Prologue
PROLOGUE My stomach was in knots as I walked into the juice bar. I'd texted Ashley telling her I'd be here, but her response had been a bit cold. Not that I could blame her, really. I'd missed yoga for almost a month now, and getting a smoothie was something we typically did after our workouts. Still, the moment I was inside, I saw her. Blonde, beautiful, and as relaxed as ever, she'd claimed a booth at the front and was sipping on something disturbingly green. I lifted my hand in greeting, but it was weak and pathetic. When Ashley smiled back, one tiny weight left my shoulders. Unfortunately, there was plenty more to keep me mired in misery. Right now, our friendship was all I had left, and if I lost that while trying to get the rest of my life together, I wasn't sure what I'd do, so I did the only thing I could. I slid onto the bench seat across from her. "Sorry I'm late," I mumbled. "It's ok," she promised. "You getting something?" "Uh..." I quickly ran over how much cash I had in my purse, then waved that off. "No, I just really wanted to talk to you." "Ok." But she still raised her hand to flag down the waitress. "Another one of these and a strawberry cream for my friend?" "Ash!" I hissed. "Oh, don't even try that. I am not pigging out on my own." The look she gave me was supposed to be intimidating, but in the best friend sort of way. The truth was that we both knew what she was doing, and I loved her a little more for it. The moment the high school kid left to fill the order, Ashley leaned closer and grabbed my hand, forcing me to stop fidgeting. "Elena, what's going on?" she asked. "I'm worried about you." Time for the moment of truth. I gripped her fingers a little tighter and took a very deep breath before blurting out, "I'm leaving Gerardo." "Ok..." she drawled. "Did something happen between you two?" "Gabby." I stopped, hoping that was enough of an answer, but the look on my best friend's face said it wasn't even close, so I continued. "A while ago, I was trying to tell her to stand up for herself, and she told me I shouldn't talk because I wasn't any better!" Slowly, Ashley nodded, looking like she was trying to process that. "So, you're leaving your husband because your daughter mouthed off? Elena, I love you, but that doesn't make any sense." I paused, seeing the kid returning with our drinks. Ashley looked up, pointed out which one went where, and then took a polite sip of hers as the server wandered away again. Me? I slowly turned the glass back and forth, hoping it would make my apology to my friend a little easier. "That's why I haven't been around," I finally admitted, my voice a whispered breath. If I tried to say that louder, I knew she'd hear the tension of these nerves I was fighting. "I've been saving money, trying to put something away so I can have a deposit for a place to live. He'll never let me have the house, and there's no way I could afford it without his income. Plus there's Gabby to think of, and -" "Hold on," Ashley said. Her confidence had the strangest way of soothing me. Just that tone of voice made me feel like she would put this whole talk back on track. "What's going on in your marriage?" "Um, I don't think he respects me." She leaned closer. "Details. I am your best friend. I'm not here to judge you, just to listen and help. So, how about we start at the beginning, ok?" I jiggled my head in something meant to be a nod. Then I took a sip of the smoothie, swallowed it, and sighed like all my anxiety would flow out with that breath. Easier said than done, but if I was going to stop being so meek, then this was my first step. Ashley would understand. She had to. "When I was pregnant with Gabby, I think he cheated. He said he didn't, and that I was just paranoid, so I believed him. That was the first crack. And then, when she was born, he always worked a lot. He said it was because my kid cost so much, and he needed the overtime. My kid, Ash. Not ours. But I let it go." "And that was, what? Fourteen years ago? Why now?" "Because it never got better." I flopped my hands into the air in exasperation. "Marriage is forever. It's a commitment. We're supposed to work out the problems, and it's supposed to be hard, yet rewarding. But he isn't putting in any effort! Since Gabby was born, it's only gotten worse, and it happened so slowly that I didn't even notice. We fought about something, and I compromised - but he didn't. Now it's just been like that for so long, you know? And then came the day that Gerardo was yelling at me because I signed us up to help with her play. He screamed about how he didn't have time for stupid things like that, and how theater was a waste of time, but Gabby could hear us. She loves her drama class, and he was just tearing it down - and you know what I did?" "What?" I paused, lifted my chin, and met her eyes. "Nothing." She pushed her drink to the side. "And what does 'nothing' look like, Elena?" "It looks like me telling him he didn't need to worry about it, I could handle the play without him, and saying I was sorry that I hadn't asked first. It looks like me tucking my tail between my legs, never thinking about my daughter listening from her room, and acting like inconveniencing my husband was so much worse than breaking her heart. It looks like me being the shittiest mother in the world!" "Ok." Ashley lifted a hand, slowing my rant. "And then Gabby said that to you?" "No, it was the next day, when her friends were over. One of them said Gabby needed to lose weight - she doesn't - because she didn't have a thigh gap, or something just as stupid. When I asked her about it later, intending to have a talk with her, you know, about eating disorders and such, she threw it back at me. She said I wouldn't know how to stand up for myself, and that she's fine. She's not going to do anything wrong. She's just not going to do anything at all. It was like a slap in the face! I mean, she learned all of that from me. She watches Gerardo push me around, and I always let him win. Always." "Why?" Ashley pressed. "C'mon, honey. I can tell this is something big for you, so why do you let him win?" I grabbed the tall, fluted glass with both hands, hoping it would ground me. "Because I hate confrontation. I hate fighting. I thought that if he loved me, he'd want to make me happy, but I'm starting to think he just wants me to shut up and make dinner. I mean, this has been building, but..." I leaned in for a little sip from the straw, needing something to cool my throat. "I asked him to go to marriage counseling. He said no. I don't know what else to do. If he upsets me enough to make me cry, he sends me away because it makes him feel bad. Just think about that, Ash. Me crying is a problem for him? And it's been bad for a while, but I thought it would be easier on Gabby if I just waited until she got out of school. It's only a few more years, and we've been married this long, so I could just wait. I have my hobbies, and he doesn't fight with me if I don't say anything. But now? I mean, when she said that? My little girl is supposed to grow up and take on the world. She should be proud, and strong, and shouldn't let anyone push her around, but look at this. Look at what I've been teaching her without even knowing it! Sit down, shut up, don't pick fights, and do whatever your man wants even if it kills you inside. What kind of lesson is that for a teenager?" I paused to grab one of the napkins, then pressed it under my eyes to make sure my mascara hadn't smudged. I wasn't crying, but my eyes were definitely damp. Across from me, Ashley waited, knowing that my tirade wasn't quite done. She didn't press me, but she also didn't try to make it stop. She knew I wasn't used to this. I didn't air out my dirty laundry for just anyone, and this was possibly the hardest thing I'd ever done - and also the easiest. It felt oddly... good. "I want my daughter to be strong," I finally said. "I don't want her to be like me, but she can't learn that without an example. She needs me to step up, and letting my husband do this? No, he isn't hitting me, and I don't think he's cheated in a while, but I'm not sure. Or maybe I am. I don't know! I mean, he hasn't done anything I can prove is wrong to make me leave, but he hasn't done anything right, either. He doesn't love me, and the truth is that I just don't love him, either." I leaned closer and dropped my voice. "I can't remember the last time we had