Page 43 of Protecting his Secrets

Malachi went through the story, and Nick finished off the bits where Malachi was unconscious, surprised to find that Malachi couched nothing; he told themeverything. He did have a moment of worry when it came to talking about the Sutcliffes, but they seemed to understand that he couldn’t tell them certain things, and when he said so, they didn’t pry. Maybe it was because he was there, but he didn’t think so. It seemed to be a familiar experience for them.

“Thank you for being there, Nick,” Emily said. “I don’t know what might’ve happened if you hadn’t been.”

Nick didn’t want the thanks because he hadn’t done enough. Malachi should’ve never been hurt in the first place. Giving a tight smile, he nodded, but that was all he could do.

“Let’s get some dinner inside you, and then we can get you into bed,” Sally said. “You’ll need constant supervision for the next few days, at least.”

“No, I’m going home, Gran—”

“Not a chance,” Sally stated. “You don’t have anyone else to look after you, and it’s easier for us to do it here. Nick has to work. He can’t be at your beck and call when he’s protecting the king, now, can he?”

She wasn’t wrong, but if Malachi wanted him to, he’d take some time off to care for him. What the hell was happening to him? Within one day, his entire outlook on his life had changed. Well, his outlook on Malachi had changed. He could see them having a future, which was why he was so happy to go ahead with whatever was building between them. It didn’t stop him wondering if they were going too fast.

Malachi didn’t look at him, but he heard the sigh. “You’re right. Okay, but I need to collect some things from home.”

“You can give me a list, and I’ll fetch them,” Emily said before Nick could offer, but then, Malachi probably wouldn’t want him in his space alone anyway.

“Thanks, Mum.”

She smiled and clapped her hands on her thighs. “The food should be ready. It’s been cooking all day.”

“Are you sure I’m not imposing?” he asked.

“Not at all. Come on, you can help set the table,” Emily said, and Nick’s stomach churned. Here was where the third degree came in.

“Of course.” Nick stood.

“Be kind, Mum,” Malachi warned.

Following her into the kitchen, he braced himself. She didn’t start talking until after she’d shown him where the cutlery was.

“I don’t have any problems with you dating my son, Nick, if that’s what’s worrying you. It’s Malachi’s choice who he dates. I will accept anyone he chooses. If anything, you might be good for him.” She shook her head. “He spends far too much energy on that paper, and I wish he wouldn’t, but I can’t persuade him otherwise.”

Knowing what Nick did about Malachi’s reasons, he could answer that, but he didn’t. Despite Malachi seemingly sharing a lot of things with his family, that was one thing he didn’t. He could tell that from their earlier conversation.

“He’s got a level head from what I’ve seen and heard. He knows what he’s doing.”

She glanced at him, and Nick got the impression she knew exactly why he was still working the shit job. Nick said nothing else.

Emily snorted as she put plates on the side, something he’d noticed Malachi did, too. “He’s been obsessed with the royal family ever since he saw them on TV when he was…what, five years old. Maybe even earlier. I don’t know what he found so fascinating with them, but every time he saw them…” She smiled, pulling the lid from the slow cooker. “I thought he’d grow out of it. Instead, he grewintoit.” Shaking her head, she divided the dinner onto the four plates, and Nick watched, just like he did whenever his parents were cooking. “Do you cook?”

Nick blinked. “Um, I do, well, I don’t…um…” He took a breath. “I know how to cook, yes, and I enjoy cooking, but I have little time to do it.”

“That’s a shame. Maybe you can make time?”

He smiled because it was such a mum statement. “Are Mums given a handbook?” he asked.

A crease appeared between her eyebrows. “A handbook?”

“My mum has said something similar. She was worried my job would stop me from finding someone. Obviously, it hasn’t, but I get the underlying question beneath it.” He inhaled and laid it out. “Now Malachi is in my life, I want to try to balance things better. I can’t make promises for the near future because certain things are set in stone months in advance, but I can start to make the changes. I don’t want to leave Malachi alone more than I have to.” He held up his hands. “Not that I’ll be a stalker, either. I don’t mean it that way.”

Emily chuckled and faced him, wiping her hands on a cloth. “As for your original question, no. Parents are not given a handbook. Not really. We muddle our way through bringingchildren up the same way we would’ve muddled through our lives if we didn’t have kids. No one has a clue what they’re doing, Nick. And if they say they do, they’re lying.”

“That makes me feel so much better.”

“What does?” Malachi asked, wandering slowly into the kitchen with Sally at his back. “I came to see if she’d killed you.”

Nick grinned and pulled him closer, pressing his lips to Malachi’s uninjured temple. “Sorry, I’m still here.”

---