Page 9 of The Rough Ride (Sanctuary, Inc. #3)

He stepped out of his truck and surveyed the height and breadth of the building.

It would take him all day, maybe longer, to secure this place and get it online with his newly designed security system.

Good thing Derek was coming to help him.

This graceful behemoth would protect like a fortress once they completed the installation.

Nick spotted Derek’s van and waved him into the driveway. Derek parked next to him and leaped out with a wry smile on his face.

“Dude, I’m going to need a bunch of new suits to work in this neighborhood. ”

“We’ll ask Mrs. Richardson about the dress code. Since you’ll be working days with the kids and the nanny, maybe you can get away with relaxed business or casual Friday. How’s Maggie?” Nick hoisted several bags of equipment over his shoulder.

“She’s good. Looks beautiful but says she feels like a beached manatee.

I had to tie her shoes for her this morning.

It’s hard to believe there’s four more weeks until the baby’s due.

Doc thinks she might blow early.” Derek slung some duffel bags over his shoulder and grabbed a box of supplies.

“You’re in a chatty mood. You see Liz last night? ”

Nick purposely elbowed Derek in the ribs as he turned around. “Chatty? You’re an asswipe, D.”

Derek laughed. “I’m serious, man. You usually just grunt before noon. You’re forming whole sentences today. Did you get to see her?” He stepped out of the way so Nick could shut the door.

“As a matter of fact, we had dinner last night.”

“Cool. Did she see the pink shit on your dick?” Derek’s grin went from cheek to cheek.

Nick rolled his eyes. “Pink shit? More like red, and no, she didn’t. I’m taking it slow.”

Derek nodded. “Probably a good idea. I gotta tell you, man, I’m waiting for the right time to ask Maggie to put some of that red stuff on me. It’s not only funny—it’s hot .”

Nick barked a laugh. “You’re unique, D.” He leaned closer. “I’m not sure if there’s a security system in place already. Cool it, in case they can see and hear us.” He rang the doorbell. They waited in quiet, professional silence until the door opened a fraction.

“Are you with SecureIT?” The female voice lilted a distinct Texas twang .

“Yes. Mrs. Richardson? I’m Nick Flannery, here with Derek Johnson to install your new security system.”

“Okay, hang on.” After a few seconds of chains dropping, the door flung open. “Hi, I’m Angie, Beau’s wife. This here is Precious.”

A black Doberman with white paws and a rhinestone collar stood as tall as Angie’s waist. It growled, revealed a full set of teeth, and growled again.

Derek took a half step forward and growled back, showed his teeth, and growled again.

The Doberman whimpered and took off into the house.

Angie’s eyes popped open as she stared at Derek. “You growled at my dog?”

“Yes, ma’am. Had to let it know who the alpha is.”

“You’ve got the attic and bedrooms done?” Nick looked up from the iPad he used to tweak the security system.

“Oh yeah. I installed the nanny cam and trained it right on the little guy’s crib like the missus requested. That nursery is loaded with toys. I can’t wait to play with my kid.” Derek grinned as he grabbed a bottle of water from their cooler.

Nick grunted. The time his father threw his Lego boats out the bathroom window because he’d left them in the tub crept uneasily through his thoughts.

He’d copped a glance into the kid’s tub while securing the bathroom window.

“Whatever floats your boat, dude. Personally, I can live without a shower filled with rubber duckies and plastic ships. There’s a freakin’ armada waiting to set sail in the hall bath.

An adult would kill themselves trying to shower in there. ”

“You’re a killjoy about little people, Nick. I get that’s how you roll, but try to contain your excitement for my impending fatherhood.”

“I’m happy for you, man. You and Maggie wasted no time getting knocked up once you were stateside again, and you’ve both wanted this. You’ll be terrific parents.” He placed a few small components and boosters into a duffel bag. “Ready to do the main floor? Bring the cooler and the box.”

Nick took a few steps and stopped. Precious blocked the doorway with a half-snarl on her face. “Hey, D, where’d you put the dog treats?”

Derek looked up and chuckled. “They’re in the tool box, dude.

You’d best make friends with that beast, in case you end up working here while I’m on family leave.

Toss a tidbit across the room and she’ll leave the doorway to retrieve it.

Stash a bunch of them in your pocket. You want her to think of you as a human treat jar. ”

Nick lobbed a bone-shaped goodie toward the corner of the room as the two men headed down the stairs.

There was no way Nick would be filling in with the senator’s kids.

Just the thought of it brought on a cold sweat.

He’d already considered Derek’s family leave and had made arrangements.

“Hey, D? Mason’s covering for you while you’re on leave, and he’s never sure when and if his National Guard unit could be activated.

Take whatever time you and Maggie need, but if you can make it back before the six weeks is up, I’ll pay you time-and-a-half for the leave you don’t use. ”

“Cool. We’ll see. Good thing we’ve got a few more weeks to get a routine going here.”

“Absolutely.” Nick turned on the dining room chandelier. “Let’s sync the main floor together. You install the readers, and I’ll get them online. ”

“Roger that.” Derek felt for the pull-cord and swept open the dining room drapes.

A little giggle trickled across the big room.

Nick looked up, saw nothing, and refocused on the iPad.

Derek gave a quick whistle and pointed toward the corner of the drapes. A pair of sparkly, little, pink heels stuck out at the bottom.