sex, but it's been more than two years!" "Ouch," she said in sympathy. I nodded. "And this is what I'm teaching Gabby is a good marriage? When she threw it in my face that her father walks all over me, I realized that I'm not doing this because I want to take care of her. I'm staying with him because I'm too weak to leave, and that does not make me a good mother. It makes me scared and helpless. It means I'm teaching her that some man's comfort is more important than hers. His wishes, his desires, and his everything gets put first because I'm too weak to stand up for myself, let alone my daughter! If I want her to be strong, then I have to figure out how to do it first. I need to stop rolling over and ignoring it, because all that does is prove to my little girl that this is how women are supposed to act, and it's not." "Ok," she said, reaching out to grab my hand. "How long has this been going on?" I swallowed. "Fourteen years, give or take?" She nodded once. "And Gabby saying that was your breaking point, right? Have you talked to him?" I nodded again. "Often, but lately, I've been seriously trying to make something change. I told him he was setting a bad example for his child, and he said she's making good grades. I told him I need more, and he said I've been fine this long. I keep trying to talk to him, but maybe he ignores me because I don't yell? I don't know, actually. All I know is that the harder I try, the worse it gets, and...." I sighed, feeling some strange sense of peace come over me, like what I was about to say would finally make it real. "I'm done, Ash. I can't make him change, and I don't deserve to put up with this. I know I'm not perfect. Trust me, I know that. I also know that if I don't do something, I won't come any closer. I need to respect myself first, right?" "Are you sure?" she asked. I nodded. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I..." The words failed me, but one idea kept rolling around and around in my head. I knew it would sound stupid, but right now, it was my lifeline, and this was Ashley, my best friend. The one person who seemed to get me better than anyone else. So I just had to blurt it out and see how she took it. "I want to be stronger. I want to be independent. I just want to wake up in the morning and be proud of who I am, and I can't do that right now. Not with him always pushing me back down, telling me to stop making problems." "Ok." The look on her face said she was thinking, and fast. "So what's the first step? Because you know I'm always going to help. I just want to make sure you've actually thought about this. What's your first step, Elena?" "I need a place to live, somewhere I can afford. I need to do this before school starts, since I will be taking Gabby with me. Um..." I reached up to scrub at my face, hoping I didn't look like a complete train wreck. "I know it's going to be hard, and Gabby will hate having the finances cut in half, but if I had a better job..." Then I stopped. "I dunno. Mine's got great hours, but the pay isn't enough. I could get a second, although then Gabby would be home alone all the time. Um... Yeah. Getting set up to live on my own is the first step, I guess?" "How soon?" she asked. I licked at my lips. "A month, maybe? The sooner, the better. I'm serious - the tension at home is thick enough that Gabby's been spending more time in her room or with friends. This can't go on much longer." Slowly, a smile was starting to form on my best friend's lips. For a moment, I wanted to snap at her for not taking this seriously, although I figured she had a plan. Ashley always did. That was what I liked most about her. She was only a couple of years younger than me, but she'd found that perfect balance between being a free spirit and keeping her crap together. "So how much would you need to make a month to cover everything?" she asked. "Depends on rent at my new place." "Ok, without that. How much would you need to pay the bills, afford groceries and clothes for Gabby, and still have enough to put some in savings? Three thousand a month? Five?" I murmured as I thought it over. "I'm making twenty-two hundred a month right now. Three thousand would be a serious step up in life." "Sold!" she announced, slapping the table to prove her point. "I think I have the perfect answer to all your problems. Yesterday, I was told I get to hire a leasing manager for the front office. It needs to be someone good with customers, who has human resources experience and is professional-looking. The job is Monday through Friday, eight am to five pm, and the dress is business casual." Then she grinned. "And not only is the position paying eighty thousand a year, with room for annual raises, but it also includes a house in the community." "In Wolf's Run?" I gasped. I'd been to Ashley's place before. I'd also seen the billboards along the highway for the development and had heard the talk about it on the news. Wolf's Run was an exclusive community. The kind of exclusive that wasn't just doctors and lawyers, but more like year-long waiting lists and the talk of the town. It was a community built to make neighbors neighborly again, and so far above anywhere else that I would be able to afford. "There's a catch," she warned me. "The employees get the houses at the front, and we have to keep them presentable because they're the first impression. On the upside, that means the office is across the street. The downside is that we're expected to maintain our lawns and homes in such a way as to sell the place. That's why we get free rent. We're the examples. The model homes, if you will." "Are you kidding me right now?" "No," she promised. "I was honestly considering how to ask you. I mean, you'd be working under me, and I didn't want that to mess up our friendship, but I think you'd be perfect. And if this will help you and Gabby?" "It'd be a miracle," I admitted, feeling my eyes do that tingling thing again, but this time for a whole different reason. "If I had a job and a home in there, Gerardo would be less likely to get custody - if he even wants it! I just don't want you to feel like you have to hire me." "I don't," she promised. "Elena, the kind of people we approve aren't always what's expected. Some of the ones we deny can get really upset. They'll yell and scream, threaten to sue, and just about everything else. You say you want to get stronger? Well, this will be the perfect chance. I need someone with enough spine to stand her ground, but sweet enough to make everyone think they have a chance." Then she canted her head. "And it won't hurt at all that you can speak Spanish." "Oh, so you mean it'll look good to hire a minority?" I teased. She giggled. "Well, exclusive communities can get a little white-washed. Ours isn't too bad, but I think having you up front will chase off any of the neo-Nazi types before they apply. Or is that out of line?" "I am totally ok with being used," I decided. "You just have to promise that when some rich idiot tells me to 'go back to my country,' you've got my back." "Always," she swore. "Not just as your boss, but also as your best friend. So..." She lifted her glass and sucked back at least half of it in one gulp. "You wanna ride over with me and see the house? Check out the place and make sure it'll work? See what else we have to do to make this happen? Have some wine and plan out how my bestie is going to get divorced?" "You don't have to do that," I told her. "It's not your problem, Ash, and I'm sorry I just dumped all of this on you. I honestly thought I was just explaining why I've been such a bad friend." "And I'm a great friend," she teased. "You're set on this path, and I can't say I really blame you, so I'm all in. Now, what about the house? Wanna see what your future holds, or not yet?" "It's in Wolf's Run," I pointed out. "The nicest, safest, and most prestigious community in town. You think I wouldn't want to see it?" She gestured to my drink. "Then finish that, and let's get out of here! Besides, I have a feeling I can help in more ways than just this. Have I mentioned that I have an entire wine fridge? Yeah, and it's stocked. There's nothing better to help a woman find her spine than consuming a few bottles." "That," I assured her, "I can do." I was done with being weak. I was tired of being pushed around. For once in my life, I was going to do it on my own, and if I was lucky, I'd end up as the kind of mom I'd always wanted to be.
