Another try, p.16
Another Try, page 16
Caro stepped closer and settled a hand on her arm. “Are you worried for our safety?”
It took her a great deal not to flinch at the touch. She had no wish to hurt her sister’s feelings but personally, she was still learning about this public affection. Or any at all, really, other than from Den and obviously Lance. But with that man, it was the ground she understood. Sex was a language she spoke fluently, her difficulty came when it turned deep and intimate. Lance didn’t seem in any rush to push her to get to his level.
“Of course I’m worried. You’re my sister and you have two small children and a third on the way.” She shook her head. Had she not made that clear? That she would do anything to protect her sister and her family?
“And you’re mine. Jasmine, we’re twins. And we’re safe. No one is going to hurt me, or even the kids. I have you, Declan, and Lance.”
The three of us may not be enough. She puffed a breath and nodded even as movement at the porch snagged her focus. Lance. He had on an FBI hoodie unzipped halfway, showing off a green shirt and a loose-fitting pair of black sweats. Those damnable green eyes—he no longer wore his contacts—were on her with laser focus. Her breath came short and sharp as a different kind of awareness filled her.
Caro chuckled. “I don’t think I’m needed for this. I’ll go inside and leave you two to…umm…explore before breakfast. I’ll tell Declan not to expect you both until later, and when Den gets up, we’ll let him know you’re out on a walk. The way he’s looking at you is how Declan looked at me before this happened.” Laughter tinged her sentences as she gestured to her swollen belly. “Again.”
Before Jasmine could say a word, Caro kissed her on the cheek and walked away. She squeezed Lance’s arm briefly as she bypassed him upon entering the cabin. Lance didn’t move until the door closed behind her sister. Then he flowed down the steps toward her. Eyes locked on her as he neared, he slipped his hand along the nape of her neck and tugged her so their foreheads touched.
“Morning, baby.”
She smelled the coffee on his breath and smiled despite the unease rolling around her gut. Lance Baldwin in her mind was a god among men.
He settled a hand along her cheek. “I missed you this morning.” Lance dragged his knuckles down her skin and she could feel her body responding instantly.
“I had a date.”
He grunted and kissed her until she sagged into him, boneless and relying on him to keep her upright.
“Don’t make me hate on a kid, baby.”
“I can’t make you do anything.” She wrapped her arms around him, happy to simply be with him. The negative woman in her who figured this, whatever it was between them, had an expiration date and she wanted to soak it all up while she could. “Want to take a walk?”
His response was to lead her off toward the forest once more. This time, however, she wasn’t holding a wooden sword, nor hunting her nephew. Head resting against his shoulder, she went easily where he led.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about, Jasmine.” His words were serious and more of that alarm skittered up her back.
She drew away from him and glanced over to his face. He clucked his tongue and pulled her back to him.
“No, no, baby. No pulling away.” He guided her along, occasionally brushing a hand along her cheek, tucking some wayward hair behind her ear. Never letting her even consider he wasn’t paying attention to her.
They came upon an area with a few larger, overturned trunks. Cool morning wind blew through the towering trees that rose from the earth and strained to brush the sky. Shadows flickered, created from some sun-dappled leaves. The moss that wound around trunks and rocks had leaves and pine needles captured within. There were plenty of pinecones dotting the ground, as if a toy chest of precious trinkets had been tipped.
Lance encouraged her to sit on one of the trunks. She didn’t like this.
He gave a rough chuckle. “Baby, you look like you’re about to hurl in my direction.” Moving between her legs, he settled his hands along the sides of her face.
The idea was possible. Highly probable. She shifted on the rough wood. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for from me.”
His tongue dipped out to skim over his lower lip and her belly clenched in response. “What I want? After everything we’ve been through, you’re not sure what I want from you?” His voice had risen in volume and was drenched in disbelief mixed with anger.
She narrowed her gaze, not at all appreciating him getting huffy with her, she’d been honest. “No need to yell at me, I was just asking a fucking—”
He slammed his mouth over hers, taking no prisoners, thrusting his tongue deep and growling when she followed his lead. A rumble rolled up from his chest when he broke the kiss.
Heads touching, he dragged his thumb over her lower lip. “Everything.”
Jasmine furrowed her brow as he drew back, putting a tiny bit of space between them.
“I want everything from you, baby. You already have me, I want the same. Don’t talk to me about how it shouldn’t be. We work. No matter what excuse you have ready, I’ll counter it. I want you with me, morning, noon, and night. I was thinking about what Mark said. Private investigators. We can take cases we want, go where we want. But we’ll be together. I can’t without you, Jasmine. I can’t do it. Not without you and Camden.”
Heart thundering nearly out of control, Jasmine watched him. Saw beneath the assured, nearly cocky look to uncertainty, and a hint of desperation. Of a need so powerful, this man was willing to bare his vulnerability to her.
There were hundreds of excuses she could provide why it was wrong. Why they were wrong for each other. And she didn’t doubt he would have hundreds of counters to hers.
