Tattered (Lark Cove Book 1)

Thea was shutting me out again. The glass dividing us from the driver in the limo might as well have been between our seats.

She’d been acting off since last night. I was sure that something had happened yesterday, but I hadn’t had a chance to ask because I’d been so distracted by Charlie calling me Daddy. But whatever it was, something had spooked Thea. The gala hadn’t helped. She was more guarded now than she’d been in weeks.

But I wasn’t letting her run away.

We rode back to the penthouse in silence, but my thumb never stopped caressing her knuckles. As we rode the elevator upstairs, I kept her firmly tucked into my side with my arm around her shoulders, not letting her go until we crossed the threshold of the penthouse.

“How was it?” Piper asked, getting up from the couch where she’d been reading.

“Nice,” Thea said at the same time I muttered, “Ridiculous.”

Thea looked up at me and grinned before turning back to Piper. “Okay. It was bad.”

Piper shot me a smug look. “I knew it would be. The speaker is a douche. I told you not to go.”

I sighed. “And I should have listened.”

“He never listens to me, Thea.” Piper shoved an iPad in her backpack. “You’d think he would have learned by now since we’ve worked together for five years. But he still thinks he’s in charge.”

I chuckled. “Now you’re starting to sound like Nolan. Don’t make me fire you.”

“Ha! You wouldn’t make it two days.”

She was right about that. Piper handled everything for me at the foundation, and I’d be lost without her. She made it possible for me to be a lawyer and a philanthropist without completely burning myself out. And I made sure to pay her enough so she’d never be tempted to leave for a higher wage. Hell, she made more than all but two of the vice presidents, not that they’d ever know.

She might jest, but Piper was as down-to-earth as they got. She reminded me a bit of Thea that way. Piper and her husband were struggling at the moment, probably the reason she’d been so eager to watch Charlie tonight. She used every excuse these days not to go home. So if she needed evenings away to hang with my daughter, we’d let her babysit whenever she wanted.

“Charlie was a dream tonight,” Piper told Thea as she shouldered her backpack, then whipped her chestnut hair into a topknot. “I love her so much. Come back soon so I can watch her again. I’ll make sure this guy,” she jerked a thumb my way, “plans something much better than a pretentious gala for you two.”

“I, um . . .” Thea looked to her shoes, finding her fake smile. “Thank you. I’m so glad she was good and really appreciate you watching her.”

Piper came over and hugged Thea, then gave me a mock salute. “Have a good weekend, boss.”

Boss. “Jesus. Do you and Nolan sit around and practice filling ‘boss’ with as much sarcasm as possible?”

She shrugged. “You’ll never know.”

I grinned. That was a yes. “I had the doorman call you a car. It should be waiting.”

“Thanks, Logan. Bye, Thea.” She waved and walked down the hall, letting herself out.

As the door closed, Thea’s shoulders fell and she kicked off her shoes. “I’m just going to go check on Charlie.”

I put a hand on the small of her back while the other loosened my bowtie. “I’ll come too.”

“I like Piper,” Thea whispered as we ambled down the hall. “Nolan too.”

“They’re the best. Because of them, I can stay involved at the foundation.”

Thea cracked open Charlie’s door, peeking inside. Our daughter was sprawled out in her bed with her head and feet turned sideways from the pillows.

“Wild,” I whispered. “Even in her sleep.”

“She’s always slept like that.” Thea smiled as she carefully closed the door. “When she was three, she got in this bad habit of coming into my room at night. She’d stick her feet in my ribs, then completely pass out.”

“I wish I could have seen that.”

“Me too.”

I kissed Thea on the forehead, then took her hand and led her to the stairs.

I wanted to know all about the years I’d missed with Charlie, and the years Thea had spent in the city. She’d surprised me at the gala tonight when she’d gotten so upset by that speaker. She’d spoken with so much passion, it had to have come from experience. How was I going to learn more about her if she wouldn’t tell me? At this point, I was left to guess.

The life she’d lived hadn’t been filled with luxury, that was obvious. But now I suspected it hadn’t held much love either.

She’d never want for either again.