1. Elena
CHAPTER 1 A month later, I moved out. Gerardo didn't think I was serious, not until I started packing my things. Then he tried to say I'd never make it. Too bad for him, that only secured my resolve. Gabby wasn't happy when I had the talk with her, but no teenager wanted to hear her parents were getting divorced. Thankfully, she didn't hesitate to come with me - although she wanted it known that she was pissed about moving. In her mind, the dad was supposed to move out so she could keep her old life. Then I told her where we'd be living. That helped, but teen angst was still stronger than even the idea of a fancy new neighborhood. And Wolf's Run was the type of place most people could only dream of. From the tall brick walls around the thousand-acre property to the highly-managed flowerbeds decorating the medians, everything was designed to please the eye. Then there were the homes. I took the long way around the community so my daughter could see her new neighborhood. We passed large houses and miniature mansions. The cars in the driveways ranged from brand new trucks to wonderfully-maintained classic sports cars, with a few BMWs and such thrown in for good measure. For a woman who'd grown up on the wrong side of the tracks and clawed her way up to the middle class, this was a little intimidating. It was the last place I ever would have expected to live, especially after leaving my husband of eighteen years, and yet here we were. Beside me, my daughter had her face pressed to the glass, gawking at everything. "Did you tell Dad where we're living now?" she asked. "I think this is nicer than some of his client's homes." "Your father has our new address." I made the final turn, heading back toward the front of the community. "And the last one up there is going to be ours." Gabby's nose scrunched up when her eyes fell on the smallest house on the street. On a wedge-shaped lot that was tucked in beside the main gates, it was set on an angle due to the almost cul de sac shape of that turn, the front tilted slightly toward the larger home beside it. And while small by comparison, it was still bigger than what we'd had before. "The little one?" she asked. "Why didn't you get one of the nice houses, Mom?" "It's very nice, Gabby, and plenty big for the two of us. It's a three-bedroom, which means we'll even have a spare. Plus, we also get to make it our own and do things like plant flowers..." I looked over at her. "And mow the lawn." "Aw, Mom," she groaned. "Dad would hire someone for that." "I'm just glad we have a lawn to worry about. Gabby, it's only the two of us, and we aren't rich," I reminded her, well aware that in her teenage mind, money just grew on trees. "We'll have to be frugal until I start getting paid, but I'll try to be fair, ok?" She slowly nodded - then sucked in a little breath as I eased the car to a stop beside our curb. Her eyes were locked on the house beside ours and its open garage filled with people. "Whoa. Those are the neighbors?" she asked. Turning off the car, I followed where her finger was pointing, and damn. Clearly, my daughter had inherited my taste in men, because the four guys lounging around a collection of weights inside the garage were physical perfection. That none of them had on shirts, and they all wore loose-fitting pants or shorts - the kind that hung a little too low - only made it more obvious. "Close your mouth, honey," I said, trying to act like I didn't care about their ripped bodies. "Those men are a little old for you." "And too young for you," she shot back. "But maybe that's why you decided to screw up my whole life, huh? You left Dad to sleep around, didn't you?" "Gabriella," I snapped. "That is not why your father and I split up, and you know it!" She huffed in the way that only teen girls could. "Well, he said that's what happened. And you did. You left him, Mom." Then she shoved open the door and surged out of the car to glare at me with her arms crossed. I paused to drag a hand down my face. I completely understood her anger. Hell, I was angry at myself for not being able to fix things with Gerardo, but for him to say that to her? It was going too far. Even if it was what he thought - and he was wrong - he should've known better! But that was how Gerardo worked. He'd mastered the ability to shift things so he looked like the victim, never the villain. Not that my soon-to-be ex-husband was a bad man, he just wasn't a great father. Or husband. Or, well, great anything except an employee. His true love was the pride he got from his success at work, and I'd been more than willing to take a step down in life to find a little of my own happiness again. While I'd left because I was just sick and tired of being lonely, I did not leave him for another man. I was simply tired of being treated like a maid and a roommate. No one should accept being taken for granted, and no matter how hard I tried to find a middle ground with my husband, it just hadn't happened. We'd clearly grown in two different directions. While he'd been off chasing promotions and awards, I'd gotten tired of waiting to be noticed. And somewhere in there, I'd managed to forget who I was. I'd become his wife and Gabby's mom. I was the chaperone or the hostess, sometimes even the maid. All of that was fine, right up until I wanted to be something that helped no one else but me: the painter, or maybe the ballroom dancer. As soon as my goals inconvenienced my husband in the slightest, they were deemed selfish and unworthy. That was why I'd left, because I deserved to actually live, not just make sure that everyone else could. Although leaving meant moving, which Gabby had tolerated better than I’d expected. Even worse, it also came with a new school, just days before her high school debut - and so my daughter blamed me for ruining her life. She wasn't exactly wrong. We'd gone from middle-class suburbia to a fancy house and a careful budget thanks to the debts of moving and my upcoming divorce. My checking account was basically empty until I got my first paycheck in a couple of weeks. Naturally, her father had no interest in helping, so Gabby was more than willing to blame me for having her fun budget spent on paying the people to move us to a house she didn't want to live in anyway. Because we now lived on the complete opposite side of town, which meant she'd left all of her friends behind, and we were living in a place where we would probably be the only brown people around. The stability of her life had just been destroyed, and all so I could find some in mine. Plus, there was the fact that she was a little too good at playing on my guilt. "Staring is still rude," I told her through the car door, deciding that was the easiest way to handle this. "Go pick out your room. The movers should be here in a minute with our stuff, and they'll need to know where to put it." "Whatever." With that, she stormed up the yard. Yep, Gabby was mad at me. While I put my keys in my purse, I watched her jog away, angling for the wrong side of the house. When I realized what she was doing, a moment of sheer panic twisted my guts. I thrust open the door in a hurry, but I was too late. My brazen daughter was already halfway to the neighbor's driveway with her hand stretched out and a smile plastered onto her face. The four guys she'd been drooling over were making their way toward her. "Hi," I heard her say in a much too chipper voice. "I'm Gabriella Castillo, and we're moving in next door." Four men stepped up to greet her, shoulder to shoulder like a barrier. All of them were built like fitness models. Side by side, they looked like something that belonged on Pinterest for women to drool over. The best part was their matching amber-colored eyes. I wasn't sure if these boys were brothers - because they honestly looked nothing alike - but each one had the same yellowish-brown irises. It was a shade that was impossible to miss. I'd only ever seen one person with eyes like that before - Ashley - and I'd always envied her a little because of the gorgeous way it complimented her blonde hair. As I hurried to catch up, the men stopped just at the edge of the property line. The third one jerked his chin in her direction. "Didn't know we were getting neighbors." "Yeah," Gabby told him. "So brace for the moving van that will be here soon." "Great," one of the others mumbled. "You know about this, Ian?" another asked. The apparent leader shook his head, proving he was Ian. "Nope. Hadn't heard a thing." Standing so close to my daughter made it obvious that Ian was anything but small. Her head barely reached his shoulder, and his chest was almost twice the width of hers. The lines of muscles decorating his abdomen were amazing, and Gabby was enjoying the view. She didn't bother checking out his cocoa brown hair or the close-cropped beard. Nope, my little girl's eyes dropped right to his happy trail. She didn't even look guilty about it. "Gabby!" I snapped when I was close enough that