Vengeance (Oak Grove Suspense Book 1) by Reese A Stephens

because you were eighteen and I was fifteen. That wouldn’t be worth it. You couldn’t see him right now. You’d have lost your job and any chance of being what you want. At least, now you have him in your life. I just wish that I would have found you sooner. I’m so sorry.”
    I wipe the tears from her face. “We’ve apologized enough. Let’s place the blame where it belongs, on my dad and that stupid social worker, Simon. We have forgiven each other; we’ve agreed to move forward. Right?” She nods. “Then come back out there with me and visit with my family. I know they may not say it, but they missed you.”
    “Yeah, okay. When will your brothers be here?”
    “Nathan had to work, and Paul is on a business trip, but we’ll meet up with them when we can. Paul’s wife is going to bring the boys down to meet Dylan and watch his first game.”
    “Good. They’re about the same age right?”
    “Yeah, Sam is fourteen and Danny is about to turn thirteen.”
    “Good, he needs cousins. He’ll like that,” she says, wiping under her eyes.
    I kiss her forehead, then help her up. I squeeze her tightly and she returns my embrace with a chuckle. God, I have missed her. I won’t let anything get in the way of us being a family.
    “I love the sound of your laughter. Now, let’s go hang with my family.”

Chapter Five
    Ryan
    “Hey, bud. We’re going to be late,” I say, lightly popping Dylan’s leg that’s hanging out of the covers.
    He groans. “Five more minutes.”
    I laugh. “You’ve had fifteen minutes. We have to leave in ten. Up! Don’t make me go drill sergeant.”
    He sits up, flopping the covers down to his lap and glares at me. “I change my mind. I want Mom to take me.”
    A giggle from behind me makes me smile. I turn to see Shayla dressed to kill in a black knee length pencil skirt with a silky looking blouse, her blonde hair pulled half way up in some sort of twist. It shows off her long neck. She’s absolutely killing me right now. I wish I could do what I’d like, but I promised last night to respect her boundaries. However, I haven’t agreed not to push those limits.
    “Sorry, Dyl-pickle. You’re on your own. Your lunch is packed. I also put some drinks in the cooler for you two for practice.”
    “Traitor,” Dylan grumbles. I ignore him as I walk to Shayla.
    “Morning, sweetheart.” I kiss her cheek. Perfectly within the realm of her rules, but the hand resting low on her hip is pushing me towards the edge of getting slapped. Not that I care.
    I hear the hitch in her voice before she says, “Ry” breathily. Her hand rests on my chest, ready to push me away, but before she can, a pillow hits my back with excessive force.
    “Out! Be gross anywhere else, just not in my room,” Dylan says, aiming another pillow my way. I pick up the pillow from the floor and toss it back to his bed.
    “No grossness here,” I tease, holding my hands up in surrender, laughing. Shayla grabs my arm, pulling me from the room.
    “Love you, Dyl,” she says, closing the door. He mumbles in return.  “Poor baby.”
    “He’ll get over it because I don’t plan on giving up on us anytime soon.”
    “I don’t expect you to give up. I don’t want you to. I’m not trying to be complicated, Ryan. I just don’t want to rush.”
    I walk backwards as we enter the kitchen so I can see her. “Way I see it, Shay, we’ve wasted enough time already. I don’t want another minute without you.”              
    She blushes. “When you say stuff like that, it’s impossible for me to say no to you. It’s not that I don’t want us. I just don’t want to do anything we’ll regret or that will hurt Dylan.”
    I take her hand and pull her to me. “I get that. I’m not going anywhere. I’m with you wherever you go. I lost you once, I won’t do it again. I’m going to kiss you now. On that sweet mouth of yours,” I tell her, watching for rejection. Every time has killed me, but I