by Susan Stoker
“Good to hear,” Cade murmured. “That took a lot of courage on her part, too.”
“Yes, it did. But I can’t imagine being in a loveless marriage with a man who was so dark, who lied to her constantly, and hid from her his real business, which was drugs, weapons, and trafficking.”
Squeezing her shoulders gently, he said gruffly, “Your mom did the best she could, and on the plus side, the ranch is starting to thrive. She’s hired new wranglers to replace the ones in cahoots with your father’s drug business. I think she’s happy and she’s fully capable of running that ranch.”
“I took the liberty of calling your mom,” she said, holding his gaze. “She’s more than willing to bury the hatchet between the two families. She’s glad to be starting over with all of us.”
“That’s good,” Cade said, finishing off the hot chocolate and placing the mug on a nearby table. “I’d like to go to the ranch for Turkey Day,” he said, smiling at her. “Are you going to make pumpkin pies? The one you made a month ago was really good.”
Laughing, she nodded. “For you? Anything.”
*
Cade knew the depth of courage and strength that Kara possessed as never before. When the news story hit about Jud Knight being the second-in-command within the Gomez drug cartel on the U.S. side of the multi-country operation, he watched the devastation, the shock, and hurt move through Kara daily. But like her Texan mother, and like all Texas born women he knew, they had titanium spines. Within a week, the famous Knight ranch became an embarrassment to the state. People who had known Knight were surprised and didn’t want to believe it. But as more and more evidence was produced, the world accepted the rich man’s illegal schemes. Luckily, Kara and her mother were not muddied in the screaming headlines. They were just the collateral damage and of little interest to the news hounds.
And Cade was glad because Kara was fragile after that for a couple of months, but her mother was a stanchion of strength for her, and so was he. Between the two of them Kara was rediscovering her own core strength and balance. She had children’s lives to guide, a day care center that helped so many working class parents. Each day when she returned to Cade’s home, he could see how helping these children helped her recover too. The love they effortlessly bestowed upon Kara was doing its healing work. Cade was there for her as she cried when she had nightmares, or when she felt abandoned by her larger-than-life, controlling father. The blindsiding had deeply wounded both women, but like the Texans they were, they fought back and found a deeper strength to continue to move forward.
Cade and Kara were going to marry on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. It was all heart’s day, in Cade’s way of thinking and seeing the world. Both mothers had become good friends over the course of the last few months, planning Kara’s wedding with him. And that made his heart sing. As he swung with her, watching her sip the rich hot chocolate, watching that diamond engagement ring glint in the evening dusk coming upon them, he’d never felt happier or more fulfilled.
Cade found their life paths crisscrossing so many times and yet, because of Kara’s father, they’d split apart from one another. Sometimes, he woke up at night after making love with her, amazed at how they had found one another once again, despite the man’s machinations. Their hearts yearned to be together, regardless of time, place, or space. He loved Kara with his life and always would. The dreams they dreamed together now were incredible and were filled with such hope and love. He pressed a kiss to her hair, never happier, never more fulfilled.
The End
Don’t miss Lindsay McKenna’s next DELOS series novella,
Secret Dream, 1B, novella epilogue to Nowhere to Hide
Available from Lindsay McKenna and Blue Turtle Publishing and wherever you buy eBooks!
Turn the page for a sneak peek of Secret Dream!
Excerpt from
Secret Dream
“Cav! There’s my mom and dad!” She practically ran toward them, dragging him along with her. Though she was a tiny little thing, Cav had learned early on she wasn’t weak.
Cav saw a tall, darkly tanned man in a straw cowboy hat, a chambray shirt, jeans, and work boots standing next to a woman. She had blond hair and was wearing a short-sleeved white blouse, jeans, and flat, sensible leather shoes. He saw their faces light up when they spotted Lia.
“Hey,” he called to Lia, “go to them. I’ll follow.” He released her hand but she turned, giving him a pouty look.
“I’m not leaving you behind!” Lia grabbed at his hand once more, turning and urging him to hurry along. Cav broke out into a self-conscious grin as he saw her parents watching their exchange. Is this what a family did when a stranger was brought along, dragged hurriedly to them? Cav felt out of place, uncomfortable, as he saw Lia’s mother scowl, her green eyes narrowing judgmentally upon him. He hoped what he was wearing didn’t make her think he wasn’t worthy of Lia. Because the way she was sizing him up, Cav felt the full impact of her all-terrain radar, which was focused solely on him. He’d worn bone-colored chinos, a bright red polo shirt, and a black baseball cap. He’d purposely kept his dark glasses hanging out of his shirt pocket. As a SEAL, he would always wear them, but Lia complained constantly that she loved to look into his hazel eyes, not see her reflection in his shades. Cav had to remind himself that he wasn’t in PSD—personal security detail—mode, that he was with the woman he loved. Lia was practically jumping up and down now, hurrying to reach her parents, who were smiling widely. That was a relief. Susan Cassidy could smile. That laserlike look she’d given him was gone now. Phew.
