before he started growing so much five o’clock shadow.
“I can make huevos rancheros like you wouldn’t believe,” he said. “Mom taught me.”
“All right then. Look forward to that.” He hovered in the hallway that led to his bedroom. What was he supposed to say now? Where was Kate with all her words when he needed her?
He cleared his throat. Logistics. Those were always a good topic. “There’s an extra key under the mat. But this is Lost Harbor and there’s not much to worry about.”
“Except fires,” said Dylan. His tone of voice was so extra dry that it took Darius a moment to see he was joking.
“Yeah. I guess so. And for the record?” He paused to get his tone just right. “I don’t joke about fires. Ever.”
Dylan’s smile disappeared. “Sorry, Mr. —” He stopped dead. “I mean, Fire Chief. Sir. I mean...what should I call you?”
Wow. Good question. Nothing in the realm of “dad” or “father.” That would just be weird. What would Kate suggest?
He could picture her laughing answer. Big Guy is taken, that’s what I call you. How about just your name? Why is this complicated?
“You can just call me Darius.”
The kid nodded and unrolled the sleeping bag onto the couch. Darius escaped into his bedroom and closed the door behind him, with a feeling of shutting out the entire big scary world Kate had mentioned.
His phone dinged. Text from Kate.
You guys doing okay?
Fuck if I know, he answered.
You got this. Get some sleep.
But what do I do with him? He fired off a string of texts. I missed the playing with Legos phase. The playing catch phase. I missed all the phases.
Just be yourself.
That sounded like a bad idea. His grumpy ass had no business taking on a troubled, grieving kid. But what else could he do?
Good luck. Don’t worry. Conking out now. Been a long day.
No shit. Not just long, but with some unbelievable ups and downs. His world had completely changed since their time together in her bed. And now that he had a boy on his hands, when was the next time he’d find his way up to her place?
Not long at all, if you counted dreams.
He fell asleep almost instantly, and his brief hours of sleep were filled with Kate. Naked Kate, laughing Kate, arguing Kate, kind Kate. Smart Kate, with her good advice. Lusty Kate. The more Kate, the merrier.
He woke up…happy. Not scared, just happy.
He had a son.
That truth sank through him like a blast of sunshine after a long winter. He had a son. Something he’d basically given up on—a family—had magically appeared in his life.
The answer to last night’s worries was simple, after all. He’d do anything his son needed. End of story.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Kate’s offer of help was accepted the very next day. Darius had a training he couldn’t miss.
“Can you go with Dylan to his meeting with Maya? The news is already all over town and I just got a call from her. She wants to see him immediately. He could use your legal…presence. I’d really appreciate it.”
How could she say “no” to that deep voice on the phone?
“After all the times you helped me? Of course.”
“I’ll make it up to you.” She shivered at the promise in his voice.
Around noon, she led Dylan into Maya’s office at the fire and police building. Two folding chairs awaited them, along with an extremely stern police chief.
“So.” Maya planted her elbows on the desk and fixed Dylan with her classic Officer Badger stare. “You’re the one responsible for Lost Harbor’s first arson spree.”
He gulped. “I’m real sorry, ma’am.” When he was nervous, his Texas drawl became even more obvious. “I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. It was just old stuff I didn’t think would matter.”
“You never know what’s going to matter to someone.”
He hung his head and stared at the floor. He must be having flashbacks to all the lectures he’d gotten last night.
Kate came to his rescue.
“Chief Badger, Dylan O’Connor is a minor and extremely remorseful over his actions. While they were of course reprehensible, he is willing and ready to make recompense for them in any way you deem acceptable.”
Maya blinked at her. “Hello, lawyer.”
“Hello, Chief.” Kate bit back a smile. Maya had never seen her in full legal mode. Lawyer versus police chief—definitely a shift from the days of hanging out on the boardwalk in their swimsuits.
“Are you representing this boy?”
“Not officially. I’m here on behalf of Darius. He’s unable to be here so I volunteered