Lucky For You (Never Too Late Book 3) Read online

  He stood and looked at his clothes at the end of the bed. That meant she had been up for a while, and he wondered if there was a reason she had picked up. He threw his clothes on and stepped out of the room in search for her when he heard two distinct voices in her kitchen.

  “Why would you do that?” A feminine voice sounded out, clearly annoyed.

  “Jenn…” Key sighed.

  “He was paying too little to begin with. Now he’s not going to give you a cent?” Jenn, her sister, asked. He raised an eyebrow, silently agreeing with her. That whole thing was fucked up.

  “I don’t need it…”

  “Yes, Keira, you do,” Jenn adamantly pointed out, and he wondered if she was hurting financially.

  “I’ll work more. I’ll… I don’t know. I’ll sell some of the jewelry…”

  “Mom’s jewelry?” There were shock and anger in her sister’s voice.

  “Between that and the jewelry Sam gave me, we will be okay.” He didn’t like the idea of her selling her belongings. Especially if it was because of her jackass ex-husband.

  “Keira,” Jenn admonished.

  He stepped in, not wanting to overhear more, and recognized her sister siting at the table. Her sister, Jenn.

  “Good morning.” He cleared his voice, moving closer to Key and kissing her on the lips. He liked the way her hand landed over his abs as they stood in front of her stove.

  “Umm Rex, you remember my sister. Jenn, you remember Rex from Vegas?”

  He looked at her sister, the brunette giving him a Cheshire grin. “Nice to see you again, Rex.” He tipped his head and turned to Key.

  “I should…”

  “She’s my only crazy sister,” Key blurted out weirdly, and Jenn giggled.

  “I’m not that crazy.”

  “What?” he asked, feeling his brows drawing together.

  “I mean, umm… she’s my family…”

  “I know, Key.” Her cheeks flamed further, and he could hear her sister giggling in the background.

  “I’m making breakfast,” she finally spit out, and he smiled. He took in the slight pink blush over her cheeks, her red hair up in a messy bun, and thick, black-framed glasses perched on her nose as she turned to flip the bacon that was making his mouth water. She didn’t want him to leave. She wanted him to meet her family. She was in this as much as he wanted it. His heart tightened and let go of something. Something he didn’t even know he had been holding on to for too long.

  “I’ll make coffee,” he told her. Key’s eyes met his, and she gave him the sweetest smile. One he felt in his gut as she mouthed ‘thank you’.

  “So, Jenn, how was your drive?” he asked, and Key’s sister was more than happy to share.

  That morning he got to know Key’s sister.

  She was a fucking riot.

  She was also very nice and polite. She offered to grab Megan from Katie’s, quietly apologizing about not having called before she had driven out. He’d told her not to worry about it, to which she had smiled back, leaving Key and him alone for the first time that day.

  “I didn’t know she was coming over,” she shared the moment she stepped into the living room with a dishrag in hand.

  “Come here, Key”

  “What?”

  “Come here.”

  “Rex.” Her lips twitched, but he kept a serious expression on his face.

  “Come here,” he repeated and watched as she walked to him, his hands wrapping around her waist.

  “Love you, Key.”

  “Love you, too,” she whispered, and fuck, he loved the sound of her saying that. He knew she hadn’t meant to say it the night before, but he was glad she had. She meant it. He knew she did.

  “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Yeah,” she whispered. “You?”

  “Like a rock.” Her eyes twinkled, and his nose skimmed hers. “I have to go check on some things, but I’ll be back tonight? That will give you, Meg, and Jenn some girl time.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Kiss me good-bye, babe.” And with that order, he stepped out of her house and into the sunshine with his girl’s taste on his lips.

  Sunday, a month later

  He was finally fucking home.

  Short staffed, he had to cover for one of his deputies on his day off. He was tired, hungry, and horny. He was holding a to-go plate from Robbie’s and planned to sleep after he ate. Keira had gone to L.A. for the weekend, so he would have to hold off till tomorrow to slip into her sweet body. His cell phone rang just as he opened his plate. He looked at it and smiled.

