KRISTI GOLD - The Son He Never Knew

Chase forced himself to make the offer lightly, without any pressure. “We’ll work it out tomorrow.”

Funny, they spoke to each other like they were strangers. Like they’d met for the first time tonight, when in reality they’d known each other for a lifetime.

Before she could make up another excuse to refuse, Chase left, went downstairs to wait.

He needed to hear the truth from Jess, but he also feared what that truth might be. Feared that he would have to testify against her if she’d attacked Dalton for whatever reason. Justified or not, her cold-blooded father-in-law would see to it that she paid dearly, and he had the political pull and financial means to do it.

When Chase had signed up for the job, both as a soldier and deputy sheriff, he’d sworn to uphold the law. But experience had taught him that sometimes justice could be bought by the highest bidder. This was one of those situations.

Regardless, he vowed to stand by Jess, come hell or high water. After what he’d done to her all those years ago, it was the least he could do for her now.

Dear Reader,

Children are a blessing. I’ve learned that from being a mother for almost thirty years. Every milestone for each of my three children has been imprinted in my memories—their first steps, first words, first loves, first missteps and everything in between. Although they’re well into adulthood, I still find myself worrying incessantly over their happiness. At times I wonder if I could have done a better job raising them, though I firmly believe they’ve turned out pretty well despite any mistakes I’ve made. I predict that if luck prevails, I will continue to worry about them for the next thirty years.

I believe the fierce need to protect our offspring is inherently tied to instinct, and that instinct plays a pivotal role in this book. Not only do you have a father becoming acquainted with his child, you have a mother who will do anything to protect that child, even if it means compromising her own happiness. The question is—exactly how far will she go? You’ll find the answer in The Son He Never Knew, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the journey.

Happy reading!

Kristi Gold

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Kristi Gold has always believed that love has remarkable healing powers and she feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of love and commitment. As a bestselling author, a National Readers’ Choice winner and a Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Kristi has learned that although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from personal stories shared by readers and networking with other authors, both published and aspiring. You may contact Kristi through her website, www.kristigold.com, on Facebook or through snail mail at P.O. Box 24197, Waco, Texas 76702 (please include an SASE for response).

To all the men and women in the armed forces

who sacrifice daily to keep the world safe.

And to those who have made the ultimate

sacrifice—giving their lives.

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HE WAS THE LAST PERSON she expected to see at her dorm room doorstep.

As soon as the initial shock disappeared, Jessica Keller squealed with delight, hurled herself into Chase Reed’s arms and hugged him hard. But when his frame went stiff as steel, she stepped back to assess her best friend’s mood.

In the eight months since she’d seen him, he hadn’t changed at all, at least when it came to his appearance. He still wore his golden hair in close-cropped military style, still wore sand-colored camouflage fatigues and heavy boots. Six-feet-three-inches of prime fourth-generation soldier, exactly what he’d always wanted to be and now was. Yet something in his brown eyes seemed different, maybe a little more intense, but definitely different. Then again, after the Towers fell three months ago, the whole world had changed forever.

“What are you doing here this time of night?” she asked when he failed to speak or smile.

“We have to talk.”

Chase sounded so serious, Jess’s anxiety took a major leap right behind her imagination. “Is something wrong with Mom and Dad? Your mom and dad? Or is it—”

“Calm down, Jess,” he said in the reassuring tone she’d grown to expect and sometimes resent. “Everyone’s fine. If you’ll let me in, I’ll explain.” He leaned to his right and looked behind her. “Unless I’m interrupting.”

She frowned at his assumption. “My roommate’s already gone home for the holidays, so there’s no one here but little old me.”

“Are you sure you’re not hiding your boyfriend in the closet?” Chase followed the query with a visual sweep down her body and back up again, much the same as she’d done to him a few minutes earlier.

A second passed before Jess realized why he might think he’d intruded on an intimate interlude. She’d answered the door wearing a tattered white terry robe, her favorite furry pink slippers and not much else.

She twisted her damp hair in a knot at her neck and sent him a dirty look. “I finished a shift at the coffee shop an hour ago and I just took a shower, so get your mind out of the sewer. Besides, the university doesn’t take too kindly to boys visiting girls in their rooms after 9:00 p.m.”

He looked totally skeptical. “You mean to tell me Dalton hasn’t been up here after hours?”

Her long-time boyfriend happened to be a sore subject she didn’t care to discuss with Chase, especially under the current circumstances. “Let’s leave him out of this, okay?”

“Not a problem. He’s my least favorite topic of conversation anyway. And if you’re worried about breaking the rules, we can go somewhere else to talk.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Chase,” she said. “It’s almost eleven, it’s cold outside and my hair’s wet. Besides, the place is pretty much cleared out. However, if you’d called me in advance, I could have saved you the trip. I planned to be back in Placid tomorrow after work.”

“This couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”

In order to unravel the mystery, Jess stepped aside and made a sweeping gesture with one arm. “Welcome to my humble abode, heavy emphasis on humble.”

Chase breezed past her and after Jess closed the door, she turned to find that he made her tiny room seem even tinier. She tightened the robe’s sash, feeling somewhat naked even though she was sufficiently covered. “Now tell me what couldn’t wait until tomorrow, Mr. Army Man.”

Chase strolled between the two twin beds and picked up a photo of Dalton from the nightstand. “Where’s the demon tonight?”

The “pet” name Chase had given her high school sweetheart grated on Jess’s nerves. “I have no idea where he is because right now we’re taking a break.”

His gaze snapped to hers. “Permanent break, I hope.”

She wasn’t the least bit surprised by his comment. Chase and Dalton had been embroiled in one-upmanship since elementary school. “Right now I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

His scowl returned. “So you didn’t get engaged?”

Suddenly it became all too clear to her why Chase had shown up unannounced. “You’ve been talking to Rachel.”