Chapter Two

Most riders didn’t jump on their motorcycles when the weather was this cold. But the first snow had yet to fall, and Killian loved breathing in the icy-cold air. It punched through his lungs and left a sweet, refreshing feeling all over his body.

But nothing could have prepared him when he’d pulled over to help a stranded motorist, only to discover he actually had a future, and it had come in a short, blond hair, green-eyed package.

With a bonus, because Killian must’ve done something right in his life for a chance to raise a cub.

And now he was following behind the two guys who had just become the most important people in his world. You couldn’t chisel the good mood off him, even with a crowbar.

At last, he’d found his mate. That simple truth had his bear purring inside him, but Killian suspected his beast just wanted to play with the cub. Stewart was his mate, and that adorable kiddo was now his nephew. The idea of raising a child, of molding a small mind, of claiming Stewart and starting a life with them, hit Killian right in his feel good.

As his Bluetooth earpiece vibrated, he tapped it to take the call, fully aware of who it would be. Sure enough, the familiar sound of his father’s voice came through, brimming with excitement and curiosity. Killian shook his head, amused. He’d nailed it.

“Is it simply attraction, or is the human your mate?”

Knowing his father, and Killian did, Quinton had been itching to ask the question during their entire time examining Stewart’s engine. The whole lot of them had been brimming with curiosity. They’d been about as subtle with their glances as a cub who was stealing a treat from the cookie jar for the first time.

Normally, Killian wasn’t overly friendly or volunteered to entertain a child. At least not that long. “Yeah, he’s my mate.”

Quinton let out a loud whoop, and Killian could picture the hearty grin on his dad’s face. He shouted to the others that he’d been right, and then a chorus of congrats erupted on Quinton’s end of the phone. Bunch of nosy goofballs. The lack of motorcycle sounds clearly indicated they’d pulled over. “That means the little cub is my grandson!” His dad let out a rich, booming laugh. “Well, grandnephew , but I’m calling him my grandson.”

Killian was elated, but also unsure. What did he really know about molding a young mind?

That shit was a huge responsibility, but he was more than willing to do it. He also hoped he didn’t screw the kid up. Those little rug rats were impressionable, soaked up everything. Good and bad. It was the bad that stuck the hardest in a kid’s mind, though.

Killian should know. His mom and dad hadn’t gotten along. Fought like enemies, made up like bears in heat— lalala, ain’t gonna think about that —then had gone right back at each other’s throats.

None of them talked about her. Lively Everhart had walked out one day and never returned. A decade later Killian had heard she was doing well up in Alaska. Had found another guy to torture.

He wished the cold-hearted bitch all the luck. If she could walk out on her sons, she was dead to him. It wasn’t like she was the best mom to begin with.

The three of them, Killian and his brothers, were happy their dad had found his mate. Quinton deserved someone good after the shit he’d endured with Lively.

And Noah was the best for Quinton. Good guy. Human, but no one was perfect. Bad joke.

Lively was the main reason Killian had refused to settle down with someone who wasn’t his mate. Fuck all that drama. If he was going to suffer, the person might as well be his mate. Wait…

But as far as raising the toddler, Killian hadn’t turned out half bad. He had some solid morals, and he wasn’t an evil SOB out there causing trouble for the sake of causing trouble. Besides, he would have his family—which meant his dad—and Stewart, there to help if he ever felt like he wasn’t getting it right.

Then it struck him. He didn’t even know the toddler’s name. Stewart had been very protective of the little kid, which was expected when six men on motorcycles approached the two, but the guy hadn’t even volunteered his nephew’s name, not even after he saw Killian and the others weren’t a threat.

“You good with this, son?”

Killian jerked slightly. He’d forgotten his dad was still on the phone. Quinton’s sudden voice had scared the mess out of him.

The elation in Quinton’s tone had softened, now taking on a more serious, stop-to-access-where-your-head-is-at vibe. He loved how his dad could switch gears so quickly.

“I think so, though it’s a lot to absorb,” he replied honestly. “Never thought I’d find my mate on a back road. I also like the idea of helping Stewart to raise his nephew.”

Quinton let out a satisfied grunt. “ You’ll do just fine, son. Listen, I’m gonna send Ryker back to grab his SUV. You got a family to haul around now.”

A family. How had Killian become such a lucky bastard? Like most guys, he’d thought about what it would be like to have a few cubs, but he’d known it was something out of reach. Unless his mate turned out to be female or he mated a descendant of Christian’s.