it wouldn't be a yell. "I told you to go pick out a room. Now! Don't bother the neighbors." Ian grunted in agreement. "That's probably safest." Gabby rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, she doesn't care what I want anyway, but it's nice to meet you guys." "Yeah," he said, and the others mumbled similar sentiments. My kid had clearly caught them off guard. I stepped up to take Gabby's place as she scurried away before I could yell at her again. "Sorry about my daughter," I told the guys. "Like a typical teenager, she's not overly thrilled with the idea of moving and is trying to make sure I pay for it. This was her attempt to embarrass me." Ian crossed his arms over his chest. "I honestly had no clue the corner lot had been leased." "I just got hired for the front office," I explained. "The best perk of the job is living inside the gates, right?" This guy was giving me some very unwelcome vibes. I started to step back, but his next words made me pause. "Ashley hired someone?" I nodded, hoping I hadn't just made a mess of this. My goal was to live here for a while, and upsetting the neighbors wouldn't be a good idea. Especially not ones who actually paid to live here. And while yes, these guys were hot, I also couldn't forget that they all looked young enough to think of me as the old lady living next door - and they were probably rich. If they wanted to make our lives hell, they could. "I'm the new leasing manager," I told him, making sure I looked nothing but professional, even if I wasn't exactly dressed for it. "Sorry my daughter bothered you. I'll let you get back to what you were doing." I turned for the house as fast as I could. They were most likely waiting for me to cause problems and start complaining about their party life or music. Then again, that was something my husband would've said. He always expected the worst from people, and it was one more thing I needed to put on my list to change. Just because they weren't welcoming didn't mean they were bad. Just surprised, right? Besides, up close, they looked a bit older than they had from the car. Probably closer to thirty than twenty, if I had to guess, and in very good shape. Still too young for me, but old enough that I wouldn't feel bad about looking. I hadn't missed the weight set taking up most of the garage. The big question was how often they came over to work out. If this was a regular thing, then Ashley had just given me the best lot in the estate. My home was within walking distance of work and came with a killer view. Thinking about my best-friend-turned-boss, I fished my phone out of my purse and sent Ashley a text. Elena: So we made it. Her reply came back almost instantly. Ashley: You're there? Perfect! I'm coming over. Have housewarming gifts. Typical Ashley. We'd met initially through my previous job, and again when we ended up in the same yoga class a few months later. Eventually, some of us started getting together for smoothies after our sessions, and the two of us had gravitated to each other. Kindred souls, she'd called it. I'd known her for a couple of years now, and yet it felt like she'd been a part of my life forever. Soul mates of the best friend variety. And now, I had her to thank for all of this. I had never expected her to give me a job. That was so far above and beyond that the least I could do was make sure she didn't regret it. The idea of working with her every day was pretty much heaven. And this? The house, the job, and the pay that came with it? This was my ticket to a fresh start. A new life. One where I could finally get it right. I was barely inside before I heard a car pull up out front. Turning in place, I opened the door again in time to see Ashley unfolding herself from behind the wheel of her adorable MG Midget. The car was tiny, but perfect for her. It was exactly the kind of thing one would expect an elegant blonde bombshell to drive. Then she leaned over to grab the gifts she'd promised. "I come bearing the necessities of life," she called across the lawn. "Wine for you and chocolate for Gabby." I grinned and opened the door a little wider, inviting her and her armload of presents inside. "And a list of utilities, right?" "Already emailed those to you," she assured me as she headed straight for the kitchen. "Gabby! I have chocolate!" "On the phone," Gabby yelled back from upstairs. I just sighed. "She's moping." "Do you really blame her?" Ashley asked. "Everything she knew just vanished. I remember when my parents split up, and I was in college. But how are you handling all of this?" I lifted my hands and let them flop back to my sides. "One step at a time. Ask me again after I've managed to get everything unpacked and sorted out, because that's when it'll feel real." "Promise, and you have all weekend to worry about that before your first day." Then she pointed at the wine she'd brought over. "And I won't tell if you decide to drink that straight from the bottle. Elena, you should be proud of yourself. You're starting a whole new chapter in your life. One where you get to make your own rules and finally be happy." I grabbed the bottle and started peeling off the protective seal to reach the cork. "Fingers crossed, because I'd kind of like to get a little of that fairy-tale perfection before I'm too old to enjoy it." "You and me both," she agreed, passing over a corkscrew she'd pulled from her purse. "And you're going to share that, right?" "Hell yeah, I am.
2. Ian
CHAPTER 2 When I saw Ashley pull up at the neighbor's house, I was fuming. What was she thinking, bringing these people into our neighborhood? Did she have any idea how dangerous this was? Never mind the way that human girl had walked over like we were all going to be the best of friends. No, this had to be dealt with, and soon. I tried to work out a little more, but I couldn't get over the rage building inside me. The full moon tonight explained part of that, but not all. Mostly, it was just my sister disrespecting my authority. I loved Ashley to death, but if she wanted to lead this pack, then she shouldn't have stepped aside. Eventually, I gave up. A cold shower helped cool my temper, but not nearly enough. Finally, my sister's car started up, proving she was done with her visit, so I grabbed my phone and sent off a text. Ian: Meet me at Dad's. Five minutes. Without waiting for a response, I told the guys to keep an eye on things and headed to my father's house on the opposite side of the community entrance. I didn't bother to knock, just stormed in, slamming the door behind me, and didn't stop until I reached his office. Henry heard me coming. He was leaned back in his chair with a bemused expression on his face. "So, what is it this time, Ian?" "Ashley hired humans," I snapped. My father chuckled. "Her best friend, actually. Does she know you're angry about this?" "She's about to," I said, tilting my head when I heard the front door open. "The entire point of Wolf's Run is to give us a human-free area to live in peace!" A heavy sigh proved that my sister had heard me. "I needed a leasing manager, Ian." "You could've hired a wolf," I shot back. She lifted a perfectly manicured brow. "Natural-born or changed? Would it matter if they had any experience? No, I'm sorry. This was a business decision. It has nothing to do with the pack." "It has everything to do with the pack," I shot back as I stormed into her face. "All it takes is one person with a cell phone, and I can promise you her teenage daughter has one. One video uploaded onto YouTube. For hundreds of years, we've lived in isolation, making communes and cults so people can explain away our strange behavior. It's not going to work much longer. Everyone carries a phone. That means a camera and video. Let's not even talk about Google mapping everything from space. And now that I've finally convinced people this is worth trying, you decide to risk it all for some woman you know?" One side of her mouth curled into a smile. "Are you scared? Doesn't look good on you, Alpha." If my throat could've handled it, I would've growled at her, but my body was in the wrong form. "You are not the leader of this pack, Ashley. I am. And if you think that stepping aside means you get to disrespect me, then think again." She moved, surging into me so fast I barely had the chance to grab her wrist before she was squeezing my throat. "I love you, little brother, but don't think I've gotten weak. Elena's staying because I owe it to her. She may not understand pack loyalty, but I do. That woman has been there for me when even you weren't, so give her a fucking chance." Finally, I pushed her hand away. "No. We promised the people here the freedom to move around in whatever form they prefer. We've painted this place to be elite enough that we can be eccentric. Never mind the risks of that teenage girl! Have you thought about that? When she brings her little friends over to play and they decide to go hiking? I'm sure her mother would love to hear