EIGHTEEN

PECCA CRINGED. Please be careful. Please be careful. That was her prayer all afternoon as she watched Maceo and his friends bounce, climb, swing, and fall all over the place inside the trampoline park. The giant warehouse kept the kids busy for hours. They barely sat still long enough to eat pizza and sing “Happy Birthday,” even leaving the pile of presents on the table, forgotten.

“This party was a great idea,” Lane said, scooping up a plate with a half-eaten piece of birthday cake left on it. “I think we’ll do this for Noah’s birthday.”

“I’ll pay you not to have it here.” She looked over to the monkey ropes just in time to see Maceo racing through the air on a zip line. He made some Lord of the Flies noise before releasing his grip and dropping into a giant pit filled with huge chunks of blue and red foam. “I don’t think my son realizes how much that prosthetic costs. If he breaks it . . .”

“Aren’t they pretty durable?”

Pecca sat next to Lane. “They are, but he still needs to be careful.”

“I think these belong to one of those boys.” Shirley carried over a pair of socks and set them on the bench. “I thought I was done collecting smelly clothes.”

“Ha.” Lane licked chocolate icing from her finger. “I thought once I married Charlie I’d have some help.” She quirked her lip. “Now I’m just picking up little-boy and big-boy clothes with varying degrees of smells I don’t want to identify.”

“It’s called man, woman.” Charlie planted a kiss on Lane’s head as he straddled the bench. “And you know you love it.”

Lane made a face that said otherwise, and Pecca sighed. She glanced over to Colton, who was being pulled toward a dodgeball game Maceo and some of his flag football teammates were trying to organize. Did it make her sound pathetic to admit that she maybe wanted to be the one to pick up after Colton?

Claudia would say it was because she had a thing for broken and wounded souls. Said that’s why she was drawn to Javier—wanted to fix him. But that wasn’t entirely true. Javier was not like the guys he hung out with in the gang. Something was different about him.

And Colton was nothing like Javier.

“How’s the new alarm system working?” Charlie said, massaging Lane’s shoulders. “You’re setting it every night? Even when you’re home?”

“Yes. Maceo thinks it’s fun.” But for Pecca, it was unnerving. Most homes had alarm systems these days as a preventative deterrent, but she was relying on hers to warn her against an anticipated danger.

“I still think your best defense is a big, scary dog.” Shirley shivered. “Or a Colt. Maybe a Smith & Wesson.”

They laughed.

“I’m the only person in my family, besides my mom, who doesn’t know how to shoot a gun.” Pecca shrugged. “Not sure I’m missing out.”

Lane raised her eyebrows. “Even your sister knows?”

“Yeah, she was on the rifle team in high school and got a scholarship to the University of Texas. Was even invited to the Junior Olympics.”

Charlie whistled. “Remind me not to mess with her.”

“Don’t worry.” Pecca laughed. “The only thing Claudia shoots now are after-hour cocktails with clients as she’s trying to make the next great deal.”

Pecca’s throat turned raw and she quickly averted her eyes, running her hands down her jeans in an attempt to regain control of her emotions.

Lane put a hand on Pecca’s. “Did she call?”

“Not yet.” Pecca peered at her friend, appreciating Lane’s heart. She knew how much Pecca missed her family and always made it a point to ask about them or their lives whenever possible. “But she’ll call tonight. She never misses Maceo’s birthday.”

“I’m sure your family wishes they could be here.” Lane squeezed her hand. “Bad timing.”

“The worst.” Pecca’s dad got sick and couldn’t fly. Adrian had work. Her sister-in-law was pregnant and due any day, and there was no way she could ask Luis to leave his wife to bring her niece and nephew to Georgia for Maceo’s birthday.

Her heart ached. This was the first time no one from her family was there to celebrate his special day, but she had a lot to be grateful for. Colton, Charlie, and Lane were there, Shirley, Sheriff Huggins and Ms. Byrdie—all of them filled in the void. Even David had come.

