She had learned long ago not to let Ray’s lies get to her. It took a while to see through them, but eventually she did.

  “Believe what you will,” Brendan said. “Just know that I’m not here to get your mom. I’m here to protect her. And you.”

  Jason bolted out of his chair, sending it skidding across the floor. “I’m the man in this family. We don’t need you.”

  Mia stood. “Jason—”

  He stepped out of her reach. “No. Just leave me alone. You guys are making my dad out to be a monster and I won’t stand for it. God, Mom, why can’t you just let me be happy?” Sending her a wounded look that broke her heart, he ran out of the room. His bedroom door slammed a few seconds later.

  Exhausted, emotionally and physically, Mia dropped down into her chair and propped her head in her hands. Jason’s words hurt more than she cared to admit. Happiness was the only thing she’d ever wanted for her child. To give him the best life she could. On a teacher’s salary it hadn’t been easy, but they’d done all right. Could have been worse.

  A pair of hands landed on her shoulders, startling her. Definitely not used to having a man around. Brendan must think her a jumpy flake.

  His fingers dug gently into the tight muscles. She let out a low moan.

  “Are teenagers always this difficult and unreasonable?” Brendan asked.

  The feel of his hands on her skin made talking impossible. Felt so good. Too good. She shouldn’t be doing this. If Jason walked in and saw them…

  Forcing her head up, she shifted so his hands fell away. Immediately missing his touch. “We may as well eat. Jason can heat his later.”

  Brendan returned to his seat and picked up his spoon. She picked hers up, too, but her appetite had fled.

  “I can camp out in the backyard if my being here will cause too much trouble for you. I don’t need to be in the house to protect you.”

  Sounded reasonable, but if she were to be honest with herself, she didn’t want him to leave. She felt safe with him in the house.

  That wasn’t the only reason, but she wasn’t ready to go there.

  “I don’t know.” She sighed. “Maybe I’m being over-dramatic.”

  “I know men like your ex and he’s desperate. If he needs that money he’s going to get it. No matter what it takes.”

  Mia rubbed her forehead. “I don’t want to believe that, but I know Ray’s history and if he’s back in the game he’ll stop at nothing.”

  “What was he involved in that sent him to prison?”

  Setting her spoon back down on the table, she met his gaze. “Home invasion and attempted murder.”

  Brendan didn’t react. Not like she’d expected when he heard her ex had almost killed someone. That gave her courage to go on. “He shot one of the homeowners on his last job. Wounded the man, but didn’t kill him. I had no idea he was involved with criminals like that. I guess I refused to see the truth. When I put the pieces together—his absence during the robberies, the reports I saw on the news about break-ins—the way he lavishly spent money that I knew his job as a bartender didn’t afford us.” The high he’d been on when he came home. Made for great sex, wild and a little rough, but didn’t quiet the voices in her head telling her he’d changed. That he wasn’t the man she’d married. That something was wrong with this picture.

  None of that she spoke aloud. It only served to show what a blind fool she’d been. Thank God her parents weren’t alive to see how much she’d screwed up her marriage. Theirs had been a marriage made in heaven. They married young, loved long, and died happy. Mia always thought she’d have the same kind of marriage as them. Thought Ray was the man to give it to her. In the beginning, he had. Then he started disappearing more. Staying out all night. Meeting with friends he never introduced her to.

  “You confronted him about it?”

  She nodded, remembering that night. He’d come home, riding that high he always got after a job, wanting sex, but she denied him. Said they needed to talk. That set off his temper. Since he’d never raised a hand to her, she’d pushed forward, asking him where he’d been, about the blood staining his shirt sleeve. When she brought up the robberies he got angry and stormed out. That’s when she knew for sure. She’d gone straight to the police. Ray was arrested the very next day. They found him in a hotel room with a hooker, stolen goods and the weapon he’d used to shoot the home owner. He’d been offered a reduced sentence if he rolled on his cohorts, but Ray was no snitch. He served his time, protecting the ones who helped him with his criminal activities. The man he’d shot declined to press charges so his sentence was reduced to assault with a weapon and home invasion. She assumed his partners had gotten to the victim and somehow got him to back down from charging Ray. The less she knew the better, she figured.