“Mom! Dad!” Lia cried out. She dragged Cav over to them. “This is Cav Jordan. Cav? My dad, Steve Cassidy. My mom, Susan.”
She released Cav’s right hand. He awkwardly extended it toward Susan. “Mrs. Cassidy, it’s nice to meet you.” He felt her stare icily at him, as if he were some alien who had just come from outer space. Reluctantly, she proffered her hand, barely shaking his.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Jordan.”
He felt that limp handshake of hers and tried to make the best of it, but the vibe from her wasn’t good. Great.
“Call him Cav, Mom,” Lia pleaded, launching herself at her mother, throwing her arms around her.
Cav stood back, watching mother and daughter embrace one another. All of that ice melted instantly as Susan grabbed her shorter daughter and held her strongly in her arms. The love was clearly written in her face. Cav swallowed hard. For a moment, he pictured his mother, who, when he was a young child, had hauled him into her arms and held him just as tightly as Susan was holding her daughter.
The Books of Delos
Title: Last Chance (FREE Prequel)
Publish Date: July 15, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/last-chance
Title: Nowhere to Hide
Publish Date: October 13, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/nowhere-to-hide
Title: Tangled Pursuit
Publish Date: November 11, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/tangled-pursuit
Title: Forged in Fire
Publish Date: December 3, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/forged-in-fire
Title: Broken Dreams
Publish Date: January 2, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/broken-dreams
Everything Delos!
Newsletter
Please sign up for my free quarterly newsletter on the front page of my official Lindsay McKenna website at lindsaymckenna.com. The newsletter will have exclusive information about my books, publishing schedule, giveaways, exclusive cover peeks, and more.
Download FREE Novella Last Chance
Last Chance is the prologue to Nowhere to Hide! It is available on most publishing platforms or you can download it from my Lindsay McKenna bookstore at lindsaymckenna.selz.com. Last Chance is in eBook format only. It will be FREE forever!
Delos Series Website
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Be sure to drop by the website dedicated to the Delos series at delos.lindsaymckenna.com. There will be new articles on characters, publishing schedule and information about each book written by Lindsay.
Quote Books
I love how the Internet has evolved. I had great fun create “quote books with text” which reminded me of an old fashioned comic book…lots of great color photos and a little text, which forms a “book” that tells you, the reader, a story. Let me know if you like these quote books because I think it’s a great way to add extra enjoyment with this series! Just go to my Delos Series website delos.lindsaymckenna.com, which features the books in the series.
The individual downloadable quote books are located on the corresponding book pages. Please share with your reader friends!
Follow the history of Delos:
The video quote book will lead you through the history of how and why Delos was formed. You can also download the quote book as a PDF.
The Culver Family History
The history of the Culver Family, featuring Robert and Dilara Culver, and their children, Tal, Matt and Alexa will be available as a downloadable video or PDF quote book.
Nowhere to Hide, Book 1, Delos Series, October 13, 2015
This quote book will lead you through Lia Cassidy’s challenges in Costa Rica and hunky Cav Jordan, ex-SEAL. Download the book and enjoy more of the story.
Tangled Pursuit, Book 2, Delos Series, November 11, 2015
This quote book will introduce you to Tal Culver and her Texas badass SEAL warrior who doesn’t take “no” for an answer.
Forged in Fire, Book 3, Delos Series, December 3, 2015
This quote book will introduce you to Army Sergeant Matt Culver, Delta Force operator and Dr. Dara McKinley.
Broken Dreams, Book 4, Delos Series, January 2, 2016
This quote book will introduce you to Captain Alexa Culver and Marine Sergeant Gage Hunter, sniper, USMC.
Lazarus
Circle Eight Millennium
Beth Williamson
‡
Circle Eight: Millennium
Lazarus Graham has always been the black sheep of his family. Leaving behind the ranch his family had owned for nearly two hundred years, he lives life as a Texas Ranger. Tough, hard, and inflexible, he has no time for life’s fripperies.
Beatrice Cartwright never expected to run into her childhood nemesis again. Yet Laz Graham sauntered into her store to investigate a crime nearby. Then the man had the nerve to not remember her.
Being a Graham isn’t easy, and it’s about to get a lot harder for one stubborn lawman and the woman who still owns his heart.
Published by Beth Williamson
Copyright © 2015 Beth Williamson
Edited by Catherine Wayne
Cover Design and Interior format by The Killion Group
thekilliongroupinc.com
License Notes:
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please delete the ebook from your reader and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author at [email protected].
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
For more information on the author and her works, please see www.bethwilliamson.com.
Chapter One
‡
September, 2015
Brier Creek, Texas
“Hell and biscuits.”
