Keep It Simple (MMG Series Book 4) (33 page)

“Curtis didn’t kill Kalen, Sterling. Your daughter and her addiction did.”

Sterling closed his eyes and let out a loud sigh of resignation. Then he slumped back on the bed. When he opened his eyes back up, there were tears in them. “Everything I love is gone. This is not how I wanted my life to end. I wanted Alexandria to find a great man like you. I wanted her married and happy with a houseful of children.”

“She was a selfish addict,” I pointed out.

“I know,” he admitted.

“She killed my son.”

“I know,” he repeated.

“Why am I here?” I asked.

“With Alexandria and Kalen gone I wanted you to know it’s all yours when I die.”

I was shocked. “I don’t want your money.”

“Sometimes it’s not about what you want, son. It’s about righting a wrong. What my daughter did to you was wrong. Regardless, you did right by her and I want you to know it wasn’t all in vein.”

I leaned closer because I wanted him to hear me and to comprehend what I was saying. “No amount of money can make right what Alexandria did, Sterling.”

“No, but it sure can help for a better future.” He waved his emaciated arm in the air. “Now, go on and get out of here. I’m tired and need a nap.”

I walked out thinking that would be the last time I ever set eyes on Sterling Gibson. When he called two days later and asked me to bring him a hamburger from a hole-in-the-wall burger shack across town, I couldn’t tell him no. This led to us sharing a meal a day until he was too sick to eat. By then it wasn’t about the food, but the company.

I ran into my parents at Alexandria’s funeral. As usual, my dad was sucking up to Sterling, while my mom, ever the dutiful wife, stood by his side. My mom and sister caught me right as I was about to leave and asked if I would be willing to stop by for dinner while I was in town. I wanted to say no. It would be so much easier to cut them out of my life than to put up with their pretentious bullshit, but I knew it was the wrong thing to do, so I threw out a date. Then I kissed my sister on the cheek and walked away. I was still angry at father for being a money grubbing douche and my mother for the role she played in the death of my son, but I needed to come to terms with the fact they were who they were and were not going to change.

Three nights later I had dinner with them. With the help of my sister playing peacemaker, it went better than expected. My father was on his best behavior, which surprised me. As predicted, my mother trapped me in the kitchen, where I let her finally get out her long awaited apology. When I left their house that night, I felt lighter than I had in a very long time.

My time away from Charlotte was not without difficulties. I missed my job and the friends I had made. Most of all, I missed Sarah. The night at the hospital, when she finally confessed her love for me, my head was so messed up I couldn’t even enjoy it. I will regret that for as long as I live. I will also try and make it up to her, if she’ll let me.

I watched the waves get closer and closer. Pretty soon they would wash over me. Today, however, I was not willing to let them take me under. Today I was saying goodbye and I was going home to get my girl.

“Goodbye,” I told the ocean. “Thanks for listening.” I pushed myself up from my place on the sand, dusted off my jeans and turned to look up at the house. There, standing on the deck with a heart stopping smile on her face, was Sarah. My stomach leaped into my throat.

Sarah.

She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and I wondered if I’d ever told her this. If not, I would. If she’d have me, I’d tell her every day for the rest of our lives. She held up a hand in a hesitant half-wave. The minute I returned it, she started down the stairs. About halfway down she stopped and sat down. I knew what she was doing. If my girl wanted me to meet her halfway, I’d be more than happy to comply.

“I came to get you,” she said, as soon as I reached where she was sitting.

“You did?”

“I did,” she firmly stated with a nod of her head. The determination in her voice made me smile.

“Scoot over,” I told her. She scooted and I sat. We both stared out at the ocean. “Sterling died last week.” I felt her eyes on me and knew if I looked into them I would never get out what I needed to say. “His funeral was two days ago,” I continued. Her hand slipped into mine and I squeezed it. “I had to get my head straight before I could come back for you. I knew there was a chance you wouldn’t be waiting, but I was no good for you then. There was so much poison and anger inside me and if I stayed it would eventually spill over onto us and ruin everything.” I glanced down at her and was instantly trapped in her stare. “I never said goodbye to Kalen. I just ran. Then Alexandria told me he wasn’t mine and I was so damn angry. I kept thinking the past four years were for nothing.”

“Cas-” Sarah tried to cut in, but I placed my finger over her mouth to stop her.

“Let me finish.” She nodded her head. I stared back at the ocean and continued, “When I got here I was confused and angry about everything, but as I cleaned up the house and disposed of Kalen’s things, the anger slowly went away and I began to realize nothing Alexandria said that day means a damn thing unless I let it. From his birth to his death that little boy was mine. He was mine,” I pounded my heart. “Nothing anyone can say or do will change this. It was my name on the birth certificate and no one else’s. Once I figured this out, the anger was gone. For the first time in forever, I felt free.” Her hand jerked in mine and I glanced down. She was staring out at the crashing waves and I couldn’t believe she was actually sitting next to me. “I had to stay, Sarah. Sterling was dying. He had no one but me. I missed you. God, how I missed you, but I needed to see it through to the end.”

She glanced up long enough for me to see the hurt in her eyes, and then looked away. My heart squeezed painfully in my chest.

“Why didn’t you return my calls or texts? I’ve been worried sick about you, Cas.”