Gripping his sweatshirt, she yanked him right back to her lips. “Yes.”
“Fucking finally,” he groaned against her mouth as he took possession of it once more.
They didn’t leave the forest for another hour, and as they walked back to the cabin, she was sated and content, her hand rested his. They didn’t rush, merely enjoying being with each other. Jasmine didn’t know what their future would hold but with Lance and Den along with Caro and her family, she had no doubt it would be full and overflowing with love.
Maybe I can learn to let others in. And let myself learn how to be loved without expecting something to be paid back.
They walked into the cabin and found everyone’s attention locked on them. Den and DJ were seated together. Caro and Declan’s daughter, Mary—who went by Mae and who’d been named for the first African American woman to earn a PhD in chemistry in the US but also in honor of the numerous other Marys who were trailblazers in their fields—was curled up in her father’s lap, adorably sleepy in her science-themed pajamas.
The boys paused in eating and skimmed over them before shoveling more food in their mouths. “You’ve got pine needles in your hair, Auntie.” DJ shrugged as he made his announcement.
Caro and Declan smirked. The ex-cop rubbed a large hand over his daughter’s back. “Bet this entire cabin and the property it has with it that ain’t the only place she has them,” he teased.
She flushed because he wasn’t wrong, there were some in a most uncomfortable place she would be removing when she got to the bedroom. Lance outright laughed and kissed her temple.
“She’s not the only one.” He moved by the boys and fist bumped with each of them, Declan included, brushed a kiss along Caro’s cheek and moved into the kitchen. “Come get some food, baby. I know you’re hungry.”
Caro waggled her eyebrows, and this time she found herself smiling without wondering if it was going to cost her later. She made it three steps before her phone rang. Her ease faded in less than a second as she pulled out her phone. The only people who had her number were here in the cabin with her.
Lance watched her from the kitchen and placed the plates in his hands on the counter. “Everything okay, baby?”
She blinked at the name on the screen. “I don’t know. It’s Nolan.”
A low growl left Lance and he moved toward her as she hovered over the accept button. Like she was in a tunnel, she heard Lance fill them in on who Nolan was as she tapped the button.
“Nolan?” she said by way of answering.
“I need your help, Jasmine.” The line went dead.
“Nolan?” Jasmine asked even though she couldn’t hear him. Uncertainty rushed in fast, digging its claws in deep. Lifting her gaze, she found Lance right there beside her, his hand pressing on the small of her back.
“Baby?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. He said he needed my help then the line went dead.” She tried to call the phone back but all she got was a message that the number couldn’t be completed as dialed. “He has a son, Lance.”
“I know baby. We’ll get to him and help in any way we can.” He kissed her cheek. “Then we’re going to talk about why you have a handsome man’s number in your phone and how he got your number.”
She barked out a laugh, which from the upturn of his lips had been his intention. Then she sobered. “I didn’t.” He cocked an eyebrow and she elaborated. “I didn’t give him my number. He gave me his card but I hadn’t given mine to him.”
“We’ve got Den,” Declan said, joining them, reaching out with his hand to squeeze her shoulder. “Go get your man.”
Lance snapped his gaze to Declan. “I’m her man, asshole.”
Declan rolled his eyes. “And the jealous possessiveness has begun. Fine, go get Nolan and help him. We’ll keep Den with us and finish up our vacation. Let me know if you need anything.”
Jasmine swallowed once and bit the inside of her lower lip before shifting to be directly in front of Declan. He watched her, silent, his hands keeping his young daughter safe and secure.
“Thank you.” She blinked. “For everything.”
Declan grunted. “We’re family.” His tone sounded like he’d been gargling glass, but she’d take it because despite the grumping, his gaze sparkled with trouble. She’d take it.
She flicked her focus to Lance.
He nodded. “Got your back, baby. Today, tomorrow, always. Let’s get going.”
Mind centering on the upcoming travel, she calmed. This she understood and could handle. Or so she thought. Lance kissed her until her mind blanked and all she could do was hold him tight as he kissed her dumb.
“We’re talking about our wedding on the way.” It wasn’t a question from him as his hand squeezed her ass. Another quirk of his lips. “I love that freshly fucked and hazy look in your eyes, baby. Let’s go save your guy.” Another kiss.
“Thank you, Lance.”
“Anything for you, baby. You know that.”
Yeah, she was figuring that out.
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Preconception
Aliyah Burke
Excerpt
“I need your help, Carolyn!”
Carolyn Trufant nearly dropped the crystal vase she was filling in the sink. “What’s wrong, Jasmine?”
Cars honked. People yelled. The sounds of a busy metropolis’s downtown reverberated through the phone line. Where is she?
“Help me, please!”
She set the vase down, struggling to hear and decipher the rest of what Jasmine was saying. “I can’t hear you.”
“…meet me, please.”
“Jasmine?” Her voice rose a few notches. “Where do you want me to meet you?”
