Chapter One

D r . Stewart Hudson’s heart skipped a beat when his car made a strange sound and jerked a few times.

He was on his way to the house he had rented in Midnight Falls, and was scheduled to start at the local hospital in two weeks. Breaking down was not what he needed right now, stranded on some back road in the small town.

Glancing at his three-year-old nephew in the rearview mirror, Stewart forced a smile, unsure who he was trying to comfort more, him or the toddler. “ Don’t worry, buddy. I’m sure the car is just coughing.” Up a lung.

Even before they’d driven hundreds of miles, Stewart had known the car needed an oil change. This was what procrastination led to, if an overdue oil change was the cause of their current problem.

Since he wasn’t a mechanic, lord only knew what was wrong with it. His only knowledge of cars was pumping gas and taking it to an actual mechanic for maintenance.

“Mother fu—dge.” Stewart caught himself before he’d let the word fly, remembering his impressionable young nephew in the backseat. He didn’t want to set a bad example.

“No!” The car pulled hard to the right, and the engine made a few knocking sounds, almost like it was tapping on the hood to tell him there was an issue.

No shit. I kinda figured that out already.

Getting smart had been the wrong thing to do. The car sputtered and died, then started coasting along, causing Stewart to struggle hard to maneuver the sedan. His arms felt like noodles when he finally managed to come to a stop on the side of the road.

“You didn’t have to have a temper tantrum!” He smacked the steering wheel then sat there for a moment, taking deep breaths and trying to calm his racing heart. “Come on! You could have had a snit after we got to the house.”

Swear to god, the damn thing was giving him the middle finger. Smoke began to hiss from under the hood, adding another layer of chaos to their already disastrous situation.

“This is not my life right now. It just can’t be,” he muttered to himself, feeling utterly defeated, but was smart enough not to yell at the sedan again or the tires just might “accidently” fall off.

“Godda poddy!” Ethan declared cheerfully from his car seat, kicking his little legs playfully.

Of course he had to go at this very moment. It wouldn’t be a complete disaster without a toddler needing to use the bathroom at the most inconvenient time.

With a deep sigh, Stewart replied, “Hang on, tater tot. Uncle will find you a bathroom.”

In the middle of nowhere, with a dense forest on one side and an open field on the other. So many options...

Stewart reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed his cell phone, only to groan in frustration when he saw there was no signal. He thumped his head against the steering wheel, causing it to honk loudly.

“Need poddy, Stewalulu.”

However the kiddo wanted to say his name was fine. At least he was making an attempt.

“I’m going to try for a signal outside the car.” He turned to look at his nephew. Guilt weighed heavily on his heart considering the circumstances for why they’d fled Pennsylvania and ended up on this road trip. “Just don’t try to drive while I’m hopping on one foot and spinning in a circle to get a signal.”

Just to be on the safe side—since the car was being temperamental—he engaged the parking brake. The last thing he needed was for the car to suddenly start rolling with the toddler strapped inside.

After getting out, Stewart took a deep breath, trying to keep it together, although a large part of him wanted to break down and cry. With the way things were going right now, he might scare the local wildlife in the area, maybe forcing him to run from a raccoon or something bigger.

He held up his arm and slowly turned, but he still couldn’t get a signal. All he’d accomplished was looking like an idiot trying to capture a panoramic shot of the blinding sun. Waving his arm in different directions didn’t help either.

Fuck. How had his life turned upside down so quickly? In just one month, he went from having a semi-fulfilling life to becoming a guardian for his young nephew and fleeing from an abusive partner.

Now he found himself stranded, desperate to get a signal while dealing with a wiggly toddler in the backseat.

Ethan! Crap. If he didn’t let his nephew use the bathroom soon, the kid would end up soiling himself and his car seat, which would stink up the car.

Even if the sedan was nothing more than a useless hunk of metal at the moment.

With an irritated grunt from lack of phone service, Stewart shoved the useless device in his pocket, then pulled Ethan out of the car, hoping no one drove past them. Well, they needed someone to come by and help them, but only after Ethan had used the bathroom.

“Okay, buddy, go pee.” Stewart placed his hands on his hips, waiting for Ethan to handle his business.