Both options hadn’t seemed likely, and it had never crossed his mind his mate might come as a package deal. “Thanks.”

“And maybe raising a cub will help you grow up some.”

“Couldn’t resist, could you?” Killian rolled his eyes at the backhanded compliment. Then he grinned. “ Bye , Dad.”

He ended the call and focused on the road. The wind whipped around him. The motorcycle rumbled beneath him. His thoughts on Stewart and the little boy. His mate and his nephew. Life had just taken a big, heart-pounding turn.

When they finally pulled up at the mechanic shop, Killian parked and hopped off his bike. The car seat weighed nothing to him, but he’d seen the way his mate wrestled with it when he’d tried to transfer it to the tow truck. Before Stewart ended up pulling a muscle, Killian grabbed it with one hand, hauling the entire thing out.

Lifted it right over his mate’s head then swung it clear before bringing it down to knee level. The flawless maneuver had gained him a huge squeal and happy grin from the toddler.

“Hey, wow.” Stewart stared wide-eyed at him. “That’s… impressive.”

It never hurt to display some assets when trying to impress the guy he would spend the rest of his life with. And Killian was displaying right now. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.” He finished off his stupid brag with a wink.

“Bear!” Ethan grinned widely when his gaze lifted to Killian, and damn if that smile wasn’t a triple dose of adorable. Killian also wondered how the toddler knew what he was. That still stumped him.

“You never told me his name.” Killian closed the truck door so the driver could back the car into one of the bays.

“Ethan.” Stewart tried to play it off, but Killian saw his mate’s hands twitching, like he would catch the car seat if Killian dropped it. Never gonna happen. The toddler was in the safest hands possible.

Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the mechanic waved for Stewart to come inside, but his mate was nervous. “I can take him.”

“Nonsense.” Killian headed for the door, his mate right behind him. Once inside, they stopped and glanced around, getting their bearings. A pneumatic gun whirred in the garage, and the telephone on the service counter began to ring.

Ethan’s eyes darted everywhere, bouncing so fast he looked like a robot assimilating all the information in the waiting area. There wasn’t much to look at, unless the kid liked pamphlets on proper tire pressure or rebates.

Still, Ethan seemed fascinated, glancing toward the door to the bay area as various tools burst with noise.

Killian, on the other hand, could do without the heavy smell of used engine oil and whatever that burnt rubber smell was. The noxious odors were messing with his senses.

“We’ll be in the waiting area talking sports and motorcycles while you handle the paperwork.” Killian nodded at the three chairs. They’d been made for someone half his size and looked like they would be uncomfortable for his large frame.

His thighs were going to hurt like a bitch when he eventually stood.

Stewart’s gorgeous green gaze lowered to Ethan then toward the counter.

“He’ll be fine, hon.” Killian shooed him away.

Relenting, Stewart finally walked to the counter. Killian sat—Jesus, the most uncomfortable chairs imaginable—placing the car seat on the floor, between his feet, then whispered to the cub, “Can you say Uncle Killian?”

The kiddo grinned. “Uncuh Kill.”

Killian burst out laughing, saw Stewart furrowing his brows, then quieted his laugh to a chuckle. “Either that’s an order or you just made me sound like one badass motherfu—dge.”

“Badass!”

“ Shh !” Killian glanced over his shoulder and saw Stewart talking with an employee then glanced back at Ethan. “Look, bud. I’m trying to impress your uncle, not have him pissed at me. You are never, ever, ever gonna say that word again. Got it?”

“Piss a you?”

Killian really needed to clean up his language. “Mad at me.”

“I hung… I hung… I hungwe,” Ethan said. “More gwapes.”

Killian was starving, but he needed more than grapes. But what he really needed was standing by the counter. Just looking at Stewart—the way his hip hitched to one side, chewing his lips anxiously—Killian had to turn back around just to take a normal breath. One that wasn’t filled with need.

“Let, um.” He cleared his throat and exhaled slowly. “Let your uncle handle this and then I’ll take my fellas to lunch. Deal?”

“Badass,” Ethan pouted.

Stewart was going to straight-up murder Uncle Kill. Sitting forward, Killian placed his elbows on his knees. “Buddy, please stop saying that. Your uncle is going to be the bada-.”

Was he seriously about to make a boneheaded move by repeating the word he was just begging the toddler not to repeat?

“He’s going to kick my butt if he thinks I’m over here teaching you potty words.”

This morning Killian had been wrestling with Ryker in his bear form. The epitome of “badass.”

Three hours later, he was begging a toddler not to snitch on him. Killian had the strangest, coolest life.

