She turned to Hailey. “For example, if Rom cheated on you, you’d want to leave him, I assume.”
Hailey looked appalled but nodded. “Of course.”
“What would you do if I said you had to stay with him, or I wouldn’t love you or be your mother any longer?” When Hailey’s mouth dropped open, Valerie nodded. “That’s emotional blackmail.”
“Hey, now…” Barry’s protest trailed off.
Because dismay and distress had filled her children’s expressions.
“Shit. That’s what we did. What we said.” Shame filled Dillon’s expression. “God, Mom, I’m sorry.”
“We did.” Hailey glared at her father. “We did because you instructed us to, Dad. You lied to us and then told us what to say to Mom.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I believed you, and I was so upset for you, and I couldn’t believe Mom would cheat on you, but you swore she did.”
She launched herself at Valerie.
Valerie caught her—and here was her little girl, no matter how old she was, back in Valerie’s arms, crying on her shoulder. Choking out broken words, “I’m sorry, Mommy.”
The world started to right itself.
“Jesus, Dad, that’s totally dick behavior,” Dillon snapped. “You fucking lied to us.”
“Your mom needs to come back to me,” Barry whined and swayed slightly. “You know how much I love her.”
Valerie studied him for a moment. His face was flushed, eyes slightly glazed. His words had been slurred. “You’re drunk.”
“What? It’s barely noon.” Hailey took a step back. “You are.”
Dillon crossed his arms over his chest. “So, where’s Alisha. And Kahlua? Jesus, there’s a name for someone who likes to drink.”
“Yes, Dad,” Hailey said. “I think we should meet your new women.”
“I don’t have any new—”
“Don’t bullshit us, Dad,” Dillon snapped.
Valerie sighed at how much like Barry his son sounded.
“Yeah, well, Alisha left when the cable company cut…” Barry’s voice trailed off, and he blinked.
Valerie sighed. He really was drunk.
“And Kahlua?” Hailey asked. Her expression turned cold as she realized how thoroughly he’d played them.
“Over there.” He motioned back where he’d come from.
Valerie shook her head. Of course, Kahlua had come. “She’s the blonde in the halter-top.”
“Fuck me,” Dillon muttered. “She’s our age—only I have better taste.”
Seeing she had been spotted, Kahlua smirked and strutted over, hips swaying like a metronome.
“Gag me,” Hailey whispered.
“Honey.” Kahlua latched onto Barry’s arm and shot Valerie a spiteful look. “These must be your wonderful children.”
The shrill voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“Right.” Barry’s expression was uncertain. “Kahlua, my son, Dillon, and my daughter, Hailey.”
“It’s so good to finally meet you.” Kahlua gave them a wide smile.
Dillon shook his head. “I can’t say the same.”
When she scowled, he ignored her. “Dad. When I was sixteen, you told me alcoholism runs in our family, and it’d be better if I never drank. I believed you. Now, you’re sure setting a hell of an example of how alcohol can ruin a person.”
“What?” Barry shook his head. “What do you mean?”
“I mean drinking is fucking up your life. You’re an alcoholic, Dad, and you need help.”
“I need your mother,” Barry said stubbornly. “That’s what you’re supposed to be doing. Getting her back for me.”
Valerie’s heart almost broke. In the beginning of their marriage, he’d been a good father. A good husband. The middle hadn’t been awful, but then came a midlife crisis, stupid decisions, and drinking. “You don’t need a wife, Barry, you need Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Hailey stared at him. “After I was suspended in high school, you and Mom told me to consider who I hung out with. You said good friends would pull me up and help me be the best I could be—and bad friends would drag me into the gutter.”
She eyed Kahlua and scowled. “You should check the friends you’re keeping, Daddy, because from where I stand, you’re a manipulative liar and a drunk, and I’m ashamed of you.”
Barry’s face flushed with shock, then anger. His fist came up, but even as he took a step forward, he staggered. He realized Dillon was staring at his fist, and he stopped dead. “Fuck me. I’m drunk.”
“Hailey...” His voice wavered.
