Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

By Chelle Cordero

Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son.

Justin, the victim of a fraternity prank, and Layne, the subject of a forced insemination, have produced a beautiful child that they are both willing to protect... at all costs.

The two parents realize they can love each other, but when Layne’s abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart by danger, kidnapping and lies. Justin won’t give up until Layne is returned to him. Layne uses her newfound strength, courage and knowledge to defy Charlie’s ugliest demands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chelle Cordero
• Release date: Dec 16, 2009
• ISBN: 9781935407393

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Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

by Chelle Cordero

ACCLAIM for

Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

by Chelle Cordero

Common Bond, Tangled Hearts by Chelle Cordero, is an emotional rollercoaster of a romance suspense...

Justin, the alpha male of the piece, has discovered that, through a cruel prank, Layne's gorgeous little boy is his. What should he do? His tough decision isn't helped by the fact that he is attracted to lovely Layne right from the get go.

Layne and Justin clearly love the child, and this comes across well in Cordero's tender yet suspenseful prose. And when Layne's hurtful and scary ex - who I hated as soon as Layne started to talk about him!! - shows up, I flew through the pages to see what happened to this realistically written couple.

Rhiannon Grey

Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

Copyright 2014 Chelle Cordero

Published by: Vanilla Heart Publishing on Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to places, events, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteeen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Book Club Discussion Starters

More Great Books by Chelle Cordero

Chelle Cordero Author Bio and Photo

Dedication

As always, everything I do is for my husband and kids, they are my life.

Acknowledgements

To Lindsay Townsend for coming up with the name for this story. Thanks, Lindsay!

I would also like to thank my readers for letting me know that my words are being read and enjoyed. I can’t forget my biggest fans: my Uncle Erv, and my sisters and best friends, Bobi, Sue and Cheryl.

I am extremely lucky to have a terrific support team around me, my family and friends, and especially my fellow writers in VHP and online. These people have supported and encouraged, shared knowledge and given their time to help build my somewhat fragile ego.

And finally, Kimberlee Williams – where would I be without you?

Prologue

If he was reading her surprised expression right, she was expecting somebody else to be on the other side of the door when she swung it wide open. Cautiously, the willowy blonde pushed the door partly closed before politely inquiring if she could help him.

Justin took his time letting his eyes roam from her short, tousled hair down to her very long legs. He noticed, in typical male fashion, how very shapely those long legs were. She was wearing a loose fitting shirt and cut off jeans, her feet were bare.

Layne felt uncomfortable as the stranger's eyes made their leisurely excursion. She closed the door just a little bit more and then fortified her courage with the thought that her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Addamson, would open her door at the least little yell she might make.

Is there something you want? She impatiently asked him and then blushed when his eyes flew up to meet hers with an amused smile.

Oh baby, where have you been all my life? He thought and then smiled politely. I was looking for… he carefully checked a piece of paper he held in his hand. …for Layne Gillette. Justin said 'Lane'.

She refrained from correcting his pronunciation. For the last few years, Layne had explained to people that it was pronounced like Janie except with an L.

Who's asking? No matter that he seemed to fit the exact description of tall, dark and handsome that she and her friends always joked about, she was wary of any stranger who came looking for her.

My name is Justin Ross… He waited just a moment to see if there was any recognition, he was disappointed. I was told that Layne Gillette lives here.

It's Lay-nee… She was expressionless.

Hi, I take it you're Lay-nee? His eyebrows arched as he emphasized the proper pronunciation.

What do you want? Layne inconspicuously braced herself against the door so she could slam it forcefully in his face if need be.

It's… uh… personal. May I come in? He was mesmerized by her golden eyes.

No. She was firm.

It took a moment before her refusal totally sunk in. Not many dared to refuse Justin Ross anything. He took a deep breath in and started to patiently explain to her that he needed to speak with her privately. Look, I just came a long way… and we really need to talk…

Hey Mom, is that Rita? The childlike voice startled the both of them. Layne turned her head to answer when Justin pushed on the door with his hand and knocked her off-balance. The door swung open and Justin got his first look at the little boy who had his mother's golden eyes. Like his own hair, the boy had jet-black curly locks and the contrast was extraordinary.

Is that him? Justin pushed his way past Layne and went to the boy. Are you Dennis?

The little boy stared at the stranger who had pushed past his mother. Justin didn’t mean to scare him and started to smile.

She was ready to physically tackle him as she shouted at her son. Go to your room… now!

But Mom… The boy looked between the stranger and his mother.

And close your door! She put herself between the stranger and her child. The door to the hallway swung wide open.

Mommmm… He did his best to hide his trembling lower lip.

Now! Layne stared at him until he obeyed. She stood with her hands against Justin's firm chest to block his advance. She swung her gaze back to Justin, he could have sworn her eyes glowed with rage. Did Charlie send you?

He was puzzled by her strange behavior. She seemed overly melodramatic. All he wanted to do was see the boy. Who's Charlie? He was annoyed when he heard the click of the boy's bedroom door.

