“It’s more than that. Jason blames me for divorcing Ray and taking away his father.”

  “Jason knows Ray has been in prison, right?”

  “Yes, but he doesn’t know I put him there. He’d never forgive me.” She met his gaze. “I can’t lose my son. He’s all I have.”

  He stared down into her pretty face. What kind of man would want to hurt a woman as kind as Mia?

  “Let me help you,” he heard himself say.

  “How? Ray wants me to pay—literally—for what I did. The past can’t be undone. Besides, why would you help us? You don’t even know us.”

  “Let’s just say I’m good at taking care of this kind of problem.”

  She leaned back. “What exactly do you do?”

  “Told you, I’m a retired Air Force pilot.”

  “Yes, but what do you do now?”

  Distracted by her soft lips, he said, “I work for an organization called ATCOM. We specialize in criminals.”

  “Sounds dangerous.”

  If she only knew. “Nah. We’re pretty good at what we do.”

  “Well, I can’t ask you to fix my problems. I married the jerk—I’ll find a way to handle this.”

  He cupped her chin, gently lifting so their gazes locked. “You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”

  Her gaze wavered. “What do you plan on doing? Moving in?”

  “If that’s what it takes.”

  Did he really just say that?

  Her brown eyes widened. “Are you for real?” she whispered. “I’ve never met a man like you.”

  He grinned. “Maybe you’ve been looking in the wrong places.”

  “I guess so. I…I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes. All I need is a place to lay my head and I promise your ex won’t bother you again.”

  “So you save damsels in distress and perform miracles, too?”

  Her teasing tone made him grin. “Something tells me you’ve never been a damsel in distress. You seem to handle yourself pretty well.”

  “Well, I have taken a couple self-defense classes. Every woman should.”

  He couldn’t agree more. Women needed to be able to handle themselves. “Is that a yes?”

  She drew in a deep breath. “Yes.”

  Without thought he planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I’ll go get my stuff and then we’ll talk to Jason.”

  She nodded. “He seems to respond to you better than anyone. Or, this could blow up in my face.”

  “He’s got to grow up someday, Mia. Realize some things are out of his control. Becoming a man isn’t easy.”

  She patted his chest. “I know. This is just happening so fast. How do I know I’m doing the right thing?”

  “Your ex wants something from you and he isn’t going to stop until he gets it. I’ve dealt with men like him. They’re desperate. Consumed by whatever bad stuff they’ve gotten into. He already raised a fist to you. I won’t let him do it again.”

  “You really think Ray would hurt me?”

  “He already did.”

  The tiny frown lines on her forehead showed her struggles with this. Not that he blamed her. His mind reeled from what he’d offered to do. They were virtual strangers and he asked her to trust him with her life. To let him protect her from harm. Not knowing if he was dangerous or not. To allow him to stay in her home until Ray was no longer a threat. Risking her son going ballistic over the changes.

  He wouldn’t walk away and leave her to her own defenses. It wasn’t who he was. As much as he knew he should, he couldn’t.

  She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

  “Nothing to worry about. Just go about your life as normal and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  She scoffed. “Nothing about this is normal.”

  “Agreed. But, you have a problem and I’m the one to fix it.”

  Squaring her shoulders, she stepped out of his grasp. “All right. I can do this. I don’t like relying on others for help, but I’ve never seen Ray like that. I really do think he would hurt me to get what he wants.”

  Brendan remained silent while she came to terms with everything. Hell, it was a lot to take in. Even for him. Although he didn’t expect Mia to stab a needle in his neck and set him up for a fall, that part of him still remained gun-shy.

  Mia gave a final nod. “Okay. Take my car to go get your stuff and I’ll set up the guest bedroom. Hopefully, this is all for nothing and you can return to your vacation without incident.”

  He doubted that, but didn’t say anything. Ray wanted something Mia had and Brendan was just the person to keep him from getting it.

  ****

  Brendan parked Mia’s car under the carport and stared at the pale yellow house. So serene. What the hell had he been thinking?

  Girding himself to do something he’d sworn he’d never do, he climbed out of the car and grabbed his bags. Definitely a first for him. He’d never moved in with a woman. For any reason. No matter how temporary.

  It went against everything in him. Already his skin began to feel too tight for his body. Energy surged though him, seeking an outlet. This was how it began whenever he thought of settling down. The edginess, the restlessness. And he hadn’t even set foot in the house yet.

  The light at the end of the tunnel was that this was a temporary arrangement. He would take care of Mia’s problem and be on his way.

  That didn’t help settle the blood racing through his veins as he strode to the front door. Did he knock? Jesus, he hated this. With extreme sports, his career, and flying there were set rules. A certain way of doing things. Often, those rules changed, but they were always there. He liked that. This situation had no rules. He didn’t like that. Made him feel out of sorts and his skin itch.

  He rapped his knuckles on the door, fighting the instinct to get the hell out of there and go back to his camp. Seconds later, Mia opened the door. She looked as uncomfortable as he felt.

  “You don’t have to knock.” She pushed the door open.

  He stepped inside.

