Page 41 of Nixon’s Promise

“Hey,” Nixon greeted.

“I can come back if you’re busy.”

Her eyes went over his shoulder and Nix knew what she saw. Alec was good looking, tall, about two inches taller than Nix was. He was also just as broad. It was clear that Alec had continued to work out after he’d left the Navy.

Nixon walked down the steps of his porch and met McKenna in the drive. Tagged her around her middle and pulled her to him.

The gesture was claiming, and he didn’t give a fuck what that said about him. He’d seen Alec pull his fair share of women with nothing more than a smile.

“McKenna, this is Alec.” He waited a beat, then made the introduction in reverse. “Alec. McKenna.”

“Nice to meet you.” Alec smiled.

Bastard.

“You, too. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can come back later,” she repeated.

“You didn’t. We were done,” Alec told her.

He moved off the porch, stopping in front of Nix and McKenna. Nix took his outstretched hand into a firm shake.

“Call me tomorrow?”

“Absolutely.”

“Again, it was nice meeting you, McKenna.”

And there was the smile again. Ass.

“You, too. Drive careful.”

McKenna waited for Alec to get into his SUV before she turned to Nix. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You look a little…distraught.”

Nixon wasn’t surprised she could read him so well. She paid attention, something else he liked. She was thoughtful and attuned to those around her.

“He offered me a job.” He found himself telling her.

“Why the frown?”

He hadn’t realized he was. But then again, he wasn’t sure why he’d admitted Alec’s visit was business. It wasn’t like he’d be able to tell her what he was doing. The thought wasn’t pleasant. That was one of Alison’s biggest complaints. She’d bitched incessantly about how he’d never tell her about his deployments. She had no sense or care for operational security.

Taking this job could mean the end of them, before they ever got started. Nix hated the thought of losing her.

17

Something was working behind Nixon’s stare and it was kind of freaking me out.

I wasn’t sure if I really had interrupted and he was being polite, though I couldn’t see Nix mincing words. Maybe he didn’t want the job that was offered, but felt obliged because Alec was a friend. Or maybe he was mad because I was nosy and asked him why he looked upset.

“Come in. Have you eaten?”

“Yeah, with Mandy and Zack.”

“How’s Mandy?”