Page 125 of Renewal After Dark

“Wow, this is serious.”

“I think it could be.”

“You really want to take on a woman with a kid?”

“If it’s that woman and that kid, then yeah, I do.”

“Huh.”

“What does that mean?”

“I never pictured you as the domesticated family man.”

He shrugged. “People grow up. They change. They want different things.”

“I know they do. I just didn’t think you would.”

“Why?”

“I guess because you didn’t have it growing up, so I figured you didn’t want it.”

“I didn’t until I met someone who made me want it.”

“And you already know you want that with her?”

“I know that for the first time since Lynn, I want to see what it could be.” After a long silence, he added, “I hope you can be happy for me.”

“I am! Of course I am.”

Duke pulled up to a parking spot next to the stairs that led to her apartment. “I hope so. You know how important you are to me, and you always will be.”

“I do know, and same goes. I’m sorry I made everything weird tonight. I had too much wine and…”

“No worries.”

“I want you to know… No one deserves to be happy more than you do.”

“That’s not true?—”

“It is, Duke. It’s true.”

Sierra was one of the few people who knew just how rough his childhood had been.

“Does she know?”

He shook his head. “There’s no need to go there. It’s all in the past now.”

“It’s a big part of your past, and if this thing with her is as serious as you say it is, you should tell her everything she needs to know.”

“Thank you for your input. I’ll take it under advisement.”

She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for the ride home and for not kicking me out of your life.”

“I want you in my life. But you have to accept McKenzie to stay there. I won’t have any drama where she’s concerned. She’s had enough of that to last a lifetime.”

“I get it. No drama.”

“Go get some sleep—and take a Motrin so you’re not hurting tomorrow.”

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