  Out of fear they would find out she had turned Ray in, she’d packed up Jason and moved without telling anyone. Every few years she’d move again, telling Jason she’d found another job instead of the truth that she worried Ray’s partners would retaliate for her snitching. It didn’t help her relationship with her son any, but she had to protect him. He was her world and it would end her if she lost him.

  “Then I went to the police,” she said. “And, the rest, as they say, is history.”

  “History but not freedom.”

  No, she was anything but free. That, she could never change. As long as Ray walked the earth he would always have a hold on her through their son.

  “Once I’m finished with him he won’t bother you again.”

  Mia lifted her gaze to meet his. She thought she’d had her fill of alpha-type males. Brendan’s declaration made butterflies set flight low in her belly and her heartrate speed up.

  Someone pounded on the door, breaking the moment.

  “I’ll get that,” Brendan said, already on his way.

  She followed. Ray burst in before Brendan had a chance to open the door. He glared between them. “Where’s my son?”

  “In his room. What are you doing here?” Mia stepped up beside Brendan, his presence solid and strong.

  “Jason called me and said you had some guy living here.”

  Hurt that her son had run to Ray instead of talking to her, Mia pointed to the door. “That’s none of your business. Please leave.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until I know my son is safe.”

  Now her temper had risen. Where did he get off calling Jason his son when he hadn’t seen him in ten years? He’d never been a father to him. He didn’t have the right to worry. “Jason is fine. He’s been fine since the day you were arrested.”

  Ray’s face tightened into angry lines. “I wouldn’t have been arrested if you hadn’t snitched. Does our son know that his mother was the reason he lost his dad?”

  Outraged, she stepped forward. “You bastard.”

  Ray laughed without mirth. “Priceless. You tell him everything except the most important detail. No wonder he grew up hating me.”

  Brendan opened the door and held it open. “I’ll walk you out.”

  “Why, so you can sleep with my wife?”

  “For the last time, I’m not your wife any longer.” Did he keep calling her that just to get at her? Sounded like Ray. And she’d stepped in it with both feet.

  Ray pointed a finger at her. “Next time I come over, he better not be here.”

  On impulse, she pressed herself against Brendan and slipped her arm around his waist. Good Lord, the man was a solid wall of muscle. “This is my house. I’ll have whomever I choose stay here. And, if that happens to be in my bed then that’s none of your business.”

  Face red, Ray stormed out of the house. Brendan let the door close without slamming, muscles shifting beneath his t-shirt. He smelled like the outdoors, clean and rugged. Felt like more man than she’d ever been with. To say her body stood up and took notice was an understatement.

  Feeling his eyes on her she glanced up. Mistake number one. The lazy, sensual look in his green eyes mesmerized her.

  “In your bed?” He quirked a brow.

  It took a moment for her to realize he wasn’t making an offer, but repeating her words. Disappointment filled her, much to her distress.

  Finding her voice, she said, “I said that for Ray’s sake.”

  His head dipped so that their lips were inches apart. His warm breath mingled with hers. Her belly flip-flopped.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, low and sexy.

  No. No, she sure as heck wasn’t. At the time she’d done it to get back at her ex. Retaliate for his hurtful words. Now, she wondered if her subconscious had been speaking, knowing things she didn’t. Or, did, but refused to acknowledge.

  The way he looked at her, the husky tone. Very seductive. The man practically oozed sensuality. A woman knew, instinctively, how good certain men would be in bed. This man would be off the charts.

  “Yes,” she breathed. Only because she had to. As much as she wanted to explore that darkly sexual side of him, she knew she couldn’t. It would push Jason back to his father. Possibly for good.

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “Then maybe you should let me go.”

  “Oh.” Reluctantly she stepped out of his arms. Why did his words haunt her so? Maybe because she didn’t want to let him go.

