Page 24 of Sheltering Lily

“You were distracted tonight, Colin. I haven’t fleeced you like that in a while.” Everyone had gone home except for family. Alex wadded up the money he’d won and shoved it in his pocket before turning to Zach. “And you didn’t fare much better. Must be being bona fide family men. You lose your edge.”

I regarded my younger brother, who was always cocksure and unafraid to say whatever was on his mind. As the middle brother, I had often been the peacemaker of the three. Fortunately for me, by the time we were teens, I had two inches on each of them. That came in handy. I’d stepped in the middle of their brawls more than once.

“You try having a kid, a woman, and a demanding job. Making time for all of it isn’t easy,” Zach shot back.

“I’m too smart for that,” Alex returned with a grin.

“Sounds to me like you’re too dumb to appreciate a good thing when you have it,” Chance said, with a teasing smile that took any sting out of his words. “I was driving past the old place the other day and saw a very pretty lady getting out of her car.”

“Soledad’s terrific, but it’s not serious between us.” Some of the attitude went out of Alex as he said it, though. “It’s not like we’re living together. She’s got a place of her own, too.”

“Uh-huh,” Zach said, giving Alex a smug smile.

“Hey, you can stop what you’re thinking,” Alex said. “Soledad and I hook up when I’m between missions. I like her, but there are no strings.”

“So if you came home and found her with someone else?” Zach kept at it.

“I’d be cool with that,” Alex insisted.

“Bullshit you would,” Chance said.

Alex shrugged off the comment, showing more restraint than I was used to seeing in my younger brother.

“What about you?” Alex turned his attention to me. “You’ve gotten almost lighthearted since the last time I was home. The dating thing must be going well.”

Zach laughed, speaking before I could. “Nope. He’s got the hots for his nanny with the sexy glasses.” I winced when the other three all turned their focus to me. “Except she doesn’t want him.”

“Is that right?”

“Not quite.” I didn’t feel the need to tell them that Lily was at that moment in my bed upstairs. They could probably guess, and that was good enough. “She doesn’t want a long-term relationship.”

“Wasn’t that your goal?” Alex questioned.

“It still is.” I grinned. I’d made no secret that I was searching for the right woman, but I’d never expected she’d be living in my house.

“I get it now,” Alex said. “Mission: Nanny Impossible?”

“Something like that.” I didn’t think the situation was impossible, but caution and transparency were required. I’d been a little short on transparency, which needed to change. Soon.

“Wish I was going to be around to see that unfold.” Alex’s upcoming deployment was estimated to last at least a few months. His trips home were sporadic, so I was glad to spend time with him while he was around.

“Too bad you’ll miss it.” By the time I saw Alex again, what was between me and Lily would have developed into something lasting…or died out.

“I can’t blame Lily for not falling head over heels for you,” Alex commented wryly. “The only thing you’ve got going for you is my adorable niece.”

“Thanks for that, but we’ll see where things stand next time you’re on leave,” I said, feeling confident that I could win Lily by then. But as good as I felt about things with her, there was no denying that we had some problems to work out. The stalker creep was at the top of my list. After that was taken care of, operation nanny impossible, as Alex called it, would begin in earnest.

“But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you guys about,” I said, turning serious. “I’ve got another situation going on, and I might end up needing backup.”

“You know you’ve got it,” Chance said, while Zach and Alex both nodded their agreement. I’d known they’d say that, but it was still good to hear. I gave my own nod of thanks and then started to explain about “creepy guy,” the gray Camry, and the other things that had my senses on high alert.

11

COLIN

Ipulled into the parking lot of the local diner. Before leaving work, I’d placed an order for dinner, which I’d share with Lily. It had been another fourteen-hour day, and I was looking forward to a meal, a beer, and spending the night with Lily.

It was good, what we had, but my mission to win her was moving slowly—which was my own fault. Lily and I needed to have the conversation we’d both been avoiding. I was unwilling to give up what was so damn good between us, but I wasn’t being fair to either of us—or to Sofia—by not being clear about my intentions. I still hoped that I’d be able to convince Lily to give a real relationship between us a chance…but there was always the possibility that she wouldn’t want that, no matter what I said. While my heart could take a beating if Lily chose to leave, I couldn’t be reckless with Sofia’s. She was attached to Lily as if Lily were her mother. I saw that bond growing and deepening each day, and the last thing I wanted was for Sofia to suffer another loss. She’d already lost her real mother and any connections she might have had in her native Colombia. I didn’t want to put her through that again.

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