Rex’s Honor (The Aegis Network: Jacksonville Division #4)

Chapter 1

1

T he hot Florida sun beat down on the Intracoastal Waterway, dancing across the ripples conceived by a warm breeze rolling in off the salty ocean. Rex Jordan wiped away the perspiration beading across his forehead before he pulled back the throttles of his Absolute 50Fly luxury cabin cruiser, though others might consider it a yacht.

Rex called it home.

There was nothing better than living on the water.

“This has been an amazing day,” Timothy White said. He stretched out on the seat behind the console. Timothy also worked for the Aegis Network. He’d been the one to help open the Jacksonville Branch. He, his wife, and his kids were amazing people.

Rex glanced over his shoulder. Arthur had made himself comfortable on the stern bench, beer in hand, enjoying a day off from work at the station. Work at the Aegis Network. And work around the marina.

If Rex ever needed anything, Arthur would be at his side with the snap of his fingers. Men didn’t come any better than him.

Even if Arthur had gotten him shot a few months back.

Rex rubbed his thigh, remembering the bullet tearing through his muscle. If he had to do it all over again, he’d gladly take the bullet since it had helped to save Arthur’s wife and her mother.

They were good people.

Sitting around the table were the rest of the crew. The men he’d retired from the military with. The men he called family.

“Damn, and here we are back to reality,” Timothy said. “Back where my twenty-year-old daughter thinks she knows more than me. A teenage son who’s pushing boundaries, and two beautiful baby girls who think I’m the bomb. If it weren’t for the little ones, I’d want to stay here forever, only my wife is itching for me to take her on a vacation. That means she wants another baby. I’m getting too old for this shit, but I want another one.”

“As if you’re actually bitching about your life,” Rex said. “You love giving Mauve a hard time about her boyfriend, who you secretly love and want her to marry someday.”

“Bite your tongue,” Timothy said. “She’s too young to be thinking about shit like that.”

“He is a pretty cool kid.” Kent waved his hand. “But I saw him and Mauve making out in Ruby's parking lot the other day. I had to cover my daughter’s eyes, but not before she said, look, Daddy, their sucking face .”

“Shut up, asshole,” Timothy said. “That’s the last thing I want to hear.”

“She’s twenty fucking years old. Look at Kent; he had a kid at that age.” Rex laughed. “And he’s an excellent father. Most days.”

“If you weren’t at the helm, I’d deck you for pointing that out. That’s my daughter.” Timothy lifted his hand and waggled his finger over his head. “If any of you assholes besides Kent knew what it was like to have kids, you’d understand.”

“Trust me. I’m not looking forward to the day my baby girl tells me she has a boyfriend,” Kent said. “Hell, I’m terrified of the day she wants a bra. I’m not equipped for that shit.”

“Send her to Candice. She’ll take her.” Timothy chuckled. “She’s the queen of shopping.”

Rex once knew a girl who could do some serious damage with a credit card. Sadly, she’d been on his mind lately and he wished she wasn’t.

“How’s the baby making front, Arthur?” Buddy stood and stretched, twisting his body left and right. “Your wife with child yet?”

“Why is my sex life always the top of conversation in this group?” Arthur took a long sip of his beer. “Can we go back to busting Rex’s balls? I prefer that so much better.”

“I hope you have all girls.” Timothy arched a brow. “Payback’s gonna be a bitch.”

“I think I’ll remain single for a long while.” Garth raised his beer. “I’m too young for this shit. Hell, I could be dating Ma?—”

“I wouldn’t finish that statement if I were you,” Duncan interrupted. “You’re nine fucking years older than Timothy’s daughter. Too fucking old for her, and he’ll put you in the ground.”

“Just making a point that you all are old men.” Duncan laughed.

“I’m only six months older than you, so fuck off,” Kent said.

Hawke took his empty bottle and placed it in the recycle bin. “All I know is I’ve got a hot date with that waitress from last week.”

“You’ve got a hot date every week,” Arthur said. “No one can keep up with you.”