He leaned forward, listening as Ethan began to speak. “Take your time, cub. There’s no rush.”

“A big… and big… and big…” Ethan stammered, wiping the back of his hand over his nose like he was scratching it. “Him hurt Uncuh Stewalulu.”

Ethan sneezed. Killian glanced around and spotted a small box of tissues. He wiped the boy’s nose, asking himself if he’d heard Ethan correctly.

The toddler had the sincerest look in his eyes when he’d said it. The same color emerald as his uncle’s.

With a frown, Killian leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Did someone hurt Uncle Stewart?” His bear snarled as Killian waited for the toddler to answer him.

“Bad man,” Ethan whispered and then shouted, “Gwapes!”

“I’ll get you more grapes, bud.” Killian sat back, thinking about what Ethan just revealed. While he knew kids made a lot of things up, his gut told him Ethan was telling the truth.

Ryker strode through the door then stopped and stared at Killian with the car seat between his feet. He smiled then nodded. “Looks good on you, bro. Just try not to corrupt him.”

Too late.

Chucking a thumb over his shoulder, Ryker sat next to him. “I left the truck running so your mate and cub can be warm.” He leaned over and smiled at Ethan. “Can you say Uncle Ryker?”

Killian grinned. It looked as though he wasn’t the only one excited to have a little one in their lives.

“Uncuh Dyke!”

Killian laughed so hard his side hurt, but his brother didn’t seem amused. “Ry…ker.” He pronounced his name slowly, drawing it out.

“Uncuh Dyke!” Ethan giggled, kicking his small legs.

“We’ll work on it,” Ryker muttered then stood, holding his hand out. Killian got up and dug out his keys to his bike before handing them over.

“Gonna catch up with the others,” Ryker said then lowered his voice and leaned in. “Congrats on finding your mate, man. And the cub’s adorable.”

“Thanks.” He clapped Ryker on the shoulder. “You’ll find yours, too.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ryker rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “I’m starting to think my mate’s just really good at hide-and-seek.”

Killian laughed, though he saw the hint of wistfulness in his brother’s eyes. “Maybe he’s waiting for you to up your game.”

“Please. My game’s flawless,” Ryker shot back with a smirk. “See you at the house.”

Just as he headed out, Stewart walked over, clutching some folded paperwork. It was hard not to pull his mate into his arms, to taste the lips Stewart was just nibbling on at the counter.

Forcing himself not to openly gawk at Stewart, Killian began to ramble to fill up the space between them. “Ryker brought the SUV, and Ethan just told me he’s still hungry. How about I take you guys to lunch? There’s a diner just down the street. My dime.”

Stewart paused, chewing on his lower lip, the same damn lip Killian was dying to taste, and wanted to know if it was as soft as it looked. “I’m not sure. We’ve already put you out enough…”

“It’s no trouble.” He gave his mate his most charming smile, hoping to persuade him. “Plus, I could definitely use a bite myself.”

The smells of the oils and rubber were starting to irritate Killian’s lungs as he watched his mate mull over his offer. Ethan stared up at his uncle as if willing him to say yes. The kid wasn’t the only one.

“All right. But only if you let me pay for our share.”

That wasn’t how things worked with Killian, but since he’d just met his mate, he relented and grinned. “Deal.”

As if he’d been toting around the cub since birth, Killian automatically picked up the car seat and headed for the door. When he reached the SUV, he secured Ethan in the backseat then climbed into the driver’s side.

When they reached the diner, Stewart decided to let Ethan walk inside with them. Killian wasn’t sure how long the two had been on the road, but the cub looked thankful to be out of the car seat. He held Killian’s hand, not Stewart’s, and bounced around as he walked. It was more like he tried to skip, but he kept tumbling over his own small feet.

Killian used their combined hands to teeter him back up, only for Ethan to stumble again.

The diner was warm, welcoming, and smelled like heaven when the three of them entered. They slid into a booth, Ethan in a high chair the server immediately brought over.

“This place is nice.” Stewart looked around, taking everything in, but Killian noticed the way his mate kept sneaking glances at his body every few seconds.

It made Killian want to puff out his chest just a little bit more so he could display his assets. Will you stop being an idiot?

His mate definitely felt the pull—an unseen hand drawing them toward each other. Killian sure as hell felt it. From the moment he laid eyes on the gorgeous blond.

It was only when he’d smelled Stewart that Killian had been certain.

