complete. He had his club and his family. He was going to enjoy every single long mile going home.
EIGHTEEN
Steele nudged Breezy with his shoulder as she put away the last of the dishes she always insisted on washing even though they had a state-of-the-art dishwasher. “Will you go swimming with us?” The way her hair curled and waved in big swaths, highlighting the gold strands, always fascinated him.
Steele loved having Breezy and Zane in their home. Most of the time he couldn’t sleep, getting up numerous times to stare down at his son’s face or his woman’s. They both slept peacefully, something that was nearly impossible for him. Breezy kept his demons at bay giving him enough time to initially fall asleep, but within a few hours or so, they were back.
He didn’t mind getting up and prowling around the house to ensure every door and window was locked and the security system was on. He’d had to get after Breezy daily because she had a tendency to go out a door and when she came back in, forget to lock it or turn on the security system. Truthfully, that made him a little crazy, but he promised himself he’d be patient about it. Even with what happened to Zane, she didn’t get that the doors needed to be locked at all times.
They both wanted Zane sleeping in their room with them, just grateful they had him, neither wanting to have him far from them even at night, but the little boy woke up at any noise. The third night they fixed up the sitting room off their master bedroom as a nursery. Zane went right to sleep and while they stared at the monitor, he slept perfectly.
Breezy sang. All the time. Steele loved that. Loved it. She sang to Zane as she dressed him for the day. When she changed him. When she fed him. She sang as she cooked meals. Maestro and Keys sometimes came down to play instruments. He’d ordered a piano, because he had enough room for one and Maestro said Zane should have it.
He noticed Breezy loved music, especially when they all got together. Zane was wild about the music and it was clear to Steele that the boy would always want to be around it. The music sessions often deteriorated into Zane banging on pots and pans like he was playing the drums, but they all had a great time.
Zane clung a little more to Breezy than he had in the past, at least according to her, but he wasn’t having nightmares. He liked all the club members when they came around. He didn’t appear to be shy or in the least afraid of them. He liked that she encouraged their son to get to know everyone. She didn’t hold the boy back at all. Each of the members of Torpedo Ink spent time with Zane. She watched them closely, but she gave them the opportunity and he appreciated her even more for that.
Steele took his time getting to know his son—or rather, letting his son get to know him. Zane liked the water, and Steele’s first priority was to make him water safe. He made certain Zane knew if he wanted to swim, to come to Steele and Steele would take him in. The boy loved the water, and the pool was heated so even in the cold they could swim.
Steele took him into the water several times a day, holding him close at first and then teaching him to hold his breath and how to swim. They went in at night before bedtime, with the idea it would help Zane sleep. Steele was hoping it would help him sleep. It didn’t, but he found he enjoyed the time swimming as much as Zane seemed to.
“Can’t, Steele. I’m going into Sea Haven. Did Transporter ever bring my truck back? I don’t want to take your truck, it’s too big.”
His breath stilled in his lungs. At no time had Breezy ever indicated she wanted to leave the safety of their home. He straightened slowly from where he’d been leaning against the counter, watching her do the last of the dishes. “Your truck?”
She sighed and pushed back the thick mass of her wild hair. “Yes, honey. My truck. The one I drove here all the way from Santa Fe. I know you think it’s junk, but it’s mine.”
“It isn’t safe. You know it isn’t safe and so do I.” Let her fight with him over