Page 42 of The Maverick
She took a deep breath to calm herself. “Okay. Well, your father is dead. He won’t ever bother us again now.”
Jake was quiet for a bit, his brows knit together and his mouth in a firm line. “Are you sure? Maybe he’s like a zombie and he’ll come back and eat our brains.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “When did you see anything about zombies? Have you and Bailey been watching TV you’re not supposed to?”
He looked at the floor. “Maybe.” Suddenly, he looked up. “Don’t be mad at Bailey. She was surfing through the channels and I made her stop. We didn’t watch very long.” His eyes widened and his brows lifted. “It was gross and scary.”
“Well, despite that, your father is not coming back. Never. Do you understand?”
“Yes. He can’t ever hurt you again.”
“That’s right. Never again.” She put her hand on his knee. “Are you okay?”
He thought for a moment and then nodded. “I’m glad. Does that make me a bad person?”
She thought about him worrying about being a bad person and how very different he was from his father. “No. Not at all. I’m glad, too. Do you think I’m a bad person?”
He shook his head. “You are a good person. You’ve always protected me. I love you, Mommy.” He threw himself into her arms.
She hugged him close for thirty seconds or so.
He pulled away. “Can I go play with Bailey now? We finished our homework.”
Rachel chuckled. “Yes, you can go play with Bailey until dinner. Then, afterward we’ll go swimming and play in the pool. Maybe we’ll play water polo. You and Bailey, both like that.”
Jake grinned and hugged her again. “I love you.” Then he whispered, “We’re gonna beat you.”
“I love you, too.” Her eyes glistened and she knew she needed to let him go before she cried. He wouldn’t understand she was so very proud of him. He’d grown up too fast. He’d had to. Now, though, he could be a kid. Nick had done that—kept them both safe and ultimately saved her in more ways than one. Now, she could concentrate on being the mother that Jake deserved. If only she knew what to do about Nick. Did she dare risk their friendship for something more?
CHAPTER11
Dinner was stuffed pork chops and, per Jake’s request, mashed potatoes and gravy. Rounding it out was tossed green salad, corn, fresh dinner rolls, and Bailey’s favorite dessert, German chocolate cake, to be enjoyed after swimming. Rachel had to admit it was one of her favorite desserts, too.
Afterward, they changed into swimsuits and enjoyed a rousing game of water polo. The kids won. They played it a lot more than their parents.
After dessert, and after the kids were in bed, Rachel grabbed a bottle of Malbec and two glasses. She turned to Nick. “Want to join me in the pool house? It’s too cold to sit outside and I want to look at the stars.”
Nick smiled and took the bottle of wine. “I’d love to join you.”
After they got comfortable in lounge chairs and each had a glass of wine, Rachel turned to Nick. “How do you feel about what happened today? You had to kill a man, and I know it doesn’t sit right with you. You’re not that kind of person.”
“I’m okay with it, Rach.” He looked over at her, his dark brows furrowed. “That man was a threat to you and to Jake. If anything were to happen to you or to your son, I wouldn’t have forgiven myself.”
She leaned back and looked up at the stars. “What does it say about me that I’m glad he’s dead?”
“It says you’re human. The man hurt you physically and emotionally. You thought you were in love with him.”
“What if I don’t know what real love is? I picked wrong. What if I do again?”What if I ruin our friendship?
“You won’t, Rach.” He put his glass on the small table between them and stood. “Scoot over.”
She lifted her brows. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to sit with the woman who means more to me than anything.” Rachel scooted over as far as she could without falling off.
Nick settled on the lounger and then lifted her, setting her on his lap. “Lean back and look at the stars with me.”
Rachel let her body relax. She was exactly where she wanted to be, yet she had questions. “Nick? What are we doing?”