“So,” he started, leaning back in his seat, “are you new in town?” Could the question sound any more like a pickup line? It had definitely sounded better in his head. It was just as stupid as the “display” one, and Killian wished he would stop thinking about it.

Stewart glanced out the window briefly before turning his attention to Killian. A soft, sweet smile curled the side of his kissable lips. “I already told you that, but yeah, today’s actually my first day here. I rented a house, though I haven’t even seen it yet.”

Killian raised an eyebrow. “Sorry your first day here caused you trouble.”

Stewart let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “I guess I’m just lucky like that.”

But his green eyes told a different story. They were haunted, hiding Stewart’s well-guarded secrets. Like the bad man who had hurt him.

“Well, welcome to Midnight Falls,” Killian said with a grin. “We’re small, but we’ve got a lot of heart.”

“Seems like it.” Stewart’s gaze softened as he glanced across the table at Killian. “I mean, you guys didn’t have to stop and help us, but you did. I’m grateful.”

“A lot of decent people live here.” A lot of rotten ones too.

Killian was just glad he was the one who’d come across his stranded mate, though he suspected fate had a huge part in it. They weren’t even supposed to take that route. The group had decided to go in the opposite direction, but when they’d pulled from the driveway, a few cars were backed up, a truck blocking the road they’d wanted to take.

Whoever had been driving the truck, Killian owed them a debt of gratitude.

But his mind kept circling back to Ethan’s little reveal, which made Killian wonder what lay behind those words. If Ethan knew about it, that meant the little guy had seen it.

The thought of someone so young and innocent witnessing violence made Killian’s bear snarl. He wanted to protect both of them and kill anyone who thought to harm them.

His thoughts were interrupted when their server arrived. They ordered their food, and when Killian rattled off his long list—a burger, two orders of fries, chicken wings, dipping sauce, and a side of jalape?o poppers—Stewart shot him a look, his lips twitching.

“You planning to feed an army?”

With a shrug, Killian grinned and said, “Just got a big appetite.”

“Clearly.” Stewart chuckled. Although his eyes seemed haunted, his laugh sounded genuine, causing Killian to smile in return. He liked the sound and wanted to hear more of it.

Turning his attention to the cub, Killian winked at him. “What about you, buddy? You like chicken tenders?”

Ethan nodded enthusiastically. “I wike chicken!”

“Good choice.” He ruffled the kid’s hair. “You’ve got excellent taste, cub.”

“Badass!”

Killian wanted to palm his face as Stewart stared open-mouthed at his nephew. “Where did you learn that potty word?”

Ethan froze, his gaze flicking to Killian like the little guy was begging for some intervention.

“It might have slipped out,” Killian confessed, refusing to let Ethan get into trouble for something he’d done. “I tried to tell him not to say it again, but as you can see, it stuck. Sorry about that.”

Stewart sighed. “I’ve done the same thing. It’s not easy cleaning up your language at a moment’s notice.”

“Aside from being around Kalen’s grandkids a time or two, I haven’t dealt with children.”

“Really?” Stewart cocked his head, studying him. “I would have bet you had a few of your own. You seem like a natural.” He gestured toward Ethan. “Corrupted my nephew in less than an hour.”

“By accident,” Killian defended, feeling his cool points with his mate bottoming out. “Are you mad at me?”

“Piss a you?” Ethan’s tiny brows furrowed as he stared at Killian.

Good freaking lord.

“I am now.” Scowling, Stewart crossed his arms. “Just how many potty words did you teach him?”

“You just said you’ve done the same thing,” Killian pointed out. “I should get credit for stopping myself when I started to say mother—” He clamped his lips shut.

Stewart’s emerald-green eyes twinkled. “I did the same thing when the car went haywire. I think mother fudge is an acceptable alternative.”

Killian burst out laughing, thoroughly enjoying his mate’s company. “I used the same substitute!”

“Badass!” Ethan joined in the laughter, waving his tiny fists around.

Killian and Stewart groaned in unison.

* * * *

“Thanks once again for everything.” Stewart felt like he was saying that way too often to Killian. But he really was appreciative of all his help. If it hadn’t been for Killian’s kindheartedness, he wouldn’t have stopped, and who knew how much longer Stewart would have been stuck on that back road?

What astonished Stewart the most was how fast Ethan had taken to Killian. It was as if the two were close buddies now.

“Once again, you’re very welcome.” Killian jumped out and unbuckled Ethan’s car seat from the back then pulled it out and walked to the door of Stewart’s rental house.