  “Babe,” he smiled, waiting to hear her voice, but she didn’t say anything. “Key?”

  “Rex!”

  “What’s wrong?” he immediately asked, knowing in his gut something was wrong.

  “I need Katie’s mom’s phone number. I can’t find it and...” she rambled, and he frowned, a bad feeling seeping through his body.

  “Baby, talk to me.”

  “She’s missing,” Key whispered, and by the tone in her voice he could tell she was crying.

  “What? Who?”

  “Meg. Shit, Rex. Oh my God, my baby… I… she…”

  “Shh, deep breath, Keira. Breathe in.” He heard her inhale and slowly exhale a shuddered breath that sounded so painful he felt it. “Talk to me, baby.”

  “She heard about Sam, Rex.” Her voice broke, and he closed his eyes.

  “Shit,” he whispered, standing up and placing the plate of food into his fridge. Worry hit his gut. Teens went missing every day. He fucking knew that. “How?”

  “She wanted to see him, and I guess she called him. He didn’t answer. Instead, the jackass called me at Jenn’s house. She was listening to him on the other phone. I didn’t know she was listening until she just told him point blank she hated him and hoped he’d die.”

  “Fuck.” Anguish churned into fear at the thought of Meg missing.

  Meg was a good kid. A great kid. She was also a beautiful girl out there in the darkness of the night. Alone. Whispering Springs was a small town, but even in small places bad shit happened.

  “She acted like she didn’t care. She didn’t want to talk about it, so I didn’t push it. I knew, God, Rex, I knew she wasn’t okay, but I figured she needed her space. We got home two hours ago. I started to do laundry, and when I went to check on her, she was gone. She’s not at the house, and her bike is gone.”

  “She’s going to be fine,” he said. And she would be. He would do anything to find her.

  “Rex…” the panic in Key’s voice rang loud and clear.

  “Shh… listen to me. I’m gonna text Katie’s mom, ask if she’s seen her. Have her talk to Katie, see if Katie’s heard from her, okay? I’m going for a drive. See if I can find her.” He prayed to God he would.

  “Do you think I should—”

  “No, baby. I want you to sit tight. Stay at the house in case she comes home,” he cut her off immediately. It was more than obvious Key was upset. He didn’t need her driving around.

  “Okay.”

  “Just breathe for me, Key. It will be okay. Trust I’ll get our girl back home safe and sound.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, and he swallowed.

  “I’ll get her home, Key, Okay?”

  “Yeah,” she answered before ending the call.

  Hopping into his car, he started to scroll down to call his sister-in-law and thankfully looked up toward his front yard. With a sigh of relief, he quickly texted Keira to let her know he had found her and not to stress. He would bring Megan home.

  He jumped out of his truck but held back. Walking slowly, he noticed her bike that was leaning against the big tree in the front of the house. His eyes pinned to the young girl who sat on his curb.

  “Hey, kid.” His voice was gentle as he sat down next to her. She didn’t look at him. Her shoulders were slumped forward, her hands wrapped around her knees.

  He sat quietly with her. The crickets chirped, and
a nice breeze picked up.

  “Want to talk?” he asked, breaking the deafening silence.

  “I hate my dad,” she whispered, the emotion she tried to mask so clear, it created a lump in his own throat. He didn’t blame her. “He cheated on my mom.”

  “I know.”

  “A lot.”

  “Honey…”

  “He did. He was a dick. He messed around a lot on her. She didn’t deserve that!” The anger in her voice was clear.

  “No woman does,” he stated, noting she didn’t even turn to look at him.

  “And now he’s married to this girl who isn’t even ten years older than me.” He gritted his teeth and looked ahead at the empty street. “They’re having twins.”

  “I heard,” he chimed in, unsure of what to say. So he sat on the sidewalk with her in the darkness of the night, only a lone streetlight dully gleaming overhead.

