Kasey (The Dimarco Series)

By Jennifer Hanks

One. Defining. Moment.

Kasey Moore is happy to be home. Moving to New Hope as a teenager hadn’t been easy, but once she settled in, she couldn’t imagine herself living anywhere else. After four years in college, she’s finally back to living in the town she loves and working her dream job as a teacher at the Elementary School.

For Kasey, her life couldn’t be more perfect.

Until a school assembly, an arrogant man, and a hot encounter in a closet shakes up everything Kasey thinks she wants.

Ten years as a Navy SEAL and Jackson Dimarco has come home.

Ten years of rigid schedules, almost unreachable expectations, and being a part of something bigger than himself, has changed him. Coming home, trying to find himself, the last thing Jax wants to do is talk to an auditorium full of school kids about his time in the military, but when his brother signs him up that’s exactly what he ends up doing.

And he meets someone who challenges him in a way nobody has in a very long time. He meets someone who inspires him to become more than who he’s settled for. He meets someone who makes him feel alive again.

It’s just a shame she doesn’t feel the same way.

But Jackson Dimarco has always loved a challenge and Kasey Moore is the biggest incentive he’s ever had to win.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer Hanks
• Release date: May 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463283097

Jennifer Hanks

Jennifer Hanks is the author of The Dimarco Series as well as The Elite Securities Series. Her stories are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, all with the underlying message of the power and strength in love. She’s also a sucker for a Happily-Ever-After. Her love of reading and books in general started at a very young age and has steadily grown into a love of writing as well. She admits to being addicted to all things romance and has no plans of quitting her habit. Jennifer lives in Pennsylvania with her two children. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found with her kids at their various activities. Her house is frequently filled with any combination of her children’s friends, nieces, nephews and a variety of pets.

Book preview

DEDICATION

This one’s for you, the readers. This novella would never have come to be without your love for Jax and Kasey. You are and will continue to be my inspiration for every novel.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As always, I would like to thank my family, specifically my children who are incredibly supportive and patient when I’m facing deadlines and we’re eating sandwiches for dinner…again. You’re not only the reason I do all I do, but the reason I can. I love you!

Thank you Clarise, at CT cover creations! This is our seventh cover together, the sixth in the Dimarco Series and it has quickly become one of my favorites. I’m excited, as always to work on the next one!

Thank you, Judy Brown! What can I say? We’ve been through seven books together and I still use comma’s way too often! Your support has meant more to me than you could ever know, not just as my editor, but as my friend.

Thank you, Jenny Simms for your proofreading services. This was our first project together and it went so smoothly! I attribute that to your skill and professionalism. I’m excited to work with you again in the future.

Thank you, Amy for another incredible job formatting my work! You’ve been an amazing friend to me as well as a support and I can never thank you enough.

Thank you, Bex Harper from Bex Harper Designs for creating such amazing teasers and banners for this book! I had the best time working with you to design teasers that tell the story of Kasey and Jackson in small glimpses. You are extremely talented and creative, but above all that, very patient while we went through photos and ideas together.

Finally, I’d like to thank the readers! Without your unwavering support and enthusiasm, this family, this series, may never have gotten this far. And to my girls, Rachel, Monique and Candyce! You three have made my author group so much fun and are always there when I need to lean on you. I could never thank you enough!

FROM THE AUTHOR

For those of you who have been with me since my first book, Lucy, you are well aware that the Dimarco Series began at Jax and Kasey’s wedding. When I began the series, I never had any intention of actually writing Jax and Kasey’s story, planning instead to give small glimpses of their relationship throughout the series, however after a few books, I knew I had to tell their story.

The difficult decision was how to write it. Do I write their story as a prequel to the other books or do I write their story from their present, but as a memory? There were so many ways I could write these two fascinating characters, but as I was writing, I realized for me to do them justice, I had to write them as the true beginning of the series.

So that’s what I did.

If you’ve read the entire series, I’m hoping this will be a fun glimpse in to the lives of the Dimarcos before it all began. Before Ben met Lucy. Before Grace graduated from high school. Before Jake faced tragedy. Before Chris accepted the unexpected. Before Cam began his fight for revenge. Before Brody was challenged by his past. Before Luke found what he always craved.

Before Jax married Kasey.

If you’re new to the series, then welcome! This novella will be a great introduction to this amazing family and prepare you for the stories explaining all of the Before statements above.

