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She ht over her scar I didn’t mean to remind her it was there, but it was ers over it self-consciously and shut the door behind her

RAEGAN -

Shit, shit, shit, shit! When Lane and I had been interrupted in the kitchen, the last person I ever iined would be at our front door was Adah he didn’t deserve that title

I could tell that Lane didn’t knoho he was yet; he just didn’t appreciate the attitude I have no doubt Ada His build was scrawny compared to Lane, and not once had he ever looked at me as if I rose and set the sun all on my ohich was basically the way Lane looked at me on a daily basis

There had been a time when I would have followed Adaaas constantly If at any point he would have asked for Braden and me to co for Adaht Adam had been just as crazy about ifts and showing up wherever I was to surprise me I wouldn’t hear fro ro back, it had all been so childish

Then, I found out I was pregnant I ht before ent in to see a movie, but I just couldn’t hold it in anymore and he had been off to God-knohere the previous four days At first, his reaction seeht srabbed my hand I knew that he would need time to process the news

When he excused hio to the restroo in ht I ive him the benefit of the doubt The restrooed his number, and moved I had never known someone to be so desperate to disappear

Of course I would have preferred so just Braden andto talk, and begrudgingly I’d agreed to meet up with him Turned out, I didn’t make it to that little reunion because I’d been kidnapped And then it was just Braden, Kate, and I Noe had Lane, and I didn’t want any newcos up I was happy Braden was happy Why was Adam here? And now in Texas, of all places Guess I was about to find out

I stepped out onto the porch and looked up into his eyes, cringing when I saw theotten how they were an identicaland brown, alolden eyes Looking at Ada Braden twenty years down the road My throat choked up at the idea

Adaasped when he’d finally ently brush down the side of ly scar--I would never be able to cover it up The only reason it was starting to not bother me was that Lane seemed to adore it

"Don’t call me that, Adam, I never liked it," I whispered His hand made me instantly unco open and Lane’s bulky figure stepped out behind mine "Hands down if you want keep the voice de intently at Ada further into Lane’s body, I hoped to ta out of hirowled I wanted to chuckle at that

"Dad," Adaht hio way back"

"Oh, I’ve heard I know all about your disappearing act Where were you when they wentfor the to police We didn’t know a da about you" Lane tried to step closer to Adam, but I braced ht as I could e "Better yet, where were you when your son was born?"

I could tell that had been hard for him to say Lane would never be able to respect a man who ditched his child Neither could I

Ada sily, he didn’t respond to any of Lane’s questions, but instead asked, "Have we met before?"

"I’ve met a lot of deadbeat dads, but I think you’re a new one…" Lane shrugged "Maybe I’ve arrested you before Ever been handcuffed by a New York cop?" Lane was getting worked up and Adaain

I turned to face Lane and looked up into his eyes until he reluctantly pulled his glare away froreen in theave hi smile

"Let me take care of this Please?" I tried to whisper, but honestly I didn’t care if Adam heard as well He had been uncharacteristically silent after Lane had torn into him Probably a survival instinct Without a word, Lane stepped back inside and closed the door Ada at hirabbed me and planted his lips on me so hard that there would have been no question as to whathis territory, he had quietly stepped back like I had asked and noished I had let hiuess in a way, Lane didn’t need to physically mark his territory One look and you knew not to cross him

"Why are you here?" I finally asked Adam

"For you," he replied "And Braden, of course," he quickly added, as if it were a hard thing to remember

"You’re about five years too late for me I want to say you’re too late for Braden as well…"

"Let me take you out, please," he asked softly "I miss you so itation

"He’s hts and I’ll find a way to establish theether as I considered his words "You’ve never wanted anything to do with him Why are you even here?"

"I told you, I one for years Hoould I have ever been able to rectify our situation?"

My hands flew up in the air "Gone?! We weren’t sione, you… dumbass! We were kidnapped!"

"And now you’re back, so why can’t I at least get a shot at ain? You’re clearly okay," he stated in a frustratingly casual tone

"Clearly…" I grumbled sarcastically "How did you even find us here?"