The hurt in her voice cut through me like a knife. Not able to stand it any longer, I picked her up and placed her between my legs on the step below me. She let out a squeak of protest as I wrapped my arms around her neck and pulled her back against my chest. Then I explained, “The night I left you in the hospital, I dropped by my place and packed a bag. In my hurry to get away, I left my cell phone sitting on the kitchen island. I didn’t realize it was missing until I woke the next day and needed to call Sterling. I’m sorry I worried you. I wanted to call, but until I had something to offer, I had nothing to say. I wasn’t good for you. I’m sorry you got pulled into my mess of a life, but I’m happy you’re here. I was on my way home to you and you beat me to the punch.”

Her head turned and I got a glimpse of her soulful eyes. They were so filled with concern and doubt and I wanted to kick myself for not calling her or reaching out to her sooner. “Are you sure?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, baby. I thought it would be unfair to call and ask you to wait for me. Once I got my head straightened out, Sterling was dying and I knew he didn’t have much time-”

“Shhhh,” she cut me off. “I get it. If you called I would have rushed here to be with you and you would have felt torn. Sterling needed you and I’m pretty sure you needed him, too. For the record, though, there is nowhere else in the world I’d rather be than with you, Cas.”

I lowered my lips to hers and drank her in. She tasted like home. Pulling back from the kiss, I said, “Move in with me.”

Her eyes bugged with surprise and I tried not to laugh. “Here?” she squeaked.

I let my laugh roll, “No, I sold this place yesterday. Move into my place in Charlotte with me. You don’t have to marry me yet, but I want you close until you do.”

“You want me to move in with you?” she repeated, and I could tell I’d completely floored her.

“I do.”

With a loud whoop, Sarah threw herself into my arms and screamed, “Yes!”

I picked her up, carried her into the house and up the stairs to my bedroom, where I lay her on my bed. For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t thinking about Kalen or Alexandria. I wasn’t dwelling on the shit I’d been through. As I stripped each piece of clothing from her body, I only thought of Sarah. Once I had her naked, I stepped back and stared down at her perfection.

“I’ve changed my mind,” I told her.

“About?” she seductively asked.

I pulled my shirt over my head, tossed it on the floor and answered, “About keeping things simple between us.”

“I hate to break it to you, killer, but things were never simple between us,” she said with a big smile on her face.

I stepped out of my jeans and boxers and stood before her naked and ready. Her eyes dropped to my cock as I boldly stroked it with my hand. “This is yours,” I stated. Her gaze flew to mine and smoldered. “A long time ago, you told me you were on the pill. Are you still?”

Understanding flashed in her eyes and her breath hitched. “I am,” she lightly said.

As I crawled up the bed, she opened her legs to welcome me. Like a starving man, I touched and kissed her entire body from feet to face. When I reached her mouth, I gave her a gentle kiss. “I love you, Sarah, McLellan,” I whispered against her lips. “Thank you for waiting for me.”

She touched her tongue to mine and my pulse jumped. “I love you, Cas Ashford, and I would wait forever for you,” she whispered back.

Our eyes locked and I slowly entered her. Then I made slow, sweet love to her. There were no commands or dominance. There was no dirty talk. There was simply me showing my girl how much I loved her.

Staring deeply into each other’s eyes, we came at the same time. It was powerful and raw, and about as real as it gets. Whether she believed it or not, this woman was mine.

We lay in bed talking until dawn. Sarah told me all about her talk with Max. She also told me how hurt she was by Bobby. I was angry at how he handled it, but I also understood where he was coming from. He was the closest thing to a brother I had. I tried to explain this to Sarah, but knew she wasn’t buying it. It looked as if I had my work cut out for me when I got home. Just the thought of going home put a smile on my face.

The next morning I poured Sarah a cup of coffee and took her to the spot on the beach where I’d spent the past six weeks watching the sunrise and sunset. There I told her everything that had happened while we were apart. She was almost as shocked as I was that Sterling had left everything to me. I told her I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I was counting on her to help me figure this out. I meant it when I said we were in this together for the long haul. I had a feeling I was going to enjoy proving this to her. When I was done explaining, I stood up and held out my hand.

Her beautiful blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight as she placed her hand in mine and asked, “Where are we going?”

I smiled down at her and said, “We are going home.”

Kayla Marie ~ The best PA a person could ask for ~ Thank you for keeping me organized and on task. I love you more than words can say!

RC Brose ~ The BEST editor ever ~ Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to edit my words and listen to my endless ramblings. We make a great team!

Tania Marinaro (Libros Evolution) ~ The woman who makes the world’s best covers and teasers ~ I cannot thank you enough for all that you do for me.

My Betas ~ Sarah Pember, Kayla Marie, Lyndsey Hodson, Nicola Adams, Ginger Cole and Danielle Brass – I love each and every one of you. Thank you for reading KIS early and giving input on Cas and Sarah’s story.

Hilliard’s Hellions ~ I love you ladies! Thank you for reading excerpts and answering endless book questions. Your love and support mean the world to me!

Sarah Pember, Lyndsey Hodson, Petra Gleason and Kayla Marie ~ Thank you for allowing me to use your names in this book.

My author friends ~ What a wild world we live in! Thank you for your endless support.

All the wonderful bloggers who support me ~ A million Thanks to each and every one of you!

Facebook ~
http://on.fb.me/1ZTBe3C

Amazon ~
http://amzn.to/1W2mcDJ

Twitter ~
twitter.com/rbhilliardb

Goodreads ~
http://bit.ly/1ZTC8gl

Instagram ~
RBHILLIARD