13 #2
another angle, like the threat to Kirby. Old Mike was really spreading himself thin, apparently without a single concern of
getting busted. Maybe he thought changing his hair and eye color would take care of that, but Kam would recognize that smug,
pretentious ass on sight. It was absurd for Mike to think otherwise.
Did that make Mike less dangerous—or more so?
“Who gives a fuck what he says? If it’s who I’m thinking it is, he’s a total creep.”
“He’s worse than a creep,” she admitted quietly, guilt adding misery to her sadness. “Please don’t hate me, Kam.”
Dread had him clenching all over. “Why would I?”
“When Leon said he needed some reliable but desperate guys to hire for a few odd jobs, I told him about the halfway house.”
“Leon?” he asked, and then with fresh alarm, “You told him where to find kids who are fighting for an ounce of stability?”
Yeah, rage was there. Not hatred, but it was a thoughtless thing for her to do. “You sent him to the shelter?”
“I just . . . I suggested he might find some boys there who were willing to work.”
“Jesus, Shara . . .”
“I know!”
“Do you? You have any idea what those kids have been through?”
Shame turned her face bright red and filled her eyes with a new well of tears. “That was before I knew how awful he is.”
Hoping to avoid more sobs, he got her back on topic. “Leon, huh?”
After a hiccup and a loud sniffle, she nodded. “That’s what he said, but he hesitated at first, so I think he made it up.”
She twisted the napkins in her hands. “I’m not quite as gullible as he figured.”
No, but she’d still gone along with him, until things were completely out of hand. It took two tries to pop the tension from
his neck. The day that had started out so well had gone to hell in a heartbeat. “Did he connect with anyone from the shelter?”
“I don’t know.”
It was probably how he’d found Kirby. “Anything else to share?”
Her pale throat worked as she swallowed nervously. “He . . . He said if I didn’t get you away from Glory, I’d be sorry.” Her
gaze came up to meet his. “Kam, I believe him.”
Glory stared at the blank phone screen. Why wasn’t he texting her back? A million awful scenarios winged through her thoughts, escalating her worry until she couldn’t take it a moment more.
She called her cousin.
Callie answered on the second ring. “Hey there, what’s up? Everything okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Glory?” she said, now with sharpened concern.
“No, don’t—that is, I’m fine. Just sitting here on the couch with PB.”
“Is the dog giving you problems? I knew it was too soon to leave her with you.”
“She’s an angel.” A furry angel, ready for a long nap after the visit with Glenda. “The thing is . . . Kam has been gone all
day. He texted a while ago, saying he’d be here in an hour, but it’s been at least two, and now he’s not replying, and I’m
starting to worry—and, Callie, if he’s right there by you, don’t you dare say anything.”
“He’s in the yard. He was talking to Tanner, and it looked serious. He had a boy with him.”
She knew he’d taken a group of kids for an outing. Had something gone wrong? Now she felt selfish. “I hope everything’s okay.
Don’t bother him. I just had a bad feeling, that’s all.”
“No reason to worry,” Callie said. “He’s definitely into you. You know that, right?”
Fighting a smile did her no good. “He seems to be.” But soon, she’d have to hit him with a lot of heavy stuff that he might
rather avoid. Things like love, parental responsibility—long-term commitment.
Callie’s rude snort came through the phone loud and clear. “Let me peek outside to see if Kam is still out there. Oh, wait. Here’s Tanner.”
“Don’t say anything to—”
“Where’s your brother? He’s not returning Glory’s text.”
In the background, Glory could hear Tanner’s deep voice, but she couldn’t make out the exact words.
“What do you mean, he’s with Shara?” And then, “Well, why was she crying?”
Closing her eyes, Glory vowed to have a serious talk with Callie about sharing everything with her husband.
“No way. Seriously?”
“Seriously what?” Glory demanded.
“Hang on. Addie’s here now, too.”
Frozen with mortification, Glory groaned. She did not want Kam’s family to know she was checking up on him. “When I get you
alone, Callie, you’re in trouble.”
“You’re on speaker,” Tanner said with amusement. “No threatening my wife.”
Fresh embarrassment heated her face. “She was my cousin before she was your wife.”
“Your sister,” Addie corrected. “That’s what she is.”
“My sister-cousin?”
“Just your sister. You were raised together. That’s all the distinction we need.”
“Decreed by Addie,” Callie said. “That’s good enough for me.”
“While I have you,” Addie continued, “I just rescued Kam. And, honey, it was a rescue. Shara has herself all wound tight about
something. Poor girl was sobbing like a baby.”
Glory wrinkled her nose. “I’m guessing Kam consoled her?”
“He treated her like a friend, because that’s all she is.”
