The Long Road Home 22 - Home Changes, page 18
part #22 of The Long Road Home Series
“What can I do to help?” Gregg would do anything he could for Seth and Allison. They were his friends, and he didn’t have many.
“Nothing. Not anything anyone can do.” Seth shrugged. “Mr. Marshall is working with me on my hours, but you know that. I’m set up good. The nurse is there at nine, and then I go to work. Allison is home by three. The nurse is a cool guy. Dad seems to be okay with him, so we’re treading water.”
“I get it. If you ever need anything, you only need to ask.” He’d never had a good family dynamic. His father had put distance between him and his brother Christian. Distance he was pretty damn sure couldn’t be traveled. He wished it could, but …
“Here she is,” Allison said, pulling Lottie behind her. Gregg smiled. Lottie had curled her hair, and her soft pink sweater matched the color of her cheeks.
“You look beautiful.” Gregg blinked at his own words. “Ah … I mean …”
“Take the win, brother,” Seth said and grabbed Allison. “Dance with me, woman.” Allison laughed as Seth spun her onto the floor.
“Thank you,” Lottie said and stepped closer to him, or farther away from the crowd. He wasn’t sure which.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Gregg asked.
“No, I’m fine.” Lottie shook her head.
“Heard anything about asshat?” That was what they’d been calling her ex.
“Grand Jury indicted him. Ken said he’s got the evidence to make him go away for a long time.”
“Did he get out on bond or bail?”
“Yeah, but he has an ankle monitor. Every time he steps out of the house, it goes off.” She looked up at him. “You haven’t been to town for a while. I was hoping you’d stop by the bakery.”
“You were?” Gregg cleared his throat and tried that again. This time, hopefully, he wouldn’t sound like a scared mouse. “You were?”
She smiled at him. “You said we could talk.”
He nodded. “I meant it.”
Lottie took a deep breath. “I might not be ready for anything more for a long time.”
Gregg put his soda down and turned to look at her. “Lottie, nothing good runs in my blood. My father and my brother were monsters. You don’t want to put your sights on me. I’m irredeemable.”
She looked at him. “Allison told me about them and what happened.” She bit her bottom lip. “When was the last time you hurt someone?”
“My brother. Years ago.” He could remember the last punch he’d thrown. Fuck, it made him sick to think of it.
“Because your father forced you,” she said, pulling him out of the memory.
“Yeah.”
“I think both of us were used, Gregg. I need a friend now. Someone who knows about the night terrors and the guilt.”
“God.” Gregg sighed and relaxed. “The guilt rides you hard, doesn’t it?”
She nodded. “Can we talk? Can we be friends?”
“We can do that.” Gregg motioned to a table that had freed up. “Let’s go sit down.”
“I’d like that.” Lottie headed toward the table, and he followed. If he weren’t tainted, if his blood weren’t ruined … Lottie would be the kind of woman he’d fall for …
Did you miss any of this season’s Long Road Home?
Homebody, by Cat Johnson
Home for Justice, by Maryann Jordon
The Way Back Home, by Abbie Zanders
Home of the Brave, by Caitlyn O’Leary
ALSO BY KRIS MICHAELS
Guardian Security Dynasty Series
Legacy’s Call
Legacy’s Destiny
Throne of Secrets
Echoes of Oaths
Heir of Honor
Heir of Courage
Heir of Shadows
Veil of Secrets
Kings of the Guardian Series
Jacob: Kings of the Guardian Book 1
Joseph: Kings of the Guardian Book 2
Adam: Kings of the Guardian Book 3
Jason: Kings of the Guardian Book 4
Jared: Kings of the Guardian Book 5
Jasmine: Kings of the Guardian Book 6
Chief: The Kings of Guardian Book 7
Jewell: Kings of the Guardian Book 8
Jade: Kings of the Guardian Book 9
Justin: Kings of the Guardian Book 10
Christmas with the Kings
Drake: Kings of the Guardian Book 11
Dixon: Kings of the Guardian Book 12
Passages: The Kings of Guardian Book 13
Promises: The Kings of Guardian Book 14
The Siege: Book One, The Kings of Guardian Book 15
The Siege: Book Two, The Kings of Guardian Book 16
A Backwater Blessing: A Kings of Guardian Crossover Novella
Montana Guardian: A Kings of Guardian Novella
Guardian Defenders Series
Gabriel
Maliki
John
Jeremiah
Frank
Creed
Sage
Bear
Billy
Elliot
Guardian Security Shadow World
Anubis (Guardian Shadow World Book 1)
Asp (Guardian Shadow World Book 2)
Lycos (Guardian Shadow World Book 3)
Thanatos (Guardian Shadow World Book 4)
Tempest (Guardian Shadow World Book 5)
Smoke (Guardian Shadow World Book 6)
Reaper (Guardian Shadow World Book 7)
Phoenix (Guardian Shadow World Book 8)
Valkyrie (Guardian Shadow World Book 9)
Flack (Guardian Shadow World Book 10)
Ice (Guardian Shadow World Book 11)
Malice (Guardian Shadow World Book 12)
Harbinger (Guardian Shadow World Book 13)
Centurion (Guardian Shadow World Book 14)
Maximus (Guardian Shadow World Book 15)
Hollister (A Guardian Crossover Series)
Andrew (Hollister-Book 1)
Searching for Home (A Hollister-Guardian Crossover Novel)
Zeke (Hollister-Book 2)
Declan (Hollister- Book 3)
A Home for Love (A Hollister Crossover Novel)
Ken (Hollister - Book 4)
Finally Home ( A Hollister Crossover Novel)
Barry (Hollister - Book 5)
Hope City
Hope City - Brock
HOPE CITY - Brody- Book 3
Hope City - Ryker - Book 5
Hope City - Killian - Book 8
Hope City - Blayze - Book 10
The Long Road Home
Season One:
My Heart’s Home
Season Two:
Searching for Home (A Hollister-Guardian Crossover Novel)
Season Three:
A Home for Love (A Hollister Crossover Novel)
Season Four:
Finally Home ( A Hollister Crossover Novel)
STAND-ALONE NOVELS
A Heart's Desire - Stand Alone
Hot SEAL, Single Malt (SEALs in Paradise)
Hot SEAL, Savannah Nights (SEALs in Paradise)
Hot SEAL, Silent Knight (SEALs in Paradise)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kris Michaels' writing career is marked by 23 appearances on the USA Today Bestseller list and three on the Wall Street Journal Bestselling list for her full-length novels. As a writer, she is known for her compelling romantic stories set against military and law enforcement backdrops, as demonstrated in her series, The Kings of Guardian, Guardian Defenders, and Guardian Security Shadow World.
Originally from South Dakota, Kris's journey from a small-town high school to a twenty-two-year career in the military set the stage for her writing career, providing a wealth of experiences and backgrounds for her characters. Now living on the Gulf Coast, she writes full-time, focusing on creating stories that merge romantic elements with suspense and action. Kris explores the themes of love, duty, and bravery, which appeal to a wide audience.
Michaels, Kris, The Long Road Home 22 - Home Changes
