Full Force Fatherhood by Tyler Anne Snell Read Free Book Online

she’s asleep,” Lynn said, dropping the volume of her voice. “I’m the one who put her there and read that annoying counting-sheep book to her. Can we just get rid of that thing, by the way? Maybe ‘misplace’ it? Say the Easter Bunny needed it to keep on hopping, or maybe Santa needed it to fight crime or something? I think I’ve read that to her at least a hundred times already.”
    Kelli appreciated Lynn’s attempt to calm her with a change of subject. The knotted stress within her lessened. She kicked off her shoes and leaned back into the pillows.
    â€œAnd risk a never-ending tantrum? No way. I’d rather read it every night than endure one night without it.”
    Lynn seemed to reconsider her stance before returning to the topic at hand.
    â€œI still can’t believe you got jumped.” Her face softened, lips turning down. “He could have really hurt you, Kel.”
    â€œI know, but he didn’t.”
    Lynn’s eyes slid to the scrape on her cheek. As Kelli had sat in the driveway outside the house, the light from the car mirror had shown her the small wound looked worse than it felt. Which is what Mark had said of his cut. Her thoughts switched to the man.
    â€œI’m just glad Mark saw the guy follow me out,” she admitted out loud. “Do you know he didn’t even have a gun on him? The only weapon he had, he took from the guy.”
    Lynn whistled. “He’s got my praise. So how was talking to the bodyguard after all this time? What did he want to talk to you about?” Out of all of the people who had ever stepped into Kelli’s life, Lynn was the one person she’d always confided in without hesitation. From the crush she’d had on Billy Ryan in third grade to that one thing Victor had done in bed, there had never been a wall between them.
    Until Kelli had found Victor’s journal and started to investigate.
    The urge to tell Lynn of her suspicions had been great, but something had stopped her. Whether that was fear of judgment or embarrassment at making something out of nothing, Kelli wasn’t sure. Regardless, the excuse she’d made to meet Mark had been a lie.
    â€œIt was good. Nothing too special, just catching up.” Another lie. Another shot of guilt. “But he’s no longer a bodyguard,” she added, needing a dose of truth to ease her conscience.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œHe quit last year.” Nikki had told her that when she had called looking for him.
    â€œWhy?”
    Kelli shrugged, but she could bet why he’d quit security. She couldn’t ignore the way Nikki had sounded almost sad as she recounted the information.
    Lynn switched subjects again. They talked about the latest episode of The Bachelor —which sidetracked them to the topic of Lynn’s new neighbor, who had a “smoking body” but “not so much personality.” Eventually both women’s eyes started to shut, so they said good-night.
    â€œDon’t forget to let that kid of yours know who got sent home from my show,” Lynn said at the door.
    â€œYou let her watch it?” Kelli asked, ready to admonish her. Lynn kept walking away with a wave.
    â€œJust tell her it was the guy with the silly shirt. She’ll know what I’m talking about.”
    Kelli laughed and shut the door after Lynn was safe in her car. She bumped her hip against the door to make sure it was shut all the way, threw the deadbolt and turned off the porch light. The cold of the hardwood floor made her pause. Moving across town to be closer to Lynn—and in a more affordable place—was definitely a move she needed to make, but...
    She placed her hand on the door. It was polished and perfect. It reminded her of Victor picking her up and walking her over the threshold when they first got back from their honeymoon. He had insisted, even though they’d been living together for