Page 45 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Alright, folks,” Knox interjected. “I’ve got some errands to run. Let’s get the computer and let Lemon have a look at Wesley Livingston.”

Lemon stood. “I’ll get it. No need for you to have to get up,” she said to Jaxson.

“It’s on the kitchen table,” Jaxson directed.

A minute later, Lemon returned, handing it to him. Her expression was tight, pensive. Lemon sat back down next to him, wringing her hands.

He typed in Wesley’s name and clicked on the first photo

Lemon gasped and then made a choking sound. “Oh, my gosh!” she uttered. “I know those eyes!”

Chapter Nine

Lemon couldn’t breathe! Dizziness enveloped her. Those black, cold eyes had haunted her.You are mine. No matter where you go, I’ll find you.The words hissed around her, squeezing her lungs. Darkness crowded the edges of her eyes.

“Lemon!” she heard Jaxson exclaim. She felt his arm around her, heard his calming voice, urging her to take a breath. A prayer raced through her head.Please, help me!She sucked in a breath. With that breath came a burst of knowledge. It filled her entire being. Just like that, she remembered everything.

“Are you okay?” Jaxson asked.

“I remember,” she sang victoriously. She looked at Jaxson, startled laughter gurgling in her throat as she pressed her hands to his cheeks. “Lexi was right. I was pining away for you. That’s why I went to the rodeo. To see if there was even the slightest chance that you felt the same way.”

“Now you have your answer,” he drawled, tenderness simmering in his compelling eyes.

“Yes, I do.” She leaned forward and kissed him full on the mouth. This time, Jaxson was the one who turned red as Knox cleared his throat.

She turned her focus to Knox, her brain synching the memories of the man she’d known before with the one sitting across from her. Knox had always been a jokester. He was kind, a good dad—the kind of dad she wished she’d had. “Thank you,” she uttered, “for believing in me.” She took in a deep, cleansing breath. “I can’t begin to describe how amazing it is to know who I am.” Laughter circled her throat as she turned to Jaxson. “I remember all those times you asked me out.” She lifted an eyebrow. “For the record, it wasn’t a hundred times.” A corner of her lip lifted in a coy smile. “Fifty, maybe, but not a hundred. I remember all the football games, the prom.” She leveled a glare at him. “I’m still ticked about you burning my designer jeans, by the way.”

A crooked grin slid over Jaxson’s lips. “You never have gotten over that.”

“When Mom realizes that the two of us are back together, she’s gonna flip … in a good way. She’s always loved you.” Lemon’s brain processed the rest as a cry wrenched her throat. “Oh, no.” Her heart slammed against her ribcage. “My mom’s dead,” she gasped, her hands going over her mouth.

Jaxson began rubbing her back. “I’m so sorry.”

Her shoulders heaved as she tried to take in air. Darkness crowded in around her.

The voices came at her from far away. “Should we call 911?” Lexi asked.

“Give her a minute,” Knox suggested. “She can work through it.”

“Stay with me,” Jaxson urged. “Breathe!” He caught hold of her chin and moved her face to his. “Lemon look at me. We’ll get through this. I won’t ever leave you. You have my word.”

She swam through the darkness, holding onto Jaxson’s promise. The fierce determination in his eyes helped restore a smidgen of calm. She was able to regulate her breathing. Tearsblurred her vision. “I can’t believe she’s gone.” Her lower lip trembled, despair wrapping a tight blanket around her.

Jaxson stroked her cheek. “It’ll be okay.”

She allowed his words to penetrate into her heart for one small second before her brain worked through the rest. “No!” she blurted, “it won’t be okay.” Her windpipe closed off. She coughed to clear it, struggling to get the words out. “My mother’s death wasn’t an accident. Wesley killed her!”

“Tell us everything that happened,” Jaxson said calmly.

Her body was shaking like a leaf. She balled her hands, biting down on her lower lip. He slid a protective arm around her shoulders. She glanced at Lexi who offered an encouraging smile. Lemon reached over and caught hold of Lexi’s hand, squeezing it. “You’ve always been such a good friend to me.”

Tears rose in Lexi’s eyes. “As you’ve been to me.”

Lemon sucked in a breath, trying to organize her thoughts so that she could tell everything that happened in a cohesive manner. She let go of Lexi’s hand, crossing her arms over her chest. “Everything that Lexi told you was correct. I cared a great deal for Braden.” Her voice caught. “For a time, I thought I loved him.” She turned to Jaxson. “But there was this tiny part of me that could never let you go.” A faint smile curved her lips. “I didn’t think it would be fair to marry Braden under those conditions. I was going to call it off, but then Braden died.” She shuddered, remembering that dark time in her life. The loss she’d felt over losing someone she’d cared about so deeply.

She stared into the distance, her voice going recollective. “Wesley stayed by my side every step of the way, helping me through the grief. I was grateful to have someone. Mom’s Alzheimer’s was getting worse. I moved her into my condo and hired an at-home nurse to look after her. Still, it became too much. In the end, I put her in a care center.” She took in a quick breath, pressing on. “Mine and Shade’s business took off.” Shechuckled softly. “It’s crazy how you can reach every pinnacle that the world deems important and still feel hollow on the inside.”

“No, not necessarily,” Knox said, giving her an astute look. “Money never could buy happiness.”

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