“Come down to Atlanta, please. Meet me where I told you I first visited when I got here. At ten p.m. please, tomorrow. I’m…really scared.” The call went dead.
Shit. Carolyn’s hands shook like leaves in a stiff breeze. She hung her head and tried to control her racing, out of control emotions.
What could she do? What should she do would be a better question.
I have to help her. There’s no way I am going to lose her after just finding her.
Caro stroked a finger along the silken petals of the flowers she’d received moments before her sister had called. She loved the variety in the mixture of flowers. Of course I have to go.
Allowing herself one more inhalation of the fragrant floral blooms, she swept her gaze around the room, ensuring all items resided in their proper place. Then she went to her office and booked herself a flight to Atlanta.
That evening, once supper had been eaten and cleaned up after, she curled up on one end of her sofa, tucked her feet beneath her and stared through the window of her Madison, Wisconsin, apartment.
She closed her eyes and her thoughts drifted to Jasmine. Her sister. More than that. Her twin. A woman she’d met a month and a half ago. Separated at birth and adopted by other families who didn’t know about each other. In fact, even the paperwork stated she had no other known siblings.
To say it had been a shock when Jasmine had first contacted her would be the understatement of the year. Caro had been suspicious, hard not to be when she’d received such a call. She’d asked her parents before about siblings and they’d given her the paperwork, which had denied such things. Still, regardless of her doubts, she’d gone and met her in Saint Louis.
There had been no denying it the moment she’d laid eyes on Jasmine. They’d spent the weekend catching up and learning about one another. Since then they’d exchanged some calls and had discussed having another ‘sister’ weekend soon. But never a call for help.
She walked to the large window and stared over the twinkling lights of her city. “Never a call with someone sounding so scared either.” Caro rested her head against the glass and sighed.
Concerned, she made her way and packed her carry-on. She didn’t expect to stay all that long but could take a bit of time off if needed since she had plenty of accumulated days. Lifting the receiver to her landline, she sat on the edge of her bed. She sucked on her lip as she dialed a memorized number. Yes, it was programmed but she did it this way to give herself a bit more time. Not much, true, but anything would be accepted.
“Hello?”
The gentle voice on the other end had her smiling. “Hi, Mama.”
“Caro. How are you doing, baby?”
“Fine, Mama. I just wanted to let you and Daddy know I’m taking a short trip.” She cleared her throat. “Out of town.”
“Hmm. Where to?”
“Down south.” She winced, hating the lie she was about to tell. “I have a two week vacation I’m spending in a timeshare.”
“Really? You didn’t say anything earlier.”
Because I didn’t know the twin—my twin sister you know nothing about—was going to call me asking for help. “Came up out of the blue. You remember my roommate, Jen? She was going to go but couldn’t.” She scrunched her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just got off the phone with her. I have the time so I figured… Why not?”
More noncommittal noises. “Where down south?”
“Atlanta. I don’t have the info yet since she hasn’t texted it to me.”
“You’re leaving when?”
She could see her mother standing there with her head cocked to the side. “Early tomorrow.” Late tonight technically but what was one more lie in the grand scheme of things? She was already going to hell.
Her mom, silent for a moment, then made a delicate throat clearing sound. “Have fun and be safe.”
“Thanks, Mama.” The flush of deceit spread across her neck and face. She despised lying to her parents. “Tell Daddy I say hi. Love to both.”
Caro hung up and whimpered.
I feel terrible about this.
Her parents were an amazing couple who’d adopted her and raised her alongside the youngest of their naturally born children. A well-respected couple, they had raised her to understand hard work. When she’d come to Madison for college she hadn’t left, and now she worked for the same institution that had supplied her degree. Her boss had been on her case constantly about taking some time off, so she placed a call and left a message on his phone.
Her final call was to her friend who also rented in the same building, Terri Mosse.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Terri. I need a favor.”
“Sure thing, babe. What can I do for you?” The blaring music softened. “Everything okay?”
“I’m heading to Atlanta tonight for no more than a couple of weeks.”
She whistled low. “Jasmine?”
“Yes.” Why did she feel horrible that Terri knew but not her parents?
“You are stressed. What happened?”
“I don’t know. She’s frightened out of her mind. Asked me to help her.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I can’t ignore her. She’s my twin.”
“I’m not judging, babe. You need to go, go. I will take care of your place. When should I expect you back?”
She pursed her lips. “Not sure. I’m giving myself two weeks if she needs help getting back on her feet. No more than that I wouldn’t imagine.”
“Your plans change, you let me know.”
“I will.”
“Caro?”
“Yes, Terri?” She carried her bag to the door.
“Be careful, yeah?”
“I will.” They hung up and she pocketed her phone.
She left her apartment, alarm set and door locked, before making her way to the front where she waved for a taxi.
Guilt nagged her as she settled against the leather seat. Her parents—adoptive some may call them, she called them her parents—deserved better than this. They loved her as much as their other children. She’d never felt like she didn’t belong in the family. This lying to them was ripping at her gut.
