SHE HAD BEEN quiet since we’d left for the weekend. Once our ferry departed, she disappeared from her seat and didn’t come back. After an hour, I went looking for her. I found her on the upper, open deck. She stood at the railing with the wind whipping her hair as she pensively studied the water.
I stood beside her and leaned my back against the railing so I faced her. I wanted to ask her about Eduard and the situation with her family, but she was prickly about personal questions, so I remained silent. I didn’t want to draw any conclusions, but from all appearances, it seemed like she had gotten entangled with her sister’s fiancé and now wanted out—and he was taking exception to that decision.
I knew Krista didn’t want me along this weekend, but I didn’t care. She needed protecting because whoever this Eduard was, he was a predator, and I had zero tolerance for men like him.
I studied her, thinking of the video Mike had sent me. I wanted to share it with her, but I knew she would only ask me to delete it. I figured maybe I could hang onto it for a couple of days before showing her. This probably wasn’t the best weekend to bring it to her attention.
She interrupted my thoughts. “For two years, I was in a relationship with Eduard.” She looked down at her hands, which clutched the metal rail tight. “I brought him home last Christmas, and that’s when he started an affair with my sister, Helene.”
Holy shit. Her story surprised me, and I worked to keep the shock off my face. “I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t suspect anything. The first time I heard about it was when she announced that she was having his baby. She announced it over Easter dinner to a roomful of people.”
“You’re kidding.”
She lifted her chin. “It was utter chaos.”
I spoke slowly as I put the pieces together. “And this weekend you’re all coming together for Thanksgiving?”
“The same people who were at the Easter dinner will also be here for the Thanksgiving dinner.” She gave me a tight-lipped smile. “We’re going to sweep it under the rug. Collectively. As a family.”
I crossed my arms, already hating that plan. “Eduard is the one who sent you the flowers and showed up at your apartment?”
She gave me a defensive look. “I’m not encouraging him.”
“I know that.” I had an irresistible urge to hurt him. Even after what he did to her, he was still harassing her. I wanted nothing more than to teach this guy some boundaries.
She was walking into it this weekend, and if I hadn’t insisted on coming, she’d be doing it alone. “Considering what he’s been putting you through, I’m just wondering why you feel you need to go.”
She gave me a sharp look. “I despise him, okay? I do, but he doesn’t get to steal my entire family. I want to keep showing up while I’m still welcome.”
That statement told me this weekend was costing her a lot of courage. The one thing I could do for her was make sure she didn’t have to deal with him cornering her in dark rooms. “He won’t get near you.”
Those blue eyes looked up at me. “I haven’t even told my mom that I’m bringing someone.”
I shrugged. “I thought she wanted you to bring a date.”
“You’re not coming as my date. You’re coming as my colleague.”
She was damn cute when she got this prickly. “Colleague?”
“You know what I mean.” She still looked grumpy. “How are things going with the team these days?”
“Much better,” I lied.
She turned her face up to mine, searching for the truth. “Really?”
“Really.” I kept an easy smile on my face. “You have nothing to worry about.”
SHE DROVE us through Victoria before turning her car into a long, narrow driveway. We drove into a clearing, which showcased a magnificent house.
I looked through the windshield at the massive brick residence that sprawled in front of us. “You grew up here?”
She turned off the engine, folded her hands in her lap, and looked at me. “I’m going to tell my mom that you’re one of my players and you needed some downtime.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Sure.”
“Don’t let my mom get under your skin. And please don’t fight with Eduard. I just want a calm, normal family weekend.”
“Roger that.”
She looked up at the house. “And if this doesn’t go well, we’re driving to Tofino to hang out with Mica and Charlie.”
“We’ve got options.”
She gave me a solemn look. “It’s best not to react to anything my mom does.”
I could tell she was inwardly freaking out, so I reassured her. “We’re going to have a great time, okay?”
She paused and then let out a slow breath. “Thanks. Yeah, okay.”
I CARRIED our bags and followed closely in Krista’s footsteps. She opened the front door and called out. “Mom?”
A short, older woman with Krista’s blue eyes came around the corner, meeting us in the massive foyer. “Krista. I thought you were coming yesterday.”
“Hi, Mom,” Krista said as they air-kissed. “I couldn’t get away.”
Her mom caught sight of me. “Just drop the bags there.”
I deposited the bags where she instructed and then stood off to the side, waiting to be introduced as the client who didn’t have any place to go.
Her mom gave me a cool look. “Are you waiting for something?”
Krista looked between us. “Mom! This is Levi. Uh, my new relationship.”
I worked to keep the surprise off my face.
Her mom paused dramatically. “You’re not my daughter’s driver?”
