Husky Love E-Book

Gabbi Grey

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 432

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Danny
I may be young, but I've done a hell of a lot of growing up in the past year. I watched my big brother deal with the challenges of loving someone, went through some medical stuff myself, and changed my career plans and ultimately, my city. Gaynor Beach is smaller than where I was, but it has two attractions—my brother's big new house, where he's letting me live for now, and Rob Dunn. When I met Rob, just, damn. Like my brother, I wanted to help that sweet, stubborn guy and his cute kids get back on their feet. Maybe the rescue husky wasn't the right gesture, despite Rob’s connection to her, but a dog is love on four paws, and I plan to be there to help all the way.
Rob
I fled my abusive husband with my two kids and the clothes on our backs. I'm grateful every day for the support the Gaynor Beach folks have given us…okay, I'm not sure I'm precisely grateful for the rambunctious young husky Danny Reynolds gave us, but Trouble makes my kids smile, and that's a big win in my eyes. I'm determined to get back on my feet. I hate relying on other people to help us, but somehow it doesn't bother me as much when it comes from Danny. It's nice to have a real friend after all those isolated years, but do I want to keep him in the friend zone?
This slow-burn small-town gay romance novel is about fresh starts, accepting help, two sweet kids, and an adorable husky named Trouble.

Leseprobe

HUSKY LOVE

FRIENDS OF GAYNOR BEACH ANIMAL RESCUE

GABBI GREY

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Epilogue

Next in the Gaynor Beach Series

Also set in Gaynor Beach

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BLURB

DANNY

I may be young, but I've done a hell of a lot of growing up in the past year. I watched my big brother deal with the challenges of loving someone, went through some medical stuff myself, and changed my career plans and ultimately, my city. Gaynor Beach is smaller than where I was, but it has two attractions—my brother's big new house, where he's letting me live for now, and Rob Dunn. When I met Rob, just, damn. Like my brother, I wanted to help that sweet, stubborn guy and his cute kids get back on their feet. Maybe the rescue husky wasn't the right gesture, despite Rob’s connection to him, but a dog is love on four paws, and I plan to be there to help all the way.

ROB

I fled my abusive husband with my two kids and the clothes on our backs. I'm grateful every day for the support the Gaynor Beach folks have given us…okay, I'm not sure I'm precisely grateful for the rambunctious young husky Danny Reynolds gave us, but Trouble makes my kids smile, and that's a big win in my eyes. I'm determined to get back on my feet. I hate relying on other people to help us, but somehow it doesn't bother me as much when it comes from Danny. It's nice to have a real friend after all those isolated years, but do I want to keep him in the friend zone?

This slow-burn small-town gay romance novel is about fresh starts, accepting help, two sweet kids, and an adorable husky named Trouble.

Copyright © 2024 Gabbi Grey.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.

References to real people, events, organizations, establishments or locations are intended to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

NO AI/NO BOT. We do not consent to any Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarize, or otherwise replicate any part of this creative work, via any means: print, graphic, sculpture, multimedia, audio, or other medium. We support the right of humans to control their artistic works.

No generative AI was used in the creation of this book.

Edits by ELF

Cover by Leanne Clugston

Kaje

Renae

ELF

Wendy

Leanne

The Cullens

PROLOGUE

ROB

I clutched my children. How I could possibly have sunk so low? How had things gotten so bad? How had I allowed my husband to do the things he had?

The nice police officer offered a smile. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her blue eyes seemed kind. My four-year-old daughter, Hallie, had the same coloring. Well, her hair was almost white, while Officer Greenaway’s was on the darker side.

Will Hallie’s hair darken as she ages? Or will it stay so light forever?

And why are you thinking about this when you have bigger issues to deal with?

“Are you going to take my children away from me?”

Hallie, who was curled into my side, wrapped her tiny arms around my waist. Or at least she tried to.

One-year-old Thomas slept in my arms. He’d been underweight when he’d been born, and I’d done everything I could to help him gain weight and be healthy. He’d recently made it into the normal range. Not that my kids had to ever be normal. They were perfect just the way they were. And I’d been damn lucky to be chosen to adopt them.

But everything changed after Thomas’s arrival. I’d been so focused on getting him healthy that sometimes Gerard had come second to our son’s needs. He’d accused me of neglecting him, which I’d never understood. The verbal tirades had tripped into abuse, and I hadn’t even realized.

“Mr. Brewster⁠—”

“Could you call me Rob? Mr. Brewster is Gerard’s name…” And I didn’t have the money or energy to change my name back to Dunn—even if I wanted to be connected to my parents again. Which I didn’t. “Just…Rob.”

She smiled. “Okay, Rob.” She tapped her pen on her notebook. “These allegations of abuse⁠—”

“Allegations?” I tried to calm myself. “He broke my nose. He…” I glanced down at Hallie, then back up at the police officer. I couldn’t say the words aloud, but the bruises on her beautiful, pale skin should’ve been enough.

“He claims you walked into a door and that you were the one who grabbed your daughter by the arm.”

Of course he did.

I girded my loins. “Check the nanny cam. It’s in Hallie’s bedroom. If he didn’t find it, it should show everything that happened.”

She cocked her head. “You thought this might happen? Or were you worried about a babysitter?”

“There’s no babysitter. I haven’t left the house since we adopted Hallie.” I winced. “That came out wrong. I mean, I took her to the park. I wanted to enroll her in daycare so I could have a bit of a break, but Gerard said we couldn’t afford it.”

