Prologue

Jagger Lemuel hadnothing he could claim as his own but his fighting skills, his pride, his love for his mom, and his love for Belinda Ralphs.

He was eighteen, finished with Navy basic training and halfway through A school. He was bent to prove he could become a Navy SEAL, succeed in the military in his dad's honor, and make something of himself.

And he was going to lose Belinda. Because he'd gone away to pursue his dreams? She'd supported and encouraged him in his military dreams as he had her with her charitable and humanitarian pursuits.

He didn't know what had swayed her dedication away from him and their dreams and plans of being together someday, but he couldn't lose her. He'd watched his mom suffer the devastation of his dad's death. She'd never been the same and she'd never ‘moved on' as many had counseled her to. Jagger was the same. He was devoted to his Bee for life. He'd be devastated without her and would never recover.

He parked his rusted 1996 Ford Ranger in front of the Ralphs' sprawling ranch house and looked at the one-level brick home with loads of windows to view the tree-covered rolling hills surrounding their ranch.

Belinda's family was wealthy in his estimation. For generations, the Ralphs' ranch had bred thoroughbred horses; several of them had even made it into the Kentucky Derby. Her dad was also the town's preacher. Oneida Kentucky was small, and their ranch was well-established and successful. Pastor Ralphs could afford to hire an experienced manager, and Jagger had heard that high-quality ranch hands lined up to work for the well-paying and respected Pastor Sheldon Ralphs. Kiera's dad had all but stepped back from running the ranch and breeding business to focus most of his time on ministering to his flock and preaching the good word.

Jagger snorted. Pastor Ralphs preached self-righteous drivel that only a simpleton would listen to. He was a pompous hypocrite who loathed Jagger and didn't have a Christian bone in his body. His purpose in life seemed to be keeping Jagger and Belinda apart.

From the moment Jagger saw Belinda at a high school steeplechase event in Lexington, he'd known the feisty blonde angel was his future. He'd also immediately become aware of the discrepancy between their stations in life. Jagger's mom was the live-in cook for a huge ranch outside of Waynesburg. Jagger had been raised on a horse because the owner of the ranch and his wife had taken a special interest in him, treating him like one of their own. Joseph and Shantel Pederson had helped him excel at steeplechase and given him opportunities he never would've had.

He loved horses and steeplechase, but he loved fighting and all things Navy even more. He loved his mom and the Pedersons more than he loved fighting, but he loved Belinda above anything in this world. Her dad had ‘cautioned' her against dating him when he found out they were flirting and stealing kisses at each competition during their senior year of high school.

Belinda adored her parents, but she'd claimed Jagger was her future, and she was a determined and beautifully sassy woman. They'd found ways to see each other and called and texted all the time, growing closer and more determined to be together someday in the future. She had assured Jagger that her parents would come around and see in him all that she did.

The problem was that throughout the ten weeks of basic training at Great Lakes Naval Academy and all but four of the past eight weeks of A school training at Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia, Belinda had been on a humanitarian service mission in Ghana. They'd rarely been able to connect with phone calls in different time zones and with him having infrequent personal time. He sent texts whenever he could, but her responses had become shorter and less personal.

Too busy with starting school, or had she found someone else?

No. He couldn't think like that.

It worried him to feel Belinda withdrawing. He didn't know how to fix it without seeing her, but personal leave hadn't been possible for the past eighteen weeks and he couldn't afford to fly to Africa anyway. Belinda had always supported him in his dreams; no way could he not complete Basic Training and A school. He'd been awarded his top A School spot in Little Creek, right where SEAL Team 2 was. It would be years before he'd reach his goals, but he would be a SEAL.

His dad had been a Navy Lieutenant, killed in Iraq when Jagger was only ten. Jagger had always known he would succeed in the Navy. It was as much a part of his future as Belinda was.

He and his unit had finally been granted liberty to leave base and thankfully Belinda was at her parents' house for the weekend. He headed straight for Oneida and straight for Belinda. It had been almost four and a half months since he'd seen her. He'd tried to get her to come visit since she'd returned home from Ghana a few weeks ago but she'd started immediately at the university and had been incredibly busy.