  “I’ll show you to your room. Jason hasn’t come out of his room yet so I haven’t talked to him about this.”

  Brendan followed her down the hall to a good-sized bedroom. A queen-size bed sat against the middle wall amongst boxes and bubble wrap.

  “The bed is freshly made. You’ll be all right with walking around a few boxes?”

  “I don’t mind.” He set his bags on the floor next to the door. “We need to discuss how much you want Jason to know.”

  A cloud fell over her face. “I’ve never lied to my son, so the truth. Except the part where I turned his father in.”

  “He’s bound to find out eventually. Would you rather he hears it from you or your ex?”

  “I’d rather he not hear it at all.” She let out a small laugh. “I know what you’re saying. I just don’t know if I’m ready to tell him.”

  “Tell me what?”

  They both looked up to see Jason standing in the doorway, glaring at them. “What’s he still doing here?”

  Mia put a hand out in attempt to console her son. “There are some things we need to talk about.”

  “I’d say so. Like why the hell his bags are in the spare bedroom.”

  “Language,” Mia cautioned. “If you’ll let me explain—”

  “Explain that you’re shacking up with some stranger? God, Mom. You don’t even know him.”

  The anger and hurt in his voice didn’t escape Brendan. He stepped forward. “It’s not what you think. Let’s go sit down and talk about this.”

  Jason sent Mia a wounded look. “Dad’s back and you’re moving this guy in? Whatever.” With that he darted out of the doorway.

  Mia ran after him, Brendan following. But Jason had already slammed through the front door and taken off on his bike.

  “Want me to go get him?”

  Mia shook her head. “No. Give him time to cool off. He’ll come back. He always does.” She let the screen door close. “How does he know Ray is here?”

  “Two options: Either he saw him today in the street or Ray has been in contact with him.”

  Mia’s face paled. “I never gave Ray our information. I don’t even know how found out we were here.”

  “Not hard to find someone in this day and age.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel any safer.”

  Forgetting she didn’t live in his world, he put his hands on her shoulders. “Your safety is something I can guarantee. Your son’s response to my being here, not so much.”

  “No kids of your own, huh?”

  He choked out a laugh. “No. Definitely not. Not in the cards for me.”

  Her smile didn’t quite meet her eyes. “That’s too bad. Nothing in the world compares to the love of your own child.”

  “Until they become teenagers, right?”

  This time her laugh was genuine. Music to his ears.

  “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

  He believed her. She was one of those moms. The kind that put her kid first and loved him unconditionally, no matter what he did. His mom had been like that. She never stopped loving him, even with all the trouble he gave her.

  Being around Mia made him miss his parents. Although they’d passed a long time ago, they were always in his thoughts. More so lately after what happened to his sister. He’d always been there to protect her. Until Carlos Santiago decided to make Brendan a pawn in his revenge against Attie.

  “If you’re having second thoughts I won’t make you stay. I can handle my ex.”

  Mia’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She had mistaken his remorse for hesitation, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

  “I’m all in,” he said, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind.

  Relief shone briefly in her eyes before she stepped back. Not fast enough to hide it from him.

  “Are you hungry? I have leftovers in the fridge. Or we could grill some steaks. I haven’t packed the kitchen yet.”

  “Leftovers are fine.” He wouldn’t burden her with having to cook. Certainly not for him.

  “All right. I’ll go heat them up while you get settled.” With a small smile she left the room.

  Brendan watched her go, unable to keep his eyes off her. She was a beautiful woman. Soft curves made for a man’s hands.

  Tearing his eyes away, he silently cursed himself. Normally, he’d be sleeping in the master bedroom. Getting his fill of this woman and leaving when he finished. Mia wasn’t the type of woman you had casual sex with. She was the kind of woman you kept.

  Alarm trickled down his spine. He didn’t keep women. That would be like having a noose around his neck.

  Since he didn’t plan on staying longer than necessary, he kept his things packed. The day he unpacked at a woman’s house would be the day he surrendered his lifestyle. So, never.

  He did a quick inspection of the house before finding Mia in the kitchen. The table had been set with three place settings. His steps faltered only for a second. Uncle Jed, the man who had raised him and Attie after their parents passed, always insisted they eat as a family. Didn’t happen often with his and Attie’s career with ATCOM, but when they were home, they sat down to dinner. Uncle Jed was a terrible cook, but they ate every last bite because they owed him so much.

  For the first time since his offer, he had reservations. Mia and Jason were a family. And him? A stranger who didn’t belong at their dinner table.

  Uncertainty rushed through him. Made him want to grab his gear and go do something dangerous.

  Mia glanced over her shoulder at him from where she stood in front of the stove, stirring something in a pot that smelled heavenly. “Would you get the iced tea from the refrigerator, please, and fill our glasses? Do you like tea?”

  Chest tight, he nodded.

  Mia smiled. “Thanks. Dinner will be ready soon.”

  Through lungs that wanted to seize, Brendan strode to the fridge to do as asked. God help him, what had he done?