“Oh?”

I wanted to cry. “Gerard said that even though he lived in a mansion there was never money for luxuries.” I wouldn’t talk about the thousands of dollars he spent on electronics for his gaming addiction. Maybe we really didn’t have anything left over after that. But somehow, I doubted that. He drove an expensive car, and we lived in one of the most expensive suburbs of Los Angeles. I’d believed I’d found the jackpot when Gerard chose me.

We’d married and, at first, his little criticisms were because he wanted the best for me. Then Hallie came along, and everything seemed good. Then came the constructive criticism. I’d always been accused of being too sensitive, especially by my cruel family, so I thought this was normal. I’d accepted he loved me and Hallie and was showing us his love in his own way. I didn’t think he could be cruel. Although, in hindsight, that was a lack of imagination on my part. This got worse after we brought Thomas home. I thought we were giving the kids a loving home.

I’d been so very, very wrong.

“Will you look into our finances?” I wanted to know the truth. Even if I didn’t get a penny, I needed to know.

“Did your husband…” She tapped her pen.

“Hallie?”

She nodded.

“No. I can say that honestly. She’s never out of my sight.”

“But surely when you slept?”

I fought the bile rising in my gorge. “He has a temper and likes to be the boss.” I hesitated, then added, “I think maybe he likes when I’m afraid of him, but he’s…not that.”

She didn’t appear convinced.

“Honestly.” I gestured to my nose. For my trouble, a wave of nausea rose. “Am I going to lose my children?”

“Do you think you deserve to lose them?”

I glanced down at Hallie’s ringlet curls and then to Thomas, who slept deeply in my arms. “It’ll kill me.” I met the police officer’s gaze. “But I didn’t keep them safe.”

I gazed at Thomas. “No.” I needed her to understand. “Gerard didn’t touch the baby. He’d yell, and sometimes it scared the children, but the bruises on Hallie were the first time…” I drew in a breath. “I ran before anything worse happened.”

Another tap of the pen.

The smell of antiseptic wafted over me. I wanted out of this hospital so badly, but I was terrified my children wouldn’t be allowed to come with me.

“There’s a significant age difference between you and your husband.” No derision in husband. Thank God she didn’t appear to be homophobic.

But she was right about the age difference. Twenty-two years was significant.

“You were how old when you adopted Hallie?”

My daughter stirred at her name, then clutched me even tighter.

“I was twenty.” She knew this. Undoubtedly, she could do the math.

“And you’d already been married…”

“Almost two years.”

“So you were eighteen when you married? And he was forty?”

“Nineteen.” As if that made a lick of difference. “Look, I’m sure Gerard will tell you how he rescued me. He’s not lying. I was in a bad place with zero hope. I thought he was my savior. And for a while, things were great.”

She held my gaze.

“We were so happy when we adopted Hallie. Her mom…” I hesitated. Marie had been in a bad place. I’d known her from when we’d been homeless together. We’d lost touch when I landed in a good place. Her turning up on my doorstep, eight months pregnant, had just…been one of those things. Like it’d been meant to be.

Gerard had been the one to suggest we adopt the baby.

I’d suspected Marie had been raped, and she also used drugs on and off. She wasn’t in a position to raise a child, even if I’d been able to give her all the money she’d need. And I hadn’t been able to—but I could give her baby a loving home.

“And Thomas?” The officer looked at the baby in my arms. His darker skin often raised questions.

“We put our names in with an adoption agency. In the end, though, a girl approached us privately. I think she’d heard from Marie how we helped her out, and…” I swallowed. “Cantrice wanted us to privately adopt Thomas.” I cradled my infant son against my chest.

“Private adoption?”

I nodded.

“So it was finalized after six months?”

“Yeah.” I gazed down at my son. “That was six months ago.”

“Do you know where Cantrice is now?”

I shook my head. “She asked for money so she could go to New York. I don’t know how sincere she was about leaving LA, but Gerard was happy to give her the money once the adoption was finalized.” Panic at the thought of her returning and demanding to take Thomas back welled within me. Given how poorly I’d taken care of myself, she wouldn’t be wrong in questioning my ability to care for him.

Except I would’ve laid my life on the line for him. Damn near had.

“Do you have a place to go?”

I shook my head. “No. I mean, can’t I go home?”

The officer arched an eyebrow. “Sure. And you can get a restraining order in case he’s released, but⁠—”

“Released?” I squeaked that, and Hallie held on tighter.

“Yes. I mean, I’m certain the prosecutor will try to keep him in jail, but the judge might offer bail.”

“Which he’d be able to post.”

“Right.” She smiled at Hallie. “Do you have money?”

I swallowed. “I have a twenty in my wallet.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

“Let me make a call.” She pocketed her notebook and stepped out of the room.

I tried to stave off the shakes. Four hours ago… I wanted to say I’d been happy, but that wouldn’t have been true. I wanted to say I’d felt safe, but that wouldn’t have been true. Finally, I wanted to say I’d known what my future held in store, but that wasn’t true either.

Officer Greenaway returned about fifteen minutes later, her face set in a grim line. “We don’t have any open shelter beds for men with children right now.”

Of course they didn’t. “I’m not giving up my children.” If they went somewhere else, I might never see them again.

“I called a friend. He’s a social worker down in Gaynor Beach. Have you ever heard of the town?”