It was a ten-hour drive to Oneida. He'd wondered if his Ranger would make it, but here he was rolling up the Ralphs' perfectly manicured driveway. He swung open his door and stepped out of the small truck, stretching. If only he'd gone to visit his mom and the Pedersons, eaten a real meal, taken a shower, and been around people who loved him before taking on Belinda's parents, but getting to Belinda took precedence.

He'd have to face her dad in his rumpled uniform, his stomach grumbling, and rely on his pride to keep his confidence up. He'd excelled in basic and A training so far. Her dad couldn't keep Jagger from Belinda. He didn't want to fight the man, but he would if the pastor tried to pull them apart. Truth be known, he did want to fight the pastor, but he would restrain himself. Knocking Belinda's dad out wouldn't help future in-law relations.

Striding up the walk, Jagger pushed the doorbell and waited. He rapped on the door, squinted behind him at the setting sun, and wished he was a praying type of guy. He needed some kind of help to win Belinda's dad over and someday marry her. He'd worked extra hours on the Pedersons' ranch throughout their senior year and had a jeweler make an intricate gold band with bees inscribed in it before he left, promising to buy her a diamond engagement ring as soon as he could. His feisty Belinda had kissed him fiercely and told him she loved her ‘Bee' band, that he was all she needed, and to just come back for her soon.

Did four and a half months count as soon? He feared it didn't. She'd known how long his commitments were, but maybe her humanitarian mission had changed her vision of their future? Had her dad poisoned her mind against Jagger?

He clenched his hand into a fist and pounded on the storm door again.

The interior wood door slowly creaked open, followed by the storm door. Jagger forced a smile at Belinda's mother. She'd never been anything but kind to him, but she now appeared very uncomfortable at seeing him standing there.

"Good evening, Mrs. Ralphs," he said. "Is Belinda here?"

"No." She shook her head and glanced back into the living room. Who was in there? Belinda? She'd told him she would be home from the university this weekend.

"Okay," he said slowly. Was her mom lying? He strained to see past her. What could he say or do to get to Belinda without being disrespectful to her mom? Jagger had a chip on his shoulder as the ‘poor kid' without a dad to be there for him, but he knew respect raised as a southern boy and in the military. "I'll just wait on the porch for her." He forced a smile and tipped his head to her, taking a step back.

"No."

Her blue eyes were too much like Belinda's, and her simple ‘no' ripped at his hopes.

But Jagger would not accept it. He had to see Belinda, convince her that they should be together, and show her how much he loved her.

Mrs. Ralphs stepped out onto the porch and shut the wood door behind her, then let the storm door fall closed. Jagger eased back to give her space. The look in her blue eyes terrified him.

"Jagger. Belinda told me about your plans to be a SEAL, to honor your dad's memory of dying for our country. It is very honorable and we're all right proud of your service, but please …" She swallowed and moistened her lips. "Please go live your dreams, but I beg you to leave Belinda out of your future plans."

Jagger blinked at her. Her mom wanted him to live his dreams but not take her daughter along? "Mrs. Ralphs. I know it'll be hard to have Belinda gone once we marry, but we won't plan the wedding until she's done with university. After we wed, we'll come visit any chance we can. Once we're stationed in Virginia Beach, we can come more often or Belinda can come stay with you when I'm deployed or on missions."

Five months ago, he and Belinda had planned this all out. She'd promised she would sit her parents down and explain. Had she not had an opportunity?

Mrs. Ralphs was shaking her head the entire time he spoke. "Jagger, don't. Belinda loved you, but that isn't the life for her. She's with Mike now. He's solid, kind, a believer, has a good future, is a calming influence on her spicy personality, and he will be a good husband for her."

"Husband?" Jagger jolted. "She's with … Belinda married Mike Causey?" His entire world crumpled around him. No way. Belinda hadn't responded to his texts as enthusiastically, but no way was she married. She wouldn't do that to him. She loved him.