The series is almost complete, however there are still two books to be released. Still to come is Grace’s story, which I’ve planned to release early summer of 2019 and Ben’s story, with no release date set yet.

I’m so excited to share this story with all of you and finally have the opportunity to give a voice to Jax and Kasey because these two characters deserve to be heard.

Enjoy!

PROLOGUE

JAX

The wheels of the plane touched down, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly. In a few minutes, I would walk outside and come face to face with my family. I didn’t feel like I thought I would after so many years in the military. I always thought I’d be excited, and that I’d have a sense of relief knowing I’d be able to see my parents every day, have a beer with my brothers, and hug my baby sister, but instead, all I felt was uncertainty.

I ran my hand along the back of my neck and sighed, rising from the seat I’d maneuvered my six-foot-two-inch frame into when I boarded. Ducking to avoid the overhead compartments, I reached up and grabbed my bag before following the crowds of people from the plane. Weaving my way through the airport, I stopped when I reached the doors leading outside to the parking area where I’d agreed to meet my dad and stared. I’d been in the States for weeks, going through a debriefing with my SEAL team, but today, looking out the doors, it finally hit me that I was no longer a SEAL.

I wish I knew who the fuck I was supposed to be now.

Pushing open the door, I moved along with others all heading for their cars and scanned the area until my eyes landed on my dad standing with my brothers. Or at least some of them. I knew not to expect Brody because he was still enlisted in the Navy and on a mission with his own SEAL team. My younger twin brothers both joined the Marines, so I knew not to expect to see Cam or Chris. The last I’d heard, they’d been separated into different teams to take advantage of their strengths.

My gaze settled on Luke, Jake, and Ben, and I saw their eyes scanning the crowd, looking for me. I braced myself when Luke’s gaze landed on me, not at all surprised he was the first one to see me. He’s a cop, and even if he hadn’t chosen that as his career path, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind he would’ve spotted me first. I didn’t have to hear his words to know he’d told Jake and Ben because their heads turned quickly. Once their eyes found me, they charged, bringing to my lips the first real grin I’d had in weeks.

I dropped my camouflage duffle bag from my shoulder to the ground with a heavy thud seconds before I was slammed into by my two youngest brothers. I stumbled back a few steps from the force of their combined weight and attempted to block their shots to my ribs, which was their way of saying hello.

I shoved them both back and slapped my hand against the side of their heads, making them laugh. Running my hands over my ribs, I scowled. Fuckers.

Ben, the youngest, laughed the hardest. Brother, it’s good to see your ugly mug.

I shook my head but didn’t stop grinning. You look just like me, dumbass.

And he did. Although we all resembled each other very strongly, Ben, Luke and I favored each other the most.

Yeah, but I’m not an old man, so I still look good.

I grinned. I’m twenty-eight, fucker. That’s not old.

Brother. Luke shoved the boys apart and stepped between them. He moved in for a hug, his hand thumping against my back, a gesture I returned. Luke, Brody and I grew up close, not only in age but also in our relationship and because of that, I consider them my best friends. It was hard leaving them and even harder staying away. I’d seen Brody more often because we crossed paths relatively frequently, but this last time it had been over a year since I’d seen Luke. I missed my family, but I really missed my best friend.

He pushed back, and I saw my dad had moved beside him, repeating Luke’s actions. Welcome home, son. His voice boomed in my ear, but I was used to that. Dad had always been loud and never afraid to show or tell any of his kids how much they mean to him.

Thanks, Dad. He pulled back and rubbed his hands together. Well, let’s get you home. Your mother’s making dinner.

I reached down for my bag, my face breaking into a wide smile. My mother had Sunday dinner every week for any of her kids who were home and could attend. I’ve always known it was her way of keeping us close. I’d missed a lot of those dinners over the past ten years, able to count how many I’d attended on one hand. It didn’t compare to how much I missed my brothers and my sister, Grace, though.

Thank you for your service, a sultry voice said beside me, and I turned quickly, coming face to face with a pretty blonde. She smiled, her eyes running across the bag slung over my shoulder, down my legs, and back to my eyes. It was something I was accustomed to having been in the military for ten years and it never got old. Appreciation from beautiful women was something I always welcomed even though I’d learned over the years that some of the women were more attracted to the uniform than the man wearing it.

Thank you. I nodded politely but turned back toward my family, ignoring her look of disappointment.