I wracked my brain. I knew a few places around Los Angeles, but not many. I’d grown up in Missouri and hadn’t looked back after being booted out at sixteen. I’d had enough cash to get to LA, and I’d thought…huh. I wasn’t sure what I’d thought. Not that I’d be living on the streets for two years. I’d had dreams of finishing high school and maybe college. I’d believed after I married Gerard that he’d support me to get my GED. That hadn’t happened either. I blinked. “Gaynor Beach?”

“It’s a couple of hours south of here. Between Huntington Beach and Oceanside. On the way to San Diego.”

Slowly, I nodded. I knew San Diego. Had never been there, but I understood it was south of here.

“My friend can drive up here to take you back. He’s got a place you can stay for the night and then he has a line on a house you might be able to stay in. It’s a small house⁠—”

“I don’t care.” I needed to show appropriate gratitude while not losing my ever-loving shit at the kindness of this woman. “We…” I winced. “We need car seats.” We hadn’t had them when we’d come to the hospital because everything had been so chaotic. I hadn’t even thought about it as I’d clutched my children’s hands in the ambulance.

“My friend is the father of several children. He’s got car seats.” She eyed me. “I can go back to the house and get a few things⁠—”

“No. We need to leave. Now.” I needed to get out of LA as soon as possible. As fast as we could move.

“He’s safe in jail.”

“You said he might get out.” I might not have a high school diploma, but I’d watched enough television and news shows to know that many first-time offenders got bail if they could afford it. And that restraining orders were useless.

Officer Greenaway nodded. “Is there anyone you want to call? To let them know you’re going away but that you’re okay? You shouldn’t tell them where you’re going, of course…”

I didn’t feel okay, and I definitely didn’t have anyone to call. Gerard had made certain I had no one. “We’re good.”

A nurse entered the room carrying a cloth bag. “Diapers, formula, wipes, and a few snacks for the little one.” She smiled at Hallie, who just burrowed into me more.

I could barely tell where I ended and she began.

Then the nurse put a pile of clothes on the exam table. “For you.”

I gazed down and winced. Yeah, the shirt soaked in blood wasn’t a good look. Even my track pants hadn’t escaped the ordeal. But I’d keep them because they were all I had. I’d figure out how to get the blood out. “Thank you.”

“Why don’t I hold the little one while you change? It will be nice to be in fresh clothes.” The woman held out her tanned arms.

Her kind, dark-brown eyes mesmerized me as I considered her offer. The gray streaks somehow assured me. Not just that she could hold Thomas properly, but that she’d seen shit like this before. I was quite certain I wasn’t the only battered husband who’d graced the corridors of this hospital. I was lucky I was able to walk out. It could’ve been so much worse.

I handed my baby boy over to her and tried to untangle myself from Hallie.

Officer Greenaway held out her hands.

Reluctantly, I tried to encourage Hallie to go to the woman.

My girl was having none of that. She started howling.

The police officer backed up. “We’ll leave you to change.”

“Can’t you just turn around?” I didn’t want Thomas out of my sight.

“We’ll be just outside the door, right there…” She pointed to the door.

I weighed the idea of privacy versus letting Thomas out of my sight for a moment. I didn’t have any other marks on me, but I didn’t need to be scrutinized. Finally, I nodded.

The two women stepped outside the room.

I toed off my running shoes, relieved to see they weren’t speckled with blood. “Sweetheart, Papa needs to get his clothes changed. Will you sit in the chair while I do that?” As open and free as I tried to be with my kids about nudity, I always hesitated with Hallie. I’d grown up in a repressed household, and I didn’t want my daughter to have the same hangups. On the other hand, I was always conscious of being perceived as being some kind of deviant because I was gay.

Apparently my own hangups remained.

Still, Hallie sat on the hard plastic chair while I quickly changed. I nabbed a plastic bag, dumped the bloodstained clothes in it, tied it, then rearranged the supplies in the cloth bag so my soiled things sat at the bottom and everything I needed to take care of my son was on top.

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. All these people were strangers to me—and yet they were generously opening their hearts and helping me. I didn’t feel worthy.

I never felt worthy.

As I gazed at my daughter, the dawning realization I had to do better struck me with the force of a two-by-four to the solar plexus. I was all she had. All Thomas had. No more Gerard to back me up. Not that he’d done much of it, anyway. But now, if something happened to me, my babies had no one. That thought saddened and terrified. What if…they let Gerard take them? Or, worse, they called my parents?

I vowed to see a lawyer as soon as I could. I had no idea who I might nominate as a guardian, but just about anyone else—except Gerard—would be better than my parents. At least I hoped I could do this. God, you know nothing about the law, about children, or about your rights. I’d understood adoption rules because we’d been deep in the weeds. The rest hadn’t seemed important. How’s that working out for you?

Hallie, having clearly run out of patience, held her arms open.

I scooped her into mine, holding her close. “We need to find Thomas.” The nice people said they’d be just outside, but what if they’d been lying? What if they’d tricked me?

Panic seized my heart as I barged into the corridor.

To find the nice nurse holding a sleeping Thomas who was, apparently, oblivious to everything going on around him. I swore he’d sleep through an earthquake.

Hallie was the opposite. Even in sleep, she was hypervigilant—waking at every noise and often coming to see me. That irritated the shit out of Gerard, if she woke him by accident, but I liked that she felt she could come to me when she was scared. That I was her port in the storm.

The nice nurse indicated the room with her head.

I went back in and she followed. Instead of trying to hand back Thomas, she sat in a chair with armrests and settled him—and apparently herself—comfortably.

