“I’ve never seen you around before, and she’s never mentioned you. Are you two dating?”

“Mom…”

“Hush, honey. I’m speaking with your friend.”

“Willow and I have only become friends this summer.”

“This summer? But she was away.” Dash likely didn’t recognize it, but my mother was becoming suspicious of my now tattered virtue by the question, especially now that she knew we spent an entire summer together unsupervised.

“Yes, ma’am. We attended the same program and got to know each other.” I stifled a groan and resisted the urge to sink under the floorboards.

“I’m sorry. I only just realized Willow didn’t tell me your full name. Who are your parents?”

That was the final straw. I was officially mortified.

“Cale and Melissa Chambers. Do you know them?”

I watched my mother’s lips tighten with disapproval. Her eyes no longer held a semblance of kindness. “Only too well.”

If Dash was offended, it didn’t show. He remained perfectly still, the only movement was his jaw clenching and unclenching before he ultimately settled.

“Willow, it’s getting late,” my mother announced and stood. She left without another word and my eyes immediately flew to Dash, who watched her leave with narrowed eyes. She wanted him gone and said as much. I wasn’t fooled and neither was Dash.

“I—I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over her. M—maybe you should go.” Dash looked as if he would refuse until I pleaded with him with my eyes.

“Fine. I’ll go.” He lifted me from my seat and brought me close, kissing my lips. “But I’ll see you later,” he threatened.

Once he was gone, I allowed my anger to reign. I found my mother in the kitchen preparing the pot roast as if nothing had happened. “What was that? You were so rude.”

“I don’t want you seeing him again. I know his kind. He comes from money and his blood is blue.”

“So?”

“I am trying to protect you, Willow. You’ll never be nothing more than a toy to him. He’ll make you fall in love and then marry another, just like your father did.”

“But mom, he’s not my father. Neither Dash nor his family has anything to do with him.”

“I’m done discussing this, Willow. I forbid you to see him.”

* * *

PRESENT

“Why are you cooking that?” I asked hours later while I watched him mix together mac and cheese with cut up franks.

“It’s my weekend.”

“For what?”

“To babysit. Kennedy is coming over.” Butterflies for reasons I didn’t understand erupted in my belly. “We alternate weekends.”

“Is this something you just started now that school is over?”

“Nope. Keiran, Lake, and I would come home for our weekend.”

“Wow… that’s really supportive.”

“She needed us to be there for her so we were. No matter the costs.” He turned away to finish the dinner, but I got the message loud and clear.

It wouldn’t matter because tomorrow he would be on a plane to Seattle and safe from Esmerelda, and I could exact my plan and finish what she started.

“So what time will Kennedy be here?” He checked his watch and frowned.

“They should be here by now.”

We had waited another half hour before Dash decided to take a ride to Six Forks and dragged me with him.

The trip typically took half an hour, but we made it in less than twenty. Dash didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was worried. My own heart beat a wild staccato.

Their street was quiet and Keiran’s car was parked in the driveway. Dash barely gave time to park his car. He hopped out, and I ran behind him just to keep up.

When we reached their door, he knocked and waited but no one came, so he fingered through his keys until he came across a gold key marked K&S.

The front door opened and as far as our eyes could see, we noticed nothing out of the ordinary. He took me by the hand and stepped inside. Dash was about to call out when we heard a voice.

“Don’t worry. Daddy has you, baby.” Keenan’s voice drifted from the living area so we followed. Seconds later, we both heard an answering moan that was far too sexual to be Kennedy, but it was too late.

We stood frozen and took in the sight of Sheldon as she sat atop Keenan, both as naked as the day they were born and splayed out on the floor next to the fireplace. She rode Keenan, completely uninhibited by the openness of their act.