The guy was also a back saver. Stewart thought he would throw his out trying to get the car seat with his nephew loaded into it from his car when the tow truck had arrived. Although he was lean with some definition to his body, he didn’t have tons of muscles like Killian.

Stewart glanced at the house. It looked just like the online picture. White with blue trim, though the color seemed a bit more faded in person. The front yard was huge, filled with dead leaves from the large, shedding tree in the center of the lawn.

Fall was Stewart’s favorite season. There was something about the crisp air that made everything feel more alive, even as nature began to wind down.

The leaves crunched underfoot, their vibrant hues of orange, red, and yellow blanketing the ground, a colorful reminder of the fleeting beauty of the season.

The air was cool, with just enough bite to remind him that winter wasn’t too far away, but for now, there was comfort in the sweater-weather warmth of the sun.

The scent of wood smoke drifted faintly in the breeze, mingling with the earthy aroma of fallen leaves.

Stewart took a deep breath, letting the tranquility of the moment settle over him. This was the kind of fresh start he’d hoped for.

A place where he and Ethan could put down roots.

Using the code he’d been given, Stewart retrieved the key from the lock box then opened the front door and stepped inside. The house was cold, and the air was stagnant, carrying the faint scent of dust and neglect, as if it had been waiting for them to breathe life back into it. He flipped the light switch, and a dim light flickered on, illuminating the sparsely furnished living room. The yellow glow highlighted the few pieces of furniture—a couch, a small coffee table, and a retro television set.

The house wasn’t much, but it would do. It was a place to start over, away from Clive and the chaos of his past.

Stewart rubbed his hands together, trying to bring some warmth into his fingers. The chill sank into his bones, biting at his skin, and he realized the heat must not be on yet.

The metal base of the car seat made a soft clunk sound when Killian set it down and took Ethan out of it. The little boy immediately began exploring, his tiny feet pattering across the echoing surface of the cold floor. Stewart wrapped his arms around himself, shivering slightly. The smell of aged wood and a hint of mildew lingered in the air, making him wonder when the last time the house was rented.

“You okay?” Killian’s voice was warm and steady, and Stewart looked over at him, seeing the concern etched in his expression.

“Yeah.” Stewart gave a small smile. “Just need to figure out how to get the heat on. And, well… we don’t have any food.”

The guy nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “How about we head to the grocery store?”

Killian had already done so much for them, and Stewart didn’t want to become a burden, but the idea of getting everything he needed in one trip, especially when he didn’t have a way to get around at the moment, was too tempting to pass up. “All right, that sounds like a plan.”

The grocery store was somewhat busy, the clattering of carts and murmur of conversation filling the space. The overhead lights cast a bright, sterile glow over the aisles, and the scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the crispness of refrigerated produce.

Stewart pushed the cart, while Killian walked beside it, entertaining Ethan, who was in the cart’s child seat. Killian made goofy faces, drawing giggles from Ethan that echoed through the store. The boy’s laughter was infectious, a bright sound that cut through Stewart’s wariness and brought a smile to his face.

As they moved down the aisles, Stewart felt a mix of emotions. He was grateful for Killian’s help, for his kindness, but a part of him was wary of getting too comfortable, too trusting. He had just escaped an abusive relationship, and the scars of that were still fresh, still raw, like a wound that hadn’t quite scabbed over. He wanted to trust Killian, but it wasn’t easy to let his guard down.

“So, what are you thinking for dinner tonight?” Killian asked, his voice light and teasing as he picked up a box of mac and cheese and waved it in front of Stewart. “Something gourmet, perhaps?”

Stewart laughed, shaking his head. “I think Ethan would approve of that choice. I’ll keep it simple for now.”

With a grin, Killian tossed the box into the cart. “Mac and cheese it is, then. Can’t go wrong with the classics.”

They continued down the aisle, and Stewart noticed the way Killian’s shoulder brushed against his arm every so often, a light, almost casual touch that sent warmth spreading through him. Killian was flirting, and Stewart knew it. It was subtle, but it was there—the lingering glances, the playful comments, and the way he seemed to be completely focused on Stewart and Ethan.

And the truth was Stewart liked it. He liked the attention, the way Killian made him feel seen, made him feel like he mattered. But at the same time, it scared him. He had been down this road before, had let someone in, only to be hurt, to be broken. He wasn’t ready to risk that again.

“You know,” Killian said, his voice breaking through Stewart’s thoughts, “I think we make a pretty good shopping team. What do you think, Ethan?”

Ethan looked up from the box of animal crackers he had been examining and grinned. “Uncuh Kill funny!”