She eyed me. “Why don’t you lie on the bed and try to get some rest? Officer Greenaway said it’ll be a few hours.”

Until what? I wanted to ask. But hadn’t the kind woman said something about a social worker coming from Gaynor Beach? That we’d have somewhere safe to stay for the night? I clung to that hope, even as I positioned myself on the bed with Hallie tucked against me.

Against all odds, I managed a bit of sleep and was groggy when someone shook me awake. I blinked in the bright light, disoriented until I caught sight of Officer Greenaway.

Hallie didn’t stir when I untangled myself and managed to sit up.

The officer stepped back to reveal a tall, slender man. His tanned skin glowed in the overhead light, his beard was neatly trimmed, and he had a cautious grin. What I mostly noticed, though, was the eyes. He had kind dark-brown eyes that offered a promise of solace in this dark moment I found myself in.

“My name is Anthony Rodrigues. I’m a social worker from Gaynor Beach. If you like, I can take you to a safe place for the night and help you start fresh. We’ll take care of you.”

I sobbed.

CHAPTER1

DANNY

“Gracie,” I whined to my annoying big sister.

“Danny,” she whined back.

I smacked her arm.

She smacked me right back.

Harder.

A sign of affection in our family.

Then she met my gaze. “What?”

As I sat in her living room, I took a moment to admire her moxie. Moving away from home at eighteen so she could become an actor. Los Angeles wasn’t too far from our family home in Huntington Beach, but that distance felt especially huge today.

I pointed to my books. “School is so hard.”

She scratched my shorn hair as I sat at the table and she stood above me. I didn’t like how it looked when it grew out, so I always kept it short—much to Mama’s dismay. She preferred the natural look and despaired when any of her children did treatments and used products. My choice to be practically bald didn’t appease her, even though I didn’t use anything in my hair.

“Uh, Danny, you’re premed.” Her gaze softened as she smiled. “Did you honestly think you’d just sail through undergrad and right into the School of Medicine at UCLA?”

“Well, frankly, yes.”

She rolled her eyes.

I smacked her arm again. Lighter, I thought. “Gracie, I aced all my classes in high school. Had a near-perfect SAT score. Am on scholarship for premed at UCLA. This should be easy for me.” Because all my life, I’d wanted to be a doctor. Like, a cardiologist or oncologist or thoracic surgeon. Big names for big ambitions. Big dreams. I was going to make my parents proud. They sacrificed a lot for all of their seven children. As the youngest, there shouldn’t have been anything left over for me, but they’d put as much heart into me as they had with my older twin sisters—Leticia and Felicia.

“Just because everything that came before was easy doesn’t mean it’ll be that way now.” Gracie scowled. “Maybe it’s good you’re being tested now instead of when you’re in a position to actually harm someone.”

Again, with the scratching my scalp. She played with my hair to drive me nuts.

“Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor, little bro.”

“You know I hate it when you call me that.”

“And so, I will continue to do so.” She rose from the kitchen table. “You want something to drink? You can’t be hungry again⁠—”

“I am.” I patted my not-so-taut abdomen. I wasn’t fat…but I wasn’t slender either. I was heftier than my brother James, and that bothered me. Mama was always trying to show her love through food. Gracie, Leticia, and Felicia all inherited our grandmother’s slender frame—willowy. I, along with my brother James and my sister Whitney, had gotten our grandfather’s and father’s genes—hefty. Whitney’s curves weren’t too much. James managed to keep himself fit. Especially now he was helping take care of some dog down in Gaynor Beach that seemed to need constant walks, judging by his fake-bitching. I wasn’t as lucky. Then again, a few pounds never hurt anyone. “I am hungry. Have you heard from James lately?”

Gracie tossed a piece of leftover pizza into the microwave and refilled my water glass.

I was grateful but annoyed. I could’ve done both those things myself. She liked to mother me, and today, arguing with her wasn’t worth the effort.

“Not since Thanksgiving when Colin told us the Hep C was gone.” Colin was James’s boyfriend. And a super nice guy with an awesome dog.

“So…Colin needs a liver transplant next. Do you think James will consider donating?” Our brother was just a big teddy bear. So accommodating. So kind. So understanding. I was none of those things. Or at least I didn’t see myself that way. I was too focused on academics to deal with anything else. This whole liver-transplant thing fascinated me, though.

“I don’t know.” Gracie pulled the piping-hot slice of pizza from the microwave, plated it, and tossed that my way.

“They say that donations are best done with the same race and gender. Or, at least, those yield the best results.”

Gracie arched an eyebrow. “You’ve looked into this?”

I shrugged. “I’m premed, Gracie, and considering being a surgeon. Of course I looked into it.” Not as a donor or anything…just to see what might be involved. Especially if James wanted to donate. At least he and Colin were both guys. But James was Black and Colin was white. I tried to tell myself that things like that didn’t matter, but the odds of compatibility were a bit lower between them. No matter how much James might want to be a good match, if he had the wrong blood type, that wasn’t something wishing could fix.

“You’re thinking really hard, Daniel.”

I glowered. She knew I hated when she used my full name.

She merely smiled and pointed to my pizza. “Eat it while it’s hot. Then we can go for a walk. Let’s see if we can grab Cindy’s dogs and take them for a trek around Hancock Park. You need a break from studying.”