  “Girls… sisters.” Her voice broke the silence, and he watched her shake her head in disgust. “He… he hasn’t called back. Not once since we moved here. He’s cancelled every trip. I thought… I thought since I was in L.A. and I was just ten minutes from where he lives, we could hang out, you know?” Tears openly fell from her eyes. A knot formed in his throat.

  Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and was glad she leaned her head against him. She sniffled and took in a stuttered breath. His heart hurt for her. Hurt for the disappointment she felt all while anger swirled toward the asshole who’d hurt Meg.

  “What happened, kid?” he asked even though he knew. He sensed she needed someone to talk to, and for whatever reason, she had decided he would be it.

  “He ignored my call. Not even a minute later, he called Mom. I picked up the other line. He doesn’t want anything to do with me.” Her voice broke further. He held her tighter, feeling his shirt dampen with more of her tears. “He isn’t going to pay child support. All I am to him is a problem. A freaking bill he doesn’t need.”

  “He say that?” he asked in a growl. How the hell could a man do that? Say that about his child? How could the asshole be that much of a jackass?

  “Yeah.” The dam broke within her, and he held her tighter still. Rex’s hand cupped the back of her head, while she sobbed into his shoulder.

  His heart broke for her.

  He wanted to beat the shit out of Sam Jennings and protect Megan at the same time.

  “Shh…”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “Your mom’s worried, kiddo.”

  “I’m horrible. I just I needed space, you know? To think.”

  “And you came here?” he asked. Her eyes met his, and she shrugged.

  “I got on my bike and was going to go to Katie’s, but somehow ended up here. It’s nice here.” He smiled at her words. “Peaceful, you know?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “You didn’t see me when you came home.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were missing.”

  “It’s okay. I was about to knock on your door.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Too tired to ride my bike back home.” She shrugged, wiping her nose. “Sorry I got all sappy on you.”

  “Anytime you wanna talk, sap or not, I’m here,” he told her, meaning it. He didn’t know where things would go with Key, even if he wanted them to progress in a way where they all shared a roof, but he didn’t have a crystal ball. What he did know was, he would drop everything and anything for both these women.

  “Because you like my mom?” she asked, her head popping up. He bit away a smile. Meg was far from dumb.

  “Because I’m in love with your mom and I wanna be part of not only her life, but both of your lives,” he shared honestly and caught the way she nodded slightly while she looked out toward the street.

  “She needs someone like you,” she shared with him. He was glad he had her approval.

  “Your mom is one of a kind.”

  “Once in a lifetime kinda woman?” Meg fished for more, and his body shook with silent laughter.

  “Pretty much.” He bit away his smile and did what he had been doing with the Jennings women from almost the moment he met them; he gave her a little more, “You’re a pretty terrific kid, too, Meg.” He didn’t miss the way she went silent and turned away. “I’m serious. Your dad… he doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.”

  “Sure…”

  “If you were my kid…” she turned to look at him. The hope in her eyes gave him the courage to admit what he thought. “I’d be damn proud. I sure as hell wouldn’t miss any of your calls. And if I did, you could bet I’d call you right back.” She pressed her lips together, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. “You ever need me, I’m here. Not because I’m seeing your mom or because I’m Katie’s uncle. But because I want to be a man in your life you can count on. You hear me?” She nodded, and he nodded too, running his fingers through his hair. “Not all men are crap,” he gruffed. He wanted her to know there were good men, solid men, out in the world.

  “You should add a swing to that tree.” She pointed toward her bike. His lips twitched.

  “I’ll do that. Maybe you can help me?” he suggested, and her head turned so quickly he was afraid she would get whiplash.

  “Really?”

  “Yep.” He shrugged. “I saw a tire swing for a tree…but you’d have to paint the tire. I’m not any good at picking a color…”

  “I could help.” She sniffled, wiping her nose. He let his arm fall away as they sat.

  “That would be good. I’d appreciate it.”