  Chapter Six

  Brendan tugged a t-shirt over his head, grabbed his running shoes and strode out of the guest bedroom. The warm morning air drifting through the open windows called to him. Great time for a run to release the energy zinging through his veins. He’d had a sleepless night. The house too quiet. The bed too small.

  Not to mention, knowing an incredibly beautiful woman slept in the next room. Alone. Probably naked. No, Mia wasn’t the sleep-in-the-buff kind of person. Something more practical, but just as sexy.

  Giving himself a mental shake, he sat on the couch and slipped on his shoes. Would he never learn? Didn’t almost losing his sister teach him a lesson? He wasn’t here to take Mia to bed. No matter how much his body desired her.

  Damn if he didn’t want to.

  “Where ya going?”

  At the sound of Jason’s voice his head snapped up. The kid stood in loose pajama pants and a t-shirt, eyes heavy-lidded like he hadn’t slept that well either.

  “For a run.”

  “Is that how you stay in shape?”

  The curious, slightly awkward question made him return to tying his laces, as if it were no big deal. “Partly. Running is great for cardio. I like to add some pushups and sit-ups to my workout.”

  “How many can you do?”

  “Around one hundred in two minutes.”

  Jason’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

  Brendan chuckled. “Seriously.” He rose from the chair. Jason seemed uncomfortable, as if something occupied his thoughts. Sensing the kid wanted to ask him something, he busied himself stretching out.

  After a moment, Jason asked, “Could you teach me?”

  Straightening from his quad stretch, he answered. “I won’t be here long, but I can teach you the basics so you can continue your workouts after I’m gone.”

  “Okay.”

  “Go get changed. We’ll start now.”

  Eyes now wide open, the kid nodded and jogged to his room. Brendan had grown up without his father, but Uncle Jed had done a damn good job keeping him out of trouble. He’d always been there for him and Attie. Where would he have ended up if they’d been put in foster care? Raised without parents. Having no one to teach him how to be a man. Moms were essential, but a boy needed his father. There were just some things a mom couldn’t teach her son.

  Only took the kid a few minutes to change.

  “Is your mom still sleeping?”

  “Yeah. She’d have coffee going if she wasn’t.”

  “Should we leave a note in case she gets up?”

  Jason shrugged.

  Brendan strode to the fridge, picked up the dry erase marker and scribbled a note to Mia, letting her know where they were. Then he turned to the kid and said, “Let’s go.”

  Outside they went through a series of stretches before hitting the road. To Jason’s credit, he kept up fairly well. He had the lean body of a runner, just had to get his breathing synchronized and build some muscle. Then he’d be a force to be reckoned with. He certainly had the tenacity.

  Brendan may not be around long, but he would teach this kid everything he knew before he left. Give him a leg up for next school year. Maybe, make life a little less difficult on the kid.

  “Come on,” he said, picking up the pace. “One more mile and you earn a break.”

  Face red, Jason matched his stride.

  With a touch of pride he hadn’t felt before, Brendan pushed forward.

  ****

  Mia stared at the note scrawled on the white board hanging on the fridge. Broad stroke, confident, incredibly manly. Her hand hovered over the writing. Something wouldn’t let her erase it. Silly, but she left it.

  Last night had been a long one. Knowing Brendan slept in the room next to hers kept her awake. When she did sleep her dreams were filled with images of that hot body and what it would feel like to have his hands on her. She’d come as close to a wet dream as one could get without actually having one, resulting in restless sleep and unsatisfied sexual desire.

  “Geesh,” she said to the empty kitchen, wandering over to the coffee pot. As she made a fresh pot her thoughts were on her son and Brendan. Out for a run? Together? How had that happened? Jason had always been an active kid, but his activities tended to run more along the lines of parkour and biking.

  For a moment, she let her thoughts drift to what it would be like if Brendan were Jason’s father and they were out sharing their morning run while she woke up and made coffee and breakfast. Happy. Content. A family.