“No, ma’am. She drove us here,” I said with an easy smile, offering her my hand to shake. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Taylor.”
She sniffed at me. “I always find it odd when men let women drive them around.”
“Maybe they haven’t met your daughter.”
“You can call me Bea,” she instructed me. “It’s short for Beatrice.” She turned away from me, dismissing our conversation. She spoke to Krista in a quiet voice. “Don’t you think he’s a little young, darling? You never want to look like you’re trying too hard.”
Krista froze.
Bea gave me a long look before she turned to walk away. “Krista, I need your help in the kitchen.”
Krista automatically moved to follow her mother into the kitchen, but I grabbed her by the waist and gave her the hug that her mom should have given her.
“New relationship, hey?” I put my mouth against her neck.
Krista’s voice was muffled against my chest. “I’m sorry.”
I felt her resist my hug like a stiff little porcupine. I held on a little longer and was rewarded when her arms snuck around my waist and she hugged me back.
“That’s it.”
She let out a little sigh that tore at my heart. “We should have gone straight to Tofino.”
“Krista,” her mom called in a singsong voice. “Did you want some wine, darling?”
I felt her step back from me.
“Do you want me to put our bags somewhere?”
“Thank you. You can put them in my room for now. Turn left at the top of the stairs. It’s the third door on the right. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
I picked up the bags and headed upstairs. I found her room and set our bags on the bench by the window. I looked around. It had obviously belonged to a younger Krista, with remnants of music posters on the wall and pictures of friends pinned to a bulletin board. I bent over, my eyes searching photos for a glimpse of what Krista looked like as a kid.
“Hello, Neanderthal.”
I turned to see Eduard standing at the door, his hands in his pockets. “Hey, I know you. You’re the guy I want to punch repeatedly.”
He crossed his arms. “How long have you and Krista been together?”
“Does your fiancée know how desperate you are to talk to Krista?”
He looked over his shoulder, and his voice dropped. “You’re going to keep your mouth shut about that.”
“Sure, just like you’re going to keep your distance from Krista this entire weekend.”
He flushed a dark red. “You don’t know what you’re getting involved in.”
I stepped up close to him, taking pleasure in the fact that I had a good four inches and probably forty pounds on him. “I understand that she doesn’t want to talk to you. That’s all I need to know.”
He gave me a dark look before he disappeared out the door.
I MADE my way downstairs and could hear voices talking. I slowed my steps, taking my time to look at all the family pictures in frames on tables. Most of them were of Krista’s sister, but there was one of Krista. She was standing beside some sort of science project and holding up first place. On her cute face was an expression of pure joy.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and slyly took a photo of that picture. I wanted to study Krista as a kid.
“Eduard.” Krista’s mom gave a long, pronounced laugh. “You’re supposed to swish it, not chug it.”
“I can taste it as I swallow it. Krista, you want a sip?” His voice sounded cordial, friendly.
“No, thank you.” Krista was polite but firm.
“Come on, you gotta try this. Do it for Helene—since she can’t drink right now.”
“I said no thanks.” Her voice became short.
I moved to the doorway. He was standing too close, holding a glass of wine in front of her face while she chopped vegetables.
“Come on, I know how much you love a great Burgundy. Remember when we were in France in that little town? What was it called?”
Bea stood with her back to them both, deliberately ignoring the obvious fact that her future son-in-law was a giant douche.
I moved behind Krista and possessively wrapped my arms around her in a warm, protective hug. I buried my face in her neck so I could inhale her scent. Her entire body rippled with shock before it relaxed and sank back against mine.
“You like wine?” I teased.
“Depends on the company.”
I deliberately moved in, using my body to create a wall between her and Eduard. He had my back, and she had my full attention. I wasn’t trying to be subtle. I was letting him know that she was no longer his to touch or talk to.
“What are you cooking?” I talked directly to her, pretending she was the only person in the room.
She had a cute little smile on her face. “I’m chopping vegetables for the stuffing tomorrow.”
Bea finally chimed in. “If you two gentlemen would like to remove yourself from this kitchen, we have a lot of cooking to do before tomorrow.”
“Let me help,” Eduard smoothly joked. “At least I can help top up your wine.”
“Great,” I said with a huge smile, knowing her mom didn’t want me around. “I’d love to help pour wine too, Bea.”
Her mom’s lips pinched a bit as she looked at me. “We’ve got this handled, gentlemen.”
I looked over at Eduard and decided we needed to get a little physical, to make sure we understood each other. “I saw a basketball hoop in the driveway. Ever shoot some hoops?”
He shrugged. “I’ve played a little bit of ball.”
“Oh yeah? Anything serious?”
“Eduard played varsity basketball in university,” Bea said, cutting into our conversation.
