Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3) Read Free

until I speak with Mrs. Bell. I’ll sit here all damn day if I have to.” My patience is thin. I’m sleep deprived, and the mama bear inside has been awoken from her den. No curly haired, middle-aged secretary will stand in the way of protecting my cubs.
    “Are you threatening me, Mrs. Reynolds?” She gasps and rolls her chair away. My boys come into view and I drop to my knees.
    “Mama!” they squeal and I open my arms, catching their hugs. I squeeze my eyes shut as tears threaten. I refuse to cry in front of them. My entire being settles. A feeling of peace consumes the worries from before. They’re safe.
    I open my eyes and meet the accusing gaze of Ms. Gatekeeper. “No.” I murmur. “Not a threat. A promise.”

AFTER WAITING OVER AN HOUR I’m finally able to speak with Mrs. Bell. She assures me of security measures already in place at the school and agrees to send a note to the boys’ teachers as a reminder. It doesn’t extinguish my fears, but for now it’s enough. I’m exhausted, barely able to keep my eyelids open for the short drive to Tate’s.
    I drop my purse on the kitchen table and trudge to my room. The dark, cool room calls like a siren. I only have four hours before the boys return so I don’t waste time. My teeth receive a quick brush and I strip off my scrubs. I’ll shower later, but if I don’t get some shut eye I’ll be a zombie at Tate and Evie’s party.
    I double check to ensure the alarm is set and the ringer’s on vibrate when I plug my phone into the charger. I cocoon myself into a pile of blankets and pillows, turning to my side to rub my feet, one against the other.
    The more I think about the phone call, the more I doubt myself. Was that even him? It couldn’t be. How can one phone call turn a person’s world upside down so quickly? I see this every day. Parents receiving the call, “Your child has cancer.” You don’t walk around expecting horrible things to happen, but they do all the same.
    Enough, Carly. Turn the brain off! Funny how I can’t wait to get to my bed, but so many times I just end up staring in the dark. Wishing for sleep.
    I need to sleep or I’m going to look like shit tonight. And for once I have a sitter. Well, my co-worker Rose, but I trust very few people to keep watch over the boys while I go celebrate my little brother and future sister-in-law.
    The phone call of earlier scratches at the back of my brain but I push it back. I’ll deal with it tomorrow. It was probably nothing more than my overactive imagination anyway. And if it’s a problem, maybe I’ll hire Jon and Evie’s PI firm to look into it.
    I’m amped up regardless of my lack of sleep, so I reach for the easy fix. I slide open my bedside table drawer. It’s full of my treasures . . . presents from my co-workers who thought it’d be hilarious to celebrate my thirtieth birthday by each gifting me a dildo. The sight of a dozen plus vibes still makes me giggle. I had refused to join an online dating site, so in turn they thought they’d pay me back with gag gifts. Joke was on them, though, because these toys have become my favorite pastime. One I’ll never admit aloud.
    Grabbing my Rabbit, I start at the lowest setting and slide it between my legs. My eyes flutter shut and I melt into the sheets, letting my mind wander. Latest book boyfriend? No, it feels like cheating now that I’ve read the epilogue and he’s with what’s-her-name. Hot doc? I didn’t really get a chance to memorize all his features, what with almost breaking his nose on the door, save that for another time. Drummer boy? Oh, yes, that’s what I’ll be having.
    I fantasize about him more than is healthy for a grown woman with two kids. It’s probably because the two times I met Derek Taylor, the drummer for Three Ugly Guys, he flirted shamelessly. I’m not naïve, he probably does that with hundreds of women, but for a few minutes he picked me. His playful whispered words turned me on and I felt sexy,