Mixing Temptation by Sara Jane Stone

fucking Alto and figure out what the hell is going on. I should have gone years ago when she stopped visiting her mom. Or letting anyone go down there to see her. I called her mother after she rushed out of here and jumped in that damn limo. Helena’s mom hasn’t been down to see her in four years. It’s never a ‘good time’ for her husband.”
    â€œShit,” Noah said, shaking his head.
    â€œAnd I got the sense her mom doesn’t want to make waves because Helena sends money every month,” Ryan added bitterly. “They never had much, but to bury your head in the sand to your daughter’s problems in exchange for a paycheck?”
    â€œThat’s a little harsh,” Lily said. “You don’t know the full story. Helena might be perfectly happy—­”
    â€œHe’s hurting her,” Ryan growled. “I don’t know if he’s hitting her. But he’s doing something.”
    â€œSure that’s not jealousy talking?” Lily asked gently.
    â€œRyan’s never had a thing for expensive clothes,” Dominic said.
    Lily narrowed her blue eyes at her boyfriend. “I meant jealous of Helena’s husband, what’s his name.”
    â€œAshford,” Ryan spat out.
    â€œAt your going away party,” Lily continued, turning now to Ryan. “The night before you all left—­”
    â€œNothing happened,” Ryan said. “We started messing around. Last night in town and all, but it felt too weird. Like kissing my sister. So I ended it and got the hell out of there, pulling my damn shirt back on as fast as I could. And afterward . . . I always figured that’s why she kept her distance. Maybe it felt too weird. Maybe she needed space. And then she got married.”
    â€œYou think her husband hits her?” Dominic said. He didn’t raise his voice. But there was an undercurrent of steel in the former army ranger’s tone.
    â€œHe’s doing something,” Ryan growled. “She cut her hair for him. Dyed it for him. I asked her about it when I picked her up at her mom’s place. She said, ‘Ash likes it.’ She didn’t laugh once on the drive over.”
    â€œYou can’t walk away from the air force on a hunch,” Dominic said.
    â€œHe’s right,” Caroline cut in. She couldn’t keep quiet, standing by and listening while they explained Helena’s problems away. It was too easy. She knew from experience.
    Sure you didn’t send mixed signal s? Are you certain you didn’t flirt with him?
    Almost everyone Caroline had told about Dustin tried to minimize or shift the blame. Some held the military culture responsible. And some placed the fault on her shoulders.
    Of course that was different. She’d come forward. Helena had stood in here and told her she was ‘fine.’ She’d said her husband wasn’t hurting her.
    But Helena still felt she couldn’t leave. And that wasn’t right. Everyone should have the right to walk away.
    Caroline drew a deep breath and told Helena’s friends about the phone call and their conversation afterward.
    â€œThat’s it,” Ryan snapped. “I’m going down there and I’m bringing her back here. If he tries to come after her—­”
    â€œHow much more leave do you have?” Dominic demanded.
    Caroline rested her hands on the stainless steel table that separated the dishwasher from the rest of the storage room/office. She suspected she knew his answer. The thought of hearing those words sent a chill down her spine.
    â€œI’m not going back,” Ryan said firmly.
    â€œYou can’t go AWOL,” Noah said without looking at her.
    â€œWhat do you plan to do when you get there?” Dominic demanded. “Have a chat with her husband? You’ll need to hang out for a while to get a sense of what is going on. And if you’re wrong, you’ll be in a