Read Sweet Love (The Sweet Series Book 1) Online
Authors: K. C. Lynn
Sweet Love (The Sweet Series Book 1)
K.C. LYNN
Sweet Love Copyright © 2016 K.C. LYNN
Kindle Edition
First Edition: 2016
Editing: Wild Rose Editing
Formatting: BB ebooks
Cover Art by: Cover to Cover Designs
Cover Image by: Perrywinkle Photography
Cover Models: Chris and Lauren Anderson
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Warning: Due to mature subject matter, such as explicit sexual situations and coarse language, this story is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.
This book is dedicated to my husband, the man who inspired Sawyer Evans. Loving you has never been hard, but writing Sawyer taught me to embrace and appreciate all the things about you that drive me crazy. It also reminded me why I fell in love with you, because like Sawyer, you say some of the most perfect things that can heal even the saddest wounds. You’ve loved me on my darkest days. You stayed when so many left. Thank you for loving me even when it hasn’t been easy.
This story is for you.
Excerpt from An Act of Obsession
Sawyer
M
y eyes open just before my alarm goes off, like they do every morning. Reaching over, I hit the button to silence the beeping that’s about to ensue then register the warmth at my back. I turn over with one thought in mind but come to a halt when my gaze meets a pair of dark green eyes—the same color as mine. Not the warm amber ones I was expecting. However, the girl smiling back at me holds just as big of a place in my heart.
“Mornin’, Daddy,” Hope greets me with her megawatt smile that always does funny shit to my chest no matter how many times I see it.
I fake a scowl. “Hey, you’re not my Cupcake.”
“Nope, it’s me, your Shortcake.”
I smirk, unable to keep the farce up any longer. Not when the sweetest face in the world is staring back at me. “How did you know I was hungry for some shortcake this morning?”
She squeals before I even touch her, knowing what’s coming. Picking her up, I bring her over my head and nibble on her sides, making sure to touch where she’s most ticklish. She flops around like a fish, screaming for mercy. Taking pity on her, I lay her small body on my chest, bringing her face level with mine. Other than my green eyes she’s the mini version of her mother, and you don’t get much more perfect than my Cupcake…unless you’re my Shortcake.
“What are you doing in my bed if you aren’t here to feed me?”
“I crawled in here in the middle of the night ’cause I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Monsters.”
“Monsters?”
“Yep, a whole bunch of them. They was under my bed.”
I love her but she’s as crazy as her mother about this shit. It doesn’t help that Parker has been telling her bedtime stories that horror movies are made of.
“Did you tell them what I told you to?”
“Yes, I yelled, ‘you better get out of my room or my daddy will kick your ass!’”
I quickly clap a hand over her mouth and look out the open bedroom door, praying Grace didn’t hear that or I’ll be in serious shit. This damn swear jar that her and all the women have started has put a major dent in my wallet.
“Kid, we talked about this,” I scold gently. “Don’t say that word unless you’re sure no one is around to hear you but me. Daddy has no more money for that damn jar.”
She giggles behind my hand, getting spit on it. “Sorry. I meant to say butt.”
“That’s better. Now listen, you don’t need to be afraid. There are no monsters.”
“How do you know?”
“Because there’s no such thing.”
“Parker said you, Uncle Jax, and Uncle Cade used to fight and kill monsters.”
Well, how the fuck do I explain that? Especially when it’s partially true. And how the hell did Parker hear that? I swear that damn kid has spidey-sense when it comes to his hearing.
“Those were different kinds of monsters, baby. They were bad people. They’ll never come into this house or anywhere near us.”
“Or else you’ll hurt them?”
“Exactly.”
I’d fucking kill them.
“I’ll never let anything happen to you. It’s safe here. Uncle Jax, Uncle Cade, and I made sure of that.”
After the shooting that went down at Jaxson and Julia’s house with Logan, Jaxson bought land from Cade then I followed. Between the three of us spread out over 100 acres we have our shit rigged so that no one will ever step foot on our property without us knowing. We also have a piece of land sectioned off for Cooper. He has plans to begin building next spring.
“We clear, Shortcake?”
“Crystal,” she says, tapping me on the nose with her tiny finger.
“Good, now give me a kiss.”
Crawling up my body, she wraps her small arms around my neck and gives me a big, hard kiss on the cheek. “Love you lots, Jelly Tots.”
“Not as much as I love you. Now let’s go see what your brother and that pretty Mama of yours is doing.”
I throw on my sweats and T-shirt, something I usually try to do before she sees me in the morning so she doesn’t have to witness the scars. But since she’s been sleeping in here lately that’s been hard to do. Grabbing her, I toss her over my shoulder, causing her to squeal again, and make my way into the kitchen, needing a piece of my Cupcake.
Grace
C
huckie sits by the counter, waiting patiently for something to drop while I bustle around the kitchen, frazzled as I try to get everything in order before heading back over to the bakery this morning. Thank goodness Mac was able to open. I didn’t want to miss the kids’ first day of school.
The first day of grade one.
Tears sting my eyes at the thought of my babies being gone all day from me. I already feel like a piece of me is missing.
“Hey, Mom?” Parker calls behind me.