about the naked walking group, right? Or do you have a better way to explain all those people shedding their clothes to run off into the woods?" "Then fix it," she told me. "Make rules. Talk to the pack and warn them to stay away from the office. I don't care. We have a couple of days before she officially starts at the office. That gives you time to introduce her. Invite the neighborhood over, show her off, and let them all see who to avoid." "But why?" I asked. "Why are you so adamant that she needs to be here, of all places?" "You wouldn't understand." Of course, my father chose that moment to join the conversation. "You've made it clear that mixed couples are allowed, haven't you? What makes the wife or husband of a wolf different from this woman?" "The simple fact that they know what they married," I told them. "Anyone who lives here knows about wolves, and we don't need to hide from them, but her? That woman and her child? Not a clue." "How can you be so sure?" Ashley countered. I looked at her like she was an idiot. "Because I know you, Ash. She's part of this little fantasy life that you've made outside these walls. The one where you pretend like everything is fine, and you can just be normal. Yeah? Well, bringing her here is going to destroy that. Eventually, she'll figure it out. We can't hide everything, and we shouldn't have to. Not in our own homes!" Ashley nodded. "I was actually thinking that she'd be a good test. I mean, if we can make Elena accept that werewolves exist, even if it's not for the reasons she's seen in the movies, then isn't that a big step? Couldn't we use that to do something different?" Henry lifted his hand, stopping me before I could yell again. "What are you thinking, Ashley?" She flailed an arm at me. "Ian's always saying that the best defense would be a slow integration, right? Well, having Elena here is a good way to test that. To ease the pack into living so close to humans. Our core group is one thing, but the new members? They came here because they don't want to isolate themselves from the luxuries of modern life." "And what does that have to do with the human?" I asked her. "Her name is Elena," Ashley said, a clear warning in her voice to get it right. "And I want to tell her. I just figured that if she's living here, slowly getting exposed to the idea, then she'll come around. And when she figures out that there's something just a bit different about us, I think she'll ask me. Just... Can you give me a few months? I mean, having her here will keep things under control. No one's going to wolf out in front of her - or the potential clients coming to look at the houses." "Shift," Henry corrected. "I do not like that slang term." "Regardless," Ashley said, plowing forward with this, "I put her in the front lot, furthest from the community. She's in an easy place to keep isolated, and I'll say there's a curfew or something so Gabby won't go out. You tell the pack that daylight hours are human hours, unless they're inside, and it takes away the risk of someone looking at a house and seeing the wrong thing. We're going to have potential clients walking through, and not all of them will be wolves, Ian. If we don't show the homes, we're breaking discrimination laws, so we have to at least let the prospective clients see them." "Which means humans in Wolf's Run," Henry clarified. "Even if they aren't working at the front office. That's why I told Ashley it was ok." Well, fuck. If my father approved of this, then I was already fighting a losing battle. The worst part was that they had a point. The only question was what to do about it. The problem with three alphas living together was that I couldn't push them to agree with me. They'd be just as likely to push back. And I really did want things to change. I wanted it to be possible for my kids to live in a world where being a wolf was accepted. Where this wasn't some mystical hocus pocus thing. We all knew there'd be resistance, and that some group would deem us evil - probably the religious types since that was how it always went down - but we weren't ready yet. Although, if this Elena woman was going to be here, then I could see just how far I could push her. A test, as Ashley had mentioned. I just needed to have a ready excuse to explain away the things she wouldn't understand and walk that very narrow line between the truth and lies. Too many times, I'd seen people snap when they realized we were different. The shock and fear made them do stupid things. Usually, with guns pointed at one of us. Speaking of that. "Does she own a gun?" I asked. Ashley actually laughed. "No, she doesn't. Elena's not exactly the 'protect herself' type. She's more of the 'try not to cause problems' type." "Ok." I turned, pacing the length of the room as I thought. "So we'll need to introduce her to the community. Some innocuous gathering where they can all see her and ask us if they have questions." Reaching my father's desk, I turned back toward Ashley and kept walking. "You can use training her as an excuse to keep the approval process under your control." "And," Ashley said, interrupting my thoughts, "I'll find out which habits we have that set her on edge. Things we should be conscious of. She can be a barometer for human sensitivities, ok?" I nodded once, accepting that. "What about the disease?" Ashley rolled her eyes. "It's bloodborne! Just like all the other gross stuff. If we have a medical emergency, we'll use gloves. That's why they're in the first aid kit. I'm looking for a doctor to move in, but don't have one yet." "That works for the mother, but what about the kid?" "Gabby?" Ashley blew that off. "She's not an idiot, Ian. Look, this is going to be fine. If you keep the wolves away from them, then the chances of exposure are minimal. Wolf-form bites are the most likely, and no wolves mean no bites." Those were the same words I'd used when convincing Dad that this community thing would be a good idea. For Ashley to throw it back in my face stung, but also proved that she was right. Mostly right, at least. "So should I assume you have a plan for what to do when she finds out?" I met my sister's eyes, daring her to do something about it. "Because no plan ever works like we want. She will find out, and probably in the worst way. I just hope you're prepared for the fallout when that happens." "She won't expose us," Ashley insisted. "That's why I chose her. I trust her, Ian, and she needs us." "She is not my problem," I reminded my sister. "Everyone else in this pack is. Your little friend is just a human." "She's not." I lifted both of my brows, waiting for some amazing revelation. "Then what is she?" "The 'just' part," Ashley grumbled. "She's not just anything. Elena's a woman who's been pushed around her entire life, and she just keeps going, trying to make things easy on those around her." "And just a human," I said again, rubbing it in. My sister's jaw clenched in frustration. "Yeah. Fine. She's just a human who happens to be my best fucking friend. A human who I want to protect and take care of. So if you don't want her here, then you don't want me here, and you really need to think about that, Alpha, since I'm not the only person who's going to have friends or family that aren't like us. You need to figure your shit out, because Wolf's Run can either be our own isolation, or we can integrate. The problem is that we can't do both." "Fine!" I told her, knowing she was right. "The humans can stay, but we're going to make sure everyone else knows that they're here because of you." "I'm ok with that," she told me. From his chair, my father just sighed. "Well, now that that is settled, I almost don't want to point out that the full moon is tonight." I smiled at my sister. "Guess who's not running with the pack?" "Not a problem," she told me. "I already invited Elena and Gabby over to watch movies, since their things are still in boxes." Then she wiggled her fingers at me and turned, damned near flouncing away. "Have a good run, you two! I'm going to play with the humans." All I could do was groan, but when Dad's sound joined mine, I felt a little vindicated. "You know," he said, "I expected you to run her out of here before now." "She's my sister," I reminded him. "Yes, I'm well aware of that - and I'm your father. I also know that it can't be easy on an alpha to have the pack's former leader and heir apparent pushing his buttons. Just let me know before you send her off so I can make sure she lands on her feet?" "I’m not sending her off," I promised. "Believe it or not, I actually like my big sister. Besides, we're making this place so we can do things differently, right? So we don't have to leave our families behind? Well, you two are my family, and she may piss me off sometimes, but..." "She's still your sister," Dad finished, showing he understood completely. "I'm proud of you, Ian. You're a good alpha. Much better than your sister would've been." But we both knew that was only half true.
