Page 42 of Gifts

Levi smirks and disappears into the house.

It’s not even ten o’clock yet, the evening flew by. Saylor and Knox met Levi, who was as patient with them as his sister. My kids love Emma because she humors them and they love her brother just as much because he’s a human jungle gym. I had to practically tear them off Levi so we could eat dinner. When the six of us sat around my table, we learned that Asa took his kids to the last Olympics, hence the shirt. I ate in silence as my son asked two million questions about their adventure, all the while, my experience with three extra people in my house was … odd.

Not good odd or bad odd—just plain odd.

When it was time for Saylor to sit and read for fifteen minutes, she only threw a mild fit, and since no one went running from my property, this might mean we’re breaking Asa and his kids in slowly.

Trial by fire, as they say.

Levi and Emma studied and finished homework as I got my kids ready for bed. When I came downstairs, my fireworks burst into a blistering explosion. Emma was tucked under her dad’s arm sitting on my sofa while Levi was stretched out on the floor. Asa was spending time with his kids, talking about their day, making memories while doing nothing spectacular, yet still special in a way they’ll have it forever.

I let them be, poured myself a glass of wine, grabbed a blanket, and slipped out the back door onto my patio to give them privacy.

About twenty minutes later, I heard the door open and felt Asa brush my hair over my shoulder. When I looked up, he muttered, “It’s cold out here,” and proceeded to start me a fire.

I could get used to this—Asa’s touches, Asa being thoughtful, watching Asa with his kids … the list seems never ending.

This is where we’ve sat in comfortable silence, with only the fire crackling as it warms us.

It’s time I break the quiet because it’s been nagging at my brain all night and look up to him. “What do you do?”

He narrows his eyes on me before gazing back at the fire. “I’m used to an erratic work schedule, so it seems like I don’t work much these days since I’m doing my best to be available for my kids.”

That doesn’t tell me anything, yet it says a lot. Who can support a family, travel around the world attending Olympic games, and buy barrels of wine when not working regularly? “What did you do that was so erratic?”

He runs his hand through his hair and I see his lips purse before he looks to me. After many more moments, he leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “I told you I’d only ever give you the truth.”

This takes me by surprise. “I appreciate that.”

“I used to be a cop—a long time ago. Now I help train a special unit that only contracts overseas. We work closely with our government and others.”

I give my head a little shake. “Doing what?”

He leans back and takes a breath, never taking his eyes off me. “Right now, I train others to work in volatile environments, dangerous terrains, and in all kinds of cultures. We train them to do things governments can’t do.”

I still don’t understand. “You’re military?”

He shakes his head. “Not even close.”

I set my wine glass down on the table and glare at him through the light of the fire. “Why did you say you’d always be honest with me and now you’re being ambiguous? Either you’re honest or you’re not. I promise I’m an open-minded person, but I will not put up with dishonesty. And FYI, I consider withholding information dishonest.”

His face softens a bit. “I get it.”

“No,” I bite. “I don’t think you do—”

“Keelie,” he interrupts. “I do.”

I shift in my seat to fully face him. “I don’t like to talk about my past, but my husband was—”

“Baby,” he halts me again by raising his voice this time. “I know.”

He can’t possibly. There’s no way.

“As a contractor, I have security clearance with the CIA,” he states.

What the hell? “What does that have to do with anything?”

He raises his brows. “I pulled your background a few days ago and that included the background of David Lockhart since he was your husband.”

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