"Not yet," Mrs. Ralphs admitted. "But soon they'll wed."

"What? She can't marry Mike. She loves me." Jagger shook his head. At least she wasn't married, but he was still gut punched. Mike was the nicest guy anybody knew, Belinda's friend who'd been by her side on her humanitarian trip and was now in school at the University of Kentucky in nearby Lexington. Mike was bound to be a lawyer and a judge someday. He was a great guy, but not the right guy for Belinda. She'd be bored of the steady, never-riled Mike within a week. Belinda didn't need or want a calming influence. His Bee was fire and spice and she needed someone like Jagger to love her, tease her, argue with her one minute and passionately kiss and make up the next. He always teased her with a line that made her push at him in frustration and then laugh and melt into his arms.

She stings like a bee, but her honey is so sweet.

Mrs. Ralphs blew out a heavy breath and just stared at him.

"Where is she?" Jagger demanded, forgetting his desire to be respectful. "I have to talk to her."

Mrs. Ralphs said nothing.

"I will not leave until I speak with her." He didn't step toward her or even lean. Jagger would never threaten any lady, especially not this one, but his words and his expression would show he wouldn't back down.

The front door banged open and then the storm door flew out wide. Mrs. Ralphs backed away, but Jagger refused to back down to this bully. He stayed rigid, straight, and even puffed out his chest and clenched his fists.

Pastor Ralphs strode out onto the front porch. He was close to Jagger's six-two and the middle-aged man was strong. Jagger had worked hard through basic and A school, lifting weights and sparring any spare minute he had. His frame was large, but no matter what he ate, he couldn't bulk up. His metabolism was too fast, his buddy Hays West kept telling him. Still, he could take Belinda's dad, if it came to it.

He probably shouldn't want to fight the man so badly.

"Son." The pastor shook his head and put a heavy hand on Jagger's shoulder. "You've got to let Belinda go."

Jagger stepped to the side until the pastor's hand fell away. "Sir." He'd try for respectful, but he refused to cower. "I will never let Belinda go."

Pastor Ralphs held his gaze. The man's hazel eyes filled with what might've been compassion, but it was more likely pity. Jagger hated pity. Yes, his dad had been killed and his mom worked hard, but they were not beggars. With his mom's pension and how generous the Pedersons were to them, they would never own a ranch, but they were doing just fine. Jagger was proud of his mom, his dad's service, and what he would someday make of himself.

"I understand," the pastor said, "but please listen to reason. You and Belinda are all sparks and passion. That's not love. That's lust, and it will burn out quickly. If you did marry, you'd end up miserable and then bitterly divorced."

The only thing the guy was right about was the sparks and passion between Jagger and Belinda. No way would they burn out or get divorced. It was ugly of Pastor Ralphs to even suggest it.

"You're wrong." Jagger jutted out his chin. "I love Belinda and she loves me. We won't burn out. I'll love her and make her happy."

Her dad looked at her mom and, after a moment of silent communication that had Jagger shifting his weight and tightening every muscle, they turned to face him. They both looked disappointed in his answer and concerned about him. That made his gut churn and his chest poke out even farther.

"Aimee didn't want me to get involved." Pastor Ralphs tilted his head to his wife. "Because we both know you don't fear God and have a chip on your shoulder against me and religion."

The man was right on all accounts.

"But you have to listen. Our Belle has been so happy since you've been gone."

Jagger prayed the man was lying. Belinda was happy without him? What did the pastor know? Belinda had been in Ghana for three and a half months and moved into her apartment at the university days after she returned to the country. She wasn't home enough for them to know if she was ‘so happy' without Jagger. That wasn't possible, was it?

"She was calm, lit up, and focused on her mission trip. She fell in love with the children and can't wait to be a mother. Belinda has fully accepted Jesus as her Savior and wants to spend her life serving Him. She and Mike are having a wonderful time dating in an innocent and uplifting way, not sneaking behind our backs at every other turn. Together, they will make a difference serving in the Savior's way."

