Page 29 of Sworn to Protect

The park’s entrance comes into view as I round the street corner and slow down. The area’s busier than usual. Saturday mornings are supposed to be quiet, with just the occasional jogger or dog walker. But not today.

A crowd has gathered near a table, their chatter blending with the squeals of kids at the playground. My gaze shifts automatically, searching for her before I can stop myself.

And there she is.

Mackenzie.

Standing off to the side, clutching a paper in her hands, she looks so damn beautiful it knocks the wind out of me. Her auburn hair falls loosely around her shoulders, catching the light breeze. Butit’s not her hair or her heart-shaped face that catches my attention this time. It’s her tight and worried expression.

I shouldn’t stop. I should stay the course, finish my run, and head back to The Cabins.

Instead, I slow to a jog. Then to a walk.

Her green eyes lift, locking onto mine. For a split second, her face softens as a small smile breaks through her worry. But it’s fleeting. I can see the panic hidden behind it, like she’s bracing for something.

I tell myself to turn around. She doesn’t need me. She hasn’t called since she apologized, and I’ve done a damn good job of staying away. Besides, what reason do I have to linger in Naperville?

But I know the answer.

I’m at her mercy.

My legs move before I can talk myself out of it and carry me to where she stands. Her boys are a few feet away, talking to another kid. I take a moment to look at them before turning back to her. Her smile is still there, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

I want to fix whatever has her stressed. The all-too-familiar urge to pull her into my arms tugs at me, but I push back the desire. If our circumstances were different, nothing would hold me back. I draw up short on that thought.

Nothing would hold me back?

I don’t do relationships. What the hell am I thinking? The attraction is real. I can’t deny this feeling between us. But that doesn’t change my circumstances.

“Mackenzie,” I say, my voice rougher than I intended. “Everything okay?”

She shakes her head, forcing a laugh. “It’s nothing.”

But there’s a slight tremble to her hands as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and those green eyes—God, those eyes tell a different story.

“Mackenzie,” I say again, softer this time. “What’s wrong?”

Her boys save her from answering right away. Liam and Nick bound over, their faces lit with excitement.

“Hey, Nate,” Liam says as both boys bounce on their feet.

“Hey, boys.” I give them high fives. “What’s going on?” while stealing glances at their mom. Her feeble attempt to appear relaxed fails miserably.

“Mom’s signing me up for soccer!” Liam beams.

“That’s great,” I say while stealing glances at their mom. Those glossy, pink lips flatten to a thin line. Ah, I think I found the source of her stress.

I flash the boys my smile. “Bet you’re ready to start.”

“Yeah! Can’t wait. I already met someone on my team.” He points to the boy he was talking to earlier. The boy wears a T-shirt withMark’s Realitysprawled across the front. My stomach twists. If that shirt is what I think it is, it means one thing: Mark’s kid is on Liam’s team.

Nick tugs at Mackenzie’s hand. “Mommy, you promised I could go down the slide!”

“Liam, can you take your brother to the fenced-in part?”

“Sure. Come on, Nick. I’ll race you.” Liam swats Nick’s arm in a playful challenge, and they take off.

“Stay on the smaller slides,” Mackenzie calls after them.

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