The three-year-old gazed up at him with confusion in his green eyes, as if Stewart was the strangest person on the planet. “I no go, siwwy.”

Huh? Half the time, he couldn’t make sense of what the toddler was saying. To be fair to his nephew, Stewart hadn’t spent much time around Ethan before gaining custody of him.

In fact, he hadn’t even known his sister was sick until two days before she passed away. From what he’d learned, Carol had fought a tough battle against breast cancer, but in the end, the disease won out.

She had been a single parent, and as far as he knew, the father hadn’t been in the picture. He wasn’t even on the birth certificate.

Stewart had asked her for the guy’s name a few times, but Carol hadn’t been in any condition to tell him. The hospital had been giving her pain medication to make her end as comfortable as possible. Whenever he asked her to tell him who Ethan’s father was, she would mumble something about keeping his secret. Whose secret? But he’d never found out.

Now, Stewart had full custody of Ethan.

What really hurt was the fact he was a damn doctor and Carol hadn’t reached out to him until forty-eight hours before she died. A part of him resented his baby sister for depriving him of time he could have spent with her.

Stewart hadn’t even known he had custody of Ethan until he found himself signing a stack of legal documents.

Through the entire process, Stewart had been grieving but managing. Until he blew a gasket when he discovered Carol had left Ethan with an elderly neighbor when she’d been admitted to the hospital. His sister hadn’t even told the poor woman why she’d had to go in the first place.

He and Carol had been night and day.

While Stewart worked tirelessly to become a family practitioner, his sister was the most irresponsible person he had ever met.

They’d grown up in foster care, never knowing their parents, but were placed together with an older couple who’d tried their best to handle Carol’s reckless behavior.

It was a miracle the Ashfords hadn’t given up on her and sent her back into the system. Unfortunately, his sister hadn’t improved as an adult. She’d bounced from job to job, always relying on men to support her.

The night she’d told Stewart she was pregnant, he hadn’t handled it well. Her life had been a mess, and she’d barely been able to take care of herself. He’d asked her how she could even think of bringing an innocent babe into the chaos and how unfair that was to the child.

The next time he’d heard from her was when she’d called to tell him she had given birth to a little boy. After she passed away, Stewart had gone to collect Ethan’s belongings from their home and was horrified by their living conditions. Not only was the house filthy, but the cupboards were nearly empty, and poor Ethan had very few clothes and toys.

In that moment, Stewart had vowed to give his little tater tot a better life.

Lost in his thoughts, he barely felt the tug on his pants.

“Go pee now!”

Crap! Stewart quickly helped Ethan, hoping the toddler wouldn’t get any urine on his tiny jeans. After his nephew finished, Stewart began righting Ethan’s clothes. That was when he heard the rumble of motorcycles. As he listened, he realized they were getting closer.

“Uncle wants you to sit in your car seat, buddy.” Stewart scooped him up and placed him in the car seat, struggling with the safety harnesses. Panicking, he finally finished the last buckle and closed the door just as six motorcycles came into view, heading toward them.

After they’d passed, one of the riders slowed down and made a U-turn in the middle of the road, followed by the others who formed a line behind his car.

Stewart’s heart was going ninety miles an hour. He’d never been this close to such rugged, muscular men who looked like they’d been dipped in badass then sprinkled with a coating of danger.

And they were lined up behind him, their engines loud and their presence terrifying. Stewart swallowed a lungful of worry as the rider who’d made the turn shut off his bike and smoothly dismounted, like his long legs were a part of the machine.

Instinctively, Stewart took a step back but quickly moved forward when he realized he was leaving Ethan’s door unguarded.

“Need a hand?” The deep voice suited a guy his size, colossal. He pushed his sunglasses onto a head of windblown hair, revealing breathtaking gray eyes. The other riders had turned off their engines and were chatting amongst themselves, ignoring Stewart completely.

With a sexy gait, the stranger approached, making Stewart tilt his head back to look at the guy’s perfectly sculpted face. At five-feet-seven, Stewart felt dwarfed by him. He also felt something stir deep inside of him, almost like a connection to the man, although Stewart had never met him before.