Jake moved closer to me while she walked away. Do those ugly fucking clothes actually get you girls?

I laughed and swung my free arm around his shoulders, falling in step beside him. I glanced down at my camo cargo pants and tan T-shirt and grinned. It never occurred to me to wear something else. This had been my wardrobe for ten years. It was going to be a challenge to break those habits and wear civilian clothes again. Oh, brother, you have no idea.

I jumped in the back seat of Luke’s SUV with Jake and Ben and listened to them argue. They were nothing if not entertaining. Being close in age, they were always together, always arguing and competing, but then again, they also supported each other and celebrated together too.

I saw Luke look in the rearview mirror, his eyes meeting mine, and I recognized the mischievous glimmer in them before he spoke. So, baby brother, is Mom having a birthday party for you?

I shook my head, laughing. Ben hated being called baby brother, which of course, made all of us do it that much more. I watched Ben, who was sitting between Jake and me, reach out and slap the back of Luke’s head. Dad chuckled along with the rest of us, making me feel a little calmer than I had only a short time ago.

There’s no birthday party, Ben mumbled.

You should have one, Luke continued. You’re going to be eighteen.

Ben and I are having a party next month before he leaves for college. Kind of a birthday slash going away party, Jake declared.

You chaperoning, Dad? I directed my question at Dad who was already shaking his head.

Nope. He glanced back at me and winked. I’m taking your mom away that weekend, which means you and Luke are chaperoning.

I groaned, and Ben shouted, Luke can’t chaperone! He’s a cop!

Oh, this party is going to be fun, Luke teased.

Maybe you shouldn’t have one then. I put out there, hoping like hell I wasn’t chaperoning a party of eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds just to keep their asses out of jail.

We have to. Jake’s voice dropped, almost sounding sinister, which for Jake was odd. He and Ben were always happy and joking, never moody. Ben needs this.

My attention shot to Ben whose jaw had hardened and his eyes focused on the front window. The car grew quiet, no snickers, no grins, and when I glanced over at Jake, his face was solemn. What the hell happened?

Ben and Jackie broke up, Luke said quietly.

That was a surprise. Ben and Jackie had been tied together since their sophomore year. The whole family assumed they’d go to the same college and eventually get married. Myself included. I knew better than to ask, but my curiosity won out. Why?

Because she’s a whore, Jake replied.

Jake, Luke reprimanded sharply. Dad dropped his head and ran his hand over his forehead, telling me all I needed to know about the situation.

What? Jake defended himself and looked at me. She fucked the quarterback.

I saw Ben blink slowly, but I couldn’t find the words to make it better. He loved her. I’ve never been in love, but even I could see the love he felt for her every time they were together, or he talked about her. I couldn’t even pretend to understand his pain. Reaching out, I wrapped my hand around his neck and squeezed before leaning in close.

Her loss, brother.

He nodded, but the cheerful mood was effectively ruined, and we rode the rest of the way in silence, all lost in thought. We pulled into the driveway of my family’s old farmhouse, fixed up over the years by my dad and his brother, Joe, who own Dimarco Construction together. We all grew up working on jobsites, but only Jake decided to join the family business. Even Joe’s son, Cole, decided against construction work and is a mechanic.

We jumped out, and I grabbed my duffle bag from behind the seat where I’d thrown it. Ben moved ahead of everyone else, and my heart clenched for him. Running my hand through my hair, I watched as Dad caught up to Ben and put his arm around his shoulders while Jake, Luke and I fell in to step beside each other.

How bad was it? I asked aloud.

Really fucking bad, Jake said. He caught them in the back of Bobby’s truck after a game. Ben lost his mind, ripped Bobby out and beat the hell out of him. Jake stopped in front of the door, turning to face Luke and me. If I hadn’t been there, I think he would’ve killed him. And the way he looked at her. Jake shook his head. Man, I never saw anyone show that much pain. He huffed. He hasn’t been the same since, and it was over eight months ago. That’s why we need to have this party. It was my idea, and I had to talk Ben into it, but we’re having it.

Dad was joking about the chaperones, Luke said.

I know. Jake nodded. But I think it would be good for Ben if you two were there. Grace will be there, and I can’t watch out for her and Ben.

I smirked, knowing we all felt the same about Grace and had effectively ruined any chance she had at getting a date. Not one of us felt