“That’s the fun part.” Hawke waggled his brows. “I’m not ready to settle down.”

Rex swallowed, hard. Once upon a time, he’d been madly in love. In fact, he’d been so far under the spell of a woman, he’d planned on getting married and having half a dozen rug rats. But now? The idea of even being around children made his skin prickle with fear. Not to mention, the idea of giving his heart to any woman made him want to rip it from his chest and stomp on it himself.

That would hurt less.

There hadn’t been a woman in his life that hadn’t hurt him. All starting with his mother. She’d ruined everything in his life, and now that she was dying, she wanted to reconcile.

Well, too late for that, Mom.

Rex navigated the cruiser through the docks at the marina Arthur’s mother-in-law and wife owned. He put one engine in forward, the other in reverse, and turned the boat so he could back into his spot.

Arthur’s wife, Maren, and Timothy’s wife, Candice, stood at the end of the dock.

Maren was a beautiful woman with a great personality. She was perfect for Arthur. Kind, sweet, funny, intelligent, and she put up with all his friends as if they were family. He couldn’t hate her if he tried.

And Candice. Holy shit. That woman cracked Rex up. It was impossible not to like her, and Rex tried to avoid being around anyone in a relationship, especially if they had kids. He could tolerate Mauve. She was an adult. And Xander, he was a cool teenager. Wise beyond his years. But the little ones? That was rough. It reminded him of all the broken promises and dreams.

Rex tapped the throttles in gear, then brought them to neutral.

Timothy slapped Rex on the back. “Thanks for this. But next time I’m bringing the whole family and we’re staying for dinner.”

“Only if Mauve brings her boyfriend.” Rex laughed, wishing Timothy could have stayed for dinner, but he knew he had a family to get back to. The only problem was Rex often ended up a third wheel with Arthur and Maren, which hadn’t bothered him until recently. Seeing how happy Maren made Arthur reminded Rex of things past and for the first time in a long time, he felt a pang of loneliness.

A hint of regret.

A generous dose of resentment.

He’d lived alone since he left his parents’ home twelve years ago, the summer between his junior and senior year of college. He didn’t go back to school, and he hasn’t been home since.

Not that he had a house to go home to since his father had sold it when his mother had left him for another man.

And his girlfriend chose her side.

“That can probably be arranged,” Timothy said.

Rex shut off the engines, snagged the keys, and shoved them in the pocket of his jeans. He made his way to the stern of the boat, where Arthur and Maren had gathered, arms draped over each other, kissing. They were still in the newlywed stage of their marriage, where every chance they got, they were groping each other. Rex once commented on it. Arthur replied something about making babies.

Well, that wouldn’t happen in public, so why did they have to touch and kiss all the time? Even when Rex had been in love, he hadn’t participated in random public displays of affection very often.

Okay, well, he did more than he wanted to admit.

Or remember.

He didn’t want to miss her, even though she haunted his every dream.

“How was it out there today?” Maren asked, leaning into Arthur, her hand resting on his chest.

“I didn’t catch much,” Arthur said, kissing her cheek. “How was your day?”

“Candice and I had fun. Went shopping and had lunch.”

“Hey, babe,” Timothy said as he jumped onto the dock. “Ready to relieve Xander from babysitting duties?”

“Mauve and Richie are already there.” Candice patted her stomach. “I thought you could take me out to celebrate.”

Timothy cocked his head. “For what reason?”

“The fact we don’t have to go on vacation this time to achieve expanding our little family.” Candice smiled.

Timothy smacked his forehead.

The rest of the guys hooted. A few whistled.

Rex gave his best shout. Of course, he was happy for his friend. Timothy wanted a big family. It’s all he talked about. “Congratulations, man.”

“We’re going to the Waterway for dinner. Would you both like to join us? The whole crew is welcome.” Maren always had a sweet smile and a kind voice. She never left anyone out and always made him feel welcome, even when he was the odd man out.

Rex could understand how any man would be mesmerized by Maren’s unique look with her tanned complexion, dark, inviting eyes, warm smile, and gentle personality. Deep down, Rex knew not all women were like his mother.