Gracie lived in La Brea, which, as she liked to point out, was central to everything. She worked in a high-end dining establishment as a hostess when she wasn’t out pounding the pavement for auditions. She hadn’t had her breakthrough yet, but I had high hopes for her. My sister was damn talented. And sure, I was biased. I might be closer in age to Whitney, but Gracie had been the best big sister. “Sure, a break sounds good.” I scrunched my nose. “Can you get the dogs without me?”

My sister laughed. “You don’t want to see Cindy?”

“Uh…no. Why did you tell her I was pan?”

“Because you are.” Gracie narrowed her eyes. “You’re out, Danny. Or at least that’s what you’ve always said⁠—”

“I am.”

“So why the fuss about Cindy?”

I considered. “I’ve dated men and women, but Cindy’s…”

“Aggressive?”

“Assertive,” I countered. “And that’s usually okay, but…”

“She’s not your type?”

That was a hard question to answer because I’d never considered myself as having a type. Knowing myself, though, meant certain things turned me on and certain things were off-putting. “I know she’s smart.”

Which was a turn-on.

“But she’s also…really set on dating me. And that’s just not in the cards right now, you know what I mean?”

Gracie nodded. “Okay, I’ll go get the dogs and you hang tight.” She put on her lightweight jacket and headed out. Early December in Los Angeles could be hit-or-miss temperature-wise. We’d gone through a spell of cool weather earlier in the fall, but we were in the mid-sixties with sunny days this week.

My phone pinged with a text from James.

—We need some assistance to do some physical labor. You up to helping? I don’t want Colin to overdo it. —

I replied. —Sure. What does this involve? —

—Tomorrow we’re moving my stuff to Colin’s and I’m renting my place out to⁠—

I waited for a full minute, about to prompt, but then he finished.

—A family in need. I’ll explain when you come down. —

—Sure, be there at eight. —

He gave me the thumbs-up emoji, then a string of hearts. That was James…showing affection in any way possible. I eyed my chemistry textbook. Tomorrow was study day with a major test on Monday. Except James rarely asked things of me, despite me being single and most able to help. Martin had his little daughter, with another one on the way. Whitney was busy with grad school, and Gracie’s schedule was unpredictable. Thanks to my scholarship and a bit of help from Mama and Daddy, I didn’t need to work. Which meant I had all the time in the world to lend a hand and still focus and study…

And yet I didn’t. My mind was always elsewhere. Restlessness had set in, even as med school neared.

Gracie poked her head in the door. “Two Dalmatians at the ready. You know I can walk them both alone…”

She could, of course. My sister was wicked-strong. Still, I grabbed my keys. I had one for her place so I could come over when I needed reassurance. I locked the door, then took one of the leashes. Honestly, I’d tried to figure out how to tell Lucy and Linus apart, but I was clueless. Well, except for Linus’s big dick. It wasn’t his fault that his penis hung out. If they’d been better behaved, they might actually respond to their names. Cindy hadn’t quite got the training down, so both dogs sort of did what they wanted—which was why Gracie appreciated when I walked one with her.

We did about six miles before heading back to her fourth-floor studio apartment. She was in the heart of La Brea, close to the restaurant and within spitting distance of all the major studios.

Or at least that was my perspective.

I, on the other hand, felt the hands of time creeping up on me. Becoming a doctor was going to take me eleven or twelve years through residency. Gracie could hit it big in the next month, or even the next year, but becoming an MD had no shortcuts.

While Gracie returned the dogs to a grateful Cindy, I closed up my textbooks and put them back into my knapsack. I promised myself that I’d look at them after I helped James tomorrow, even as I knew that to be a lie. After whatever physical activity was too much for just James? I’d likely be too tired. I’d drive from LA to Gaynor Beach in the morning—which meant being on the road by six. At least, early on a Saturday morning, the trip would fly by. But I’d have to drive back up afterward. I texted Mama and asked if I could stay tomorrow night at the family home in Huntington Beach. That was partway between Gaynor Beach and LA. Would get me closer to my dorm without actually landing me there. Maybe I’d study at Mama’s.

Ha.

No, I wouldn’t. I’d flop on her couch and watch reruns with Daddy. Or a game, if there was one. I wasn’t big on sports, but Daddy kept up with all the California teams.

Mama texted back that she’d make Mission-style burritos.

I countered with a request for a cobb salad.

She said she’d make both.

Which should’ve made me feel guilty. Mama’s heart wasn’t so good, and she needed to take it easy. And I patted my stomach, which didn’t need more high-calorie foods. Oh crap. I texted back that I might be eating dinner with Colin and James.

She said she’d put something aside for me just in case.

Knowing me, I’d be tempted to eat it, even if I’d consumed plenty at my brother’s place.

“Cindy says hi.” Gracie bounded into the room, still full of energy.

“You want a dog.”

She shook her head. “I get to watch Widget when Colin and James are at the hospital. Cindy lets me borrow hers. Germaine fosters, so he’s usually got one or two as well…”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“Okay, yeah, I wouldn’t mind a furry companion of my own. But you know I can’t, Danny.”

“If you met someone…”

She tossed a throw pillow at my head, which I caught with ease. “It could happen. You’re not the only lesbian in LA.”

“I might’ve…”

“Oh…?”

“There’s an app for that.”

“And?”

“I can’t find anyone who’s my type.”

“And what type is that?”

She tapped her lips. “Attractive—although that’s not the most important.”

“Yet you listed it first.”

She held up another throw pillow as a threat.

“There’s more?” I loved needling her.

“Smart.”

“That’s a given.” I didn’t say the duh—it was understood.