Beatrice Cartwright peered at the shards of broken glass under the edge of the counter. The broom and the vacuum hadn’t reached it. There was no help for it. She’d have to move the case.
This was not good news.
She’d have to remove the bolts from the bottom and then find some burly redneck to move the damn thing. The last two days had been a nightmare and it kept getting worse.
“Bea?”
She peeked over the top of the case to see her friend Kim standing at the door. The window beside Kim was busted. That was how the thieves had entered the store.
Kim twirled in a circle, her dark brown and purple hair swirling with her. She’d been trying to cheer up Bea since the burglary. “What do you think? Chloe just redid the color.” She pursed her lips and posed like a model on a catwalk. “C’mon, Queen Bea, gimme something.”
Bea grimaced. “Don’t call me that.” She got to her feet. “I’m trying to get this place cleaned up so I can reopen.”
The thief had done more than steal inventory. He’d caused thousands of dollars in damage. It was the first time she’d had something like this happen since she had taken over the store. It was frustrating and frightening, but she couldn’t let it stop her from moving forward. Bea was one of the few female business owners in town. She’d be damned if she failed to keep her parents’ store open because of one idiot.
Kim looked around, her brown eyes wide. “Why the hell did they break all the glass?”
“I could probably guess, but the truth is, I have no idea.” Bea set the dust broom on one of the few display cases that wasn’t broken. “It’s not like I have any inventory in here at night. It’s all in the safe. All they got was ammunition, cleaning supplies, and a few range bags. Mostly, they broke shit.”
Kim shook her head, the purple locks shining in the sun streaming through the broken windows. “Asshole.”
“True dat.” Bea sighed. “The crime scene techs took all kinds of fingerprints and stuff. The cops said a Texas Ranger was going to come by to investigate. Something about a string of break-ins across the county. My insurance company adjuster left about an hour ago. Now I wait for the ranger.”
“What about the glass? Did you call Lenny Redman?” Kim was an eccentric girl who could put people off. If it wasn’t her sense of style, it was the camera. She always had it with her and snapped pictures of everything, including of the jagged pieces of glass in the store.
“He’s gone over to the McLellans’ place. He’ll be back later.” Bea didn’t really look forward to the town glazier’s visit. The cost to replace so much glass would be staggering. She worried her insurance wouldn’t cover everything that needed to be fixed or replaced. And her display cases were the ones her father had bought forty years earlier. No doubt she couldn’t replace them and, if the glass was irreplaceable, she would be heartbroken to lose another piece of her parents’ legacy.
“Do you want some lunch?” Kim offered. “I was going to meet Rose at the café.”
“I’m not in the mood to eat. You go on and enjoy.” Bea wanted to wallow in self-pity for a while. Much as she loved Kim, the woman had more energy than half a dozen toddlers hopped up on marshmallow Peeps. Right about then, Bea hardly had the wherewithal to smile.
“Text me if you change your mind.” Kim hugged her, the scent of lavender and vanilla washing over Bea. They’d been best friends since third grade and Kim was the one constant in her life.
After Kim left, Bea went back to inventorying the shelves and taking pictures. It was boring but it was something. Otherwise, she would spend too much time nursing her anger over the burglary. And the damn ranger who was at least an hour late.
She spotted the flyswatter behind the cash register and snatched it up. She crouched down beneath the large display case again, intent on getting the glass shar
ds out without moving the damn thing.
“Hello?” A man’s voice rang through the interior. “Is anyone here?”
Bea got to her feet, the filthy flyswatter in hand, her kinky blonde hair flying. Standing there in the doorway was the very last person she ever wanted to see in her life.
Lazarus Graham.
All six foot two of him with rich, dark brown hair, beautiful eyes, and shoulders wider than the state of Texas. He’d gotten bigger in the last ten years, which only served to accentuate the sheer size and masculinity of him. Oh, he was a perfect specimen.
Too bad he was such a pompous ass.
Laz didn’t know whether to howl or curse a blue streak. Beatrice goddamn Carmichael. He should have remembered the store belonged to her parents, but since he and his sisters hadn’t frequented the gun shop much as kids, he’d rarely stepped foot inside. Until the moment he saw the girl who had hated him since they were eight.
Fuck.
“What the hell do you want?” Her sharp whiskey voice cut through him.
“I’m looking for the owner.” That sounded as stupid as a bag of hammers.
“You’re looking at her. Now get out.” She waved a ratty-looking flyswatter toward the door. “Two steps behind you.”
“No.”
Her blonde brows went up toward that frizzy halo of hair. Freckles still smattered across her nose and cheeks. And the one feature he could never quite forget, those beautiful breasts, strained against a Firefly T-shirt that had seen better days.
Jesus please us. She was still a knockout, not that he would ever tell her that. Bea hated him almost as much as he disliked her. It annoyed the hell out of him that he found her hot and sexy.