“Name’s Killian,” he said with a nod. “Saw you on the side of the road and thought you might need some help.”

Stewart’s heart raced even faster, unsettled at how attracted he was to Killian and his commanding presence. An urge filled him to slide his arms around Killian’s waist and curl into his ripped body.

What is wrong with you? Have you forgotten what you just fled from? Pull yourself together!

A slight breeze blew the cold air around them, causing Stewart’s hands to sting. As he tucked them into his coat pockets, Killian cocked his head back and deeply inhaled. The action reminded Stewart of the way the Ashfords’ dog used to do the same thing whenever Martha cooked.

Strange.

When he lowered his head, Killian swept his gaze over Stewart so intensely, it felt like a physical touch. Had the guy just…softly growled? Killian glanced away, though it looked like it had taken concentrated effort, and nodded toward the car. “You might want to put a blanket on the cub. It’s pretty chilly out here, and it’s not good for him to be stuck inside a car without any heat.”

Stewart glanced at Ethan through the window and noticed the little guy was trembling slightly. Cursing under his breath, he quickly opened the trunk and grabbed the only blanket he’d thought to pack, then hurried back to his nephew.

“Sorry, tater tot,” Stewart whispered as he tucked the blanket snugly around Ethan. “Uncle Stew is still figuring out this whole parenting thing. Let’s hope I get it right before I turn you into a Popsicle.”

“Pay whiff bear?” Ethan was staring at something past Stewart’s shoulder, his green eyes dancing with excitement. Unsure what the toddler was talking about, Stewart turned and saw Killian standing right behind him, grinning at Ethan.

“Hey there, little buddy.” It was like watching a mountain sink as Killian crouched down to Ethan’s level. “Are you feeling warmer now?”

Stewart took a step to his left, blocking Ethan from Killian’s view and introduced himself. He didn’t know this man or the other riders, and he was very protective of his nephew. He waved toward the car.

“I don’t know what happened. The engine began making strange noises and then just stopped. And then it started smoking.”

Embarrassment flooded Stewart when he noticed his crotch was right in Killian’s face. Hoping he wasn’t too obvious, Stewart casually turned.

“Let me take a look under the hood.” Killian slowly straightened, and it was like watching the mountain rise once more. Their bodies were close, almost touching. Stewart held his breath until Killian stood to his full height, all those sinewy muscles towering over him by at least a foot.

The strange, stirring feeling grew stronger, as did Stewart’s breathing. Once again, he wanted to curl into Killian, almost had, but came to his senses when he noticed one of the other men approaching. Stewart froze as he watched the stranger approach, uneasy now that two intimidating men were near him and his nephew.

If he had to defend Ethan…

“Hey, it’s okay,” Killian said softly, clearly sensing Stewart’s apprehension. “No one is going to hurt you or your little cub. My family and friends just want to help.”

“Do you mind if I open the driver’s door to access the hood latch?” an older version of Killian asked. He had to be the guy’s father. The two shared the same gray eyes, though Killian’s were one shade lighter.

They also had the same strong jawline and nose.

“I, uh…okay.” Stewart kept a close eye on the stranger as the guy reached in and popped the hood. At the same time, Killian took a couple steps back, giving Stewart the breathing room he needed.

“That’s my dad, Quinton,” Killian said with a touch of pride, confirming Stewart’s assumption about their relationship. “Knows his way around engines.”

Another one of the men from their group walked over with a small blanket and offered it to Stewart with a kind smile. “I have grandkids. Your son is welcome to have it,” he said.

“This is Kalen, a close friend of our family.” And then Killian gestured toward each person as he said their name. Ryker and Hyett, Jaytee and Jax.

The men smiled warmly and nodded in response. Stewart gave a small wave in return while keeping a watchful eye on Ethan. He usually enjoyed meeting new people, especially in his profession, but having strangers near his young nephew made him cautious.

It had been only two weeks since Stewart had gained custody of Ethan, and he already felt like he was making mistakes with the toddler. But the worst mistake would be failing to protect Ethan, which had almost happened before Stewart had packed their bags and fled.

“Thank you…” He struggled to remember the man’s name.