  The coffee pot hissed signaling the end of the cycle, drawing her out of her dreams. Maybe someday she’d have the family she’d always wanted.

  Finding a mug, she poured a cup. With an appreciative sip, she closed her eyes and let it work its magic. Voices in the back yard drew her attention. Walking to the sliding doors and out onto the deck she saw Brendan in a push up position, arms extended, biceps popping, head turned away from her, talking to Jason.

  A wave of awareness tingled from her head to her toes. After last night’s dreams she really should turn right around and go back inside. Work on packing. Did she do that? Nope. She leaned against the porch railing and enjoyed the view.

  She watched Brendan show Jason the proper way to do a push up, lowering himself slowly, holding it only inches from the ground to instruct her son about keeping his back straight and elbows tucked.

  Mia got a hot flash just watching the pure strength in Brendan’s big body. The power it took to hold himself in that position wreaked havoc on her hormones.

  He pushed up into a starting position, checked Jason’s posture, and began pumping out a series of pushups so fast her head spun. Her son couldn’t keep up with the pace, but he gave his all; she could see the determination on his face. He collapsed after about a minute. Brendan kept going for at least another minute. She lost count at seventy.

  When Brendan finished he clapped a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “You did great. Tomorrow, we’ll work on some chin-ups.”

  Pride shone in Jason’s eyes, making her heart break. All he wanted was approval. Aware of it or not, Brendan was giving him exactly what he needed. She wasn’t sure how to take that. Yes, she wanted a father for her son, but, she wasn’t ready for a relationship. Not with things up in the air like they were. She and Jason would be moving into a new home soon. Starting over. Or, getting the start they deserved. Brendan had his own life and it didn’t include an already-made family.

  Jason spotted her and she waved. He grinned from ear to ear as he crossed the yard next to Brendan, who towered over him. She loved seeing him so happy. Smiling. And she had this gorgeous man to thank for that. He gave her son something she couldn’t and Ray wouldn’t.

  Oh, boy. She was in trouble. In a short time, she had begun to fall for this man. A man who’d all but said he didn’t want kids.

  “Hey, Mom,” Jason said. “Ran a seven-minute mile this morning. And, did fifty pushups in less than one minute.”

  He seemed so proud she couldn’t help but rush over and give him a hug. For a brief second he let her hold him then he pulled back. “I’m all sweaty. Gonna go shower.” Over his shoulder he said to Brendan, “Thanks, man,” and disappeared inside the house.

  Mia turned her gaze to Brendan. “Thank you.” She wanted to say more, but her throat closed. It had been a long time since she’d been able to hug her son.

  “Kid’s got potential. With the right training he could go far.”

  Forcing her emotions down, she said, “He’s always been active. Loves the outdoors.”

  “Has he ever joined any sports teams?”

  “No. He prefers things that are more dangerous.”

  Brendan nodded. “I can relate. He would be a good candidate for the organization I work for.”

  Distracted by the way his damp t-shirt clung to his chest and abs, Mia said, “What organization is that?”

  His mouth tilted in an amused grin. “A group called ATCOM, remember? We specialize in anti-terrorism.”

  She nodded absently. “Right. Military?”

  “No. Private sector. Would be beneficial if Jason went into the military then applied for ATCOM, but not necessary.”

  “Sounds dangerous.”

  He shrugged, reminding her of Jason.

  “Jason has plans to go to college and become a personal trainer.”

  “He’d be good at it.”

  Mia smiled. “I think so, too. I think you helped him realize that today. You’ll make a good dad someday.”

  He sobered, making her regret the words. In fact, he looked ready to bolt, which went against everything she knew and expected of this man. How could kids scare him so much when he was such a natural around them?

  “I better shower, too.”

  She nodded. “Of course. There’s a second bathroom at the end of the hall. Towels are in the cupboard.”

  He disappeared inside the house as if his heels were on fire. Part of her berated herself for spooking him. The other part wanted to go jump in the shower with him.

 

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