  “Cool.”

  “You know your mom’s worried, right?”

  “I know.” She ran her fingers through her brown hair. “I just… I’m not mad at her. Not really.”

  “But you are?”

  “Did you know she told him not to pay child support?”

  “Umm…” Not sure what to say, he was thankful that in true teenage girl nature, she kept talking.

  “Mom has great clients, but she’s not rolling in it. Not like him. And she just lets him walk all over her…”

  “I don’t think she sees it like that.”

  “I do. She deserves better.”

  “She has better,” he shared, and Meg looked at him. Her blue eyes were so full of every emotion it was like a hurricane in her gaze. He was in for a quarter, might as well be in for a dollar.

  “I’m in love with your mom, Meg.”

  “I know.” She smiled shyly.

  “She is smart and sweet and seriously funny. She’s feisty, and Meg, I gotta tell you, your mom’s my world.”

  “Good.” She wiped her nose. “She should be someone’s world.”

  “You’re her world, and just so you know, you are pretty important to me too. I know you’re not a kid anymore. I know I can’t be your dad, but I can be someone you can count on. No matter what.”

  “Thanks, Rex.” She tilted her head, looking forward, and he looked at her profile.

  She wasn’t the bombshell her mom was, but she was a beauty in her own right. She was going to need a man to watch over her as well. He could be her step-dad.

  Step-dad? He smiled and breathed in deep. Yeah. Abso-fucking-lutely, he could be a step-dad. He could be the best freaking step-dad any kid had. He grinned while scratching his head.

  “What?” she asked in wonder. He turned to look at her.

  “Nothing, kid. You okay?”

  “Lots.”

  “Come on, let’s get you to your mom.” He stood. She took the hand he offered to help her up, then she grabbed her bike, and they walked side by side till they reached the bed of his truck

  “Hey, Rex?”

  “Yeah?” He looked over his shoulder as he lifted her bike into the bed and froze. Something about the look on her face made him hold his breath.

  “You’re pretty cool. I’m glad my mom has someone like you in her corner,” she said softly, but before he could find his tongue to respond, she walked a
round to the passenger side.

  Damn kid. She made him wish he could be her real dad.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Keira

  Headlights flashed through her window, and she jumped out of her recliner and rushed to the door, knowing it was Rex and Meg. Standing there, barefoot in a loose purple racer back tank top and soft black leggings, she watched both of them work at getting Meg’s bike from the bed of the truck. She stepped closer when Meg’s blue eyes met hers, and her daughter stood still. All Keira could do was put her arms out. Meg’s face crumpled just as she ran toward her, falling into her arms with such force she took a step back so as not to fall over.

  She felt her little girl’s tears before her sobs broke and held on to her tightly. She couldn’t see Rex anymore, but she knew he was putting Meg’s bike away in the garage. She felt him near before she saw him. The energy in the air changed as he approached. Moving in gently, but with purpose, he held both of them, with one of his arms over Keira and the other patting Meg’s hair. She looked into his grey eyes and mouthed a thank you. He closed his eyes with a small nod.

  “Come on, kiddo, let’s get you and your mom inside,” he quietly suggested, and both of them followed his lead into the house.

  Sitting on the couch, Meg immediately wrapped herself around Keira, who felt like she could breathe for the first time since she had realized her girl wasn’t in her room.

  “I’m sorry,” Meg whispered. “I just needed space.”

  “That’s okay… Next time, leave me a note, will ya? I don’t need more grey hair.” Meg giggled softly as Keira kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “I love you, Meg. You and me, we are a team—”

  “With Rex,” Meg interrupted. It wasn’t a question or an offer, just a statement. She looked at Rex, who was looking at both of them with an intensity she couldn’t read.

  “Yeah, kid. Team Us.” He nodded and smiled, and whatever doubt she had stupidly and unknowingly held on to diminished in that very moment. Team Us. Something about that felt more than right.

  “You girls hungry?”