“Kalen,” the guy reminded him with a good-natured smile. “No problem. The twins have a ton of blankets. They won’t miss it.”

Kalen’s immaculately groomed beard, along with his mustache, was the fullest and most well-kept Stewart had ever seen. While he admired it, maintenance had to be a pain in the ass.

“I’ve got snacks if the cub is hungry,” Ryker offered as Kalen rounded the car to join… Killian’s dad. He’d forgotten the guy’s name already.

Stewart leaned in and covered Ethan with the additional blanket, noticing its soft material adorned with tiny space rockets and colorful planets.

“I hungwy,” Ethan whispered, taking his cue from Stewart. “Want food, pwease ?”

They’d eaten the last of their snacks early this morning, and Stewart had planned to find a diner as soon as they’d hit town. Then, of course, the car had decided to throw a snit.

His nephew wasn’t the only one hungry.

Ryker handed a small plastic container to Killian, who then offered it to Stewart. “It’s just a PB&J sandwich, some grapes, pretzel sticks, and gummy bears.”

Stewart hesitated before popping open the lid and glancing inside, unsure if Ethan could eat anything besides the sandwich. Everything else could be a choking hazard.

“Thank you,” he said gratefully.

“I promise, my paws were clean when I made it,” Ryker joked with a chuckle while Stewart struggled to hold back tears.

The intimidating men had turned out to be the nicest people he had ever met, while his ex-boyfriend, who always seemed put together in his designer clothes—thanks to Stewart’s money—revealed himself to be the cruelest.

The past two weeks had taken an immense toll on Stewart, both physically and emotionally. These men had no idea just how much he had needed their simple act of kindness.

Stewart tore off a bite-sized piece of the sandwich and handed it to his ravenous nephew, who quickly devoured it and looked up at him for more.

“Your cub sure has a big appetite,” Killian remarked with a grin.

Once the sandwich was finished, Stewart closed the container and handed it back to Killian.

“I’m not trying to tell you how to be a parent, but the little guy is still hungry,” Killian said with a concerned expression. “He can have it all, hon.”

“I’m afraid he might choke on it,” Stewart answered honestly, wishing they had at least made it to town before the car died. The guilt weighed on him as he saw Ethan hungrily eyeing the container.

“May I?” Killian held out his hand.

“But he might choke,” Stewart argued.

“Ryker, bring me a few napkins,” Killian called out.

When the guy brought them over, Killian opened the container and used a napkin to smash the grapes. “Is it okay if he eats them now?”

Stewart’s gaze flicked from Killian to Ethan, who stared eagerly at the napkin. “Yes.”

“Do you mind if we switch spots?”

Stewart moved aside, still wary, and watched as Killian crouched and held open the napkin. Ethan reached with tiny fingers, grabbing the smashed grapes, eagerly shoving them into his mouth.

“Whoa, buddy. You gotta chew them first.” Killian tapped him on his nose, Ethan giggling in response. “I just told your dad these were safe. Don’t make me out to be a liar.”

“Uncuh Stewalulu.” The juices from the grapes dribbled down Ethan’s chin. Killian wiped up the mess with another napkin.

“Dad or uncle, let’s not make me out to be a liar, okay?” Killian smashed more grapes then held the napkin out for Ethan, who quickly grabbed them.

It was the happiest Ethan had been since Stewart gained custody of him. As Killian fed the toddler, he made goofy faces and was rewarded with high-pitched squeals.

Life in Pennsylvania hadn’t been good, even before Ethan had come into the picture. Stewart wasn’t even sure why he’d stayed with such a horrible person, but things had become so much worse when Clive found out Stewart had gotten custody of Ethan.

That had been Stewart’s tipping point. He refused to bring Ethan into such a toxic environment, so he’d set things in motion—transferring to Midnight Falls General, making arrangements for a rental home, then packing his and Ethan’s bags before hitting the road.

But he hadn’t left soon enough. Ethan had seen the violence Clive was capable of. That’s why Stewart was shocked his nephew was laughing and playing with Killian.

A muscular man just like Clive. Stewart glanced around and noticed everyone watching Killian, though he wasn’t sure why. Even the guy’s father had popped his head around the hood a few times to glance at them, always with a strange sort of expression.