Nick nodded. Oh well. His hope to get through installation without meeting at least one of the kids was unrealistic anyway since three of them lived here. This encounter would make Derek’s day more kid-centric than it already was.

Nick focused on the logistics of the job. He’d been protecting people since the day he’d lost his mother. A military shrink would have a good time with that one if he ever dared verbalize it. Which he didn’t. Because he couldn’t change the past.

Why the hell am I thinking about this right now? He cleared his throat to get Derek’s attention.

Derek secured the sensor on the window molding. His boots knocked against the pink glitter shoes. Another giggle tumbled through the room. He put his tools down and pulled the drape back. “Hey now, what have we here?”

A little girl no taller than his mid-thigh stepped into the open space and spread her arms. “Ta-da. I’m a pink princess today.” Golden curls bounced around her cherubic face with huge blue eyes lasered on Derek. “Daddy said you’re here to stall new piscurity.”

Derek knelt on one knee. “That’s right. Your daddy wants his pink princess safe. What’s your name?”

“Natalie.” She took a deep breath. “I’m four.

Ollie’s only one. Linzee and I are his big sisters.

He’s asleep in Mommy’s office. She’s on the phone with Hilde.

Hilde’s sick and didn’t come to work today, so Mommy won’t go to her ‘pointment ‘cause Hilde’s our nanny. What’s your name?

” She did an off-balance pirouette and landed in a fluffy heap at Derek’s feet.

“I’m Derek, and that’s Nick,” he pointed.

She glanced at Nick. “You’re big.”

He shrugged. “I guess I am. And you’re little.”

Natalie lifted her chin. “I’m bigger than Ollie. He’s a baby. I’m a big girl.” She returned to Derek. “Can you come to my tea party?”

He chuckled. “I’d love to, little princess, but I’ve got work to do.”

She turned toward Nick. “Can you come to my tea party? Mommy’s going to make cookies for it.”

“No, I’m working, too. Maybe another time.

We’re here to get some things done for your mom and dad.

” He’d better shut up before the nostalgic trip down nightmare lane started.

How many times had his father told him he wouldn’t play games even if he’d had the time?

The tension in his shoulders cinched tighter. Where the hell was her mother?

As if summoned by wishing, Angie’s Texas twang cascaded across the house.

“Natalie, where did you go, you little monkey?” The brisk clip of heels tapped closer and stopped in the archway of the dining room.

She waved a finger and Precious sat next to her.

“Ah, there you are. I told you to stay near the office, honey. Just because I was on the phone didn’t mean you could wander off and get in the gentlemen’s way. ”

Natalie hid her face behind the skirt of tulle netting and sequins.

“She’s no problem, Mrs. Richardson. She was just telling Nick and me about Hilde being sick and the tea party.”

“Did she now?” Angie glanced at her daughter and back at Nick. “I need to introduce you both to Oliver and Natalie in front of Precious. Our dog’s trained to protect the kids. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure, no problem,” Nick affirmed. If a formal introduction helped them navigate the house without the animal blocking them at every doorway, he was all for it.

“Come to Momma, Natalie.” She swooped the little girl into her arms with the practiced ease of a mother. “Here, Derek, I’m going to hand her off to you.”

Derek accepted the little girl from her mother’s arms. Precious barked and stood.

Angie waved a finger at the dog, and the animal sat at attention.

Angie put her hand on Derek’s arm and Natalie’s back.

“See, he’s okay, Precious.” She left the child in Derek’s arms, walked around the room and then summoned the dog to Derek’s side for a good sniff.

“Your turn, Nick.” She lifted Natalie from Derek’s arms.

“That’s okay. I won’t be working with the kids. I’ll be with your husband most of the time.” I’ll make sure of it.

“You don’t understand. Precious tore the pants off of a FedEx guy a few months ago when Natalie fell off her scooter in the circle drive. Beau works from home now and then. You’ll spend time here. I need to know that Precious trusts you.”

Well, okay then. He preferred his pants on his body rather than in the driveway.

“Yes ma’am, no problem.” His heart thumped several errant beats.

It couldn’t be that hard to hold a kid, although he’d never done it.

He’d held rifles, injured animals, women, and ahh—the little girl was surprisingly light.

Natalie leaned back, scrutinized his face, and ran her small hand over his close, cropped beard.

“It’s kinda scratchy.” She scrunched up her face and giggled .

The air whooshed from his lungs. Up close, her blue eyes twinkled, and that sweet face bathed him in a rainbow of vivid expressions.

This is what Liz wanted? As much as he was against the idea, he couldn’t blame her for wanting it.

Holding Natalie was sort of nice. He’d give Liz anything she wanted if he could.

But a kid? What if I hurt it? Even by accident.

He couldn’t remember a time in his life when he was as wide-eyed and innocent as this child in his arms.

The cool, wet slobber from Precious licking his free hand pulled him back. How long had he been standing there? Angie was talking, but damn, he’d missed most of what she’d said. He set Natalie down and rubbed the dog’s head.

He looked around. Derek studied him as Natalie scampered into the kitchen with Angie and Precious.

Nick grabbed his iPad. “Ready to get back to work?”

Derek nodded. “You alright, man? Looked like you drifted off there.”

“Cute kid.”

“Most of them are.”

He nodded. A damn shame he couldn’t give Liz one of the things she wanted. But even if he could—he wouldn’t. The genes from his drunken, murderous father had to stop with him.