Page 36 of Sworn to Protect

“Ah.” He doesn’t add anything else, but his eyes stay on me, filled with an understanding I’ve rarely felt. The weight of my father’s memory lifts slightly. Talking to Nate is like being heard for the first time in years. As if someone finally sees me.

I take another sip of wine.

“Do you have family close by?”

Nate hesitates, his eyes flickering to the wineglass in his hand. “No. My mom died when I was young. And my dad . . . let’s just say he’s not worth mentioning.” His voice tightens on the last word, and I catch how his grip on the glass subtly shifts, knuckles whitening. There’s more to that story, but he’s not ready to share it. At least not yet.

“I get it, trust me,” I say, letting him off the hook.

We’re halfway through the bottle when the boys come inside to get ready for bed. I place my hand on his knee and stand. “Stay put. I need to tuck the kids in, and then I’ll be right out.”

“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

I certainly hope not.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

NATE

The warm air hangs heavy,carrying the faint hum of cicadas from the trees. The wine bottle sweats on the table between us, catching the glow of patio lights. I lean back in my chair and savor the quiet when Mackenzie steps outside, closing the door softly behind her.

“Did the boys go to bed okay?” I ask, glancing her way. Her loose curls frame her delicate face, and her glossy pink lips curve into a smirk. She’s so damn beautiful, it hurts.

“Yeah, but they didn’t want to.” She sits in the chair beside me.

“No?”

“Nope. They wanted to stay up since you’re still here. They like having you around.”

Her words hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I’ve grown close to both boys this past week. Those kids are awesome. But it’s more than that. I’ve gotten close to her, too. Something I didn’t see coming.

“I like being here,” I admit, my voice quieter than intended.

Her cheeks turn crimson, and I worry I’ve overstepped. But then her gaze meets mine, and a glint of interest shines in her eyes, tightening my chest.Now that’s interesting.

I pick up the half-empty bottle of wine and cock an eyebrow. “Another glass?”

“Sure, why not? I’m not going anywhere.”

As I pour, she watches the wine swirl in the glass, her expression thoughtful. Needing to rein in my sexual urges, I shift gears. “How’s Stan doing since his hip surgery?”

“Much better, thanks. He’s settled in the house, adjusting. I’m going over tomorrow to see what I can do. I’m glad Jordan’s here, even if he didn’t know what he signed up for.” She lets out a soft laugh. “It’s a miracle he hasn’t ditched yet.”

“He’s not much for helping?”

“No. Jordan’s always been a free spirit. Naperville’s too slow-paced for him. I’m surprised he even came, to be honest.”

“He didn’t move here with you guys?”

She shakes her head. “No, he lived with Dad after the divorce. Then, he stuck around San Francisco. Funny how dreams change, though.”

“Why’s that?”

She smiles faintly. “I’ve driven to the city twice now, and it’s already too much. The traffic. The crowds. When you’re younger, you look at life through a different lens. A much younger, naïve one, maybe?”

“Okay, granny. You’re what, twenty-seven? Twenty-eight?” I cringe internally at pointing out our age difference, but she doesn’t seem bothered. Mackenzie is more mature than most people my age. She’s lived through too much, carried too much. She’s seasoned in ways that make her feel closer to me than any number could.

“Twenty-eight, but sometimes, I feel a lot older.” Her gaze shifts to the horizon, where the full moon casts a faint glow over the darkness. Her expression is an enigma, part mesmerizing and part haunting. A graceful calamity of a woman who’s been through hell and survived.

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