Infinite Ties (All That Remains #3) by S. M. Shade Read Free Book Online Page A

off anywhere, Carson,” I warn.
    “Sure, mom. We’ll just be in the yard.”
    Fuck. How long does he plan on staying?
What’s he really up to? I know he doesn’t give a shit about Carson. As much as
the idea repulses me, I need to talk to Jon alone and see what his actual
motive is.
    Airen sits beside me. “Are you okay?” Nodding,
I lean my head against his shoulder.
    “I thought it went okay,” Joseph murmurs,
peeking out the window to check on Carson. Their ignorance of my situation and
fear adds to my melancholy and makes me feel so alone. They don’t understand.
They can’t. I can’t bring myself to agree with him, so I choose to stay silent.
    “You need a break, darlin’. Some time away
from all of this.” Airen pulls me into his lap. “Go out on the lake with us
tomorrow. We’ll take the pontoon boat, and you can lie in the sun and relax. No
kids or exes.”
    Oh, that sounds so good. “I don’t want Jon
to have access to Carson without one of us near.”
    “I’ll recruit Gary to keep an eye on
them,” Joseph suggests.
    The thought of Gary hovering over Jon
while he’s with Carson brings a smile to my face. Gary’s a big guy, well over
six feet of solid muscle. His appearance is intimidating, the complete opposite
of his teddy bear personality. “Sounds fun,” I relent. “Thank you.”
    “I’ll go ask Gary if he’ll help us out.”
Joseph drops a kiss on my forehead.
    Airen snorts. “Just tell him it’s for
Abby. He’ll do anything.”
    “That’s not true!”
    Joseph chuckles. “Sorry, ladybug. I have
to agree with Airen on this one. He adores you.”
    “He’s friendly to me. He adores Emma. They’ve
been seeing each other.”
    “Good,” Airen growls.
    “Don’t be such a cave man,” Joseph says, laughing.
    “Pretty girl, mine,” Airen grunts,
clenching my hair in his fist before kissing me senseless.
    “Pretty girl, ours,” Joseph corrects.
    “No clothes allowed on the boat tomorrow.”
Airen’s grin is wicked, and suddenly the night can’t pass fast enough.
    Aside from voicing that he’s fine, Carson
refuses to talk about his reunion with Jon. Gary agrees to hang out at our
house for the day in case he shows up, and I promise to have him and Emma over
for dinner soon as a thank you.
    It’s a beautiful day to be outdoors. The
air is warm and a slight breeze tickles my neck, lifting my hair from my
shoulders. We’re at the tail end of summer, and I hate to see it go. “What’s
wrong?” Airen asks, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “You look like you
lost your best friend.” Not yet .
    “I was just thinking that summer’s nearly
over.”
    “Yeah, it is, so you need to relax and
enjoy the day.”
    I grin up at him. “I intend to soak up as
much sun as possible.”
    Joseph chuckles. “You’ll be one giant
raisin when you grow old.”
    “I like raisins,” Airen assures me, making
me giggle.
    “Don’t worry, Airen’s going to be gray in
a few years.”
    “Fuck off, dimples.”
    An impish grin plays across his lips as he
continues teasing him. “You’re getting gray through your sideburns and your
scruffy face when you let it grow for a couple of days. I suppose that’s why
you’ve been shaving every morning.”
    I’ve noticed that little deviation in his
habit. “Is that why?” I ask, running a finger down his smooth jaw.
    “I don’t like it,” he grumbles, shooting
daggers at Joseph. Airen’s never self conscious about his appearance. God, he’s
the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met. Does he think a few gray hairs could
change that? Sometimes, I think too much of his self worth rides on his looks.
Perhaps it’s because that’s how he made a living before.
    “Well, I do. I love that salt and pepper
look, and I’ll love it even more when you have a head full. Face it, Airen, you’re
sexy to a spectacular degree. Nothing can change that.”
    “Told you,” Joseph adds flippantly. “It’s
sickening how perfect he is.”
    “Look who’s