âStay as long as you need to, Jess.â
Chase forced himself to make the offer lightly, without any pressure. âWeâll work it out tomorrow.â
Funny, they spoke to each other like they were strangers. Like theyâd met for the first time tonight, when in reality theyâd known each other for a lifetime.
Before she could make up another excuse to refuse, Chase left, went downstairs to wait.
He needed to hear the truth from Jess, but he also feared what that truth might be. Feared that he would have to testify against her if sheâd attacked Dalton for whatever reason. Justified or not, her cold-blooded father-in-law would see to it that she paid dearly, and he had the political pull and financial means to do it.
When Chase had signed up for the job, both as a soldier and deputy sheriff, heâd sworn to uphold the law. But experience had taught him that sometimes justice could be bought by the highest bidder. This was one of those situations.
Regardless, he vowed to stand by Jess, come hell or high water. After what heâd done to her all those years ago, it was the least he could do for her now.
Dear Reader,
Children are a blessing. Iâve learned that from being a mother for almost thirty years. Every milestone for each of my three children has been imprinted in my memoriesâtheir first steps, first words, first loves, first missteps and everything in between. Although theyâre well into adulthood, I still find myself worrying incessantly over their happiness. At times I wonder if I could have done a better job raising them, though I firmly believe theyâve turned out pretty well despite any mistakes Iâve made. I predict that if luck prevails, I will continue to worry about them for the next thirty years.
I believe the fierce need to protect our offspring is inherently tied to instinct, and that instinct plays a pivotal role in this book. Not only do you have a father becoming acquainted with his child, you have a mother who will do anything to protect that child, even if it means compromising her own happiness. The question isâexactly how far will she go? Youâll find the answer in The Son He Never Knew, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the journey.
Happy reading!
Kristi Gold
Kristi Gold has always believed that love has remarkable healing powers and she feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of love and commitment. As a bestselling author, a National Readersâ Choice winner and a Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Kristi has learned that although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from personal stories shared by readers and networking with other authors, both published and aspiring. You may contact Kristi through her website, www.kristigold.com, on Facebook or through snail mail at P.O. Box 24197, Waco, Texas 76702 (please include an SASE for response).
To all the men and women in the armed forces
who sacrifice daily to keep the world safe. And to those who have made the ultimate sacrificeâgiving their lives.
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
HE WAS THE LAST PERSON she expected to see at her dorm room doorstep.
As soon as the initial shock disappeared, Jessica Keller squealed with delight, hurled herself into Chase Reedâs arms and hugged him hard. But when his frame went stiff as steel, she stepped back to assess her best friendâs mood.
In the eight months since sheâd seen him, he hadnât changed at all, at least when it came to his appearance. He still wore his golden hair in close-cropped military style, still wore sand-colored camouflage fatigues and heavy boots. Six-feet-three-inches of prime fourth-generation soldier, exactly what heâd always wanted to be and now was. Yet something in his brown eyes seemed different, maybe a little more intense, but definitely different. Then again, after the Towers fell three months ago, the whole world had changed forever.
âWhat are you doing here this time of night?â she asked when he failed to speak or smile.
âWe have to talk.â
Chase sounded so serious, Jessâs anxiety took a major leap right behind her imagination. âIs something wrong with Mom and Dad? Your mom and dad? Or is itââ
âCalm down, Jess,â he said in the reassuring tone sheâd grown to expect and sometimes resent. âEveryoneâs fine. If youâll let me in, Iâll explain.â He leaned to his right and looked behind her. âUnless Iâm interrupting.â
She frowned at his assumption. âMy roommateâs already gone home for the holidays, so thereâs no one here but little old me.â
âAre you sure youâre not hiding your boyfriend in the closet?â Chase followed the query with a visual sweep down her body and back up again, much the same as sheâd done to him a few minutes earlier.
A second passed before Jess realized why he might think heâd intruded on an intimate interlude. Sheâd answered the door wearing a tattered white terry robe, her favorite furry pink slippers and not much else.