Page 57 of Break the Barrier

I remember when Graham was dating his now fiancée, Quinn. He had to win both her heart and her daughter’s heart. I remember him coming to me and asking how he should go about making that transition, and I said, let it happen naturally.

Now, though, you wouldn’t think that she was his stepdaughter—or stepdaughter-to-be—you would think they were blood related. And even though her father was still in the picture, somehow, they had their own special relationship that was allowed to bloom on its own.

Thea wouldn’t be coming in worrying about Lue’s biological mother. I haven’t heard from her since before she left Lue on my doorstep, and I was hoping it stayed that way.

Fourteen years was a long enough time that I think she was gone for good, but you never fully know.

But Thea would be taking on the role of mom. I wonder if she’s ready for that. If she was willing to be that, because if we continued the way we were, that’s what I would like her to be. A family. I’ve always wanted to give Lue that sense of family she’s missed, of having a mother.

And no, she wouldn’t turn out worse without a mother around, but as she heads into the land of teenager-ism, I want her to have not just me who would kill anyone who ever hurt her, but someone who could guide her to make good choices.

I open the next letter, not paying attention with my gaze still on them, and pull it out, quickly skimming through it and then pausing.

I flip the envelope over and see that this was not addressed to me, but to Thea. It must have gotten put in this pile by mistake.

The return address is the correctional facility, and my blood cools when I flip the letter back.

I shouldn’t read it, shouldn’t even acknowledge that I have it, but with one sentence on the piece of paper, I can’t help it.

You’re not so hard to find, are you?

I swallow down my rage, my hand curling into a fist and the anger pumping under my skin palpable.

This fucker wouldn’t know what hit him if he came near her. Part of me wishes he would. That he would think he could come in here and harass my woman and get away with it.

He had another think coming.

My gaze snaps back to Thea, and I can tell they’re about to finish up. I quickly open the other pieces of mail, my focus not on what they are because, for one, I don’t care because it’s not my business, and for two, I can’t stop thinking about what I just read.

I already knew that he knew where she worked, that she owned the bar. That was why we’d gone through all the legal trouble of making sure nothing could be taken from her. There was no possible way for him to touch her financially.

Seeing the proof with my own two eyes that he was still making himself known, that he was still watching her? It was enough to make me want to grab my brother and CT and go talk to this guy.

What could I do, though? He was in prison. He was untouchable for me.

For now.

“A little late for taxes, isn’t it, Mr. Cowboy?” Annmarie’s voice makes me jump, and I reach out with my left hand, grabbing the small stack and flipping it over so she can’t see what it is.

She sets a Coke down in front of me, and I give her a smile. “Thanks, Annmarie. And nah, just sorting through some mail while the girls work.”

Annmarie glances at her sister and gives a barely-there smile. “Yeah, cool. I like seeing Thea like she’s been lately.”

I clear my throat, straightening in my seat. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” Her reply is casual, then she turns to me. “So, don’t mess it up, you hear me? She’s been through a lot.”

I soften a little at the protectiveness of Thea’s little sister. You can tell by looking at Annmarie that she’s had her fair share of heartbreak. One way or another, she’s been through it. “I promise I won’t do anything to hurt her.”

She gives a nod. “Good.” She walks away, then turns and points at me. “’Cause I’d hate to have to kick your ass.”

I laugh lightly at the threat, mostly because I believe there is some merit to it happening.

Thea glances over, catching her sister’s threat, and rolls her eyes good-naturedly. She turns back to Lue and says something to make Lue laugh, and my chest tightens at the vision of them.

Their relationship was already blossoming, even without my involvement with Thea.

Lue hops off the stool and grabs the manuscript, leaving Thea with her own that she stashes somewhere behind the bar. Another tick in the pro column. Her willingness to read through Shakespeare meant I didn’t have to.