"Setting a good example."
"Being mature adults."
April laughed, soft and warm. "We're terrible at this."
"The worst." Shane kissed her properly this time—slow and thorough and full of promises for later. When he finally pulled back, April's eyes were dark and her breathing had gone unsteady.
"Okay," she said breathlessly. "Now I really need to wake Kevin before I forget why I'm on this couch instead of in your bed."
Shane grinned. "You want coffee?"
"Please." April stood, stretching, and Shane had to force himself not to stare at the way his flannel rode up her bare thighs. "And Shane?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For last night. For... everything."
The vulnerability in her voice made Shane's chest ache. He stood, cupped her face in his hands. "You don't have to thankme for loving you, April. That's just what I do. What I'm always going to do."
She kissed him again—quick and sweet—then headed down the hall to wake Kevin. Shane watched her go, still half-convinced this was a dream he'd wake up from.
But the coffee maker was real. The sound of April's voice gently rousing Kevin was real. The way Pete padded over to bump against Shane's leg, looking for breakfast, was real.
This was his life now. April in his bed. Kevin in his guest room. The three of them—four, counting Pete—figuring out how to be a family.
Shane had fought bad guys in worse conditions than he could count, and won. Had survived things that should have killed him. Had lost brothers and bled and kept going.
But this—standing in his kitchen making coffee while the woman he loved got her son ready for school—this felt like the biggest victory of his life.
Shane droppedthem at April's house twenty minutes later.
“You’re still gonna keep an eye on Mom today, right? Kevin asked. “I can’t do it if I’m in school.”
Shane glanced at April, who was trying not to laugh.
“Yeah, bud. I’ve always got my eye on her.” He winked at April, who was now pressing her knuckles against her lips, shoulders shaking. “I’ve gotta go home and change and shower, but you’ll see me at Riversong after school.”
“Cool.” Then Kevin stuck out his hand for Shane to shake. “Thanks for holding up your end of the bargain.”
Shane shook his hand. “Well, we had a deal, man to man.”
Kevin nodded. “Man to man.” He headed for the bathroom to shower.
Shane waited until Kevin closed the door behind him before pulling April close for one more kiss.
"That kid iskillingme," she said against his mouth. “You don’t have to show up if you’re busy?—”
"Count on it." Shane tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've got some things to take care of this morning, but I'll stop by Riversong before Kevin gets there after school, take you guys out to dinner later if that's okay."
"More than okay." April's smile was soft and tinged with worry. "Be careful, whatever you're doing."
Shane thought about what he was planning—the conversation he needed to have, the leverage he'd need—and nodded. "Always am."
He waited until she was inside before pulling away and making the phone call. It picked up right away.
"Shane. What’s up, brother?"
"Hey, brother. I need a favor."
