Page 35 of Sworn to Protect

“I guess. Can I tell you the truth?”

“You can always tell me the truth. In fact, I prefer it.”

“I didn’t know my dad. Not really.”

The dejection in Liam’s voice shatters my heart. I thought our talk had helped, but let’s face it, he never got to know Ethan. I could blame the military, but that would only justify Ethan’s choices. He never attempted to get to know his sons when he was home. I step forward, ready to pull my baby in my arms and shield him from the pain, but Nate’s words stop me in my tracks.

“He was a great guy.”

“How would you know?” Liam’s voice sharpens, but there’s no anger. Just raw, quiet pain.

Nate pauses, his gaze dropping to the floor for a beat before meeting Liam’s eyes. I barely breathe, waiting for his response.

“I don’t. But I see pieces of him in you. The way you look out for your brother and the way you keep trying even when it’s hard. If those parts of him exist in you, he couldn’t have been all bad.”

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat almost unbearable.Good answer.However, I think Nate’s giving Ethan too much credit. Forcing a smile, I step into the room, breaking the moment.

“I thought I heard you guys come home.” I direct my gaze toward Nate, who gives me an appreciative nod. I can’t tell if he knows I overheard his conversation, but I remain stoic, not giving anything away. Why address it? It does no good. “Why don’t you boys get cleaned up? We’re having dinner on the patio.”

“Yes! Outdoor picnic.” Nick darts down the hall to the bathroom with Liam close behind.

I turn to Nate. “You’re staying, right?”

“You’re going to spoil me,” he says, a small smile tugging at his lips.

This past week, we fell into a routine. Nate picks up the boys and takes them to the park while I work on my homework and fix dinner. He leaves after we eat, then we rinse and repeat for the next practice. The only exception is when I go to my clinical. He buys the boys a pizza and brings them back to the house. Maybe it’s wrong depending on him this much so soon, but without him, I don’t know what I would’ve done. He’s been a godsend. I don’tknow his entire history, but he doesn’t know mine, either. To be fair, we haven’t had time to explore.

But I plan on changing that. It’s Friday night, and I don’t have to work tomorrow. I want him to stay longer. I’m in dire need of some adult company. There’s no one else I’d rather be with than Nate.

After supper, while the boys escape to the backyard, Nate carries the plates to the sink and rinses them off. After placing them into the dishwasher, I grab a bottle of chilled wine. “Are you in a hurry to head back to your cabin?”

Those honey-rich eyes bore into me, his expression unreadable. “No.”

“Good.” My voice dips slightly, surprising even me. “I’m not ready for the night to end yet.” I brush my fingers along the counter, the cool glass of the wine bottle grounding me as I nudge my chin toward the stemware. Before I can second-guess myself, I head out the back door, hoping he follows.

Nate grabs the glasses and follows me outside. The boys continue to play in the far side of the yard. I catch Nate watching the sunset over the valley, the vineyards barely visible in the distance. The sight relaxes me, and I exhale. “That’s the one thing I’ve missed about this area.”

“What’s that?” Nate’s voice is low, but I keep my focus on the landscape, afraid my secrets will spill if I look at him. He’s that easy to talk to.

“The wine country. It’s beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to get out of here and live in a city, but part of me had dreamed of owning a French country home overlooking the valley and vineyards. The countryside is so beautiful.”

“What made you want to live in the city?”

“I moved here from San Francisco at the start of my senior year. The transition was rough. I loved Stan, and our life drastically improved when he married Mom, but coming from a city to live in a town where everyone knew your business was hard.”

“What made Stan and your mom settle here?”

“Stan lived in Naperville already, and Mom grew up here. We would come to visit my grandparents when they were alive. Grandma died when I was a freshman, and Pappy got sick in the middle of my junior year. Mom came here a lot to take care of him. She got reacquainted with Stan during her trips.”

I take a sip of wine, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I had no idea Mom was seeing him. About a month after Pappy’s funeral, she announced she was getting married, and we were moving.”

“How did you take it?”

“I hated the idea. Not about Mom getting married, but the idea of moving. Who wants to start over at a new school in their senior year?” I shake my head at the memory. “But by moving here, we had a solid roof over our heads, guaranteed meals, and I didn’t have to see my father.” I shiver. That was the best part of leaving San Francisco. I can’t believe I entertained the thought of living with him.

Nate pauses, the rim of the wineglass inches from his mouth. “You don’t like your father?”

“There’s not much to like, I’m afraid.”

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