Taken: A Kept Novella Read Free Page B

event.
    Would they react the same if it was him and Jordan getting engaged?
    The depth of how much he hoped so surprised him. How had he fallen so fast for Jordan? Could he be this certain this quickly? What if he told her too much and then she ended up not being the one?
    Could he risk telling her everything? Putting Anna and Sophie—and even himself—at risk?
    The video ended, and Jordan squeezed his arm. “That was so great. I want to see it again.”
    Heaving a dramatic sigh, Garrett pushed himself up off a recliner. “You girls watch it to your heart’s content. I say us guys need to shoot some hoops.”
    Like Cam ever had a chance to win, playing against two guys that tall. “Why do you always want to play basketball when I’m here?” he asked.
    Garrett grinned, as if he’d read Cam’s mind. “Dillan, you in?”
    “What?” Dillan looked up from where he still sat, deep in conversation with Miska.
    Cam stood. “Actually, I need to head home.”
    Jordan linked her fingers through his. “Already?”
    Garrett and Dillan straightened. Eyed him.
    Suddenly it felt a bit hot and crowded in the living room. “Yeah, I need to go. Got some things to take care of tonight.” Anna might be home soon, and she’d probably need some sort of help. Emotional help. Either she or the kids.
    Garrett crossed his arms, cocked his head, and narrowed his eyes, but his mouth tightened as if he was fighting a smile.
    Didn’t Jordan see that? Cam let go of her hand. “Thanks for letting me crash the Foster party.” He offered Dillan a hand. “Congrats again, man.”
    Dillan shook his hand but looked between him and his sister. “Thanks. Glad you were here.”
    Jordan’s fingers settled around his arm. “I’ll walk you out.”
    So she was trying to get him killed. “All right.”
    He said his goodbyes to Miska, to Jordan’s parents, and a now openly smirking Garrett and followed Jordan to the foyer.
    She paused before the front door and smiled up at him. “Today was great, Cam.”
    Yeah, it was. Except for the last thirty seconds maybe. He pushed that uncomfortableness away and took in the sight of the woman he’d fallen for. “Thanks for spending it with me.”
    “Anytime. And thanks for hanging out with my family. Everyone loves you, you know.”
    No. They only liked what they knew about him. His smile faded, and he couldn’t help running a hand through his hair, glancing around the small entryway for something to say. “Jordan…”
    Why did it always come back to the secrets he’d kept? The things he regretted? To events he couldn’t change?
    Jordan’s eyes held no worries, no confusion. Just confidence.
    Because she was so young and innocent.
    She didn’t know his story. Didn’t know his family’s saga. Didn’t know the damage done, the trouble they’d been in. Her family was perfect—just about. Could she really understand what had made him him?
    “I don’t come from this.” He flipped his hand out, gesturing to the space around him. “Your family, Jordan… They’re great, but I can’t give you this.”
    “What do you mean?” She stepped closer. “Give me what? I’m not following.”
    “Your parents are wonderful. You’ve got this close-knit family that loves each other. I’ve got…” A mess.
    “Have you forgotten about Miska? About Garrett?” she asked, clearly referring to the less-than-perfect pasts they’d come from.
    “It isn’t like that, Jordan.”
    She tipped her head, gave him an are-you-serious glare.
    “Look, I’m being honest with you. I like you… way too much. But there are things I haven’t told anybody. Things I can’t tell anybody.”
    “Why not?”
    She wasn’t even trying to understand, was she? Which showed how black and white her world was. “Because it’s not safe to, Jordan.”
    “You’re not making sense.”
    He probably wasn’t, not to her. “I don’t know if this is a good idea—”
    She laughed incredulously. “Are you serious? You’re