Pecca watched David as he talked to the mom of one of Maceo’s classmates. She had no ring on her finger. Maybe David had moved on. Good. She was happy for him. David was as good as they came. He’d honorably served his country and gotten injured, but he didn’t let it stop him from still trying to find ways to serve his community. The staff at the school spoke highly of him, and he was a reliable volunteer at Home for Heroes. Any woman would be lucky to have a guy like him, except he wasn’t Colton.

“So, have you decided who you’re going to give the final rose to?”

“What?” She turned to find Lane and Shirley looking at her expectantly. She glanced back to David and then to Colton before rolling her eyes. “You guys are too much, but that does remind me, I have an episode of The Bachelor to catch up on.”

Shirley tsked. “Honey, you’ve got your own bachelor over there, and you don’t have to worry about thirty girls chasing after him.”

“And that’s my cue.” Charlie, making a face, stood up. “I’m just going to do . . . man stuff.” He hitched his thumb toward Colton and the kids. “Sweat, compete in feats of strength—not talk about The Bachelor.”

Pecca, Shirley, and Lane burst into laughter as they watched Charlie hurry away.

“Don’t let him fool you.” Lane held the sides of her belly. “If I’m watching it, he’s like a moth to a flame.”

This started another round of girlish giggles that left all three of them trying to catch their breath.

“Are you ladies okay?” David smiled at them as he approached. “Can I get you some water or something?”

“No, we’re good, honey.” Shirley wiped her eyes. “Would you like some more cake?”

“Oh, no thank you, ma’am.” He pressed a palm to his flat stomach. “I’ve had my fill.” His eyes shifted to Pecca. “It’s getting late, and I promised my neighbor I would feed her cat while she’s out of town. I wanted to say goodbye to the birthday boy and thank him for the invitation, but he seems a little occupied at the moment.”

Pecca stood and turned to find Maceo climbing a huge rope ladder. He was struggling and slower than his friends, but he was smiling. “I’ll let him know. I’m glad you came today, David.”

“Me too.” His eyes traveled to Maceo again, his lips parting into a lopsided smile. “He’s a great kid, Pecca. Really special.”

“Thank you.” She started to reach for David’s arm and then hesitated. He really was the whole package—just not the one for her. She touched his arm. “David, I know you’re going to make a woman very happy one day.”

David patted the top of her hand, his light brown eyes dimming. “Have a good weekend, Pecca.”

Pecca cringed watching him leave. Alone. “You’re going to make a woman very happy one day.” Had she really said that?

“You okay?” Lane asked, her eyes following David out the front door before returning to Pecca. “You made the right choice. David’s nice, but he’s sort of . . . boring. Not in a bad way. Just not in a good way either.”

Pecca began gathering shoes, jackets, and belongings, getting everything ready for parents to arrive and collect their kids. It had been three days since Pecca had decided to allow herself to feel something for Colton in the hopes that maybe he felt something too, but nothing had changed. He came into the gym for his session, hung out until his appointment with Chaplain Kelly, went back to the gym until his pool session, and then played football with Maceo outside the gym until she was done with work.

“I don’t know. Is now really the right time to be thinking about any of this?” She rubbed her hands together. “I’m locking my house down like it’s Fort Knox. My focus needs to be on keeping Maceo safe—not dating.”

“Wait here.”

“Where are you—”

Pecca tried to grab Lane’s hand, but it was too late. Her friend was striding over to Colton like a woman on a mission. They looked over at her and she ducked her head, quickly busying herself with the mess of paper plates and plastic cups littering the table. Tossing the mess into the trash can, Pecca kept an eye on the conversation happening among Lane, Colton, and Charlie. What is Lane doing? A second later, she returned like someone who had just gotten their way.

“What did you do?”

“Gave you one less thing to worry about.” Lane sat, leaning her elbows back on the table, looking completely pleased with herself. “Colton said he would be happy to help you get Maceo and all those presents back to your house.”

“That’s nice, but I don’t really need help.”

Lane sat forward. “You just said you need to be thinking about your and Maceo’s safety.” She tilted her head in Colton’s direction. “Shirley thinks a dog is your best security. I say it’s that six-foot hunk of muscle.”