Crying in Valerie’s arms, Hailey shook her head.
Valerie glanced over at the other picnic table. Finn had his hand on Rom’s arm, keeping him there…and both men stood in front of Luca’s stroller.
“Jesus, Dad.” Dillon looked disgusted.
Barry’s expression changed, and he whispered. “What have I done?”
“Master,” Kahlua whined. “They’re just being pissy. Don’t listen to—”
He peeled her hands from his arm. “I’m…I’m going to stay with friends for a few days. It’s time for you to move out, Kahlua. Take all the alcohol with you.”
And he walked away.
Settling Hailey on the picnic table, Valerie hoped against hope Barry might return to the man she’d known.
Face reddening with fury, Kahlua watched her meal ticket leave. Then she charged at Valerie, shrieking, “You fucking bitch, this is all your fault, you old hag.”
Fingers in claws, she swung at Valerie’s face.
Automatically, Valerie blocked the arm, stepped, and…no. Rather than punching as Ghost had taught her, she smoothly tripped the woman, sending her to the soft ground.
The slave might have been a factor in Barry’s turning to alcohol, but she hadn’t forced him to drink. She was a horrible, vindictive person, but pounding her into the ground wouldn’t solve anything.
Kahlua pushed to her feet. “Bitch. You’re all assholes. All of you!” She staggered away, cursing them loudly.
“Holy shit, way to go, Mom,” Hailey said in awe.
Dillon stared. “Where did you learn to do that?”
From behind Valerie, someone cleared his throat.
She turned to see Rom with the stroller.
Beside him, Finn nodded at her. “Very nice block. Poor follow-through.”
“I couldn’t hit her.”
“I’m not surprised in the least.” His chuckle ran along her nerves like a warm stroke of his hand.
Hailey and Dillon stared at him.
Well, no turning back now. Deliberately, Valerie moved closer and smiled up at him to let him know how much his presence meant to her.
How much she loved him.
A corner of his mouth tilted up, and he put his arm around her.
She leaned in. “Finn, I’d like you to meet my family. Hailey, her husband Rom Romano, Luca, my grandson—and my son, Dillon. And you all, this is Dr. Finn Blackwood, a professor at my university.”
“It’s good to meet you,” Finn said, totally at ease. “She’s very proud of you, you know.”
Hailey gave him a rueful sigh. “Up until this week, maybe. I take it you know what’s been going on.”
“I’m afraid so.” His smile was still as charming as the first time Valerie had seen him. “How about I treat you all to lunch? There’s a good Italian restaurant across the street, and we can get to know each other.”
To Valerie’s delight, both her children nodded, and then Luca woke up.
“Gammy. My Gammy,” he crowed, holding his arms up to her.
Yes, the world was right again.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ghost had never envisioned the private gardens teeming with half-pints, but such was life with a soft-hearted woman who’d mother the world.
Last week, when Beth and Nolan’s sons whined they never saw Sophia anymore, Valerie had decided Ghost should have a get-together for the Masters with children…and
any other Masters and their subbies who wanted to come.
The question should have been who didn’t want to come.
Shaking his head, he left the crowded lanai to see what was going on in the gardens.
Off to the right was the pool. Stepping inside the screened enclosure, he stayed well back to avoid the tsunami of splashing.
In the pool, Kim and Raoul were playing ball tag with a batch of Marcus’s underprivileged teens. The boys were good kids despite some looking like advertisements for a tattoo and piercing business. Appearances could be deceiving.
Kim’s big German shepherd lay in the shade near the pool, watching intently. If Kim looked as if she was in trouble, the giant furball would jump in to save her.
A couple of the newer boys furtively checked out Ghost’s prosthesis—which was visible since he was wearing shorts.
For social events, he tended to wear jeans or pants. Although he didn’t particularly care what adults thought, he didn’t like the thought of upsetting children. But Valerie had said it was too hot for pants—and children were more adaptable than he gave them credit for.
The two boys in the pool realized he’d seen them checking out his leg. One flushed. The other one grinned. “You should paint flames on the silvery part.”