Blinking back my tears, I turn around and paste a smile on face. “What, honey?”
“Pull my finger,” he says, sticking his hand out to me.
Crossing my arms, I shake my head, my smile becoming more genuine. “Nice try, but I don’t think so.”
“Come on. Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust you as much as I do your father, and even I know better than to pull anyone’s finger.”
“I promise it’s nothing bad,” he says with a straight face. “Please?”
With a heavy sigh I reach out to pull his finger, worried with what I’m about to encounter. However, the electric zap I get, zinging its way all the way up my arm, still catches me by surprise and I jump back with a yelp.
Parker doubles over, laughing hysterically, before turning his hand over and showing me the tiny metal buzzer hidden under his finger. “Gotcha good, didn’t I?”
“Where on earth did ya get that?”
“In my practical joke kit that Logan and Anna got me for my birthday. I’m going to do it to my teacher this morning when I meet her.”
My eyes widen in horror. “Oh no you’re not! Give it to me right now.”
“Aw, come on, Mom, it’s funny.”
“I mean it, Parker. Hand it over.” I follow up the order by holding my hand out to him.
He rips it off his finger and drops it in my palm, his hope deflating. “I just wanted to make my teacher like me,” he mumbles, making my heart falter.
Kneeling down in front of him, I cup his small, handsome face that looks so much like his father’s. “You don’t need this to make her like you. Just be yourself and she’ll love you as much as I do.”
“Chicks like to laugh, Dad said so.”
I groan. I should have known this was Sawyer. God knows I love that man but sometimes…
“Honey, you’ll make your teacher laugh without this,” I say, holding up the metal zapper. “Because you’re funny all on your own. You’re also lovable.” I press a kiss to his cheek. “Sweet.” Then another on his other side. “And brave.” I kiss his forehead last. “Okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” he grumbles. “But, Mom?”
“What?”
“No kissin’ me like that at school today, okay?”
I bite back a smile but my heart aches, hating that he already doesn’t want my affection in front of anyone else. “I promise, but then you have to promise to give me lots of love before we leave.”
He steps into me, wrapping his arms around my neck. I take the opportunity to pepper his face full of kisses. His infectious laugh fills the air as he tries pushing away from me. “Mooom, come on.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll stop,” I promise, then press one more kiss to his cheek. “I love you, Parker.”
“Love you, too.”
“Now go on and get dressed.”
As he runs out of the kitchen, I look over at Chuckie who sits next to me, his ears perked up and tongue hanging out. Reaching up, I stroke his soft velvet-like, chocolate ears. “Hey, boy. You’re gonna miss ’em as much as me, aren’t ya?”
With a whine he licks the side of my face, bringing a smile to my lips. Kissing the top of his head, I stand and finish packing up the kids’ lunches, making sure to stuff the little note I wrote, to let them know how much I love them, in with their dessert.
I’m about to check on Hope and Sawyer but end up staying where I am, feeling him before I see him. That awareness I always get when he’s near, settling deep in my bones.
“Hey, Mama,” Hope greets me.
Spinning around, I flash that perfected smile I just gave to Parker, my heart stuttering at the sight of my sexy husband with our daughter on his shoulders. “Mornin’, baby girl. You ready for your big day?”
“Yes, I’m excited. I can’t wait to meet my teacher and play with Annabelle at recess. But I’m sure gonna miss you and the bakery. Don’t be creatin’ pies without me, okay?”
My smile weakens drastically and I feel a lump form in my throat. “I’m gonna miss you, too. I promise, no creatin’ anything without my girl.” Turning back around I fidget with their lunches, hoping to hide my fragile composure. I feel Sawyer’s eyes on me and know I’m not foolin’ him.
“Go get dressed, Shortcake. Breakfast will be ready when you’re done.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
At the sound of Hope dashin’ from the kitchen Sawyer comes up behind me, his hard body crowding my back as his arms wrap around my waist. His scent surrounds me, bringing me the first small measure of comfort I’ve felt since waking up this morning with an anxious heart.
“Cupcake,” he murmurs in my ear before his lips move to my neck, giving me a soft kiss. “Talk to me.”
“I’m tryin’ so hard, Sawyer, but I’m totally freakin’ out. How am I just supposed to trust someone else to take care of my babies? What if they get thirsty?”
“Then they’ll get a drink of water.”
“How? Will Hope feel comfortable enough to ask? And what about when they get hungry? They’re used to eatin’ whenever they want. They can’t do that now.”
“Grace, they’re going to school, not prison. They’re allowed food and water.” His arms tighten around me. “Come on, baby, we talked about this. Julia will be there teaching, she’ll make sure all the kids are okay.”
Thank goodness for that. If she wasn’t I’d be even more of a mess.
“You’re right, I’m sorry, I’m acting ridiculous. I just hate bein’ away from them all day. It seems like such a long time. A lot can happen. What if someone is mean to them or they get hurt?” I whisper, voicing my biggest fear.
“Won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because everyone in this town knows not to fuck with my kids or I’ll fuck them up.”
A giggle escapes me but trails off into a groan because I know he’s serious. I fear for anyone who messes with my babies.