Page 73 of My Secret to Protect

‘So, Arlo, what brought you to Forest Falls?’ Mama asks as she strokes Beans’ head. He fell in love with her immediately, as everybody does, and hasn’t moved from her side since we sat down.

‘Um, quieter life, not getting any younger, you know.’

‘I do, honey,’ she smiles, ‘believe me, I do. Speaking of,’ she smiles at me, ‘it’s your birthday soon. Have you spoken to Zoe?’

‘No,’ I shrug, ‘she’s been so busy with Lucas, and she’s tired and…’

‘It’s your birthday, sweetheart. We’re celebrating. Call your sister. We could do something here, or maybe Zoe will want to host.’

‘You could do it at my place.’ Arlo’s words have me turning my head to look at him and he squeezes my hand lightly as he smiles.

‘What?’

‘I’ll host for your and Zoe’s birthday. I want to get to know everybody better, and I want to do something special for your birthday, pix.’

‘You don’t have to,’ I start, but Mama cuts me off.

‘Oh, yes, that would be wonderful, Arlo. Thank you.’

I guess that’s settled, then. A timer goes off inside the house, and Mama stands. Beans looks up at her with concerned eyes at where his new best friend is going, and I pat my thigh to call him to me. Arlo gets up too.

‘Can I use your bathroom, Lynnie?’

‘Sure, honey, come on in.’

You Have My Blessing to Love My Daughter

Arlo

‘So,y’allhavefunup at the cabin?’ Lynnie asks while I whisk up some dressing, and she chops a salad.

On my way back from the bathroom, I couldn’t resist heading into her kitchen to see what she was cooking and if I could help. She’s so warm and welcoming. I pretended I wasn’t nervous coming here today, but I was. I’ve never been a guy who was taken home to meet Mom before, and I want her to like me. Once this shit is over with Nolan, me and Bree need to figure out a way forward, but I know I want to be with her, so that means her family is going to know the truth. Bree won’t keep it all from them forever, so I want to start out on the right foot.

‘Yeah, it’s great up there.’

‘It is. We spent a lot of time up at the lake when they were kids, and they all still love it up there now.’ She dumps the chopped leaves into a large bowl and starts on the tomatoes.

‘Yeah.’ I can’t help but smile at the memory of the peaceful expression on Bree’s face when we arrived there. ‘Bree was happy to be there.’

‘You know, I’ve never really seen her with anybody.’ She moves on to start seasoning some chicken, and I start to heat a skillet. ‘She’s dated. Godhas that girl dated.’ She shakes her head, chuckling, and I try to ignore the jealous twist in my stomach. ‘But this whole shutting herself away and disappearing to a cabin for a few days with somebody, that’s new.’

‘I wasn’t trying to keep her from y’all,’ I promise. ‘I guess we just were enjoying each other’s company.’

‘I know. My daughter does nothing she doesn’t want to do.’

Smiling at that, I add some oil to the skillet and take the bowl of seasoned chicken she offers.

‘So, I have to ask.’ I glance at Lynnie as the first chicken breast starts to sizzle in the pan. ‘Do I have anything I need to worry about because my husband had a tattoo that matched that one?’ She points to the club insignia on my forearm, and I drop my eyes to it, my stomach sinking. I’m not ashamed of my life. How can I be? But I want Lynnie to like me, to believe I’m great for Bree.

‘I’m not a part of the club anymore.’

‘So, they didn’t send you to keep an eye on us?’

I meet her gaze, and I feel my brows knit together at the expression in her eyes, worry and maybe fear, and I have an overwhelming urge to reassure this warm woman.

‘I left the club twelve years ago, and I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you I don’t know who your husband was or about the deal he made with the club, but I’m not a part of that. I’m here for the quiet life, and I’m dating Bree because she’s pretty damn perfect.’

Lynnie takes a deep breath and then flattens her hand over the tattoo.

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