Pecca watched Colton, who was overseeing Maceo and the kids playing on the monkey ropes, and the familiar burst of attraction rushed through her. There was a seriousness to his posture—protective and alert. Pecca was beginning to understand that those traits were the cornerstone of who Colton was at his core, but she also caught glimpses of his quiet humor and tenderness that reached the places of her heart she’d long since closed off.

Was it time to open them up?

Maceo was toast by the time they got to Pecca’s house. Colton finished unloading her car and carrying in the gifts while she got him ready for bed. He surveyed the cottage-style homes and dense tree line hedging the neighborhood. His nightly runs gave him a good idea of the places a person could hide and watch, waiting for the perfect moment to make good on their threat.

“You okay?”

Colton turned to find Pecca standing near the hallway, watching him. He gave her neighborhood one final survey before stepping the rest of the way into her house. “Yeah. I set Maceo’s gifts on the table. I hope that’s alright.”

“Perfect. Thank you.” She eyed the colorful packages. “He really wanted to open them, but he was so tired. I told him opening them up tomorrow morning would be like his birthday was two days instead of one.”

“Smart.”

She shrugged. “I have my moments.”

Colton was sure she had many. Maceo was such a well-adjusted young man, no one would ever guess the hardships he’d faced in his short life—and that was all due to the woman standing a few feet away from him. She was strong and determined, and her joyful personality defied her circumstances in ways he couldn’t understand. Those qualities and so much more made Pecca more beautiful with every passing day.

His skin grew hot. “So, I’ll just head back—”

“I was going to make some quesadillas,” Pecca said. Her cheeks pinked at her interruption, but she continued. “I didn’t realize how bad that pizza was, and I’m starving. Would you, uh, like to stay?”

Yes. He wanted to very much, but was it a good idea? There was no denying his feelings for her were growing into something he needed to be cautious about, but at the moment he couldn’t remember why. Besides, it was just cheese and tortillas.

“That kind of sounds delicious right now.”

A sparkle returned to her eyes when they met his. “Yeah?”

He tipped his head toward her fireplace. “Would you like me to start a fire?”

“Oh, that would be great.” Pecca disappeared into the kitchen. “There’s wood on the porch.”

Colton gathered some logs and kindling from the porch in his left hand and began stacking the wood next to the fireplace when he heard Pecca in the kitchen. Was she humming? He paused and listened. She was. He smiled and continued working on the fire. A few minutes later it was crackling, and Pecca carried a tray into the living room.

“I don’t like to keep soda in the house, but I’ve got some juice, tea, and water.”

“Water is good.”

When Pecca returned, she handed him a bottle of water and then stopped. “Can you give me a few minutes? I’ll be right back.” She hurried down the hall before turning around abruptly. “Oh, the remote’s on the side table. Go ahead and start eating, and make yourself at home.”

And then she was down the hall. Colton sat on the couch and leaned back. His stomach rumbled at the sight of the gooey cheese pressed between the tortillas. He’d wait for Pecca.

Colton surveyed the room, remembering the last two times he’d been here. He sat up. Should he have checked the house first? No, she had an alarm now. But an alarm wouldn’t stop someone if they were determined.

“Sorry.”

He turned in her direction and his mouth went dry. Pecca had changed into a pair of black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt with— “Are you really wearing that?”

“What?” She smiled coyly and glanced down at the Navy sweatshirt. “A patient gave it to me.” She locked eyes with him. “You don’t like it?”

“It should be burned,” Colton said. He tilted his head to the fireplace. “We can use it if we need more fuel.”

“Ha-ha.”

Pecca plopped down on the couch close to him and tucked her legs beneath her. She’d let her hair down, and Colton realized it was the first time he’d seen it not pulled back. The long chestnut layers fell over her shoulders, and every time she moved the sweet scent of her shampoo wafted over him.

“Why aren’t you eating?” She stretched across him, grabbing a triangle of tortilla and cheese, and his heart about thudded out of his chest. The heat of her body next to him made him swallow back an urge he hadn’t felt for a long time. “It’s good, I promise.”

“I was waiting for you.”