Jagger couldn't take a full breath. He hated everything the pastor was saying. He'd support Belinda in serving the Savior and others, even if he wasn't a believer. Jagger would happily make Belinda a mother once they were married. Jagger and Belinda had their own plans to make a difference in the world, even if it wasn't according to Pastor Ralphs' vision. Belinda wasn't some puppet who had to do things her father's way.

No way could she be dating Mike. It was true that he and Belinda had snuck out to meet up late at night sometimes—okay, every weekend night—but that was only because her dad loathed him and Belinda wanted to give him time to see how great Jagger was. She always promised that her dad would eventually realize how perfect he was for her and come around. Belinda adored her parents, and Jagger could never rip her away from them. He understood being an only child; he'd never want to do anything to hurt his mom.

"Sir," he managed to get out in a semi-level tone. "We only snuck around because you took exception to Belinda dating me. If you'd give me a chance ..." He stopped there. He didn't know how to beg; he didn't have it in him. He met the man's gaze levelly.

"I apologize if you feel we didn't give you a chance, but please look at this from our perspective and our hopes of Belle being happy. You have a chip on your shoulder, you hate religion and have told Belinda not to plan on you ever having a relationship with your Savior, and you want to take her far away from us. You and Belinda fight nonstop, and she's either high as a kite or ticked at the world when you're together. We want her to be happy and Mike makes her happy. He doesn't upset her and make her cry. The honest truth is that you don't make her happy, and she cries far too often about you."

Jagger loved Belinda. He wanted her to be happy. Did he really hurt her and make her cry instead of making her happy? That hurt. They did have heated discussions sometimes, but they didn't fight all the time. They always made up brilliantly, and he'd never treated her with disrespect or unkindness. She'd never once told him that he made her cry. Was her dad telling the truth? He stared into the man's hazel eyes and saw no deception there, only concern for his daughter and pleading for Jagger to be reasonable.

"If you love her, please let her go. Let her be happy."

Jagger looked at her mom and then back to her dad. He'd always seen her dad as a pompous hypocrite, claiming to be the best Christian around while looking down on Jagger and disparaging him to Belinda, but he could see the man truly loved his daughter.

Jagger loved her completely. He wanted Belinda to be happy. Did that mean he had to let her go?

"No!" he roared, stepping toe to toe with her dad. "I can't let her go. I love her. We're meant to be. No way could Belinda be happy with Mike. He'd bore her to tears within a week." His Bee was ‘allergic to boring,' in her words, and he loved that about her.

Her dad looked … exhausted. He rubbed his chin. "What's it going to take to get you to leave her alone?"

"I'd never turn my back on Belinda."

"I can convince you she loves Mike and is happier with him."

Jagger made a noise of derision. "Even if I saw that, you'd have to beat me bloody, knock me out, and drag me out of here to get me to leave."

"Okay. I'll take that offer."

"Sheldon," her mom cautioned.

The pastor held his gaze, steady and confident. That made no sense. What did he have to be confident about? Belinda loved Jagger.

"You're a man of your word?" her dad challenged him. "If you see for yourself that Belle is happy and loves Mike, and I knock you out in a fist fight, you'll walk away and not contact her again?"

No way would any of those three things happen. Belinda wasn't happy with Mike and didn't love him as anything but a friend. Anyone beating Jagger in a fist fight was a laugh; that had been proven time and again over the past four and a half months. He was a legend already in hand-to-hand combat. The middle-aged preacher beating him? Knocking him out in a fist fight? Impossible. His buddies Hays and Shawn would be laughing at the very idea.

"I promise," he said.

"All right." Pastor Ralphs let out a tired sigh and tilted his head. "Let's go. I'll show you how happy she is with Mike and how in love they are right now."

Jagger's gut turned over. Right now? Bee was with Mike? Was the pastor setting him up? How would he keep breathing if Belinda was happier with Mike? He rolled his shoulders. No way. He couldn't even picture it. Belinda's blue eyes only sparkled in that special way for Jagger. He could easily imagine her teasing, sassing, arguing, or loving on him. Their kisses were fire and joy and the only heaven he ever needed.