3. Ian
CHAPTER 3 I spent most of the night trying to figure out how to make this thing with the humans work. Ashley might be taking over our father's business, but I was the one responsible for the people living in Wolf's Run. That was how we'd handled him stepping down after his accident. The position of alpha should've been hers, and I would've respected that, but she didn't think it was possible to do both. The truth was that she'd told me years ago she didn't want to lead the pack. Not after her betas abandoned her. So here she was, trying to make Elena fill the hole they'd left. Oh, I knew that was why she'd latched onto this woman. Ashley would never admit it, but she had a habit of doing things like this. Lovers, friends... it didn't seem to matter. She just wanted someone to replace what she'd lost when her best friend ran away with her fiancé. I would've been fine with her adopting the lady and slowly bringing her into our society, but this? It was too much, too fast, and would definitely end badly. My sister just wasn't thinking. She was a wolf without her pack - in a sense - and starving for that personal connection. She didn't have a mate, or want one, but that she'd lost her friends at the same time? Well, I could only imagine what that was like. The problem was that her decision, while reckless, also had some merit to it - and I wanted to be a different kind of alpha. All my life, I'd been told what made a good pack leader. Responsibility, dependability, good decisions, and such. The leader of the community was supposed to be a man others could look up to. And yet, all too often, he - or she, because there were plenty of female alphas - ended up a tyrant. They demanded too much control, used their strength as a weapon, and made their followers suffer. That wouldn't be happening in Wolf's Run under my watch. This place was supposed to be our sanctuary, and this one woman could ruin everything. I needed to deal with the mess, but the moon had been out last night, so I hadn't gotten the chance. Hell, I'd barely hauled my ass in by dawn this morning. Hearing the clanking of a nearly-broken lawnmower before noon on a Sunday? I woke up ready to bite someone's head off. Namely, my sister's. I also wasn't really awake. Grabbing a pair of jeans off the floor, I pulled them on as I stormed downstairs, not bothering to stop for anything as unnecessary as a shirt or shoes. Two hours of sleep were not nearly enough to put me in a forgiving mood, and if this woman wanted to stay here, she needed to figure out that her neighbors weren't morning people. Right about now, throwing her ass out the front gates would solve all my problems. "What are you doing?" I snapped as I walked around the back of my truck. Elena didn't hear me. She was still just trudging along behind the rattle and clank of her mower, but I got one hell of a view. Yesterday, she'd been in a baggy pair of sweats and a tee at least two sizes too big. With the scowl on her face, she'd reminded me of a teacher I'd hated in elementary school. Today? Long golden-brown legs kept going up to a pair of tight denim shorts and a tee that proved her curves were insanely good. Then there was that dark chocolate ponytail streaked through with almost caramel-colored highlights. Damn, she looked like something I wanted to put in my mouth, especially from this angle. I hadn't expected that. Then she turned, lifting the front wheels of the mower to perfectly line up the next swath of her lawn, and I got the front view. My eyes couldn't make it past the cleavage. Why did she have to be beautiful? Chasing her off would be much easier if she wasn't completely stunning. Not that I was supposed to chase her off, but the truth was that I intended to give her every possible reason to leave. My loyalty, after all, was to my pack - not her. She saw me standing there and released the emergency handle, killing the engine. "Can I help you?" she asked, letting her eyes drop to my chest with a look of confusion. The Hispanic cadence of her words sounded wonderfully distinguished. I'd been pissed when I came out here. That was a lot harder to hold onto when I was looking at the sexy little crinkles giving her eyes life. In my mind, I'd imagined her to have the same kind of arrogance I hated in most of her kind. The type that said she thought she was better than everyone else right up until they ran away from people like me in fear. I hadn't talked to her long enough to get a read on her yesterday, but she'd just asked that like she actually cared. It was enough to make me pause. "Your mower sounds like it's dying," I finally said, gesturing to my house. "I could hear the clanking from my bed." Her luscious lips parted in realization. "Oh my goodness, were you asleep? I'm so sorry. I figured everyone would be at church, and I wanted to make sure I..." She snapped her mouth shut. "And you don't care. Right. I can finish this later. I'm really sorry I woke you." I nodded a few times, taking the chance to look her over again. Ashley had to be yanking me around. This woman was definitely my type. I had a weakness for curvaceous brunettes, and she qualified. I also preferred older women. They were a little more settled, and I wasn't exactly in a position to do a lot of spontaneous things. If she didn't live next door to me, I'd be putting on a lot more charm. Instead, I said, "Well, Lane's still passed out, and you do not want to wake him up. So why don't you wait until tomorrow to do that?" Her face fell. "Sorry. I just really want to make a good impression." Her eyes closed and she sighed. "And now I sound pathetic." "You sound nice," I told her, crossing the distance to offer my hand. "I'm Ian, by the way." "Elena," she said, pronouncing it Eh-lay-na, with a noticeable Spanish inflection. "Well, Elena..." I tried to say it the same way she did, but I was pretty sure I failed. "The cookout starts at seven. You should bring your daughter." "What cookout?" The one I was making up right now to introduce her to the rest of the community. The excuse to introduce her I'd talked about with my father and sister yesterday. Sadly, I couldn't say that, so I decided to improvise. "It's a thing I do in the summer," I said instead. "Invite the neighbors over, have some drinks, some adult conversations, and do the neighborly thing. I mean, this is supposed to be a community, after all." She took a little step back, a nervous gesture that tugged at all of my protective alpha instincts. "I'm not even unpacked. I certainly don't have anything to bring, and tomorrow's my daughter's first day at a new school, so I dunno…" "It's not a problem," I assured her. "Just bring yourself and your daughter. It'll be a great chance to meet everyone and the kids she'll be going to school with." Yeah, my sister was going to owe me big time. "I'm surprised Ashley didn't mention it, though." "She told me to take the weekend to settle in and unpack. That's all." Oh yeah, I was definitely going to throw Ashley under the bus. "Well, she should've. I know she's going to be there. Well, here. Seven o'clock tonight. Dress is casual. Just some poolside relaxation." "I..." She shook her head slightly, and I knew an excuse was about to come next. So I made sure that couldn't happen. "No excuses. You will come over, enjoy my cooking, and meet the people who live around here. Unless you think you're too good for us?" "No!" she insisted. Which was exactly what I'd expected her to say. "Good. Now leave the lawn alone. Your mower's dangerous, and I don't need my neighbor cutting her leg off just to ruin the party." Smiling, I took a step back. "Seven o'clock. Be there." Before she could say anything else, I walked away. First, I needed a cup of coffee, then I was going to drop it on my darling sister that we were hosting the entire neighborhood for dinner. Oh, and she was definitely calling all of them, just to make sure that first, they knew we had a human in our midst, and second, that it was all Ashley's idea. On the upside, if I was going to be jumping through hoops like a trained dog, then at least the person I had to keep an eye on was worth looking at. And speaking of that, I should warn the guys that our neighbor was about to be a guest. Lane needed pants for this - if he would even agree to socialize. Pax would