If only

Chapter Eighteen

In the back of the taxi, Sally snuggled closer to Vance, resting her head on his shoulder. Seated in the front, Galen turned to smile at her before resuming his conversation with the driver about some scandal in the legislature.

Too bad the drive to Galen’s mom’s house wasn’t longer. A nap would really be nice. After all, the past couple of days had been pretty stressful. Breakup with two Doms, lose a father, gain a brother, get punished with a Jesus-help-me switch, and conclude with mind-boggling makeup sex.

She sighed. For a while after the breakup, she’d figured she could leave everyone behind and find a job in some remote corner of the world. A simple solution, if more than a bit lonely.

With the derailment of that plan, her yes-no questions were suddenly multiple choice. Like, okay, Galen and Vance said they loved her. What did that mean for the future?

And how could she handle a long-term relationship with two men? Hell, she hadn’t even been able to keep one Dom happy.

And if she could, what about marriage and babies and stuff?

And finding a job?

She rubbed her cheek on Vance’s shoulder, fortified by the slow sweep of his hand up and down her back. Eventually, she needed to sit down and figure out her future. So far, all they’d decided was that she’d return with them.

Jeez, but a girl sure had to be careful what she asked for. Two months ago, she’d been pining away for a Dom to love, and God had decided to gift her with two.

Maybe Glock was right, and God really was a cat, just toying with the human race.

But…her two Doms said they loved her.

If that wasn’t a miracle, she didn’t know what was. As her heart went all mushy, she leaned up to kiss the blunt angle of Vance’s jaw, inhaling the fragrance of his crisply sexy aftershave.

He rubbed his knuckles over her cheek. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“Oh sure…”

When he narrowed his eyes at her nonanswer, she scowled. “You can sure be a pain in the ass, Mr. Buchanan, Sir.”

“Yeah, and I can give you a definite pain in your ass, Miss Hart,” he growled. “Tell me. Now.”

“Fine.” Skipping over her vast field of problems, she plucked something from the miniworry garden. “I’m kinda paranoid about visiting Galen’s mom. She doesn’t sound very nice.”

“She won’t be rude, Sally. She’s just… Hmm. You know how cold Maine is in the winter?” His voice stayed low enough so Galen wouldn’t hear.

“Probably like Iowa.”

“Right. Well, Thea Kouros fits right in with the climate she lives in—chill enough to freeze your face off.”

“Oh lovely. And why are we visiting this woman?”

Vance chuckled. “If Galen is in this section of the country and has time, he stops by. About once a year.”

Once a year? Guess she couldn’t tease Galen about being a mama’s boy.

The taxi stopped in a neighborhood of elegant brick houses. The yards had been manicured with more fussiness than Gabi with her nails.

After climbing out of the cab, Sally looked around in disbelief. Who’d ever think that a man raised in a house like that could be so comfortable sitting on the back steps of a farmhouse?

Galen finished paying the driver and shut the cab door.

When he joined her, Sally gave him a nice squishy hug.

“What’s that for?” he asked, his expression a little distant as he looked over her head at his mother’s house.

“Because I like you. Maybe almost as much as I love you.”

The way his eyes turned soft and his mouth curved affectionately would probably sustain her through a battalion of ice mothers. Pulling her close, he rubbed his chin on her head. “You are a gift I never expected,” he said under his breath.

Oh hell. Once released, she had to turn away to swipe at her damp eyes.

With a wink of approval, Vance handed her a handkerchief and ruffled her hair…just so she’d have to laugh and hit him.

By the time they caught up to Galen, he had already rung the doorbell.

The door opened. Galen’s mother was around sixty, almost obsessively thin, hair colored to a rich brownish black, with eyes as dark as her son’s. “Galen, it was a surprise to hear from you.”

Oh boy, Vance was right. Darth Vader at his worst had shown more warmth. Sally frowned. Mrs. Kouros didn’t even appear to notice the bruising on his cheek and jaw. Jeez, most mothers would be busting with pride to have a son like Galen.

Of course, Sally’s father sure wouldn’t win parent of the year either.

Mrs. Kouros looked at Vance. “Vance, you’re looking well.”

Sure and he looks just fine. That knuckle-sized purple bruise on his face is from nicking himself shaving, right?

“Likewise, Thea,” Vance said easily. Trust Vance to not let anything upset him.

Sally was surprised when Galen tucked his arm around her. “Mother, this is Sally Hart. Sally, my mother, Thea Kouros.”