She stings like a bee, but her honey is so sweet.

Maybe they'd grown apart these past four and a half months of not being able to see each other and rarely connecting on a FaceTime call, but it didn't matter. He and Belinda were meant to be together. They both knew that.

He nodded to her mom, trying not to notice the sympathy in her gaze, and followed her dad off the porch. They walked side by side along the beautiful wood-chipped path lined with flowers and trees toward the ranch's outbuildings. Neither of them said a word. The tension between them was thicker than his mom's lemon custard, but this tension wasn't delicious; it was awful.

He should want to ease the tension and attempt to make her dad see he was a good guy, not want to fight him. It was too late for that. He was too keyed up and her dad had goaded him into this. The pastor seemed certain they would see Bee and Mike together. Why were they together? Was his Bee cheating on him? Jagger was furious that her dad was bent on pulling him and Belinda apart, but he was also terrified that there was truth to her dad's words. Had Belinda given her heart to someone else? Did Jagger make Bee cry and hurt her instead of making her happy? Both thoughts made him physically sick.

His thoughts spun with concern and the unknowns, landing on the fear of … Bee and Mike? His stomach turned over. She had talked about Mike in every phone call and mentioned him in texts and emails, but she didn't sparkle when she talked about the man. Mike was a platonic friend. It was like him telling her stories about his buddies Hays and Shawn.

They made it to the barn and the pastor said, "They should be back from their ride any time now. Promise me you'll stay hidden, just watch, and not speak or try to go after her."

Jagger blew out a breath, cracked his knuckles, and rubbed his hand over his too-short hair. Could he promise that? As soon as he saw Bee, he'd want to run to her and hold her and love her. She'd be ecstatic to see him. She'd throw herself in his arms and kiss him good and long.

Jagger frowned. Would Bee run to him? Why did she only briefly respond to his texts and rarely take his phone calls anymore? She'd been home from Africa for a month; it should've been easy to connect.

"Fine," he bit out, instantly regretting the word.

Her dad nodded and led him to one of the empty horse stalls. They hid in there together, her dad texting someone on his phone. Jagger wanted to look, to ask if he was setting Jagger up, but it didn't matter. There was no way Belinda would act happy and in love with Mike. He wasn't worried.

He was only sweating because it was odd to stand quietly in this spot by her dad. He'd kissed Belinda in this very stall, hiding out from her dad. Those stolen moments had been exhilarating and they'd silently laughed together. There was no laughing excitement now—only an awful heaviness.

At least with the military training Jagger had excelled at the past eighteen weeks he was good at being still and observing. It was beyond awkward standing next to her dad and waiting. Even worse, it felt like his future hinged on whatever happened next and he couldn't do a thing to influence or change the events.

He hated things being out of his control. Like the night he and his mom had gotten word that his dad had multiple bullet wounds. As a ten-year old, he'd stayed up all night praying, filled with childlike faith that his prayers would make a difference and his dad would recover and come back to them. His reward had been running out into the kitchen the next morning to find his mom huddled behind the table sobbing on the hardwood floor, unable to face him and tell him his dad was dead. That had been his reward for faith.

He had no faith now, but he had Belinda and her love. She was all he needed. She always recited scriptures to him and claimed she had enough faith for both of them. He loved every facet of her spicy personality, even the scripture quoting. She was irresistible and perfect for him.

Jagger and Pastor Ralphs waited and waited. It felt like an eternity, but he'd guess about fifteen minutes had passed. The smells and sounds of the barn were familiar and similar to the ranch he'd grown up on. That was at least some comfort.

The pounding of horse's hooves moving at a gallop rang through the yard and into the open barn door. He and Belinda had taken long rides into the beautiful hills surrounding her family's ranch, before her dad had asked her not to date Jagger seriously and to wait until she was older to commit herself to him. Then they had to start sneaking around. They'd found a lake where they'd swum and kissed for a very long time. He had to fight the urge to shift uncomfortably thinking how the pastor would feel if he knew how thoroughly Jagger had kissed his daughter.