have to be put on a proverbial leash. Thankfully, I could count on Seth and Trent to make this easy. The moment I walked into the house, I announced, "We're hosting the pack for dinner. Seven tonight. This place needs to be cleaned up." From the couch, I heard a growl. It wasn't directed at me, per se, but it made me feel better that everyone else was just as annoyed as I was. "Lane, two legs," I told him as I headed into the kitchen. "Anyone seen my phone?" "Bar," Seth grumbled, cuddling up with his own cup of coffee. Sure enough, he was right. I'd left it there before we went out last night. As I passed, I grabbed it, swiped at the screen, and dialed Ashley, all while moving towards the coffee pot. She answered on the third ring. "What?" "Good morning, Ash," I taunted. "Your human woke me up a bit ago, mowing her lawn with a broken mower. Now, since you want your pet to stay, I'm helping out. There will be a cookout at my place, tonight, seven p.m. I want everyone in the community invited. They all need to know that your friend will be there and that she has no idea what we are. Make the calls." "Make 'em yourself," she mumbled. "Ashley!" I snapped. "Sit up, get up, and make the calls. I was nice to her, even though her mower sounds like nails on a chalkboard. You said you wanted to make this work, so here's your chance. Make. It. Work." "Asshole," she grumbled. "What was that?" I asked. "I said I love you, Alpha," she told me instead. "Just don't fuck this up for me?" "Sure, if that woman doesn't fuck this up for the rest of us. I'm not happy about it, Ash, but I can see why you like her. Poor thing needs someone to keep her safe, and that's you. I'll worry about everyone else." Ashley huffed, making it clear she wasn't impressed. "She's my friend. Not a pity case, but someone I actually feel like I can talk to. If things had been different, she'd be my beta. Elena Castillo is one of the good ones. She may seem like she needs you to take care of her, but I promise you, she's got more spine than she realizes. She just needs a place where she can figure that out for herself." "Don't care," I told her. "My main concern right now is keeping the help from the family." "Don't say that," she warned me. "It has a completely different meaning to humans, and she's Latina. It's kinda racist, Ian." That actually made me pause. "They still do that?" "If you spent a little more time around humans, you'd know it. Maybe this means my 'human,' as you keep calling her, might even teach you a few things. Be nice to her, Ian." "I was very nice. I even smiled." "You scared the shit out of her, didn't you? Fuck!" I could hear her throwing off blankets and the creak of her bed as she got up. "Between you and Gabby, you're both making my life a living hell right now." And then her phone went dead. I pulled it away from my ear to look at the screen, but yeah, she'd hung up on me.
4. Elena
CHAPTER 4 Not long after I parked my mower and made it inside, Ashley called. She wanted to let me know we'd be having dinner with the neighbors. Evidently, it was a pretty common thing for this guy to have community get-togethers, so she hadn't even thought about it. Granted, I wasn't about to tell her how I'd been mentally drooling on the guy, and she didn't ask. She did, however, understand my dilemma. Everything I owned was in a box, which meant I was completely unprepared for this cookout. Ashley assured me she had it taken care of. It didn't stop me from panicking, though. That was why, when she showed up that afternoon, my house was a wreck. We had boxes piled on any open surface, but only half were empty. Most had been rifled through. The furniture was hidden beneath stacks of stuff waiting to be put away, my daughter was upstairs on the phone with her old friends, ignoring me, and my clothes? I'd found more than enough to have options. What I hadn't found was my makeup. I had a feeling that box was in the main bathroom and not the one attached to my bedroom, but it was hiding a little too well. Thankfully, I had a few things in my purse, but not all of it. "You," Ashley said, handing me a makeup bag, "look amazing. I also got Gabriella something that will convince her to leave the house." "Thank you," I breathed, a little of my stress vanishing. She waved it off. "And so you know, your lawn looks great." Shocked, I hurried over to the window. I'd heard a mower while I was busy tearing my new house apart, but assumed it was one of the neighbors. Sure enough, my lawn had been taken care of as well. My mower, however, was still sitting beside the garage where I'd left it. Not that I was upset or anything, but they clearly hadn't used it. These guys had just used their own to mow my grass! Clearly, that "neighborly" thing was real around here. "I honestly didn't expect them to do that," I admitted. "Them?" "Yeah. Ian from next door stopped me this morning to say my mower sounded like it was about to break. I think I woke him. That's what started all of this anyway." "And speaking of 'this,'" she said, "where is your darling daughter?" "Upstairs, like always." I raised my voice. "Gabby!" The door to her bedroom creaked open, the sound audible from downstairs. "I'm not going." That was what she thought. "Ashley bought you something," I called back. With a dramatic teenaged huff, she stormed over to the rail. "I don't know anyone at this stupid cookout, ok? And I'd rather just talk to my real friends." Ashley just held up a very adorable shirt. "You sure? Because if you don't need this, I'll just take it back. I got the one that shows more cleavage than your mom approves of - and she can't complain because it's a gift." That made Gabby almost smile. "Yeah?" Ashley turned the shirt as she held it up for Gabby's long-distance inspection. The fabric was dark and clingy, and the cut? Yep, I would not normally let her wear something like that until she was at least sixteen, but if it would make her leave the house, I'd let it slide. "And," Ashley teased, "I happen to know that at least four guys your age will be there. So... Going once, going twice -" "Fine!" Gabby grumbled. "But don't think this means I want to. I'd rather be at home." I inhaled to say something, but Ashley nudged me. "Fair enough. I'd still like to see you, and I have to go to this. So does your mom. Come keep us company, and we can all be miserable together, ok? Besides, it's not like we're going far." "How far?" Gabby asked. Ashley smiled deviously. "Oh, just next door. It'll be almost painless." My daughter's mouth fell open. "You mean the cute guys are throwing this party? Why didn't you say so, Mom?" Ashley chuckled. "Ian does this every so often. So, yeah. Might as well come see what all the fuss is about, right?" "I guess." Giving in - and once again making it clear she wasn't happy about it - my daughter finally descended from on high. Mumbling something that almost sounded like thank you, she retreated back to her room to change, and I took the chance to finish my face. Unfortunately, the only lipstick Ashley had brought was a deep red. The kind Gerardo always said I was too old to wear, but it didn't clash with my skin tone, so I just went with it. Eventually, we were all ready to go, yet the moment we stepped outside, I realized this was a much bigger deal than I'd been expecting. Cars lined our little wanna-be cul de sac, and most of them were the kind that made people stop and stare. Then there were the sounds. Laughter, mostly. As we crossed my freshly mown lawn, I heard guys break out in a groan and some kids squealing. It sounded like a lot of fun until we all stepped through the back gate. In an instant, the entire yard fell silent - and all eyes turned to us. There had to be at least fifty people there, maybe more. Plenty of them were in the massive pool that sprawled behind the house, and the rest were dressed a little too nice to consider it. Groups were clustered around the edge of that pool. A few were in the grassy yard behind it. Then there was another open space past that on the overly green lawn, but it was almost empty. Thankfully, most of the guests were dressed about the same as me. Jeans and t-shirts were the most common, but plenty of men wore button-downs. The thing that made me uncomfortable was how everyone looked much too pretty to be