Grace slashed her hand through the air. “I want someone who gets me. Who doesn’t question the insanity of what I’m doing. Who will understand when I’m upset that I didn’t get a job. Who won’t mind the crazy hours I work.”

“Those all sound like reasonable things.”

She rolled her eyes. “I haven’t met a single woman who matches any of those criteria. It’s like I’m asking too much.”

I grabbed her and pulled her into a bear hug. I wasn’t as tall as James’s six four, but I held my own. Taller than Gracie’s five ten, that was for certain. Well, by an inch or two. “You’ll find the right woman, I promise.”

A snicker escaped, even as she held me tight. “I might just hold you to that promise. You can interview the local lesbians and bi women for me.”

This time, I whacked her with a pillow.

Five minutes later, I was on my way back to my dorm for a good night’s sleep. I was excited to see Colin and James again, but barely gave a thought to the reason they needed me. James asked, I responded. Easy as that.

CHAPTER2

ROB

I hadn’t thought I’d sleep, but once we arrived at the shelter in Gaynor Beach and Anthony gave us a secure room, fatigue overtook me. The adrenaline that had sustained me from the moment Gerard had broken my nose evaporated.

With Anthony’s help, I got Thomas changed, fed, and down for the count in the small crib.

Hallie wouldn’t let go of me, and I made the executive decision she was fine in the pajamas she still wore. I also decided I’d crash in the clothes I had on. Again, with Anthony’s help, Hallie and I got into the single bed.

Gerard never allowed co-sleeping. I understood the practice could be dangerous, but I also always wanted to be as close to the kids as I could. Possibly because I’d unconsciously worried Gerard might get angry with them when I wasn’t around.

Well, probably.

Anthony shut the door, and in just a moment Hallie was out. I turned the lock, checking twice that the door was secure. Told myself Gerard had no way to find us. The folks at safe house were used to abusive spouses and wouldn’t let him in if he did. We were fine. We were safe. For now. Sleep took a lot longer in claiming me, but exhaustion muffled my thoughts, and eventually it did.

I hadn’t bothered to set an alarm because my adorable son, no matter the circumstances, woke up at six-thirty. Didn’t matter what time he went to bed or how many times he woke up in the night—come six-thirty, he was awake and ready to go.

We’d gotten about six hours of sleep, so I was actually okay when I slipped out of bed to take care of him. I wanted a shower, but I couldn’t leave the kids. I’d met a caretaker last night, and Anthony had mentioned someone being around in the morning, but I’d only focused on the bed.

“Hey, little man.” I whispered the words since Hallie still lay curled under the blankets. At least she didn’t have a nightmare. My daughter had them fairly often, and I’d need to soothe her back to sleep.

Much to Gerard’s consternation.

Why did he even want kids? Come to that, why did he even want me?

I could ask the question, but I could also now recognize the answer. I’d thought he wanted a legacy, to have kids carry on his name. The last six months had opened my eyes to the truth. The man loved to control people. To play God with people’s lives. From the little he said about his job, he got to boss people around a lot. He also said everyone who worked for him was a moron. I’d once tried to talk to him about his job. His rebuke, along with the name he’d called me, ensured I shelved that curiosity.

Which made me wonder just how much power he really had. Why not fire the ones who weren’t doing the job and hire smarter people? Although maybe he liked being around people he felt superior to. Much of me doubted these people he derided were as stupid as he implied. And I now suspected what he said about being the big boss was also horseshit.

Thomas giggled as I blew a raspberry on his tummy. He was such a happy kid—completely oblivious to the surrounding turmoil. His luminous dark-brown eyes gazed up at me as I finished changing his diaper, then I slipped him into an outfit the nice people at the hospital had provided. We’d need more stuff soon. Maybe I should’ve run home for a quick retrieval. Gerard was in jail. He couldn’t have hurt me.

Yet I wouldn’t have had the strength to walk in that door. Although the broken nose had been a shock to my system, it shouldn’t have been. This was, truly, the conclusion of a toxic relationship. Only, until the moment his fist had connected with my face, I’d still believed I could somehow make us work. That if we just bonded as a family that everything would be okay.

Fucking idiot.

I didn’t like putting myself down, but the cruel words of my parents, and now Gerard, were hard to deny. I wasn’t smart. I didn’t know how things worked. I’d managed to figure out how to cook, clean, raise children, and not be a complete disaster in the process. Except Gerard was always explaining how my mistakes were my own fault. Telling me I wasn’t⁠—

“Papa?” Hallie’s small voice rang out in the small room which held only the bed, the crib, and a dresser.

“Yes, baby.”

“I have to pee.”

“Of course.” I did as well, but I’d just have to wait until the kids were comfortable. “There’s a bathroom in here.” I guided her to the bathroom with Thomas on my hip. To my relief, there was a potty-training seat, and she was able to pee easily. A little stepstool helped her reach the sink so she could wash her hands.

When she was done, we went back into the room. “Honey, can you watch Thomas?”

“Yep.” She’d never said no. She probably didn’t even know that was an option. Without being asked, she sat on the little mat on the floor and held open her arms.

I gently placed Thomas in them. Immediately, he pushed up, stood, and toddled over to a little plastic chest. I hadn’t even noticed it.

I murmured to Hallie, “Do you think there are toys in there?”

“Oh yes.” Hallie scrambled over as well.

After raising the lid, I found the safety latch and made sure it wouldn’t close on little fingers.

Thomas already had pulled out some colorful rings and had one in his mouth.