I stepped a bit closer to Eduard and spoke for his ears only. “Yeah, but I bet that was about a hundred years ago.”
Something dark and angry flared in his eyes. “You want to play? I hope you bring your A-game.”
Krista watched me with wide eyes.
As I moved out of the kitchen, I heard Bea speak to Krista. “Don’t even think of going out there.”
AFTER I CHANGED, I found Eduard on the driveway, shooting hoops from the faded free-throw line. I moved to catch his ball and bounced it back to him.
“Do you play much basketball?” Eduard asked, looking a bit smug as he took another shot.
“Not much.”
“Let’s see what you got.”
He didn’t give me any time to warm up, but it didn’t matter. It would take almost nothing to beat him. I let him get up by three points, and he was already huffing like he’d run half a marathon.
“Your cardio needs some work,” I taunted as he tried to move around me with the ball. I let him score.
“Says the guy who is down four points.” He bounced me the ball.
“How’s your sex with cardio that bad?” I moved with speed and control around him and easily scored.
He roared and tried to drive through me, but I braced my body, and when he connected with me, he went flying and landed on his butt.
“You okay?” I feigned friendliness as I offered him a hand up. “You went down pretty hard there.”
He examined his ripped sweatpants. “You want to get tough? Let’s go.”
He drove from the top of the line, but he was so sluggish it was easy to block all his moves.
“I kind of feel like Neo in The Matrix, and everything is in slow motion,” I joked, as he slaved to find any space that I wasn’t blocking.
His elbow deliberately connected with my jaw as he drove his way up into the air. He missed the shot.
I took it to the top of the line and dribbled between my legs, never breaking eye contact with him.
He was breathing in gasps. “You think you’re relevant? I’m going to marry into this family. You’re nothing more than an embarrassing fling. In six months, no one is going to remember your name.”
I wanted to tell him that I had already married into this family, but instead, I drove into him as hard as I could, pushing him off his feet. I scored and then came back, holding out my hand to help him back onto his feet. “Yeah, but as long as I am here, you don’t go near her. You don’t talk to her, you don’t look at her.”
He scoffed. “Or what?”
I spun the ball on one finger. “You give me your word, and I’ll leave you alone.”
“You think I’m scared of you?” he scoffed. “I’m a fucking lawyer, so you shut up and play ball.”
I let him drive through me to score.
He bounced me the ball, but his tirade wasn’t over. “And for the fucking record, I’ll talk to Krista when I want and how I want. Not your fucking business.”
I dribbled between my legs, pretending his blocks were too fast. He grinned at me. I timed it so I bounced the ball between his legs and watched as he flailed backward to regain his balance. I fell forward and sandbagged him onto the cement. His arms windmilled over his head, and I heard a satisfying crunch as my full weight came down on him.
He wheezed with pain, unable to speak.
“Oh shit, are you okay?” I scrambled off him and used his other arm to pull him up.
His right arm hung limply down his body. “I think my arm’s broken. My fucking arm is broken.”
“Oh.” I made a face. “That looks like a broken clavicle.”
He went down onto his knees. “I think I’m going to faint.”
“Try not to puke, because it’s really going to hurt if you do.” I bent down and put my mouth to his ear. “And if you go near her again, I will do things to you that will make this feel like a tickle.”
“Get help,” he gasped.
I found Krista and her mom cooking while a very short, pregnant woman sat at the kitchen table.
Her eyes widened when she saw me. “Who are you?”
“I belong to Krista,” I stated firmly.
She stared at me with wide eyes. “I call bullshit.”
“Eduard broke his collarbone.”
Bea spun around. “Excuse me?”
“You should get him to a hospital.”
“Oh my god,” the pregnant woman shrieked from behind me. “Where is he? Where is he?”
Bea set down her casserole dish and then rushed to the pregnant woman’s side. “Be calm, okay? You can’t upset the baby.”
WHEN HELENE SAW the shape Eduard was in, she freaked and insisted we call 911.
Krista came out and stood beside me. “What happened?”
“We ran into each other. He tripped, and I fell on top of him.”
“I don’t need an ambulance,” Eduard said to Helene, who was crying.
“I can’t deal with this on my own,” she yelled back in his face.
After the ambulance carted Eduard away to the hospital, Bea stopped alongside us.
“I’m driving Helene to the hospital, Krista. I’ve left you a list of things that need to get done this afternoon before I get back.”
Krista nodded. “Text me and let me know what happened.”
Bea gave me a dirty look before she ushered Helene into the car and drove off.
“You want some help?”
“I’m okay. You should go for a run.”
I knew when a woman was asking for space. “Okay. I won’t be gone long.”