Or his ex.

Candice leaned into her husband. “I think we’ll pass tonight.”

“What about you, Rex? Will you join us?” Maren asked.

“Thanks, but I will cook up the fish we caught today. You've got to eat it while it’s fresh,” Rex said. “Everyone except Hawke, who has a hot date, was planning on hanging on the boat with me.”

Maren pursed her lips, looking sad and disappointed. She didn’t feel sorry for him, but she’d once told him she sensed an emptiness in him that could only have been created by heartache. He’d laughed it off, even though he knew Maren was perceptive and dead-on right.

She was always right.

Rex glanced toward the shore and his breath hitched, catching the beauty he’d never forgotten. He lowered his sunglasses, peering over the rim. “No fucking way.”

A tall, slender woman with long blond hair bouncing over her shoulders like in a shampoo commercial strolled across the parking lot wearing what could only be described as pink fuck-me pumps and a floral dress that hugged her body like a second skin. She sported big white sunglasses, and her plump, glossy lips attracted a ray of sunshine, lighting up her sultry face. She looked like an actress or model promenading across the red carpet.

And reminded him of everything in his past.

And everything he thought his future would hold.

“Whoa. Who is that?” Maren asked.

“Tilly Bettencourt.” The name rolled off his tongue, triggering a kaleidoscope of memories swirling in his mind, sending heat to all the wrong places.

“You know her?” Arthur asked.

“Yeah,” he said with a dry, scratchy throat.

“And? Who is she to you?” Timothy asked.

“My ex-girlfriend or my stepsister, depending on how you want to spin it.” Rex ranked his hand through his hair. His heart dropped to his toes. “Unfuckingbelievable,” he muttered. This was about the lowest of all the low-down dirty things his mother could do to get him to come home.

“That requires some explaining,” Kent said.

“It will have to wait.” Rex rubbed the back of his neck. “I know I promised all of you some grilled fish, but I need to talk with her alone and knowing her, she’s not going away quietly.”

“Is that your way of telling us to fuck off?” Duncan asked.

“Something like that,” Rex said. “I’ll text you all later.”

“If you need backup, you know how to reach us.” Buddy jumped onto the dock. The rest of the men followed, and the entire crew eased on toward the marina. To their credit, they didn’t eye the approaching storm coming his way and just kept walking.

He sucked in his breath and mentally prepared himself for the wrath he knew was coming.

When Tilly Bettencourt had been given Rex’s address, she expected a top-notch yacht club, not your average joe marina, where she had to assume he had the most excellent, most expensive boat in all the marina. She paused at the end of the dock for a second, staring at a bare-chested Rex on the back of what she guessed to be at least a fifty-foot Absolute. Nice boat, but a little small and not quite right for a man worth close to forty-two million dollars.

Of course, Rex wanted to pretend he didn’t come from money. He’d always had a hard time accepting the idea that he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, which is why she totally understood his career choice.

Her body shivered, remembering how his fingers dug into her ass and how his lips sizzled against her skin. How he’d whispered sweet, loving words into her ear every chance he got. He’d been an attentive boyfriend. If they went out on a date, he paid attention to her and nothing else mattered. He was never on his phone. He never wanted to be out with his buddies instead. He was kind and considerate, and she hated to admit it, but she missed him each and every day.

No one she’d met could ever hold a candle to Rex.

She sucked in a deep breath, the salty air burning her lungs as she stepped with wobbly legs onto the dock. Wearing three-inch heels had been a dumb idea, but Rex had always loved it when she wore sexy shoes and formfitting clothes. He worshipped her body and admired her brains.

At one time, he loved her.

And she still loved him.

He lowered his head, looking over his designer sunglasses, mouth gaping open.

At least she still affected him ten years later. Though she wasn’t exactly sure if he was gawking or glaring. Either way, she figured he wouldn’t be too happy she’d just shown up. The last time she’d seen him, he’d mentioned that living in a dumpster would be better than ever having to lay eyes on her again.