Just answer the damn question! Layne had tried to mentally prepare herself for just this kind of confrontation for the last six years, but she never thought her anger or her fear would be so great.

I don't know… who the hell… Charlie is! He forcefully brushed her hands off of him. Look, I came to speak to you because…

If Charlie didn't send you, who did? She cut him off.

Justin tried to control his own frustration. He understood this woman's need to protect the boy from someone she didn't know, but he needed desperately to see the boy. He resented her refusal.

No one sent me! He made sure not to yell.

Then why are you here? She wouldn't trust him.

Because… we need to talk. It was harder to say it than he realized.

Layne was prepared to defend her son with her life if she had to. …about what?

You and I need to talk. I'd really like to do this calmly. Justin knew she wasn't going to react very well. She was being too overprotective without knowing the reason for his visit. Once she found out…

What do you and I have to talk about? There’s nothing for us to talk about. She wasn't letting her guard down for anything. And if he thought he could just come in here and shove her around, he'd soon learn differently.

Layne… He tried to reach out for her, she sidestepped him. We need to talk about… our son. He saw her look of shock. We need to talk about Dennis.

She slowly turned her head to look at a photograph of Dennis that was sitting on the top of her television set and made the comparison to the man standing in front of her.

Suddenly she screamed at him and began to beat at his chest with her clenched fists. Get out! Get out of here! Get the hell out of my home!

Layne, calm down. Justin tried to defend himself from her blows. He grabbed at her hands and tried to hold the struggling woman away from him. Stop struggling. Just calm down! That's when he heard a door open.

Should I call the police, Layne? Mrs. Addamson called across the hallway from the protection of her own doorway.

Justin wanted to see the boy again. He wanted this beautiful lunatic to stop attacking him. He didn't want to have to call his lawyer to get him out of jail. I'll be back. Justin turned on his heel and left. Mrs. Addamson slammed her door as he entered the hallway.

Layne pushed the door closed behind him and locked it. Then she sunk down to the floor and held herself to keep from trembling.

Chapter One

Damn it! Justin paced the short length of his motel room several times. This little nothing town was one of the last places he wanted to be. Damn Davis for insisting that he had to get this matter cleared up. Damn the college pranksters that robbed him of a choice. Damn his brother for leaving him the only heir. And damn his grandfather for dying and dumping everything on his shoulders. He stopped short of cursing his frail mother for making him feel guilty enough to accept the duties of running the three stores.

After a very rocky start, Justin had been a model student for years until he earned his master's degree. He drank only moderately and partied occasionally. There had been a few college girls he saw on a serious level, but he never got carried away. He never made promises and he never once thought of a future with any of them. That was why he was so surprised when the family attorney, Larry Davis, told him he was a father.

That's impossible! Justin protested. I was always very careful. If some girl told you it's mine, don't believe it. He had always been a careful and considerate lover and when it came time to end a relationship, he always did it gently. He'd bet his life, he never got any girl pregnant.

Justin, maybe you'd better sit down… Larry put his unlit pipe in his mouth and waited until Justin was seated. It seems that you and some of your friends decided to do a little bit of celebrating just prior to your graduation, when you received your masters.

A little bit of a celebration was an understatement, Justin thought. He remembered having gotten totally drunk, he spent at least two days nursing a hangover. He suddenly laughed. If you're going to tell me I went out and got laid, there was no way… I was too far gone for that.

You were… the victim of a fraternity house prank. Larry had known about this for a few years, but Justin's grandfather wanted it kept quiet for the time being. I don't know how to say this delicately, but… you passed out in the offices of a sperm bank.

What?! Justin stood abruptly.

You made a… donation. Larry watched the younger man grow furious.

I wasn't even conscious! That's impossible. Isn't it? Justin stood looking down at his body incredulously. Isn't it? He looked back at Larry with a perplexed look on his face. Isn’t it impossible?

Apparently not…

How do you know about this? Justin was in shock.

Your grandfather received an anonymous letter a few years ago.

He frowned at the attorney’s words. Why am I only just now finding out about this?

Your grandfather wanted things checked out thoroughly. He wanted to know if there were any heirs. Larry Davis handed Justin some printed documents. You have a six year old son, his name is Dennis. Here's his and his mother's address.

Justin looked the papers over and gave a nervous laugh. What am I supposed to do with this?

Your grandfather and I discussed this just a week before he died. You have to go see the mother, find out what claims, if any, they plan to make against the company. This boy is legally your heir. And so Justin headed out for Massachusetts to a little town miles away from civilized Boston.

He flopped himself down on the lumpy mattress. So grandpa, this is why I'm in no-wheres-ville. Speaking towards the ceiling as if he really expected a reply, Justin snorted angrily. Why the hell did you keep this information from me?

Larry had told him how his grandfather had hired a private investigator to check out the unbelievable story. Not only had the young lady been able to confirm that he had donated… she also provided files which had been discreetly, even if illegally, removed from the medical center's archives. It was through these files that they came up with the name of a young woman artificially inseminated nearly seven years earlier.

