Page 2 of Operation Daddy

When they reached the car, green eyes focused on him, holding all the concern. “Oh no. You have to tell me all about it, okay? You have plenty of time. We have to stop by Leary’s work for a few minutes before heading to the restaurant.”

JJ backed him up. “Yeah. We want the entire rundown, so I know who to kill on your behalf.”

July’s throat swelled. He loved Leary and JJ with every bit of his heart. They had been the best friends he’d had for a long time. July couldn’t live without them. He wondered how much longer Rex would let them stay friends. He thought about that a little too much. That day would likely come sooner rather than later. When it did, July was scared of what he might do. He had nothing else worth living for.

Chapter One

On a hill, with one knee in the dirt, July had his high-powered binoculars to his face. With an earpiece in and listening to every word, July smiled like an idiot as he watched Leary and JJ exchange vows. They both wore white. JJ looked stylish while Leary looked cute as a button. As JJ read the vows he had obviously written himself, Leary kept saying “I do” before realizing it wasn’t time to do that yet. Everyone watched, smiled and chuckled. God, they were adorable. He massaged his chest where an ache bloomed. The happy couple kissed and then turned, wearing massive grins before making their way back down the aisle. It seemed their beautiful day had gone without a hitch. That was great. July wanted that for them.

With everyone heading back inside the barn-style wedding venue, July packed away his gear. It took everything he possessed not to cry. While staying hidden, retracing the path he had taken, July made his way back to his car. He found Fletch leaning against the driver’s side door. He stumbled slightly. July quickly rallied to keep from looking like an idiot. He was supposed to look like a badass with style.

Fletch was dark-haired and even darker-eyed. He was a wide-chested man who looked hardened by life. There was a long, deep scar beneath his eye, and he made July’s heart skip a beat every time he set eyes on the man, and had from day one. Fletch’s expression gave nothing away. He didn’t have to say anything. July knew he shouldn’t be here.

“Beau doesn’t own every stitch of land in California.”

Fletch lifted one eyebrow. Those tears he thought he had choked back rose right back to the surface. No one knew how much July missed a life that had never been his.

“It doesn’t matter what Beau does or doesn’t own. You’re not wanted here.”

No other words could have hit him harder. July nodded. He kept his back teeth locked to stop from ugly crying. He moved to the passenger-side door and shoved his gear inside. As he headed for the driver’s side, July didn’t make eye contact. He couldn’t. Everything hurt too badly.

“Wow. You don’t even plan to plead your case.”

July forced his gaze to meet Fletch’s eyes. He didn’t speak. July simply let Fletch see the devastation.

Fletch stepped aside.

July slid behind the wheel. He wasted no time driving away. The second he was out of sight, July broke down. Everything hurt. He cried so hard that he could barely see. This entire heartbreak was his fault, of course. He hated Rex for that, and he hated himself. There was no way he could make anyone understand. He hadn’t had a choice. July never got to decide anything. It had been that way for longer than he cared to remember.

“You’re beautiful.”

July blushed. Thankfully, the flashing neon lights hid his emotions. July had never been called that by anyone as sexy as Rex.

Rex traced the line of July's jaw. “Why do you work here?”

Ugh. There it was. He understood that a lot of people considered stripping as immoral or whatever. But July had no other option to survive, and who was this guy to judge? Rex was here too.

“You know I don’t talk about my life. Too many men are dangerous.”

A slow, sexy smile stretched across Rex’s lips, making him look like the devil. “Do I look dangerous?”

“Yes.” The answer popped out before July could stop himself. He never thought things through.

Rex chuckled. It was a terrifying sound. “Does that scare you?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.” There was nothing life could do to him that it hadn’t already done.

“That’s good to hear. That means you won’t tell me no when I ask you to join me for dinner.”

July licked his lips. His nerves shot through the roof. He had walked right into that one. Wrapping his bitterness around his heart, July used his most seductive laugh. “I’m working.”

Like magic, Rex flashed a stack of bills. “I know.”

Goddamn it. July needed that money. “Where are we headed?”

The self-satisfied smile Rex achieved had July swallowing back all the fear he had claimed he didn’t have. Everything about Rex pulsated with menace. Too bad July didn’t have the strength to back down. His life didn’t mean that much to him.

That was the moment. If July had simply refused, he would likely be dead now. In reality, that would have been a better outcome. Now July lived in hell. There was no escape.