Working off the assumption everything had been properly sanitized, I scooped him up safely into the crib with his new treasures, pressed a kiss to the top of Hallie’s head, then made a beeline to the bathroom. Knowing my daughter would be okay for a few minutes, I decided to take a thirty-second shower. My face still ached, and I’d need to keep the bandage clean, but I needed a moment to rinse off some of the gross stinky sweat from last night. I regretted sleeping in my clothes, but I hadn’t really had a choice. Hopefully today I’d have the opportunity to grab something fresh.

Doesn’t matter. The kids are the priority.

Right. I needed to focus. In the shower, I lathered up and then rinsed off as quickly as I could, ever mindful that something bad might happen. The vigilance never let up. As soon as I was clean, I rinsed off, shut off the water, and hopped out. I did a quick rubdown, then tied a towel around my waist and opened the bathroom door.

Hallie sat beside the crib as she read Thomas a story. I didn’t recognize the book, and Hallie couldn’t read, so she was likely making up a story to fit the pictures. Her creativity knew no bounds. That was one of the reasons I could leave her to her own devices and she’d be perfectly happy to just sit in her room with a pile of toys and books. She didn’t need me to guide her—she could figure it out by herself.

Thomas, on the other hand, required guidance. Appropriate for a one-year-old. I got the feeling, though, that he wouldn’t have Hallie’s quietness. From the beginning, she’d been undemanding. Thomas very much wanted to have everyone’s attention. Although he was adorable, that much energy was also exhausting.

“Papa?” Hallie blinked up at me.

“Everything’s okay, sweetheart.”

“You have an owie.” She pointed to my face.

“I banged my nose. I’ll be fine, just like when you skinned your knee.”

Her solemn blue eyes held my gaze. If any four-year-old was capable of calling bullshit, it would be her. Still, she offered a small smile. “I’ll keep reading.”

Thomas put an arm through the bars and seized the book in his tiny fist, but the solid cardboard didn’t crumple. Thank God. I didn’t know what I’d do if he destroyed something and I’d have to repair it.

I scooted back into the bathroom, and after a quick search, found a new deodorant as well as a toothbrush and toothpaste. There were tiny brushes as well. Which reminded me that my kids hadn’t brushed their teeth last night. Small everyday things were starting to pile up and, if I didn’t miss my mark, we were headed toward a Hallie meltdown. She thrived on routine, and with everything that had happened, I was surprised she hadn’t lost it yet. Or, perhaps, she sensed I wouldn’t be able to cope, and she’d somehow hold on.

Wishful thinking.

My child was empathetic, but I didn’t think she was capable of understanding how her meltdowns affected me. I was always careful to never show how I felt about things. I didn’t want my negative emotions to affect her.

She probably knows.

Yeah, probably.

I put the borrowed clothes back on.

No, not borrowed. Gifted. And they fit pretty well.

I padded out of the bathroom with my socks in one hand and a toothbrush in the other. “Hallie?”

She glanced up. “Thomas first.”

“Of course. Come on, little man.”

My boy held his arms out, and I easily scooped him into my arms. Despite being born underweight, he was now in the ninety-seventh percentile for height and weight. I was super proud of how far he’d come. He was a healthy chunk of happy baby. Toddler, I corrected. In just a couple of days, he’d have his first birthday.

What kind of celebration will that be now? No gifts, no party? He wouldn’t care, of course. Wouldn’t understand. But I would. I’d carefully documented everything from my children’s lives and had beautiful scrapbooks. All abandoned. I still had some of the photos on my phone, but Gerard paid the phone bill, so God only knew when it would be cut off. Even if I knew how to change it to my name, I didn’t have the money to pay for the plan.

Thomas bopped me on the side of the head. Not hard. But not gentle either. “Ba!”

I chuckled. “Okay, let’s get this done.”

Ten minutes later, both kids had brushed teeth, and I’d tamed Hallie’s hair. Her fine blonde locks curled naturally. They also tangled continuously, so keeping up with the brushing was critical.

“Maybe we should put on our shoes?”

“Papa, I’m hungry.”

I wasn’t, but relief washed over me that she wanted food. I worried constantly about her waifishness. She ate plenty, but always seemed so fragile. Unlike Thomas, who was finally as solid as a toddler could get. “I suppose we could go and see if we can find food. Uh…” I glanced around. “Let’s put on our shoes first.” I could barely remember the walk from the front door to our second-story room. This place felt less industrial than I’d expected and more like a house. But I hadn’t been given a tour, and I didn’t want to wander into something I shouldn’t.

Just as I finished tying Hallie’s laces, a soft knock sounded at the door. When I picked up Thomas and rose to answer it, she cowered behind me.

I paused with my hand on the lock. “Who’s there?”

“Anthony? We met last night.”

“Oh, sure.” Thomas grabbed my hair as I opened the door, and I gasped.

Anthony smiled, stepped forward, and gently extricated my hair from my son’s grasp. “That’s a strong grip.”

In response, Thomas twisted and threw himself into Anthony’s arms.

Fortunately, the social worker caught him easily, hefted him in the air, then settled him on his hip. A flush of exertion overtook the man’s tanned skin, and his eyes sparkled in amusement. “I thought he was easygoing last night. Clearly my recollection was correct.”

Hallie gripped my jeans tighter.

“Did you want to come in?” I slowly loosened her grip, then gently pulled her up into my arms. I wasn’t a big guy—certainly not tall like Anthony—but I could still lift Hallie. If Thomas kept growing like he was, he’d be a much bigger armful at four.

