Page 36 of Broken Daddy

It’s already hard enough at home.

AtNate’shouse.

I’ll be out of there in a few months. Once again footloose in the world, trying to find a place to land.

Hopefully, that’s what Germany ends up being. Until then, I need to remember Nate is just passing through my life, a few hookups to satisfy a dry spell, nothing more.

“Nervous.”

He says it like he’s reading my mind. I freeze, not breathing.

“To be back here, right?” He glances in the mirror, then continues, “You’re probably worried about that psycho. But I’ve got you.”

His eyes cut to mine and steady me.

My breath comes back in an exhale and the tension melts from my rigid muscles.

“Yeah.”That’s definitely it. It has nothing to do with the way you’re looking at me right now.“Yeah, it’s a little weird knowing someone’s out to get me.”

Nate hums in agreement, his eyes on the road as he navigates tight traffic.

“Is it easier for you in the house? Do you feel safer, I mean.”

Almost choking on where my mind goes with his question, I manage to nod.

Do I feelsafer?

Actually, yes, I do. I don’t think whoever vandalized my apartment and slashed my tires followed me back to the country yet, but it feels safer in the house. Behind multiple locked doors and the insanely expensive alarm system Nate has.

But at his words, the memory of that first night is conjured. The way he groaned, his hand buried in my hair, as I sucked him off. The way he carried me to the bed, his arms hard as iron beneath my body, his face in my breasts.

I clear my throat and try to focus on where we’re going. I’m vaguely familiar with this area, but it’s not one I’ve visited much. Cute shops line the streets, little boutiques, and thrift stores. It seems an odd place to picture Nate Sharpe, the man I’ve seen in perfectly tailored suits most days.

The thought makes me smile.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nate watching me, and when I look at him, his features soften into a smile mirroring my own.

“Dad, how many books am I allowed to get?”

Eva’s enthusiastic question brings us back to the present, both of us inhaling and breaking eye contact.

“As many as you want, hon. But no games today, okay?”

She sulks for a second, expression falling at the decree. Then her face brightens. “Can I get a bookmark, though?”

Nate tries to suppress his smile, but I see it.

“Okay,” he bargains seriously, “but only if we can get ice cream later.”

Eva and I both laugh, and Nate pulls into a parking garage, his body looking more relaxed than I’ve seen it the whole time I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of Nathan Sharpe’s world.

* * *

“Oh my gosh!Are you Chef Walker?”

I blink in surprise and half turn back to the young woman. She has her fingertips held to her mouth in surprise, brown eyes wide. Somewhere ahead of me, I feel Nate pause.

“Yes, I am. I’m sorry—do we know each other?”

---