Swiping his arm across the foggy mirror, Preston inspected his face, wondering if he had time to shave the scruff from his face. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he reached into his medicine cabinet for his razor just as a knock on his door sounded, quickly followed by yelping by Ace.
Quickly he rushed down the stairs, afraid that Ace would have an accident on the floor in all the excitement. Opening the door, he welcomed Abel and Shelly inside. Ace immediately rushed out the door, Abel following closely behind as the puppy went to do his business. Preston turned to gesture for Shelly to enter the house, but she stared at him with large doe- caught –in-headlight eyes. Her gaze was transfixed on his chest, and as he gazed down, he remembered that he was still wearing only the small white towel around his waist.
“Oops, sorry. I just got out of the shower. Come inside while I change. I’ll be right back down.”
Shelly didn’t reply but stepped by him into the house, heading for the kitchen table where she sat still in a state of shock. He didn’t think he looked too bad naked. He made it a point to work out at least once a day, or twice just to kill time. A few scars weaved across his abdomen and a bullet wound scattered red markings across his right shoulder. Preston wondered if those are what surprised Shelly, scaring her farther away from him.
As he tugged a clean T-shirt over his chest, Preston wondered why he even cared what she thought. He had made the mistake of kissing her earlier in the day, but he couldn’t have stopped if he had the strength of one thousand men. He was drawn to her by an invisible bind that he couldn’t break. But he needed to find a way to unravel the connection sooner rather than later. Shelly had made it clear that she didn’t want to pursue anything with him.
Not that he offered, he thought to himself as he yanked on a pair of camouflage cargo shorts.
Closing the drawer on his dresser, he glanced at the picture in a glass frame. He stood with his mother at one of Carson's lakes, where he liked to go fishing. It was something she despised but he loved it so she went with him anyway. She would do anything to make her only son happy. Because of the love and security he felt from her, Preston could understand Shelly’s hesitance to form relationships. But he also knew that his mother would love Shelly and Abel. And if he didn’t watch it, he would too, and that was a slippery slope he didn’t want to slide down.
As he trotted down the steps, he kept repeating internally that he didn’t want or need a relationship. All he could offer was sex and a good time because he had thousands of people that needed all of him and his focus.
All of the self-motivation meant nothing when he turned the corner into the kitchen and living area to find Shelly sitting on the floor next to Abel as they played tug of war with Ace. Preston was lost in the notion that he wanted everything and he wanted it with her and her son.
“Hey,” he called out as he stepped into the room. Both Shelly and Abel looked up at him with smiles on their faces and a warm sensation rushed through him. Moving toward the fridge, he glanced at the steaks he had marinating and figured he could grill a couple of steaks, sauté some fresh vegetables Jackie grabbed for him at the farmer’s market over the weekend, and mix up a small salad for him and Shelly. He relayed his dinner choice over his shoulder, surprised to find Shelly leaning against the counter next to the fridge.
“You don’t have to go through any trouble for us.”
“It’s no big deal. I already had the steaks marinating. If you check the rack in the dining area, there should be a few bottles of wine. You can choose one.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” she added with a devious grin. “I had been eye-balling them a minute ago.”
“And sorry about the way I answered the door. . .you know, in the towel. I don’t make it a habit.”
Tossing her head back in laughter, Shelly joked, “You’d probably scare every delivery boy in the area if you did.”
Shelly went to work, pouring them each a glass of wine while he moved onto the back deck to start up the grill. Abel was fascinated by the task and followed him, scooting a deck chair close so that he could stand and watch. Preston tried to do his best to make small talk with the boy while he waited for the grill to heat up and luckily was saved as Shelly joined them, handing him his glass of wine. She steered the conversation with Abel to what things he was looking forward to for the Fourth of July Celebration in town. For the first time, Preston didn’t share the same excitement. He would be working security for most of the festivities and would miss the thrill of witnessing Abel take in all of the festivities, especially the fireworks. A gloomy expression took form on the child’s face as Preston explained how he was going to work during the celebration, but that he would try to find them before the fireworks.
Once the grill was ready, Preston slapped the steaks onto the grates and closed the lid. Abel peppered him with questions on how he learned to cook, how long to cook the meat, and if he could flip them when it was time. Normally a barrage of questions like this would bother him, but with Abel, he smiled and answered each question as best he could.
Shelly set the outdoor table as he plated the steaks, veggies, and salad. They sat together as Ace nuzzled their legs and Preston got the oddest feeling of contentment. He had talked himself out of relationships so many times, but maybe this was what he had been needing all along. A reason. A purpose. A family to come home to.
They sat outside for a while, Shelly and Preston watching Abel and Ace run around the yard, but as the sun began to set behind the tree line, a yawn caught Abel and took hold.
“I should get him home and ready for bed. We have a play date with some of the Connelly kids tomorrow.”
“That sounds fun. Thanks for joining me for dinner tonight. It was nice to have someone to share the night with.”
“Same. Thank you for inviting us. I owe you dinner next time.”
“As long as there is a next time, I won’t fight you,” he replied with a chuckle.
He could see her fighting against a smile as she tucked her chin towards her chest before taking a final sip of wine.
“Alright, let me wrangle him home,” Shelly said as she stood, placing her glass delicately on the wooden table. “Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome anytime.”
Shelly walked toward her son, who immediately scooped Ace up into his arms. They spoke for a moment, then Abel rushed toward him, handing off the dog before thanking Preston for dinner and running back toward his mother.
As he watched them walk toward the darkening woods, he made a mental note to install a lit path along the walkway connecting the two properties. Seeing their forms disappear sent a shiver of fear through him. He told himself it was the protector instinct in him, but he wasn’t positive that it wasn’t also another emotion he was too afraid to name.
On the table, his phone began to chime and he glanced down to see the FBI Special Agent-in-Charge’s number.
“Savage,” he answered