We reached the top of the stairs and I pulled her into my arms. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.” She tugged at the lapels of my jacket. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

I kissed her nose, grazing my lips across her cheekbone to whisper in her ear. “I love this dress, but I think it would look nicer on the floor.”

Her breath hitched. “Yeah?”

I nuzzled into her hair, drawing in a long breath. Then I latched my mouth onto her throat, giving the skin underneath her ear a hard suck. “Yeah.”

There was a lot we needed to talk about. We had issues to hammer out and a future to plan. But right now, I didn’t want to think about any of it. All I wanted was for Thea to know how much I loved her.

If I couldn’t say it, I’d show her instead.

Without letting her go, I backed us into my room, dragging down the zipper on the back of her dress. With it free, I slipped it off her shoulders and let the front fall loose. The moment her perfect tits were free and under my palms, my cock was rock hard.

“What do you want?” I asked, kissing up and down her neck.

“You. Naked.” Her hands gripped my lapels again, this time yanking them over my shoulders. Her needy breaths blew against my throat. Her fingers fumbled with a button on my shirt, but I trapped her hands.

“No, Thea.” I held her gaze, letting her hands rest on my thundering heart. “What do you want?”

She stared at me for a long moment, letting the meaning of my words echo in the room. When they sunk in—when she realized I wasn’t talking about sex—a tear pooled in the corner of her eye. “The impossible.”

Nothing was impossible.

Not for her.

Not anymore.

I swiped the tear with my thumb, then took her mouth, swallowing a cry that was part pain, part lust. Another tear fell, hitting my cheek, and I tore away from her mouth to kiss it away.

“Don’t cry, baby,” I whispered. “It’s all going to be okay.”

Once I got her and Charlie moved here for good and we were all officially Kendricks, there would be no more tears. She wouldn’t have to dread the good-byes, because we’d never be apart again. Tomorrow, after we got through dinner with my parents, we’d talk and put all her fears to rest.

She nodded and sniffled, gripping my shirt by the collar. Then her sad eyes came to mine. “Make love to me, Logan. That’s what I want. Give me something to remember.”

She’d just slammed the door to her heart right in my face.

Why was she so quick to push me away? What about being here was so awful that she kept reminding me that she was leaving? Why wouldn’t she talk to me?

I ran my hands up her bare back, tangling my fingers in her soft hair. I gripped it in my fist, tugging a bit so her head fell back. And then I slammed my mouth down on hers, pouring all of my frustration with this remarkable, bright and infuriating woman into our kiss.

Thea met my ferocity full force, pulling so hard on my shirt that a couple of buttons popped off. Her tongue dove into my mouth, dueling with mine as her fingers pulled to free my shirt from my slacks.

I stepped forward, pushing her farther into the room. With every step toward the bed, her dress slid farther down her body until it was pooled at our feet. She stepped out of it, kicking it aside, as I toed off my shoes. Never once did I break contact with her mouth or let go of her hair.

The control I had over her body was just an illusion. We both knew exactly who was in charge tonight.

Beneath my open shirt, her fingertips skimmed up my abs. When they reached my pecs, she dug her nails in at the same time she slid her tongue from my mouth and nipped my bottom lip.

“Fuck,” I hissed, breaking free from her lips. “You drive me crazy.” Physically. Emotionally. She was the only person in the world who could wind me up this tight.

She smiled against my mouth. “What are you going to do about it?”

“This.” One minute she was standing, the next I’d gripped her by the hips and tossed her on the bed.

She smiled as she bounced, her hair swaying behind her as she scooted toward the headboard.

“Get those panties off,” I ordered as I stripped off my shirt. “Now.”

She toyed with the hem, teasing me for a minute. But when I reached for the button on my pants and paused, daring her on, she wiggled them free and kicked them to the floor.

Seeing her wet pussy nearly dropped me to the floor. I swallowed hard, sucking in some air through my nostrils as I tried to get my dick under control.

Then I set the beast loose, shoving my pants and boxer briefs down to my ankles. When I stood, Thea’s eyes were locked on my straining erection. Her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip.

Fuck. I stepped up to the bed and shot out an arm, grabbing her by the ankle. With a fast tug, I pulled her toward me as I knelt on the mattress, using my other knee to spread her legs wide. Then with my fist around my pulsing cock, I lined up at her entrance and thrust home.