The pylon was the metal shank between the socket and the shoe. Ghost laughed. “I’ll let the prosthetics designers know.”
Yes, Valerie was right about tough, resilient kids.
At the pool’s shallow end, Gabi and Marcus were playing with energetic Sophia, who wore water wings. Who would have thought such a small person could splash so effectively?
Something bounced lightly off his back. He spun to see a bright red and yellow inflated ball rolling away.
“Yay!” In the pool, Kim did a victory dance.
“She got the Ghost!” The teens were cheering so exuberantly, a laugh escaped him before he assumed a suitable frown.
After all, a submissive had attacked a Master.
Obviously in agreement, Raoul shook his head at Kim. “Chiquita, such behavior to a Mas—ahem, the person who invited us—is most disrespectful.” The reproving words might have had more effect if Raoul hadn’t been smiling.
“Oh dear. I’m deeply sorry, Ghost.” Kim’s penitent expression wasn’t even close to believable.
“Raoul.” Ghost crossed his arms over his chest and looked stern. Because he’d had years of suppressing laughter while reprimanding new recruits. “After the party, please convey my dissatisfaction with your woman’s very insincere apology.”
Grinning, Raoul snagged Kim around the waist. “Of course, my friend. I will be happy to do so.”
There, that should ensure the couple would have an interesting evening.
Chuckling, Ghost tossed the ball to Kim’s opponent and continued his stroll.
In the blue-flowered contemplation garden, Uzuri, Rainie, and Jake were talking with Olivia and Natalia. The newly engaged couple was snuggled together on a loveseat and positively radiated contentment.
Made a man feel good.
Farther into the gardens, he spotted Saxon.
The big blond veterinarian was jogging slowly. His search-and-rescue, border collie-lab mix bounced happily beside him. “Yo, Ghost. Your woman was looking for you.”
“Ah, thank you. I’ll—” He stopped when Saxon glanced to the right and slowed.
“I see Saxon!” Seven-year-old Connor sprang out from a clump of bushes. “Get ’im, Grant.”
Charging from the opposite side, Grant tackled Saxon.
“Ooof!” The man helpfully fell over—and Connor piled on, too. Thrilled with the fun, the fluffy black-and-white dog danced in and out, licking faces and hands.
The children—and the giant Dom—were laughing so hard Ghost doubted any of them could breathe.
Kids, dogs, and Doms were an unbeatable combination.
Grinning, Ghost headed back to the lanai to see what Valerie needed.
Ah, Hailey was here. The young woman was sitting beside her mother, talking animatedly.
In the three weeks since the blow-up at the park, both of Valerie’s children had dropped by a few times. Probably to get reassurance they hadn’t irrevocably ruined their relationship with their mother.
Valerie had, of course, forgiven them.
And they’d accepted she’d essentially moved in with Ghost. He grinned, remembering their questions about the mansion. Hearing the downstairs was used by a private club, they’d hastily abandoned the subject. It seemed the concepts of parent and sex were mutually exclusive.
Spotting Hailey’s husband, Rom, near the food table, Ghost veered in his direction.
“Gose!” From under the table, Luca ran over, bounced off Ghost’s legs, and put his arms up.
Laughing, Ghost picked up the pocket-sized squirt and tossed him in the air. Giggles filled the air—and when Luca laughed, everyone within hearing smiled.
Including Valerie.
“How are you, lad? Have you been a good boy?”
Luca slapped a hand on his tiny chest. “Good.”
“In that case, you deserve a cookie, hmm?”
Rom grinned. “Being a grandparent sure beats being a dad. No one yells at you for handing out cookies.”
A grandparent. The title set up a warm feeling in Ghost’s chest, and he glanced at Valerie.
Her eyes were warm and pleased. His generous woman was happy to share her family with him.
Was it any wonder he loved her?
He smiled at her and then settled down to the serious business of helping Luca select the perfect cookie.