  Chapter Five

  Mia stirred the chicken and wild rice soup, trying to ignore the tingle of awareness that made every hair on her body stand up to attention. What was it about Brendan that made her heart race in her chest? She’d seen handsome, rugged men before. Dated a few, but never brought them home. Before now, she’d never invited a man into their home. She refused to be that kind of mother. Bringing home a different man each time she thought he was the one. That would do nothing but traumatize and confuse her son. Something she wouldn’t do. They had enough issues without her adding to them.

  This whole Brendan thing still had her spinning. It had been so easy to say yes to him. Too easy. She’d been on her own since Jason was six. Leaning on a man hadn’t been in the cards for her. Then or now. Ray had been anything but a stellar husband. The fact he’d fooled her for as long as he had still made her angry. Usually a good judge of character, she blamed herself for not seeing him for what he was. He’d hid his criminal tendencies from her exceptionally well.

  The signs were there; she’d refused to see them. Or, didn’t want to believe the man who made love to her almost every night led a double life. That mistake she would never make again. She’d never fall for a man who craved danger again. Been there, done that. Not doing it again.

  Behind her she heard Brendan pouring tea into glasses. Why was she so nervous about feeding him leftovers? The soup recipe had been one of her mom’s. Even Jason had liked it. And soup reheated very well.

  Ridiculous. She wasn’t a teenager with a crush. They were both adults and his purpose here wasn’t to break her sexual dry spell.

  The front door slammed, startling her. Snapped out of her thoughts, she put the spoon on the spoon rest and turned to see Jason bound into the room. He looked at her then Brendan and rolled his eyes.

  “Can we sit down and talk about this?” Mia asked. “It’s not what you think.”

  “I doubt that.”

  A chair scraped on the floor. “Have a seat,” Brendan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. To her surprise Jason did as told and sat without a word. “Your mom is trying to talk to you. I suggest you listen.”

  “How about we eat first?” She turned off the stove and carried the pot to the table where she dished out three servings.

  “I’d rather hear this first.” Jason crossed his arms.

  Setting the pot back on the burner, she sat next to her son. Brendan took the seat at the head of the table. How long had it been since a man sat to dinner with them? Not since her divorce. It felt oddly surreal. And somehow right.

  “As you know, your father is here.”

  “Yeah, he emailed me when he was released.”

  Ray had been emailing her son? For how long? And why hadn’t Jason said anything? “Have you been talking to him for long?”

  “About a year now.”

  She straightened her shoulders, ready to accept the fact Ray may have told Jason what she’d done. “I see. I wish you’d told me.”

  Jason shrugged.

  “I’ve never lied to you and I won’t do it now. Brendan is staying with us because your father threatened me.”

  Jason sat up in his chair. “What? How?”

  Time to pay the piper. “You know we came down here to pack up Aunt Ginny’s house and collect the inheritance she left me?”

  Jason nodded.

  “Well, between the sale of the house and the inheritance, we’ll have enough to finally buy the home of our dreams.” She put her hand over his, happy when he didn’t pull away. “Remember how we used to talk about moving to the mountains and living in a rustic log cabin? You even picked a name for the dog we’d get. Rover. Remember? Those things can happen now. We have the money to do it.”

  For a moment, her little boy who used to dream about owning a dog flashed across her son’s face. “That’s great, Mom. You know I’m going to college in a couple of years.”

  Not ready to think about her son leaving her, she said, “Now you can go to any school you choose. I’ll have enough left over for tuition.”

  “Really? We can afford for me to go to school?”

  “Yep.”

  A glimmer of hope shone in his eyes, making her heart melt. She wanted to give him everything, and now she could. Well, except a father figure and someone he could look up to.

  “What did Dad do?”

  “He wants the inheritance money. That’s why he followed us to Hawaii.”

  Jason’s face reddened. “He said that?”

  Damn her ex. She’d give anything not to have to do this. “Yes.”

  “How did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “He didn’t because Brendan was there to stop him.”

  “I would never let anyone hurt your mother,” Brendan said.

  She glanced at Brendan, then back to Jason. “That’s why he’s here. He’s going to help me find a way to put an end to this.”

  “You don’t even know him.” Jason’s voice rose. “You’re fine with letting a complete stranger in the house, but not my own father.”

  How could she explain to him that she trusted Brendan more than she trusted her ex? She couldn’t explain it to herself. Somehow, she just knew Brendan was a good guy.

  “Sweetie, it’s not like that. You know who your father is. I never hid that from you.” But, she hadn’t told him all of Ray’s dark secrets. Jason didn’t need to know her ex had gone to prison for more than robbing a few houses.

  “All I know is my dad just got out of prison and now he’s here. You say he threatened you. The man I met doesn’t fit that profile.”

  They had met? Good God, how many secrets did her son have from her? She began to speak, but Brendan spoke first.

  “See this bruise on my jaw?” He tilted his head. “Your dad attacked me when I left today. Warned me to stay out of this. I broke his nose for it.”

  Shock showed on Jason’s face. “You broke his nose?”

  Mia stared at her son. “You’ve met with him recently?”

  “Yeah, that’s where I went on my bike,” he answered, distracted, his gaze pinned on Brendan. “He said you attacked him. That you wanted him out of the way so you could get to Mom.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7