Tanner interrupted to say, “Kam’s calling me now. I’ll tell him you miss him.”
“Wait, no!”
Callie and Addie laughed.
“Sorry, sis,” Callie said. “He’s already gone. I’ll chat with you until he gets home, though.”
“No, thank you, you traitor.” Deliberately excluding Callie, Glory asked, “Addie, why is Kam calling Tanner?” Instead of me?
Callie’s snickers continued in the background as Addie explained. “Probably something to do with whatever had Shara sobbing.
I convinced him to head out and call Tanner on his way home because I know he wanted to get back to you. Shara is still out
front, so he likely wants Tanner to speak with her about whatever is happening.”
“Wait. What’s happening?” Callie demanded. Glory heard Callie muttering, her voice fading away.
With a huff, Addie said, “I swear. I raised good, honest boys, so neither of you need to worry about what they’re up to.”
A mother’s defense. Glory loved hearing it. Somehow, these three individuals had created the absolute best family ever. Would
Addie be happy to be called Grandma? For a certainty, Liz wouldn’t like it. But Callie . . . She’d be the most wonderful aunt
ever.
“Callie shouldn’t worry. She’s married and Tanner loves her.”
After a beat of silence, Addie asked, “Is that what you want, honey? To marry Kam?”
Oh, dear God. She shouldn’t have said that—especially not to Addie. A dozen replies came to her, some laughing it off, others
full of denial, none of them appropriate. She finally settled on a small but honest truth: “I want Kam to be happy.” With me, she could have added but didn’t.
“He wants you to be happy, too. We all do.”
“I am.” Blast, she’d said that too fast, then had to laugh at herself. “Even with a few aches, I’m very happy, I promise.”
Deliriously happy most of the time, especially when she was with Kam.
With a smile in her tone, Addie said, “I’m glad.”
To further cover up her faux pas, Glory added, “I was just worried when he didn’t return on time. You know, with everything
going on.”
“I’d have worried, too. He should be with you shortly, but I’m happy to chat until he gets there.”
“No, that’s okay.” She didn’t want to take up more of Addie’s time. “Thanks for explaining everything.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do, okay?”
Always so generous. “I’m going to take PB out now. Maybe we’ll wait in front for Kam. That way, the dog can get her excitement out of the way
before we come in.”
“You be careful now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Smiling, Glory ended the call. After hooking the long leash to PB, she worked her way off the couch. It seemed
the more she moved, the easier it got. Still with a measure of discomfort, but loosening up all the other little aches gave
her some relief.
To keep PB in a pattern, she went out the same door with her, let her piddle twice, and then shuffled her way to the front
to await Kam. PB liked this new area to explore, and she spent some time investigating everything. When she finished, she
came to stand beside Glory, her beautiful brown eyes so soulful, her flopped-over ears adorable.
“I wish I could bend down and pet you, baby girl. And I can’t wait for the day when I can pick you up. Not just yet, though.”
She barely got out the sentiment when Kam’s SUV pulled down the street and turned into the driveway.
Suddenly, PB showed a whole new side of herself. Lunging at the car, she strained at the end of her leash, which gave Glory
a yank that sent a breath-sucking ripple of pain through her ribs. Yapping and growling, PB continued to put on a vicious
show until Kam hurriedly left the SUV.
PB’s outrage transformed to undiluted excitement, and that was almost as bad.
“What’s wrong?” Kam’s long strides brought him quickly to her side, so he could take the leash.
It still took Glory a second to speak. “I got jerked a tiny bit, that’s all. I’m okay.”
He stared at her, worry keeping his brows together. “What are you doing out here, Glory?” As he spoke, he bent to lift PB
into his arms. The dog was beside herself, licking his face and nuzzling at him.
Glory wished she could greet him like that, too. “It’s a nice day, I’ve enjoyed being outside, and I figured PB and I could
wait for you out here. I spoke with Addie, so I knew you wouldn’t be long.”
“And you missed me?”
How was she supposed to answer that?
“Stop analyzing,” he said with grin, “and just tell me what you’re thinking.”
Fine, if he wanted the truth, she’d give it to him. “Yes, I missed you. A lot. But I’m also glad you got out to do your own
thing. And I’m glad I got to do my own thing, too.”
“You’re really okay?”
“Perfectly fine.” As much as she could be with broken ribs. “It was all going well until PB didn’t recognize you. I had no
idea she had such a vicious streak.”
“She’s a protective girl.” Then, his voice dropping to a silly, sweet tone, he said to the dog, “Aren’t you, baby? Yes, you are. Such a ferocious guard dog. The prettiest, too.”
PB ate it up.
Grinning, Glory watched him carry on. “I’d wanted my own kiss, but now that you’re covered in dog slobber . . .” she teased.