Read My Estranged Lover (Middlemarch Shifters Book 5) for Free Online

about Caroline?”
    “What’s she gonna do?” Charles snorted. “Call the cops?”
    “Caroline, the boys and I are going out for dinner tonight.”
    “You need to get moving on the stock roundup.”
    “No.”
    Charles’s brows shot upward. “I’m not too old to take you down, boy. Angus would never—”
    “I’m not my brother. Angus is dead, Dad. I’m taking the rest of the day off. If you want the cattle rounded up, I suggest you start. I’ll drive up tomorrow.” Before his father could speak, Marsh walked away, hands bunched to fists at his sides.
    His father’s curse and fury rumbled after him. “I can sack you.”
    Marsh ignored the threat and strode to the front door of the farmhouse. He ripped open the door and marched inside, shutting his father out with a firm click.
    A hollow victory, but one long coming. About time his parents accepted Angus’s death was a tragic accident. He’d survived the crash, but that didn’t make him the villain.

Chapter Three
    “We haven’t been to a party before,” James said.
    Marsh exchanged a glance with Caroline, and she looked away first. No, they didn’t go out often, and normally, she’d look upon this as a treat. Not this time. Not with apprehension and uncertainty filling her belly. Not with her mind full of things to do once she and the boys reached Dunedin.
    “Ricky and I had fun helping to make the bread for the party,” Marsh said as they turned onto the road where the Mitchells lived. “I can’t wait to eat my share.”
    “We played soccer with the other boys,” James said. “Can we do that again, Daddy?”
    Surprise had her looking at Marsh again. He turned into a driveway and pulled up outside a sprawling stone house, surrounded by gardens full of colorful flowers. Warm and welcoming, some of the tension in her gut released.
    “We’ll play again,” Marsh promised, his gaze on her.
    God, she wanted to believe Marsh would change, that their life could change. Deep down, though, doubts whooped and hollered, warning explosions going off like fireworks at a Guy Fawkes extravaganza.
    They weren’t living.
    They were existing from day to day, and none of them were doing well with the humdrum subsistence.
    The front door of the house sprang open, and Emily and Saber stood there with welcoming smiles on their faces.
    “You made it,” Emily said, as if she thought they might have changed their minds.
    Marsh unbuckled the kids from their car seats while she retrieved the bread.
    Saber shook Marsh’s hand. “I’m glad you came. Leo said he hasn’t seen you for months.”
    “No, the farm work keeps me busy.”
    “The bread smells good,” Emily said. “Come inside. I left Felix and Leo in charge of the grill. They’re still in training, so I daren’t leave them alone for long.”
    Saber chuckled, and Caroline found herself smiling too. It was obvious this couple, this family, was close. It made her wish things were different.
    Emily ushered them through the house—a mixture of old and new. A home. Emily carted the bread into the kitchen and rejoined them, guiding them to the dining room. Caroline caught a whiff of lemon furniture polish, the mouth-watering combo of garlic and butter, and when they walked through the double doors of the dining room and outside again, the aroma of grilling meat teased her.
    “Smells good,” Marsh said and greeted the Mitchell brothers.
    “Caroline,” Leo said, offering his hand. “I’m glad Emily talked you into coming tonight.”
    Leo Mitchell had the face of a beautiful angel. Although he resembled his older brothers, his face was symmetrical and his broad welcoming smile took his visage to gorgeous. Bemused, she shook his hand before greeting Felix who she knew better. His features were rougher, more aggressively masculine.
    “Saber, I’m putting you in charge while I organize the rest of our dinner. Don’t let your brothers burn the steaks,” Emily ordered.
    “Can I help?” Caroline