The horse's canter slowed to a walk, but voices and laughter carried through the open barn door.

"I beat you," Belinda crooned, her lilting voice washing over Jagger like a warm breeze. He leaned forward, anxious to get his first glimpse of her. How had he been rash enough to promise not to run and sweep her off her feet?

"You always do," Mike's voice. "You and Sunny are unbeatable."

"Ah, thank you for admitting to my superiority."

Belinda's voice was full of teasing, but it was the teasing of two friends. The pastor might see Mike and Belinda's interactions as romantic, but Jagger knew better. His Bee was friendly and fun. That was all. He relaxed a fraction.

He could hear them dismount and walk the horses into the barn. Her beautiful face and shoulder length blonde hair came into view. She was breathtaking in a T-shirt, tight jeans, and boots. She looked teeny next to Mike's tall frame.

Jagger's hands itched to reach for her. It had been far too long. He wanted to see her smile at him, those blue eyes sparkling and lit up, her pretty mouth cussing him for being gone for so long. She'd sting him, scolding him for making her miss him desperately, and then give him lots of sweet, sweet honey as they kissed almost long enough to make up for lost time.

He started forward.

A hand gripped his arm. It wouldn't have stopped him, but he had agreed to stay hidden and watch and not say anything. He didn't look at her dad. He stopped moving and shook his arm to free it. The man released him before Jagger could justify throwing a punch and venting the frustration and desperation building inside him. He needed Bee in his arms, teasing and laughing with him.

The voices and laughter and teasing continued between Mike and Belinda. Jagger listened, and watched when he could see them. Something changed in the way they interacted.

They flirted, laughed, and brushed against each other as they unsaddled and brushed down the horses. Was the brushing incidental? Had Belinda just looked longingly at Mike, or was Jagger getting paranoid because of the doubt her dad was trying to shove into his mind? He wanted to reach for her, go to her.

Jagger gritted his teeth and clenched his fists until his jaw and his arms ached. Why had he agreed not to go out there? If he could just burst onto the scene, Belinda would light up, and her love for him would be more than evident to everyone in the barn.

The longer he listened and observed, fear crept in. What if she didn't light up and prove she loved Jagger and only Jagger? He hated fear. He was a determined warrior and would succeed at all costs. How could he doubt the woman he loved and be scared she didn't love him any longer?

Mike was as easygoing and happy as Jagger remembered from the times he'd interacted with the guy. Belinda was shiny, happy, and … peaceful. He'd never really seen her peaceful. She was always riled up and either laughing, teasing, goofing around, or fighting with him, or he was kissing her to stop her from fighting with him. It always worked.

Could it be possible …? Was Jagger all wrong for her?

His gut churned, and he was glad he hadn't eaten anything.

Mike and Belinda led their horses into stalls, and Jagger could barely see the two of them. Then disaster struck. They walked out of the side-by-side stalls and closed the gates. Mike gently spun Belinda and pinned her against the stall. He bent and kissed her.

Jagger drew in a ragged breath, stunned, certain he was seeing this wrong. Surely Belinda would push Mike away, slap him, tell him only Jagger could kiss her.

But Belinda slid her arms around Mike's neck and kissed him back.

Jagger wanted to rip Mike apart, but he felt frozen and nauseated. He couldn't get enough oxygen into his lungs. Ice slammed through his heart.

Leaning against the stall, he closed his eyes. He couldn't stand to watch any longer, but the image of Mike and Belinda was seared into his brain.

He heard Belinda giggle, and his eyes flew open. Mike lifted her easily into his arms, cradled her against his chest, and carried her out of the barn. Whatever the guy said to her made her laugh and cuddle into him.

No! This couldn't be happening. His Bee couldn't be leaning into some other guy, flirting with him, laughing, teasing, kissing him. She was committed to Jagger. A hundred percent. Belinda might be sassy, maybe even ‘flighty and flaky' like his mom had worried about, but not with him. She was loyal. Loyal to Jagger. Always.