“Did you want to watch a movie or something?” She took a bite and then swiveled on the couch so that she was facing him. “I have Netflix, and we own every Marvel movie.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

She tilted her head to the side, a nervous look in her eyes. “Um, sure.”

“Are those tacos on your socks?”

Pecca let out a startled laugh. “Yes.” She wiggled her toes. “Maceo got them for me for Mother’s Day last year,” she said around a bite, then wiped her lips with a napkin. “Okay, my turn to ask a question. But first you have to eat, because if you don’t I will eat all of this—and I’m not joking.”

Colton smiled, then picked up a quesadilla and took a huge bite to satisfy her. “You’re right. These are good.”

“It’s the homemade tortilla.” She lifted her shoulders and took another bite. “Makes all the difference.” She licked her lips and straightened her shoulders. “Tell me about Texas.”

Colton swallowed the last of his quesadilla. “What do you mean? You’re from Texas.”

“I know, but I miss it. And I want to hear you talk about it. Where you grew up. Your family home.”

He grabbed a napkin and wiped his lips, his fingers twitching. Talking about home used to be one of his favorite topics, but now it was a painful reminder of a life no longer within his grasp. Chaplain Kelly’s homework came to mind. “Begin imagining what your future’s going to look like once you leave here.”

“Jasper is a decent-sized town. Maybe a little smaller than Walton. We’re just north of Dallas, so it feels more like a suburb. My dad is a lawyer and my mom is a homemaker.”

“Any siblings?”

“No.” Colton shook his head. “I always wanted a big family. Feels like I should’ve had brothers or sisters. Probably why I gravitated toward team sports and then the military. Instant brotherhood.”

“I get that.” Pecca sipped her water and then set down the bottle. “Siblings are not all they’re cracked up to be.” She smiled. “I was the youngest and tortured at their pleasure.”

He cracked a smile. “But you talk so highly of them.”

“I’m pretty sure I suffer from Stockholm syndrome,” she said with a laugh. “They always made me feel bad so I wouldn’t tell on them.”

It wasn’t hard to imagine. Pecca had a good heart. Maybe too good. “Does”—he didn’t know if he should ask, but it was another piece of the puzzle—“does Maceo know about his dad?”

Pecca’s expression shifted, her gaze growing distant. “I found out I was pregnant with Maceo after Javier was arrested. He pleaded guilty, so his trial was quick. His lawyer expected he’d get a two-to-five-year sentence since he wasn’t the one who killed the store owner, but I guess the judge wanted to make a statement. He sentenced Javier to fifteen years. I was shocked. Very upset. I started having contractions and ended up delivering Maceo early, but there were complications. I was young and didn’t have health insurance, so there were no ultrasounds to warn me, but bands of the amniotic sac had been wrapped around Maceo’s leg, cutting off his circulation. It’s called amniotic band syndrome. When the doctors delivered him, the only thing they could do was amputate the leg.”

Her voice shook, and Colton wished he’d never asked. He scooted closer, unsure how to comfort her or what to say. He was surprised when she moved so her body could lean against his.

“I visited Javier one time in prison to tell him he had a son. He told me to never come back. To move away from El Paso, away from the SSB, and do whatever it took to protect Maceo.”

Colton’s breath stilled in his chest. Javier told her to move and keep Maceo safe? That sounded eerily like something someone would say if they were expecting trouble, and it supported his and Charlie’s theory about the SSB’s motivations.

Pecca settled against him, watching the flames dance over the logs. “Maceo doesn’t know Javier’s in prison. I couldn’t tell him the truth because it was an unfair burden to put on his shoulders. All he knows is that his dad went away to do his job and never came back.” She turned to look up at him. “I don’t want him to suffer for Javier’s mistakes.”

A piece of hair fell over her eyes, and Colton lifted his fingers to her face and brushed it aside. He gazed into her eyes, feeling his heart banging wildly against his chest. His thumb traced her jaw and she lifted her chin. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he couldn’t do it. Pecca was vulnerable and he wouldn’t take advantage of her honesty. Colton pulled her closer to him and whispered, “I will make sure that never happens, Pecca.”