A sugar cookie with bright red frosting won. After giving the boy another one to take to Gammy, Ghost tossed a few broken pieces to the two exhausted dogs sprawled under the table. A fluffy black-and-white pooch was Rainie’s, the one that resembled a giant terrier was Cullen’s Airedale.
Had all the childless couples brought their pets as kid-substitutes for Valerie’s children’s day gathering? Sneaky maneuver.
Leaning against a post, Rom nibbled on a cookie. “Thanks for letting us break into your party. Hailey… She needed to talk with her mom for a few minutes.”
“Problems?”
“Not really. It’s—”
Rom was interrupted by the shouts of glee as Connor and Grant charged through the door and onto the lanai.
“You got another little kid!” Grinning, Connor asked Ghost, “Who’s that?”
“He’s Luca, Valerie’s grandson.”
“Can we play with him?” Grant motioned to the designated toddler area where balls and trucks dotted a large, plush rug.
Ghost saw Rom nod permission. “I know you two will be gentle with him, so yes.”
“Hi!” Connor ran over to the two-year-old. “Wanna play trucks?”
That’s all it took.
Grabbing Connor’s hand, Luca dragged him over to the rug.
“Well, damn.” Rom exchanged disbelieving glances with Hailey. “He’s usually real timid.”
Ghost chuckled. “Connor’s a charmer. His brother, Grant is quieter but careful. He’ll keep your boy safe.”
“I see that.” Rom smiled. “Nice. Usually whenever we try to have a conversation with someone, Luca’s underfoot and wanting attention.”
“Since he’s not…” Ghost eyed Hailey. Like the two teenagers who’d snuck into the Shadowlands, Hailey looked as if she wanted to sit on her mom’s lap. “What unsettled your Hailey?”
“We were here to visit a buddy who busted his leg jet-skiing, and”—Rom’s mouth tightened—“stopped by to see Barry.” Rom held no respect for Valerie’s ex.
“Ah. How is he doing?”
“Better, actually. Kahlua is gone. He’s sober and attending AA meetings.” Rom shook his head. “Since he trashed his rep as a contractor, he found a job with a remodeling company. Seems happy. Said he’d always hated the business part of being a contractor.”
Ghost considered that for a moment. “Wha
t do you want to bet Valerie handled the paperwork and scheduling?”
“No bet. Your woman did a hell of a lot more for him than he ever admitted.” Rom snorted.
Hmm. “And now he’s come clean?”
“Yeah.” Rom grimaced. “I gotta say, it was nice to see him off the pedestal Hailey had put him on.”
Ghost tilted his head. Now there was an aspect he hadn’t considered before. “Difficult to live up to?”
“No lie. She just figured out today how much her mom did to prop him up. Not only for his job, but for the kids, too. And the bastard never reciprocated. She built him up; he, pretty subtly, ran her down.”
“She dimmed her brightness to let her husband shine.” Ghost turned to study his woman.
Since she’d generously helped him out with the Shadowlands paperwork, he’d treated her to a spa day yesterday. She’d returned with fingernails and toenails a glowing blue that matched her eyes. Her skin was silky and perfumed…and far past his ability to resist.
He’d tumbled her right into bed and kept her there for hours.
Today, her lips were still slightly swollen. Beard-burn had pinkened her neck. Her tawny hair was pulled back into a tail, but escaped tendrils danced over her sunburned cheeks. When her daughter said something, her husky laughter bubbled out.
Maybe Valerie had dimmed her light for a while. Today, she was shining brighter than a midday sun.
After talking for a while, Rom checked his phone. “We need get going. If Luca doesn’t get to bed on time, he’ll be cranky tomorrow.”
After giving Valerie a kiss on the cheek, Rom collected Hailey, then Luca who called, “bye-bye” to everyone in the area.
Ghost sat down beside Valerie on the swing and put his arm around her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m good, really.” With no hesitation, she leaned against him, her gaze on the groups of people talking on the lanai. “I’d thought we’d have three or four couples, at most. This is crazy—but it’s fun, isn’t it?”
“It is.” He indulged in stealing a kiss because sitting with her was like entering a bubble of peace—something to be cherished by an old soldier.
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