His stomach dropped out and even leaning against the barn stall, he could hardly stand upright. Apparently Belinda was not loyal to him any longer. He'd seen her flirt, laugh, touch, and kiss Mike Causey.

His Bee was a backstabbing cheater.

The truth stabbed him like a thousand ice picks. Every inch of his body hurt. Jagger wanted to yell out his anguish, chase after Belinda, force her to look into his eyes and say she didn't love him any longer. Then he'd live his life alone. Like his mom. He'd never love again.

A heavy silence followed Belinda and Mike leaving.

"I'm sorry, son," her dad said. "I know that hurt, but sometimes pain helps protect us in the long run. It was obviously God's will that you showed up when you did and were able to see the two of them together. See their joy and love with your own eyes."

Jagger couldn't speak, couldn't catch a breath, couldn't meet the man's eyes.

"Can you see what I see? Mike makes our Belle happy. He doesn't upset her, sneak around with her, or want to rip her from her mother and me. It's obvious she loves him and they're meant to be together. They have a great future together—him as a lawyer, her starting her charitable foundation, both Christians and focused on family and their Savior." He paused ,then muttered, "I am very sorry, but I need to know you'll honor your promise. You saw with your own eyes that she is happy and in love. Now you'll leave her alone."

Jagger had nothing to say. He was beaten and ticked off. Pastor Ralphs' apologies and reaffirmations that Mike and Belinda were meant to be only made it hurt worse. The love of his life was messing around with some other guy, the guy her parents wanted her with. Her parents hated Jagger, and why wouldn't they? He wasn't a Christian. He wanted to take her away and live a military life. Of course they wanted their only daughter close to home. He was beaten and angry and hurt.

Jagger forced himself to look at her dad. The pity in the man's eyes was the clincher. He shouldn't have done it, but her dad had set the parameters. The pastor had shown him that Belinda was happy with Mike, maybe even loved the guy. Jagger's heart twisted. He couldn't believe that was true, but he had seen them laugh, flirt, and kiss. He wanted to puke, but he tightened his hand into a fist instead.

This wasn't finished. Pastor Ralphs also had to beat Jagger in a fight, knock him out, and drag him away. When Jagger won, he would go after Belinda. He would call her out, see in her blue gaze if she really didn't love him any longer. If she didn't, then he'd walk away. If she did, they could fight this out and kiss and make up.

Right now, he would get the chance to finally hit the man who'd brought so much misery and pain into his life. If Pastor Ralphs won the fight, Jagger would walk away like he'd promised and never contact Belinda.

There was no possible way he'd lose this fight.

Jagger swung with his best right hook at his future father-in-law's jaw.

It was a great punch. Pastor Ralphs' head snapped to the side, but the man only smiled grimly and landed a jab square in the center of Jagger's nose. Blood sprayed the pastor and dripped down Jagger's face. He tasted salty blood and could admit it was a good hit.

Sadly for the pastor, Jagger was just getting started.

He backed away to prepare to go in hard and fast.

The pastor plowed into him, knocking him off his feet.

Jagger was slammed to the concrete floor. Every bone in his body and the back of his head reverberated with the impact. The man's body weight, added to the impressive and quick move, knocked the breath out of him. Worse, his head had taken as much of the impact as his upper body. His vision went blurry, black appearing on the edges. Even though he was lying on his back, the world swam and he was more nauseated than when he'd seen Belinda kiss Mike back.

Jagger swung wildly, but none of his punches were effective while he was pinned like this. Her dad had the upper hand, and it was truly no kind of fight as Jagger was losing consciousness. Her dad didn't have to do much more than a couple well-placed hammer fists.

The last thing Jagger remembered before the world went dark was Belinda's dad muttering, "I truly am sorry, son. Next time do your research before you make a promise. I was the lightweight Golden Gloves champion of the Tri-State Region twenty-five years ago." Then her dad lifted his head with both of his hands and slammed it back into the concrete.