She did her best to ignore the group of people that had exited his yacht as they passed.

The closer she got to the boat, the slower she walked. She breathed slowly, trying to calm her racing pulse. Clutching her purse, she hoped her trembling hands didn’t give away her lack of confidence. She hated being vulnerable, but she’d made a promise.

If anything, she was as good as her word.

“Hello, Rex,” she said, lifting her sunglasses up, letting them rest on the top of her head, keeping her recently styled hair from falling in her face.

“What are you doing here?” He planted his hands on his hips, just over his low-hanging shorts. On his chest, he’d gotten a tattoo of some kind of compass with fire around it.

She tilted her head, searching the side of his arm for the tattoo he’d gotten when they’d been dating. He must have sensed what she was searching for as he twisted his body, giving her a bird’s-eye view of the two hearts she’d doodled on her notebooks in high school with the words: 2 hearts 1 love.

Heat burned her cheeks.

“I’ve come to talk some sense into you,” she said.

“You came on your own? Or did someone send you?” His accusatory tone smacked her skin like large water pellets slamming to the ground.

“Does it matter?”

“It always matters.” Rex stepped back, ducking his head into a cooler. He lifted a beer, twisting the top and chugging half.

“You’re not going to invite me aboard?” She put one hand on her hip.

“Nope. And I’m not going home either, so you can tell my mother I got the message.”

“You’re being a childish asshole.”

Tilly took a deep, calming breath. “Help me on the yacht,” she said.

“Not with those shoes. You’ll either tear the leather seats or break your neck.”

“Fine,” she said, leaning over, pulling one shoe off, then the other. Tucking her purse under her armpit, she dangled the shoes from one hand, holding out the other.

“I still don’t want you on my boat.” He took a long draw from his beer, eyeing her with his golden eyes. “Go home, Tilly. Tell my mother whatever you want, but I’m not rushing to her bedside.”

“Your mother didn’t send me.” She tossed her shoes and purse on the boat and stretched out her hand.

He just stood there.

“Jerk,” she mumbled before grabbing the railing and climbing aboard. “Your father did.”

He gagged on his beer, spewing the liquid down his chest and onto the deck.

She breezed past him, lifting the lid on the outside cooler and grabbing a cold one for herself. Her entire life, she’d been called a contradiction. Raised a socialite, she had a flare for the finer things in life, like her three-hundred-dollar shoes on the luxury cruiser's back bench. Her closet was filled with designer clothes, much like the one-of-a-kind dress she had on, which was created by an up-and-coming designer.

Tilly might have been homecoming queen and dabbled in modeling during high school, but she’d also been captain of her volleyball team, which got her a college scholarship to the same school Rex had been recruited to play golf. She’d never been afraid of hard work, and upon graduating, a year after Rex had walked out of her life, she volunteered for the Peace Corps, spending over three years as a health advisor in a remote village in South America. She had survived living on about a dollar a day, with no running water and no air-conditioning. Her bathroom was a shared outhouse, and she had to take bucket baths.

She continued to work for the Peace Corps in the recruitment office and occasionally took short assignments when needed.

Holding out the beer, she waited for Rex to take it and be the gentleman she knew he could be. But when he just stared at her, she shrugged her shoulders and easily twisted off the top. She’d developed a taste for beer in college, and it had never left her, but it always reminded her of the only man she would ever love.

“My father asked you to come? Why would he do that?”

“Because he’s not a selfish prick, like his son.”

“Swearing isn’t becoming of a lady.” Rex snagged another beer before plopping himself down on the back bench.

She laughed. “I’m not a docile little lady, and you used to think it was cute when I uttered the unexpected obscenity.”

“I’d be lying if you weren’t still, well… drop-dead gorgeous, but that doesn’t change the past.” He stretched out his legs, resting his feet on the cushion. “I’ll call my dad later and tell him you came, asked me to come home, and that I said no.”