Just then, Quinton—Ha! Stewart suddenly remembered his name—approached, wiping his hands on a rag and shook his head. “I’m afraid the car’s going to need more work than I can do out here. It’s gotta be towed to town, and the repair shop can take a proper look at it from there.”

“Thanks for trying.” Stewart’s life was chaos, and this was just another unexpected expense. He hoped his savings would be enough to cover the repairs.

“I’ll get a tow truck out here.” Quinton pulled his phone from his pocket and walked a short distance away to make the call.

Stewart watched as Killian helped Ethan munch on more of the smashed grapes. There was something unexpectedly tender in the way Killian interacted with the toddler. It was such a contrast to Clive’s harshness, and seeing it stirred a strange mix of emotions in Stewart’s chest. He didn’t know this man at all, yet there was a gentle familiarity that was impossible to ignore.

Even so, he questioned the strange stirring inside of him. Why did he feel anything at all for someone he’d just met? After everything Clive had put him through, shouldn’t Stewart be wary? Yet, there was something about Killian that seemed genuine, something about the kindness in his gray eyes and the warmth of his voice that made Stewart feel at ease around him.

Maybe it was the stark contrast between the cruelty Stewart had experienced versus the tenderness Killian showed toward Ethan. Could it be something deeper causing this stir of emotions within him? Whatever the reason, Stewart wasn’t ready to let his guard down again, not when his trust in men had been broken.

“Tow truck should be here in about thirty minutes,” Quinton called over.

“I appreciate you guys trying to lend a hand.” He rubbed his arms, ready to get himself and his nephew out of the cold.

“No trouble at all, son.” Quinton smiled, a reassuring warmth in his eyes.

Stewart glanced at his nephew, who was now giggling at something Killian had said. The laughter was infectious, and even Stewart couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Despite his initial fear, these strangers were an unexpected surprise that he was grateful for.

Especially Killian. While the guy was talking to Ethan, Stewart slid his gaze over the man’s backside, appreciating the mouthwatering view. Will you stop it? Jeez.

The next thirty minutes passed quickly, with Killian and the others entertaining Ethan while Stewart stood awkwardly to the side. He couldn’t help but notice how easily Killian fit into the role of entertaining a child, like he’d done this a thousand times before. It left Stewart wondering if Killian had children of his own and if that’s what made him such a gentle giant.

The tow truck arrived, and after a brief discussion with the driver, Killian informed Stewart that he would follow the truck to the garage, while the others continued on their ride.

That was fine with Stewart since he wasn’t sure if he would need more help. For reasons he couldn’t understand, he felt better with Killian present.

Stewart made sure Ethan was snug under the blankets, then tried to pull the seat out. Good lord! With the added weight of the toddler and blankets, Stewart’s puny arms were trembling like crazy. He grunted and groaned, wondering if he could make it to the truck before he blew out his back.

“I’ll get it for you.” Killian placed a hand between Stewart’s shoulder blades, gently coaxing him aside. The unexpected way his body reacted to the touch made Stewart quickly back away, causing him to trip over his own feet.

Smooth, he was not.

“Whoa.” Killian grabbed Stewart’s arm, stopping him from landing on his ass. “Watch your step, hon.”

Stewart really wished the guy would stop touching him. Those strong hands were frying brain cells.

Feeling like an idiot for overreacting, he used sarcasm while actively ignoring the warm sensation ping-ponging through his body.

“Fine, you can do the heavy lifting.” Stewart rolled his eyes, then scowled when Killian pulled the seat out as if it weighed nothing. It probably didn’t since the guy was built like a brickhouse. He strode to the truck with Ethan then strapped him in before easing out of the way.

“Thanks again…for everything.” Stewart climbed into the tow truck before he embarrassed himself again, grateful for the heat.

Killian nodded, closing the door once Stewart was seated. “Just glad we happened by. I’ll follow you guys to the shop.”

No one was more thankful than Stewart. There was no telling what would’ve happened if Killian hadn’t decided to stop.

As the truck pulled away, Stewart rubbed his chest, puzzled over the stirring that refused to subside.