Thea’s back arched off the bed as she cried out, her moans echoing up to the rafters. I stayed rooted, my eyes squeezed shut tight so I wouldn’t come. My hands dug into the blankets by Thea’s face as I fought to get control of my body.

“Logan. Condom.”

“One sec.” I nodded, still not opening my eyes. Being bare inside Thea, having nothing between us, was so goddamn amazing, I couldn’t give it up just yet.

She was the only woman who had ever had me raw. Not even Emmeline could claim that. It had only ever been Thea. Tonight, and the one time in the shower when we’d made Charlie. How the hell had I forgotten about this? I should have demanded Thea get on birth control two weeks ago.

“Birth control is priority one.” I opened my eyes and slid out of her tight heat.

She whimpered at the loss, breathing hard as I reached for the nightstand to get a condom. I hated rolling it on, but I knew we weren’t—she wasn’t—ready for another kid yet. Maybe I could change her mind this weekend once we’d gotten everything else worked out.

Because having another baby and being there from day one this time was about the only thing I really wanted in my life, other than to make Thea and Charlie happy.

They were all that mattered.

I came back to the bed, this time joining with Thea slowly, inch by inch. I rocked my hips into hers, building her up until her legs were trembling around me. The entire time, I worshiped her skin, dropping soft kisses across her neck and chest.

“I’m—” Her gasp was followed by an explosion. Her inner walls squeezed me so hard, the control I’d been trying to maintain vanished.

The tightening in my spine and balls was like a vise, forcing me to let go and come as she moaned into my neck. I was breathing so hard as I recovered I didn’t hear her moans turn to soft cries at first. Not until I felt a tear on my shoulder.

I leaned back, pushing the hair off her face. She turned her head into the blankets, trying to hide, but I tipped her chin toward me so she had to look at me. “Baby, what is it? These tears are killing me.”

“Sorry. It’s nothing.” She shook her head and sniffled, bringing up a hand to wipe her face. “I’m just emotional and I had too much champagne.”

“Come here.” I wrapped one arm around her, holding her to my chest, as the other jerked down the blankets. Then I pulled out and lifted her farther into the bed. “Be right back.”

I went to the bathroom and dealt with the condom, hurrying back to Thea’s side. With her back to my chest, I inhaled the lavender in her hair as I held her close. “It’s going to be okay.”

She nodded, sniffling again. “I know.”

Did she? Because there wasn’t a hint of confidence in her voice.

She tried to roll away to her pillow, but my arms banded tighter. I never thought I’d miss her tiny bed at the cottage, but this week had proved me wrong. When we’d been in her bed, there had been no choice except for us to sleep cuddled together. But with the space of my massive king, we’d both drift in our sleep.

Not tonight. Tonight, I didn’t want her going anywhere.

The way she snuggled backward, relaxing in my arms, I thought she wanted that too.

Except when I woke up the next morning, Thea was gone.

I shot up in a panic, searching the bathroom and closet for her. Then I went downstairs, hoping she’d just gotten up early for coffee and breakfast. But when I didn’t find her there, I searched every other room.

I finally found her, asleep in Charlie’s bed. Charlie’s feet were digging into her ribs and tears had dried on Thea’s cheeks.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, peanut?” I looked at Charlie in the rearview mirror, smiling just like I did every time she called me Daddy.

“Are you going to come to my first day of school?”

“I, uh . . .”

My shoulders sagged. How the hell did I answer this question? I hoped she’d be going to school here, and in that case, I’d be taking her to school with Thea. I’d already had Sean make arrangements to get her enrolled at a small, private school a few blocks from the penthouse.

But with the way Thea had acted last night and this morning, I wasn’t as confident she’d say yes to my proposal as I had been a few days ago. Which meant there was a slim chance Charlie would have to start school in Lark Cove, then transfer once Thea and I worked everything out.

With school starting in two weeks, I couldn’t swing another trip to Lark Cove right now. One of my newest clients was restructuring their business over the next month and I had to be in town to participate in the discussions.

Would I be able to take Charlie to school? Only if Thea said yes to moving and marrying me.

“Are you?” Charlie asked again.

