Page 33 of Nick
“Let’s see what you’ve got here,” Nick murmured, his focus narrowing on the crayon scribbles.“Is that a wolf?”
“Yes.”Javier turned to Una.“See?Nick can tell.I told that lady it was a wolf.”
Una laughed.“Yes, you did.”
Nick chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair affectionately.“You did a great job.”
Javier’s dimples deepened, and he shuffled closer.“Do you think I could be an artist when I grow up?”
“Absolutely,” Nick responded without hesitation.“Anyone who can put this much heart into their work is already an artist in my book.”
Javier beamed, and Nick met Sarah’s gaze again.
God.He could love this child.
Hedidlove this child.
As he handed the artwork back to Javier, Nick felt the truth settle in his heart.No matter how far he ran or how deep his wounds, this was his family.And maybe it was time to let go of old grudges, start anew.
Before he could further consider the depth of those feelings, the sharp ping of his cell phone cut through the moment, breaking the spell as it vibrated.Nick blinked and reached for the device, the screen lighting up with a message that demanded his immediate attention.
“Something important?”Sarah asked, her gaze shifting from him to the phone and back again.
“Could be,” Nick muttered.
His thumb pressed against the illuminated screen, his gaze scanning it.
“It’s Ryker,” he said.Sarah and Una turned to him, their expressions mirroring the sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere.
“Is everything all right?”Sarah’s voice wove a thread of concern through the tension.
“I think so,” Nick replied, a muscle ticking in his jaw.He stood.“I’ve got to head into town,” he announced.“Conall and Quinton are waiting.”
Sarah’s gaze locked onto his.“Wait,” she said, rising from the couch.“I’ll come with you.”
He hesitated, considering the risks of having her by his side.
“Okay,” he finally said, and Nick led the way to Sarah’s old Jeep.
The engine roared to life, its headlights carving a path through the darkness as they left the trailer park.
With every mile that passed, anxiety tightened its hold on Nick—a silent question echoing in his mind.Had he made a mistake by crossing that line with Sarah?
He remembered the heat of her skin, the taste of her lips, and the way her body responded to his touch as if nothing had changed.
But everything had changed.
He could still taste the salt of her skin, feel the brush of her hair against his face.The intensity of their connection both thrilled and terrified him.It was like playing with fire, and he wasn’t sure if they’d end up consumed or forged stronger by the heat.
“Are you okay?”Sarah asked.
“Yeah,” he lied, turning his gaze briefly from the road to meet her eyes.Nick forced a partial smile, but his heart was racing.
“Is it us?”Her words were barely a whisper, but they landed with the weight of boulders.“Do you regret…”
He wanted to reassure her, to say everything was fine, but the lie wouldn’t come.Instead, he exhaled slowly, focusing on the road that stretched out before them.
“I just…” His voice trailed off as he searched for the right words.