“How do you do,” Sally said, since the standard it’s nice to meet you simply wasn’t true.

“Quite well, thank you.” Thea’s eyes narrowed as if assessing how closely Galen was holding Sally. Her lips thinned even farther. “How nice you could accompany my son. Please come in.” She stepped back to let everyone enter.

Christ in a corset, if this was Galen’s role model growing up, no wonder he had trouble showing affection. The woman hadn’t even touched her son. As Sally walked past into a house that was as stiffly formal as its owner, she decided on a couple of things.

First. She was going to totally swamp Galen with loving—enough to make up for Popsicle Mama there.

Second. Visits to Maine were going to be very, very rare.

Another day, another parent. Sally suppressed a sigh as Vance drove their rental car through Cleveland, Ohio, and out of the city into pretty tree-lined streets. His parents’ turn today.

She was liable to have a neurosis by the time she returned to Tampa.

They’d spent last night in Mrs. Kouros’s house in three separate bedrooms. And Galen had grown increasingly distant.

But this morning, she’d pounced on him in the shower. It would take a stronger man than Galen to stay uninvolved while having shower sex.

He’d been back to normal—even smiling—at breakfast, and the way Vance had looked at her had made her feel like a hero.

Hopefully, the Buchanans would be nicer. She just had to survive this afternoon, and then they’d be on their way to New York.

As they piled out of the rental car, Galen stopped Sally. “Bring your laptop in, pet. If we have a moment, I’d like you to turn over the Harvest Association files.”

“I said I’d stop.” Hurt made her take a step away. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Oh, baby girl, it has nothing to do with trust.” He put his palm under her chin, stroking her jaw with his thumb. “Since the crime is already committed, I thought I’d see if you picked up anything useful. Be a shame to waste all that illegal information.”

She smacked his arm. “You are so bad.”

“Ayuh.” He waited for her to pull her laptop out of the backseat.

They followed Vance up the sidewalk.

Here goes. As they approached the house, Sally braced herself for another set of disapproving eyes.

The door opened, and a swarm of children emerged.

“Vance. Galen!”

“Uncle Vance!”

“Unca Vance, hold me!”

The children, ranging from three to ten years old, were treating Vance and Galen like portable jungle gyms to be climbed. Sally grinned as Galen’s deep laugh joined Vance’s easy one.

“Oh my goodness, you’ll think we’re raising barbarians.” The woman in the doorway was probably the same age as Galen’s mother, but there the similarity ended. Chin-length dark brown hair, probably colored to hide the gray, no makeup, no jewelry. In jeans and a blue plaid top the color of her eyes, she gave Sally an entirely comfortable and welcoming smile. “You must be Sally.” She held her hand out. “I’m Bonnie, Vance’s mother.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Sally took her hand, started to shake it.

“Ma’am? Oh heavens, what stories has that boy told you? I stopped beating him years ago. Really.” Still holding Sally’s hand, she pulled her into the house. “Come on in.”

Sally blinked, sputtered out a laugh, and stopped long enough to pick up a three-year-old who’d been left behind in the climb-a-Fed game.

Lunch had been a production with overwhelming amounts of food. As usual, Vance’s sisters had each tried to outdo the others. After being the victim of too many oh-just-try-this-I-made-it maneuvers, Galen felt overfull and in dire need of a nap—which would undoubtedly set the imp off on a bout of old man jokes. Sally had listened wide-eyed as the gang went around the table, each taking a turn at reciting their recent activities. Vance and Galen had gotten grief about the bruising on their faces…and Sally hadn’t smothered her giggles very successfully.

For a bit, everyone dispersed into different rooms and conversation. Galen had joined a couple of Vance’s brothers-in-law to walk off some of the meal in the backyard.

But now work called. After retrieving Sally’s laptop, Galen went searching for her.

In the Buchanan-filled family room, Galen located Sally and Vance. Cross-legged on the rug, she was playing patty-cake with a toddler and giving the child her complete attention as if no one else existed in the room.

Galen’s chest tightened. She would be an incredible mother, wouldn’t she? From across the room, Vance met his gaze. They shared the same vision.

After watching for a bit, Galen pulled Sally away, smiling at the complaints. She was a hit with Vance’s family, both old and young alike. He tucked an arm around her as they left the crowd behind.

“What’s up?” she asked as they crossed into the quiet of the formal living room.

Before he could answer, he heard footsteps behind them. He turned.