“Honey,” Thea turned in her seat, “we are going home on Monday. Remember? Logan has to stay here for work. But he’ll come and visit us as soon as he can. Mommy and Gran will take you to your first day of school, just like we did last year.”

“Oh.” Charlie’s disappointment darkened the car.

“I’m sorry,” I told her. “I’d be there if I could.”

Charlie nodded, then turned to look out her window.

I focused back on the road with a frown.

We were driving to my parents’ estate on Long Island. It had taken us an hour to get out of the city, but once we’d hit the Nassau County line, traffic had thinned. My white Land Rover, which spent most of its time in the garage at the penthouse, was free to zoom over the highway on our way to Oyster Bay.

I reached across the console, taking Thea’s hand in mine. She laced our fingers together but didn’t look over. Her sunglasses remained pointed out her own side window.

“Mommy, we didn’t get Uncle Jackson his meatballs.”

“It’s okay,” Thea said to the glass. “We’ve got those other presents we bought for him and Gran.”

“Meatballs?”

Thea sighed. “When we were kids, Jackson and I used to get these meatball sandwiches from a place in our neighborhood. I went to get some the other day but it didn’t work out.”

“Were they closed?”

Thea shook her head without further explanation.

“The lady was mean to Mommy.”

My hand tightened over Thea’s. “What lady?”

She shook her head. “Just someone I used to know. We used to be friends but had a falling out. I ran into her at Giovanni’s.”

Giovanni’s. I made a mental note to check it out next week.

“Can we stop for a sec?” Thea pointed to a gas station ahead. “I’d like a water and to use the restroom.”

“Sure.” I let go of her hand, slowing to pull into the parking lot.

Thea pulled up her purse from between her feet and dug through it for her wallet. Before she got it out, I had my money clip out and a hundred between my fingers. “Here.”

“Thanks.” She took the money, giving me a small smile. “Would you guys like anything?”

“Snacks!” Charlie and I said in unison, making us all laugh.

“Okay. Water and snacks. Be right back.”

She opened the door, setting her purse on the seat as she went inside. It fell open after she closed the door, spilling her phone on the leather.

The screen was lit with a new email. I dismissed it, but then did a double take when I made out the word cunt.

I grabbed the phone.

From: anonymous743

Subject: You’re nothing but a filthy cunt.

What the fuck? Red coated my vision and I gripped the phone tight, stopping myself before I cracked the damn thing. Who would send that kind of email to Thea? Was it the first? Or had this been going on for a while?

Alice’s face popped into my mind instantly. I could definitely see her doing something like this. Her maturity level was right on par with Sofia’s and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Alice was behind this disgusting message.

I set down Thea’s phone and pulled out my own, sending Sean a text.

Me: Someone is sending Thea threatening emails. Find out who. Yesterday.

He didn’t make me wait. He never did.

Sean: On it.

When it came to my assistants, I hired the best there was. Just like Piper, there was no one as good as Sean. He managed almost every aspect of my personal life including purchases, travel and even my security protocols. As a former hacker who’d once lived in his mother’s basement, he was now comfortable on the Upper West Side. Sean would have this asshole’s information to me tonight.

A few years ago, a creep had been stalking Emmeline. Sean had tracked him down and arranged for him to get the message that she was completely off-limits. I’d been angry back then, pissed someone would want to stalk Emmeline. But having someone threaten Thea sent me into a blind rage. If not for Charlie in the back, I would have pounded my fists into the steering wheel.

I was still seething by the time Thea came back to the car. She came in with a smile, but it vanished after one look at my face.

“What?”

I tossed over her phone. All the color in her face drained away before she even opened it up.

“How long has that been going on?”

She looked at her lap. “A couple weeks. It’s no big deal.”

“He called you a c—” I stopped myself before I could cuss in front of Charlie. I took a calming breath, lowering my voice. “This is not okay. We’re going to talk about this later.”

“Fine.” She nodded, her eyes turned down.

I backed out of the parking lot and pulled back onto the highway. As much as I wanted answers this instant, I had to wait. Before we talked about those emails and before I got to the bottom of why she was acting so strangely this week, we had to get through the afternoon and evening with my parents.