please wait! Please.”
He opens the door quickly and stares down at my foot. “Are you serious, lady?”
“Please, I’m sorry, but... I need to ask you a question.”
He’s looking at me with a neutral expression. I remove my foot and drop my hand. “Do you live in California?” he asks, his voice neither hard, nor welcoming.
I nod.
“You came here all the way from California to ask me a question?”
I nod again.
There’s something in this man’s eyes. I don’t know what it is. Is it familiarity? A recognition that we’re related, in spite of no clear resemblance? Or is it the hint of vulnerability I sense behind his eyes? I don’t know. But whatever it is, I feel like it’s forging a connection between us, right here at his front door.
“Maybe I don’t feel like answering your question.”
“I understand,” I say softly. “But... if you’re my brother, I have a right to know.”
His eyes widen and he stares at me, dropping his hand from the doorknob. “You think I’m your brother?”
I blink at him, discerning just from the tone of his voice that I’ve made a mistake. That Rayce and I both have. That isn’t what’s going on at all.
“No,” he says harshly. “I’m not your damn brother. Now go away.”
He shuts the door, and this time I do nothing to stop him. I stand staring at the closed door for what feels like a minute, my head spinning. Slightly numb, I turn and exit the porch, one heavy step at a time. I sort of wander back to the car, get behind the wheel, and sit there for a moment.
I pick up my phone and call Brett.
“How’s it going?” he answers.
“Well. I talked to him. It’s not what we thought. He’s not my brother.”
“What did he say? How did he know your dad?”
“I don’t know. We didn’t get that far. He shut the door on me. He doesn’t want to talk.”
Brett sighs, then says gently. “I didn’t think he would.”
“I know. You were right.” I take a deep breath, turning my head and looking back to the closed door.
“Well, at least now you can come home knowing that you don’t have a brother floating around out there somewhere.”
“Yes,” I say dully. “I can go home knowing that. And at least I know Dad didn’t do that to Mom.” I thought I’d made my peace with that, but perhaps not, since the knowledge he was faithful to her is now a tangible relief.
I sigh again. “All right. I’ll head back to the airport and see if I can bump up my flight home. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay, honey. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Give Max and Montana kisses for me.”
“I will.”
We hang up and I sit for another minute. Then two. I look at Mason Reeves’ front door again.
I should go back to the airport now. I should. He doesn’t want to talk to me. Whatever is going on, he doesn’t want to talk to me. Brett is right. I should just leave the man be.
But... I don’t know if I can leave this unresolved. I don’t mean for myself. I mean—am I crazy to think it?—for him. The way his face looked for a moment there, so vulnerable. Like he both wanted to talk to me, and didn’t.
Why did he reject his inheritance, especially considering it so clearly, rightfully belongs to him? He has a little time to change his mind, legally, but after that, it will get absorbed into the trust. That means the house will be sold and the money divided between me and my brothers . Something about that seems horribly wrong. Something about walking away right now seems wrong, too.
My father cared about this person. Strangely, though I don’t even know him, I care too.
I sigh, get out of the car, and curse myself for my stubbornness and stupidity all the way up the walk.
Nevertheless, when I get to the door, I raise my hand, and knock.
Continue with the Rivers Family saga...
Beloved cousin Corrine falls for the mysterious Mason Reeves, a man with tragic ties to the family clan. But family secrets aren’t the only things standing in the way of their happily ever after. Experience all the feels of their stunning love affair in BEAUTIFUL DARK.
Did you miss Connor and Whitney’s whirlwind romance? Find out how she captured the heart of this wandering Rivers brother in BEAUTIFUL MINE.
Be sure to find out who tames the eldest Rivers brother. Fall in love with Rayce and Emma in BEAUTIFUL DEEP, a powerful tale of passion, love, and redemption.
Don’t miss discovering a whole new side to Swan Pointe’s intrepid gossip columnist, Rita Becker, when her path collides with Dallas Huntington in BEAUTIFUL LIES.
GET YOUR FREE BOOK
He’s my ex and now my client.
There are so many reasons to say no to him.
So why can’t I stop saying yes?
KEEPING HER is the standalone prequel to the Hearts on Fire series, available exclusively to newsletter subscribers.
Experience Cat and Marcus’s fiery, emotional love story today. Get your copy here.
BOOKS BY JORDYN WHITE
THE FIREWORK GIRLS
“Like an addictive TV show where you feel like you’re friends with the characters and are glued to every development.” - SPR
FORBIDDEN HEAT
Isabella and Shane (Firework Girls #1)
MIDNIGHT HEAT
Chloe and Grayson (Firework Girls #2)
ETERNAL HEAT
Ashley and Erik (Firework Girls #3)
NUCLEAR HEAT
Sam and Jack (Firework Girls #4)
HANDLE THE HEAT
A Firework Girls Short Story
Sam and Jack (Firework Girls #4.5)
HOLIDAY HEAT
Bobby and Sophie (Firework Girls #5)
THE BEAUTIFUL RIVERS SERIES
“I loved the Firework Girls series but I think I'm loving Beautiful Rivers more!” – Mary M, Five-star Amazon review
BEAUTIFUL MINE
Connor and Whitney (Beautiful Rivers #1)
BEAUTIFUL FALL
Lizzy and Brett (Beautiful Rivers #2)
BEAUTIFUL DARK
Corrine and Mason (Beautiful Rivers #3)
BEAUTIFUL DEEP
Rayce and Emma (Beautiful Rivers #4)
BEAUTIFUL LIES (a novella)
Rita and Dallas (Beautiful Rivers #5)
HEARTS ON FIRE SERIES
HEART OF GLASS
Mia and Luke (Hearts on Fire #1)
LOVE ON THE ROCKS
Raven and Spencer (Hearts on Fire #2)
Coming summer of 2019
For a complete, up-to-date list of all Jordyn’s books and shorts:
Jordyn White’s Reading Order Page
Connect with Jordyn!
Go to my website for excerpts from the books, news, and more. www.JordynWhiteBooks.com
Become a Firework Friend! Join my fan group on Facebook.
Like my Facebook Page.
Follow me on BookBub.
Follow me on Book+Main.
Or feel free to drop me a line. [email protected]