natural. "So," Ashley said, raising her voice to carry, "I'd like to introduce Elena Castillo, my new employee, and her daughter, Gabriella. They're dear friends of mine." The sound of an older man's laugh made me glance over in time to see a very distinguished-looking gentleman heave himself up from one of the poolside chairs. "Elena," he greeted me. "So glad to finally meet you. From the way Ashley talks, you might as well be family." He made his way over with a very noticeable limp that did nothing to make him look frail. "Elena," Ashley said, "I'd like you to meet Henry Langdon, the owner of Wolf's Run, and my father." For a moment, I had to struggle not to flap my lips like a fish out of water. Ashley's dad owned this place? Wait. That meant she basically owned it, too. Holy crap! Thankfully, I managed to keep it together long enough to not make myself look like an idiot. "It's a pleasure," I greeted him as I accepted his hand. "I can't tell you how thrilled we are to be a part of the community." "Well said," he chuckled before turning to my daughter. "And the younger Miss Castillo... I suppose this makes you the closest thing I have to a grandchild since none of my own kids have graced me with any yet. How do you like your new house?" "It's beautiful, sir," Gabby replied, thankfully leaving it at that. But the introductions weren't done yet. The helpful neighbor from this morning, Ian, stepped between Henry and Ashley with his own hand extended. I offered him mine without hesitation. He took it with a soft, almost possessive grip, then placed his other hand over it, sandwiching mine in between. "And this is my son," Henry said, with a chuckle. "Ian Langdon." Son. As in brother to Ashley. My mind was stuck trying to make all of this new information fit into place, but that one piece kept making me stumble. This was Ashley's brother. Granted, they did look a bit alike, but where she was blonde, his hair was brown. Lighter, but still brown. He had the same perfectly pouty lips, though. "Elena," he murmured, his voice as soft as a caress. It sounded practiced. "I'm so glad you decided to join us. Come, be welcome. Both of you." As if that was a cue, the sound of conversation resumed. People didn't necessarily look away, but I no longer felt like I was some kind of freak show. Still, I was trying to wrap my mind around the hunk from next door being Ashley's brother. And if I had to guess, a younger one. Clearly, looks ran in the family, but I almost felt guilty for checking him out now. I was just glad I hadn't said anything earlier. "I promise we're not that scary," Henry assured me, reaching up to clasp my elbow. "Ashley, get our guest a drink. Elena, would you sit with me for a moment?" With a practiced move, he shifted my arm to wrap through his and escorted me toward the shadowed porch. I let him lead me, but looked back to make sure Gabby was ok. To my surprise, Ian was talking to her. If I wasn't mistaken, he was introducing her to a group of girls about her age. Since my daughter wasn't scowling, I decided to just go with it and let her have a little unsupervised fun. "I honestly had no idea Ashley was anything more than the property manager," I said as we made our way to an empty table. Henry gestured for me to claim a seat. "Ashley? She's my oldest and basically the heir to the empire. Ian's the youngest and has his own plans. I have a set of twins in the middle - a boy and a girl - that live near their mother in Oregon, and then Lane." "Lane?" That name sounded familiar, but I couldn't recall a face to go with it. The older man muffled a grunt as he lowered himself into the chair across from me. "He's not my child by blood, but I took him in when he was twelve, after his parents died. One of Ian's closest friends and roommates." "I met a few of them yesterday when we first got here, but I didn't get any names." "He's the big one," Henry explained. I shook my head. "They're all pretty big." "Then you didn't meet him. Lane's usually off running around when he can. That boy has a fondness for the woods, truth be told." He chuckled. "But I want to know more about you. How are you liking our little community so far?" "I love the house," I told him. "The unpacking? Not so much, but I've pretty much done nothing else since we arrived yesterday. Gabby's adjusting. I just hope she won't have any trouble making friends." "Why's that?" I gave him a polite smile. "Mr. Langdon, let's be honest. I live here because I work here. We're not exactly in the same social circles as the rest of the residents." He waved that away. "Nonsense. You're friends with the next owner of the estate, and hopefully will become so with the current one." He meant himself. "I think that means you're in exactly the same circles as most of these people. Your daughter shouldn't have any problems. Now, I heard you're divorced?" "Um, not officially. Legally separated. He signed the papers, but we have to wait the required six months before we can get a court date." He reached over and patted my hand. "Well, if you need anything, Elena, don't be afraid to ask. I'm still an attorney, even if I don't take any new clients, but I'll make an exception for a family friend. If you need representation, just let me know. Hell, I know how hard it was when my wife left me, and my kids were already out of the house. How's your girl taking this?" "Gabby? Not well, in all honesty." I shrugged. "She can't seem to understand why we had to move, and she's angry she won't be going to school with her friends anymore. It doesn't matter to her if it's a better district. All she knows is that she's starting all over because I turned her life upside down - but she came with me, so there's that." He nodded. "The joy of raising a teenager, am I right? Yeah, I don't miss those years at all. Ashley was a terror." I laughed. "Oh, I can believe that. Granted, I'm not sure much has changed." "Not really." He smiled and lifted his head. "Speak of the devil..." Ashley placed a beautiful wine glass in front of me and claimed the chair to my left with a drink of her own. "You aren't embarrassing me, are you, Dad?" "Not more than usual." I turned to face her. "Why didn't you tell me your dad owned the estate?" She waffled her head. "Because when people find out that my family's loaded, they stop liking me for being me and start liking me for being rich. Just one catch. I'm not rich. Dad's got a lot of money on paper, and we're comfortable, but that doesn't mean I own a yacht." "Well, I'm still glad you managed to get me a job and a house. Seriously, Ash, I'm in your debt." "Yeah..." She flashed me a devious smile. "Just remember that when I make you call back all the people who don't get approved for a lease." We both laughed at that, and then at a few more things. Oddly enough, I found I liked her father as much as her. Henry was a very kind man, and quite a bit older than I would have expected. While Ashley was only in her late thirties, her father looked to be pushing seventy. That didn't mean he wasn't spry, though, even with his obvious limp. He also had the same wicked sense of humor as his little girl. While we talked, a few other residents came by to introduce themselves. I wouldn't remember half their names, but I did notice one very odd thing. Every single person seemed to have the same strange, honey-colored eyes. Like clockwork, one after the other, I couldn't help but notice them. Light skin, dark, or something in between, it didn't matter. Not a single person at this party had blue or green eyes. Not even really brown. These were just one shade too dark to be yellow, closer to gold, and all of them were striking. I wanted to ask Ashley about it, but something held me back. Mostly, that her eyes were the exact same shade. I'd always thought hers were so pretty, but now I was more worried that I was losing my mind. It made sense for Ian and Henry to have the same eye color - they were related, after all - but the entire community? They couldn't all share family ties, could they? Unless it was something in the water? So, to make sure I didn't lose my job before I even started, I kept my mouth shut. It was easier this way. Besides, this seemed like one of those times when what I didn't know couldn't hurt me.
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