Page 50 of Impossible Thrills

“En realidad?” The guard’s brows lifted, and he didn’t appear to like whatever Nick had said.

“Si.” Nick nodded to him and then shut the door and escorted Darcy past him. He clicked the lock on the Range Rover and the man startled at the beep and then scowled. “You don’t know Sean?” Nick asked quietly.

“They rotate through constantly and keep to themselves. I’ve never seen him before.”

Nick glanced over his shoulder as they walked to the back door and he opened and held it for her. The man watched them steadily.

She felt uneasy. Then she glanced at Nick and relaxed. All was well. He was here.

They walked into the large kitchen in the middle of dinnertime, which explained why the children weren’t playing outside in the backyard.

May squealed when she saw Darcy. Gary cheered. The other volunteers called greetings.

Samuel scrambled off his chair and ran for her. “Darcy, Darcy!” he screamed.

She swept him into her arms, holding him close. He smelled of out of doors, dirt, watermelon, and a hundred percent little boy. She had no idea why no one had adopted him. He was perfect. Maybe it was God’s mercy, as she felt like he was one of her own.

Missy and Izzy struggled to get out of their chairs and come to her. The toddlers cried greetings and her name. The babies either squealed with delight or started crying at the commotion.

“Samuel.” She focused on him first. “I missed you. Did you grow?”

“Yes! I so strong.” He flexed a skinny arm, but then he instantly looked up at Nick and blinked his big brown eyes. “Strong … so strong … strong guy.” He jabbed a finger at Nick and sounded nervous.

Darcy laughed and said, “Samuel, this is my friend Nick.” It was sobering that Samuel was rarely around men, especially not around a well-built man like Nick. With some bruising and scrapes on his arms and face from the fight with Jagger, Nick looked dangerously beautiful.

Missy and Izzy were clinging to her legs now and begging for her. She patted Missy on the head. This was the only part of her job she hated, besides the children not finding families—not having enough of her to go around. They needed so much more love.

“Samuel.” Nick extended his hand. “Darcy told me all about how tough you are and how you watch out for her.”

Samuel solemnly put his small hand in Nick’s as he simultaneously pushed out his thin chest. “I do.” He released Nick’s hand and squeezed Darcy around the neck. “I love my Darcy.”

“Ah. I love you too, handsome.” She squeezed him back. Izzy was crying now. Shoot. “I need to—” She didn’t want to set Samuel down, but at thirty-five pounds, he was the biggest of their children. The other boys and girls that came that first year and would be his same age had been adopted. She could hold Missy and Izzy at the same time.

“Darcy told me I could throw you high in the air,” Nick interrupted.

“Yay!” Samuel cheered.

Nick took Samuel from her arms and easily tossed him. The ceilings were nine feet in the old restored house. Thankfully, Samuel didn’t hit a ceiling fan.

Samuel squealed with delight. “Again, again!”

Nick obliged while Darcy picked up Izzy and Missy, each in one arm. She soothed Izzy but couldn’t stop smiling as Samuel laughed happily while Nick teased him, holding him upside down by one leg now. The little boys that could walk were rushing for Nick, begging for their own turn.

Darcy met May’s glance. The older lady was grinning at the exchange, but she had a lot of questions in her eyes about who Nick was and why he was here.

Darcy didn’t have all the answers, but she wouldn’t fret. She just wanted him here.

Chapter

Sixteen

Nick had a fun evening with all the children that could walk, besides little Izzy who was terrified of him. They took turns climbing on him, wrestling with him, and begging him to ‘throw me’ over and over again.

He helped Darcy and the other volunteers with bedtime. He’d been around his nieces and nephews enough to be some help, but the little ones all clamored for Darcy. He savored seeing her in this setting. She was loving, radiant, and fun.

If only he and Darcy could someday have a child of their own. He had no clue how to make that ‘someday’ work.

He didn’t like the way that guard had looked at him when they’d first arrived. In fact, he didn’t like anything about that guard. He was going to get Paul, and the weapons he knew were in the back of the Range Rover, and go investigate.

---