Re-reading the report from the P.I., Justin noted that there seemed to be approximately three years that the young lady didn't even seem to exist. Then she suddenly surfaced again, with a different name, and a two-year old child. At the time of the procedure she was Elaine Harris, but now she was known as Layne Gillette. He had no more information on her in the early years.

Lay-nee with the long legs, thought Justin. Oh, if he had known her seven years ago he wouldn't have minded bedding her. But he still would have been careful enough not to get her pregnant. He thought about the boy… Dennis… his son. Justin was happy that his child had inherited his mother's golden eyes, those eyes literally shone with magic in that youthful face. Those same golden eyes captivated his imagination in the mother's face. He yawned, tired from his trip.

He looked at the clock and decided to call it a night. He wanted to be back at Layne's first thing in the morning, early, too early for her to make any kind of an escape. Justin finally dozed off dreaming of Layne and dreaming that he had been there to spill his seed into her… in person. He smiled in his sleep as he could almost imagine feeling those long legs wrapped around him.

Layne didn't sleep. If this Justin Ross person could find her, how far behind was Charlie? How did Ross manage to find her anyway? And what did he want?

She had absolutely no doubts about his paternal connection to Dennis, it was a wonder she hadn't seen the resemblance for herself before he even said anything.

At least, she mused, if Dennis grew up to look anything like his father, he was going to be a very handsome man. But handsome or not, she didn't need another father in Dennis' young life.

Why did he come looking for her now? Dennis was already six years old, if there had been curiosity, she would have thought that would have come much sooner. Besides, didn't he sign away all his rights when he decided to go to the sperm bank? She shook her head to clear it of the image of his broad shoulders. His chest did feel so very solid where she hit him. Layne mentally chastised herself for noticing his good looks. He probably figured he was some super being who was obligated to add his genes to the world's population. He probably figured he was doing the world a favor.

Looking at her framed photo of her precious son, Layne realized that Ross had done her a favor, even if she didn't think so at the time. Would she have to fear him, too, now? After so many years of hiding from Charlie, Layne never even once thought there might be an even greater danger. God, she'd fight him with every bit of strength if he ever thought he was going to take Dennis from her. She would do whatever she had to protect her son from the likes of the Charlie's and the Justin Ross' of the world.

Poor Dennis had been so upset because of his mother's sudden violence earlier when Ross forced his way into their home. She couldn't tell him the truth, he was much too young and innocent for that. As far as Dennis knew, his father died before he was born and before she and his father could marry. He was a love child as far as he knew and that was what she intended to keep telling him. She knew that her son desperately envied his friends who had fathers to comfort and protect them and it broke her heart to see the yearning in her little boy's face. But she would lose him if she let that happen and she knew without a doubt that Charlie would only have done her son harm. Maybe Justin Ross would be no good either. She fibbed to her son and told him that Justin was someone she once knew and that they didn't stay friends.

She knew that she was going to be dead on her feet tomorrow if she didn't manage to get some sleep. Layne wondered suddenly how it would have been to have actually slept with Dennis' father instead of having his sperm injected into her through a catheter.

Layne's cheeks flamed as she realized the wanton road her thoughts had taken. It just wasn't natural, she decided. Nothing had been very natural for her ever since she met Charlie.

She just knew it was going to happen. Layne had finally fallen asleep during the very early morning hours and she hadn't heard her alarm clock chirping for the first thirty minutes. It was really only when Dennis shook her shoulder when she realized how late it was… the alarm had woken her son.

They were rushing through their morning trying to get ready, If Dennis missed the school bus, she was going to have to ask one of her neighbors to drive him to school. She hated to impose on the people around her. Layne had learned that every favor was a debt to be paid back, sometimes at prices much too high for her comfort. But she didn't own her own car and the walk to the school was just too far.

Dennis spilled his milk while he tried to gobble down the toaster pastry she tossed at him in a last ditch effort to get him ready to leave. Layne caught herself before she actually yelled, but Dennis started to pout anyway. It wasn't his fault that this morning was so askew. She kept reminding herself that. It was thanks to his father, his biological father… that damn Justin Ross. What right did he have to force his way into her home and preoccupy her thoughts all night?

She remembered to run water into Dennis' breakfast dishes although there was no way she would be able to take the time to wash and dry them this morning. Layne had thrown her own clothes on in a haphazard manner and had barely passed a brush through her golden curls, but her next hurdle after seeing Dennis off to school was getting to her job, a long walk in the opposite direction of the school building.

Layne worked as a receptionist at the local realty office. She was generally very good with people and her boss didn’t question her education, or lack of it. So long as she did her job well he was happy. The job was ideal because she was able to have the school bus drop Dennis off at the nearby corner. Since the office was in a small model house, there was an extra room where Dennis could nap, do his homework, or play a game. There was even a small yard he could sit in. She never had to worry about his whereabouts and he had gotten very friendly with the older children of one of the realty agents. Rita often let one