Killian laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he looked at Stewart. “See? The cub approves.”

“Uncle Kill ?” Stewart was stunned. He wasn’t sure he liked that Killian had asked Ethan to call him uncle. The familiarity of it caught him off guard, and he was uncertain how to feel about it.

“He can’t say my full name.” Apology thickened Killian’s words. “I didn’t mean to cross a line, Stewart.”

“Look…” Stewart sighed, feeling the tension tightening his shoulders. “I just gained custody of my nephew two weeks ago, and I don’t want him getting confused about uncles. I’m not trying to be a shithead after everything you’ve done for us, but—”

“Shithead,” Ethan said a little too loudly, his voice ringing out with perfect clarity.

“It figures you can pronounce that word flawlessly,” Stewart groaned, palming his face. “As you can see, I’m not doing a great job at this uncle thing.”

“You’ve only had him for two weeks?”

Stewart nodded.

“How often did you interact with him before then?”

Dropping his hand, Stewart glanced at Ethan and hoped he wasn’t corrupting the kid’s little mind. “So infrequently that you might as well say never. Aside from patients, I don’t have a lot of experience with kids.”

“Then you need to cut yourself some slack,” Killian said as they strolled slowly down the aisle, the rubber wheels of the cart squeaking softly. “No parent gets it one hundred percent right. You can only hope they’re born with common sense and use the wisdom you’ve imparted on them.”

“For someone who hasn’t had much interaction with kids, you’ve got a lot of wisdom about them.” Stewart tossed a few colorful boxes of sugary cereal into the cart. They were unhealthy, but Ethan would like it. He balanced out the sugary cereal with plenty of fruits and vegetables, though he hadn’t had success thus far in getting his nephew to eat any of his veggies.

“My wisdom comes from my father raising me. I’m surprised he survived my juvenile years.” Killian chuckled, the sound deep and resonant, almost comforting.

Stewart wanted to ask about Killian’s mom, but it was none of his business. Still, he felt a closeness with the guy that baffled him. They’d met just a few hours ago, yet Killian felt more like an old friend. The air around them seemed lighter whenever Killian spoke, the tension easing from Stewart’s muscles.

“Another classic.” Killian opened the freezer door and pulled out a bag of chicken nuggets. “What do you think, buddy? Chicken?”

Ethan kicked his legs and nodded quickly, his eyes wide with excitement.

“Score another for the cub’s seal of approval.” Killian pumped his arm while biting into his bottom lip and scrunching his nose.

Stewart rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at his lips. “Yeah, well, he’s easily impressed.”

Leaning a little closer, Killian’s voice dropped to a playful whisper, his breath warm against Stewart’s ear. “What about you? Are you easily impressed?”

Sweet lord. A shiver ran through Stewart as his breath caught. He looked away, focusing on the freezer doors in front of him like they were the most interesting thing in the world. “I think I…”

A rush of emotions flooded Stewart. His attraction toward Killian was intense, but… God, I’m a hot mess . He wasn’t sure if he was coming or going when it came to Killian. The man was sweet, gorgeous, and he’d done nothing but look out for Stewart and Ethan. And he was great with Stewart’s nephew, which was a plus.

But Clive’s physical, emotional, and verbal abuse made it hard for Stewart to open up to anyone. He never wanted to be that vulnerable again. And poor Ethan had witnessed the abuse until Stewart had gotten them out of there.

“I really like you, Killian, but…” Stewart ran his hand through his hair. “Can we talk about this later?”

Killian’s smile softened, and he nodded, as if somehow understanding his hesitancy. “Fair enough,” he said quietly, dropping the bag of nuggets into the cart.

They continued through the store, picking up the essentials like bread, milk, and cheese. As Stewart reached for a carton of eggs, he thought about how different this was from the life he had left behind. Clive had always been reckless with money, spending it on things they didn’t need, things that left Stewart struggling to make ends meet. The thought of how he was going to pay for the car repairs weighed heavily on his mind, a constant reminder of the uncertainty of his situation.

But as he looked at Killian, at the way he was making Ethan laugh, at the way he was helping without expecting anything in return, Stewart felt a glimmer of hope that he’d chosen the right town to move to.

“Hey.” Killian nudged Stewart gently with his elbow. “Where’d you go? You look like you’re a million miles away.”

Stewart gave him a small smile. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just… thinking.”

Killian studied him for a moment then nodded. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re doing great.”

Stewart blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in the man’s voice. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

Giving Stewart’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, Killian said, “Anytime, Stewart. Anytime.”