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smoothly was to go it alone, trust no one but herself and Mac, and since she’d done that, things had gone fine.
    Until tonight.
    She held Mac close, comforted by his warm heat, his soft breathing. She saw the way he was already looking at Ares with admiring glances. Like he was some kind of hero.
    Given none of the men she’d interacted with had ever cared to get on Mac’s level like that, she couldn’t blame the kid for falling for him. If she allowed herself, if she didn’t know better, she could fall pretty easily for the big, handsome man herself.
    But she had one priority in life. She had to get her and Mac somewhere safe. Somewhere Ben wouldn’t find them. Somewhere that could be home.
    After a few minutes, they pulled into a sleepy little town that was even smaller than she would have guessed. Ares (what an odd name) was humming something to himself as they drove through the main square and into a quiet little neighborhood full of small but well-kept homes with lots of character. They drove to the end of the lane and pulled up in front of a green house with white shutters, an immaculate flower garden, and a little white picket fence.
    It was perfect. Someday she’d love to settle somewhere like this. Somewhere quiet and peaceful, just her and Mac.
    “Maude’s,” Ares said, grinning at them and turning off the engine. Every time he flashed her that grin, something hot glanced through her, something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time.
    But he was a very attractive man. It was normal to feel that way about someone being kind who also happened to be built like a Greek god.
    And have the name of one.
    On any other night, the thought would have made her laugh. Tonight, she was too tired.
    “And we’re going in?” she asked, eyeing the house. A light was on behind the curtains, giving it a warm, inviting glow. “Don’t you need to call first?”
    Ares gave her a cocky wink. “I never need to call Maude.”
    She frowned as he came around and opened the door, swinging it wide and reaching out a hand to help them out.
    Mac gave him a stubborn look and climbed down on his own, much to Ares’s surprise.
    Kat intended to do the same, but her foot slipped on the metal bar just below the truck and she pitched forward, straight into Ares’s waiting arms.
    She felt his firm chest against her hands, his strong arms wrapping around her, and looked up into amused, evergreen eyes.
    She pushed back, and he set her on her feet, giving her a wide grin before turning to lead the way into the house.
    She took off her jacket, wrapped Mac in it, and carried him toward the house. Ares raised an eyebrow and moved as if to take him, but she shook her head.
    Mac was hers to take care of as long as she could.
    Ares seemed to understand at least that, and he turned to knock on the door.
    After a moment, they heard footsteps and then the door swung wide open and a short, curvaceous older woman looked up at them, blue eyes widening as she stepped out of the way, gesturing for them to come in out of the rain.
    As they did, Kat still feeling shy about going into a stranger’s home, the woman tsked and looked them over.
    “What were you thinking? Letting this child get soaked in the rain,” Maude asked Ares, putting her hands on her wide hips and glaring him down.
    Ares laughed and hid behind Kat and Mac, looking at Maude over the tops of their heads. “Come on, Maude, you know me better than that. They were broken down on the side of the road. Saw them while I was out driving.”
    “Never do understand why you like to go driving at night,” she said, shaking her head, gray curls falling loose from her white floral nightcap. She turned on the hall light and led the way into the living room. She pointed to the couch, and Kat sat hesitantly, looking up at Ares for guidance as to what to do next.
    She was worried what the woman would say about them wanting to stay for free. But this was a stop she hadn’t planned,