Bonnie was hurrying after them with Vance’s father, William, right behind her. She stopped.

“Bonnie, is there a problem?” Galen asked.

“Galen, my dear, I do love you dearly,” Bonnie said. She dropped her gaze to his arm, which was around Sally’s waist. “But I thought Sally was with Vance.”

He felt Sally stiffen. “She is,” he said quietly.

Entering the room, Vance obviously heard the question. He stopped on Sally’s other side and said, “She’s also with Galen. And that’s how it’s going to stay.”

“Hmm.” William studied Galen and Vance before turning his attention to Sally. “I’m not surprised, but I know how pushy these two can be, especially if they gang up on a person. Are you all right with this, sweetheart?”

By God, he liked Vance’s father, and even more when Sally’s eyes filled with tears. Yes, pet, this is what a father should be.

She gave William a radiant smile that wavered slightly as she said, “Thank you for worrying about me.” Before he could answer, she said with the courage and honesty that had won their hearts, “But I’m sure. I love them both.”

“Oh my.” Bonnie shook her head. “Well, you two have been stepping outside the box since you met; why stop now?” With an easy laugh, she and William returned to the rest of the family. And her voice drifted back in response to a question. “Yes, both of them. Brave girl, isn’t she?”

Sally looked at Vance with wide eyes. “I love your family.”

“Told you there wouldn’t be a problem.” Vance kissed her forehead. “Let’s commandeer Dad’s man cave.”

Galen grinned as they entered the room. Each time he visited, the place looked cozier. A few summers ago, William kept complaining about his daughters’ chick flicks, so Galen and Vance had converted a spare bedroom into a “den.” Everyone had helped furnish it.

The wide-screen TV was a Father’s Day present from him and Vance. The leather “guy” furniture came from William’s daughters. His wife had added pillows and quilts and a wall of shelves for his books.

Taking a seat on the couch, Galen patted the cushion beside him. “Sit here, Sally. Let’s see those files.”

She sat with Vance on her other side. After booting up her computer, she set the laptop on the coffee table where they could all see the screen. “This is what I’ve got.

“I think of it as being a geeky Robin Hood,” she said. “Taking information from rich criminals and giving to the poor cops.” She clicked on a file.

A spreadsheet. Rows and columns. Names and URLs of the senders. Dates of the e-mails were linked to files with the contents. More e-mails were documented each time someone responded.

“Jesus,” Vance muttered.

The imp’s gaze dropped. “I just wanted to help. To save people.”

She hadn’t saved her mother. Her father didn’t value her. “I think of it as being a geeky Robin Hood.” Galen turned to look at her downcast face. Despite her aversion to violence and blood in the police station, she kept insisting on working in law enforcement of some kind.

Someone wanted to be a hero.

Galen put an arm around her and pulled her close. “You’ve done a magnificent job, pet. Illegal or not, I’m proud of you.”

“Really?” Her face brightened.

Vance noticed. After giving Galen a nod, he smiled down at her. “Really. You’ve saved a lot of women.”

Leaning against Galen, she opened another set of files. And another. A series of notes showed her efforts at…tracing locations and personal data.

He and Vance both frowned at her.

“Now that’s going way too far,” Vance said.

“Hey, I was one of the targets, remember?” She gave them an indignant look. “This is sheer self-defense. I’m protecting myself from being kidnapped.”

Galen felt a laugh rising. “There’s a unique justification.”

“Even more effective than the Robin Hood one.” Vance tugged a lock of her hair and grinned at Galen. “If she used that self-defense line and added in those puppy-dog eyes, no jury in the world would convict her.”

“Hell, don’t encourage her.”

Too late. She was smirking as she pulled up the next set of files.

Not fair that any one woman should be both adorable and brilliant. “Let’s see the actual e-mails, little brat.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Galen skimmed through the documents and stopped at one. He pulled up the notes where she’d traced the sender back to the originating provider. Then checked a list containing the user’s name and address obtained from the service provider. His mouth flattened. “Vance, take a look at this.”

Vance leaned forward. “You have fucking got to be kidding me.”

“What?” Sally asked.

“Well, pet, looks like you moved a rock, and an assistant district attorney crawled out.” Galen scrubbed his hands over his face. They’d have to play the rest of this by the book, but just knowing where to start…

He pulled Sally onto his lap and kissed her, long and well. So wicked smart. She just might have broken the back of the Harvest Association. However, along with the elation came a more sobering thought.

She’s going to be impossible to control after this.