“I could, but I was thinking you might like to come down to the kitchen and have some breakfast.”

“Will there be other people?” I was painfully aware of my bruised face and bandaged nose. I didn’t want pity or questions, and Hallie was shy even before last night.

“We have two other women here, and both have already eaten. We’ll have the kitchen to ourselves.” He cocked his head. “Do you like avocado?”

Thomas clapped his hands.

Anthony laughed.

Hallie buried her face in my shirt. One step forward…

We followed Anthony downstairs, and I sat with the kids at the table while he set about making a breakfast of avocado toast, eggs, and sausages. I wanted to help, but Hallie clung to me like a limpet, huddled in my lap. Anthony had slipped Thomas into the chair with practiced ease, getting my son’s flailing legs in the right holes and the belt buckled even faster than I could. The social worker quickly sliced an avocado and passed Thomas a bit, smiling as my kid mashed it on the tray.

“You’re good with kids,” I said.

Anthony grinned as he sliced the rest of the avocado. “My husband and I have four-year-old twins. Zayden and Alicia.”

“Oh my God.”

He grinned. “Yeah, we pretty much say that every day. We also have a foster daughter.” He blinked a couple of times and sobered, a shine coming to his eyes. “But it looks like we’re going to be able to adopt her soon.”

The palpability of his emotion hit me. Joy? Sadness? I couldn’t be certain. “That’s good?”

“That’s great.” He shook his head a little. “I love kids so much, and Laura…well, all kids need love, right? Some are just luckier than others.”

“I’d say she’s lucky to have you and your husband.”

He appeared to consider. “Yeah, you could say that. I wasn’t sure how things were going to pan out. We were an emergency foster for her. But she just…settled right in. Like she was always meant to be with us. The twins adore her. And she them,” he quickly added. “She’s even won Crumpy’s heart.”

“Crumpy?”

“Our seal-point Himalayan cat. Scott had him before the twins showed up, and at first, grumpy-cat wasn’t quite certain what to make of those two characters.”

I wanted to ask if one of the men was the biological father, but that was so none of my business. It never mattered how a family was made—just that it was full of love.

“Papa?” Hallie tugged on my shirt.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck.

I breathed in her scent.

“We’ll take care of you three.” Anthony spoke quietly. “I’m taking you to a different house today—a donated space. It’ll be all yours. It’s small—just one bedroom and a den⁠—”

“I don’t care⁠—”

“I imagine you don’t.” He brought a plate of avocado toast cut into four with a little bowl of sliced fruit as well. He placed the bowl before Thomas, who dug in with both hands. Then he put the plate on the table. “If you’re up for it,” he said to Hallie.

She ducked her head against my shoulder again.

“How is there a house available?” This felt way too easy.

Anthony grinned again. “The guy who owns it is moving in with his boyfriend. He didn’t want to sell just yet…you know…”

I did know. Lack of having a place to escape to when things went sideways was what had led to my predicament.

“…so he wants to keep his place, but doesn’t want it to sit empty. I called him when I realized you’d need a longer placement than we have space for here. The room you’re in is promised to another family tomorrow.”

“I can’t afford rent.”

He held my gaze. “Don’t worry about that right now. Let’s get you and the kids settled, and then we can figure things out.”

“I need to get a job.” I gripped Hallie even tighter. “But I’ve never had one. I know my social security number, though. But if I give that, will Gerard be able to find me?”

“Let’s not worry about that right now,” Anthony repeated. “You’ve got a lot to deal with. Let’s get you safe first, and then we can figure out the rest.”

Damn. “Look, Anthony, I really appreciate this.”

He stirred the scrambled eggs. “I know you do.”

“But I don’t want to be beholden to another person. That’s the correct word, right? That I don’t want to owe anyone else?”

“That’s the right word.” He continued to stir the eggs. “You won’t be beholden, Rob. Sometimes…” He added a sprinkle of salt and pepper. “Sometimes there are people in the world who just want to help. They’ve had a run of good luck, and they want to share. Or something bad happened to them once, and they got help and now they want to do the same thing. Pay it forward.”

My mind spun.

“And you’re eligible for some emergency funds. So we’re going to go shopping for stuff for you and the kids. This afternoon, you’ll move into your new house. We’re going to set up counselling, and you’ll see a pro bono lawyer about sorting out your situation.” He plated the eggs. “It’s up to you, but I got the impression you don’t want to go back either to your house or your marriage.”

“No fucking way.”

Hallie clutched me tighter at my vehement words.

Anthony’s gaze shot to mine.

“Sorry. Sorry, Hallie, Daddy said a bad word.” I was such a screwup. My fault if Hallie said that at school one day.

Anthony shrugged. “Don’t be. Just…sometimes the other person says they’re sorry, makes a big, splashy apology, and the spouse forgives them. I’m actually relieved to hear you so certain you won’t go back.”

“I was worried who else my spouse might…impact.” I dropped my eyes to Hallie, hoping my message was clear to Anthony and not her. The bruises on her arms were bad enough, but if he’d… No, I couldn’t go there.

The social worker’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, I didn’t say that to the cops last night. But I lay awake in bed and replayed everything in my mind. He was going to do it. I think I knew that. That was why I put myself in the position to, um, get between.” I gingerly pressed my nose. “I don’t want Gerard near me or my children again. You can do that, right? Make certain he never gets to see them?”