“What is wrong with you?” She sat down on the chair across from him. The cruiser was more of a home than a yacht, so it wasn’t surprising that Rex had opted to live on it. He had always had a thing for the water. “Your mother is dying, and all she wants is to see her youngest before she goes. Your sister misses you. Your brother is a dad now and would love to have you meet your nephew. I don’t think that is too much to ask for you to return, to give a dying woman some peace, regardless of the past.”

“You called me selfish. Well, I must get that from my mother since all she thinks about is herself.” He didn’t look in her direction, keeping his head turned, facing the Intracoastal. He waved to a boat that eased by.

“I didn’t expect you to come home three years ago when my dad passed away unexpectedly, but Louisa is your mother, and she’s been heartbroken ever since you left.”

Rex laughed. “So heartbroken she couldn’t tear herself away from her lover to save her family.” Every syllable was laced with the same angry tone he had the day he’d found out about the affair.

“My parents were separated, and you chose to ignore the fact that your parents fought all the time and barely shared the same bed anymore.”

He snapped his attention to her, ripping off his sunglasses. “You didn’t come home and find your mother sucking face with the man you expected to be your father-in-law, not your stepfather.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this same argument. What’s worse is that you’ve held on to this all these years. Your father and siblings have forgiven her. They are at your mother’s bedside every day. Your father, and even his wife, Judy, were there for your mother when my dad died. If you had stuck around long enough to work through what happened, you’d see how much better off everyone was.”

“That’s fucked up,” he said, dropping his feet to the floor and leaning forward. “My mother didn’t come to my matches because she was too busy screwing your dad. Your dad didn’t go to your games because he was holed up in some hotel with my mother. Have you forgotten those betrayals? Forgotten that their affair had been going on for years?” He stood and closed the gap, lifting her out of her chair, holding her gaze with fire in his honey eyes. “In the last ten years, I’ve heard from my mother only a handful of times, and each time all she’d cared about was explaining why it happened and how happy she’d finally been with your dad. She didn’t once care about me or how I felt. Only that I’d accept what she’d done and act as if it were the best thing since sliced bread.”

She swallowed. His fingers curled around her arms, burning their imprint into her skin like a cattle prod. They’d all been angry and upset when the truth came out. Tilly had told her father that she hated him. She’d cried for hours, feeling humiliated. But the worst part was that her boyfriend couldn’t, or wouldn’t, give her any comfort.

He tilted his head, leaning in, a scant few inches from her face. Licking his lips, he moved in for the kill, pressing his warm lips over hers, teasing her with his tongue.

Her body stiffened for a moment before turning into putty. Her chest rose, compressing her breasts against his hard body. Ten years ago, he’d been her world. Her rock. The only person who truly understood her. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders.

He snapped his head back, breaking off the tumultuous kiss. “My mother made her choice, and it wasn’t her family.”

“And you made yours, and it wasn’t me.”

He cocked his head, dropping his hands to his sides. “That’s rich. I begged you to come with me.”

“You ordered me, demanded I give up my education and never speak to my family again. I loved you, but I loved my family too. My sisters and brothers needed me. My mother needed me, and I needed you, but you”—she poked his chest—“acted like a spoiled brat, and when things didn’t go your way, you took off.” Her insides still shook from the earth-shattering kiss. Memories of their love affair collided with the pain he’d caused his entire family when he’d cut off all communication, blocking phone numbers, going dark on the internet, making himself a ghost.

But mostly, how he’d punctured her heart, leaving it with a gaping hole that, no matter what she tried, she’d never been able to fill the space he left behind.

His eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “Joining the Air Force, becoming a firefighter, and now working with the Aegis Network have been the best things that ever happened to me. I have no regrets.”

“Neither do I.” She swallowed the guttural sob that lodged in her throat.

“Good. Now get off my boat and go home.”

She folded her arms, sitting back down. “I’m not going anywhere until you agree to come back with me.”

“When hell freezes over,” he said.

Dark clouds rolled in off the ocean. The smell of salty rain filled the humid air that clung to her skin.

“I can wait,” she said defiantly.

“Suit yourself.” He stepped into the galley, closing the door.

She heard the click of the lock.

It was going to be a long night.