“Boys. I’m going to be pissed if you break something.” Her warning didn’t stop Luke from chucking it right back. Not that she wasn’t used to it. Her brothers were here more often than not.
They said it was cleaner. True, but it was more because they liked to check on things. Doors, windows, locks. And before they left tonight, one, or all of them, would double-check that her handgun was loaded and within easy reach. Learning to shoot, getting a license to carry so she could take it in her car, had been big-brother nonnegotiable.
They’d remind her to make sure her phone was charged and on. Then they’d stand outside, refusing to leave the porch until they heard the click of deadbolts. A revolving show of male protectiveness all done in love to make her feel safer. Though really, it just reminded her of all the reasons she needed to be scared. Of what could happen when she wasn’t as careful as she should be. What had happened.
—
When the last dish was dried and put away, Luke and Zach excused themselves. Hannah sat on the front porch swing with Nick and watched the two sets of taillights get swallowed up by the trees. He was always the last to leave, but soon he’d go too.
She’d moved out of his house to be on her own, not necessarily to be alone. Being without Max was harder than she’d thought. Coming into the house after dark to utter silence was lonelier than she’d imagined. But this was her life. She refused to be bothered by it. Maybe she’d get another dog. A rescue dog. But not yet.
Crickets chirped and the wind made a barely-there sound. It’d be a loud rush when the trees were full of leaves. The supporting chains groaned in protest, then gave in to the steady back-and-forth rhythm as Nick rocked them with his foot. This was the same swing that had been on their parents’ porch. The same one her mother had rocked her on at night. A story she’d begged her brother to retell over the years.
Nick laid his arm on the back of the swing. “So, how was your weekend? You were hard to catch up with.”
“It was good.”
“What’s her name?”
“Whose?”
“The friend you were shopping with.”
The swing squeaked back and forth in the quiet while he waited.
“Must be a good friend to spend all day. Same friend you went to dinner with last week?”
More waiting, until the breath she’d been holding huffed out. “Okay. Fine. You got me. Damn, they must really love you in interrogation.”
Nick didn’t laugh. “Who were you with? Though I’ve got a pretty good idea since you didn’t tell me.”
“He apologized.”
“I know. I was there.”
“Then he brought his niece out to ride. I’d offered and—”
“He used his niece?” Nick made a disgusted sound. “Nice.”
“He didn’t use her. His sister-in-law called him and asked for a ride.”
“And you’re defending him. What time did you get home?”
“Do I have a curfew?”
“Hannah—”
“Sorry. I’m sorry.” Nick worried when she didn’t call, and in his line of work he didn’t need his thoughts and attention divided. “We walked around, went to dinner after a movie, then I came home. Alone. I met him there, or he met me. I didn’t even think he’d show.”
“Of course he’d show. He’d have to be a complete idiot to—” He sighed long and hard. “Never mind. Just…God, you’re twenty-six, but this is hard. I don’t trust him. I don’t know him.”
“Well, I could always date someone you do know. Another agent? Someone at Zach’s firehouse?”
“Over my dead body.”
She smiled at his emphatic answer. “Don’t worry. Anyone you guys know would rather shoot themselves in the ass than make a move on me.” She pulled her feet up under her. “I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me too, but…I need to try, you know?” Nick didn’t answer, but she knew he got it, even if he didn’t like it. “You know, I don’t remember a time when you were just a big brother. What did you think when Mom told you she was pregnant?”
“Shit. I pretty much tried not to think about it. We all did. We were teenage boys and it was…shocking. The thought of Mom and Dad…I couldn’t look her in the eye for a week.”
She heard the smile in his voice and she was glad for it. He didn’t smile enough. They’d had great parents. Her brothers had loved them and missed them in a way she couldn’t.
Nick chuckled under his breath.
“What?”
“Just thinking how she used to make us change your diaper. Said it would make us better fathers. Dad said it would teach us to keep it in our pants. Damn, we had some good fights over who got stuck watching you.”
“Then you all got stuck.”
The steady motion of the swing hitched. “I didn’t mean it like that, Han. And I didn’t mind so much then. None of us did.”
“I know.” And she did. He’d never made her feel like a burden.
He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Plus, you were housebroken by then.”
“Remember how you all used to monster-proof my room? You were the dragon slayer.”
“Yep. Dallas was the cootie catcher. Luke was the laser.”
“And what was Zach?”
“The zapper.”
“Yeah. That’s right.” She rested her head against his shoulder. Her big, strong brothers, who she’d always known would protect her.