Claiming Sarah (Ace Security #5)(11)

“Nurses and doctors don’t spend time with their patients?”

“They do.” Sarah tried to explain. “But it’s not the same. They’re concentrating on symptoms and treatments. I have a bit more time to get to know the patients personally. Many times they’ll tell me something they forgot to mention to the nurse or doctor, or I’m able to figure out if they’re lying about how much pain they’re in or if something just isn’t right with them.”

Sarah noted the way Cole was focused on her as she spoke. He wasn’t looking around, giving her half his attention, and didn’t seem to be asking questions simply to be polite. She could tell he was actually interested in what she was saying.

“But you could make more money if you were an RN, right?” he asked.

“Of course. But it’s not about the money. I make plenty to live on, and that’s good enough for me. I’ve never had aspirations to be a millionaire or anything. I just want to live a decent life, maybe go out to eat every once in a while, and just be happy. Besides, the life-insurance payments from my dads have left me comfortable enough.”

The second the words were out of her mouth, Sarah wanted to call them back.

She was nervous, and talking without thinking first. Having two fathers wasn’t exactly the norm, and the fact that she was spouting off personal stuff like her financial situation with a stranger wasn’t smart.

But instead of immediately commenting, Cole put his hand on her purse strap that was hanging off one shoulder. “May I?” he asked.

Sarah nodded and watched as he took her purse and hung it up on a peg by the door. Then he gestured to the mats in the middle of the room. “Shall we sit while we talk? I know the floor isn’t exactly the most comfortable seat in the world, but . . .”

“Of course,” Sarah told him immediately. “The floor is fine.” She followed him a few steps, trying really hard not to stare at his ass as they walked, and sat cross-legged on a mat across from him.

He mimicked her movements and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Every bit of nonverbal body language indicated he was completely invested in their conversation. She liked that.

“So . . . your dads?”

Sarah sighed. “I was adopted when I was six by Mike and Jackson. They taught me what it meant to have a loving family.” She smiled slightly. “I aspire to have a relationship like they had one day.”

“They passed?” Cole asked gently.

“Remember that nightclub bombing in Denver about four years ago?” Sarah asked.

Cole nodded, then his eyebrows shot up. “No! Shit.”

“Yeah. They almost never went out, but that night was their anniversary, so they decided to celebrate. They were simply trying to enjoy themselves when that guy decided to show his disapproval for the gay lifestyle and bombed the club. Mike and Jackson were two of the ten casualties.”

“I’m so sorry,” Cole said gently, reaching for her hand.

Sarah fought tears. She hadn’t cried about her dads’ deaths in a long time. “Yeah. It sucked. Since their families weren’t accepting of who they were, I inherited everything. The house is paid off, so I don’t have a mortgage, and the rest of the money allows me to keep doing what I love without having to worry.”

“It sounds like they loved you very much. And I can hear in your voice how much you loved them.”

“They literally saved my life. It wasn’t easy for them . . . two gay men adopting a little girl wasn’t exactly normal twenty-plus years ago, but they never, not once, made me feel as if I was a burden. Though . . . there were times I still felt like the outsider, even with them. I mean, they were definitely a tight unit. Because of their sexual orientation, it felt like them against the world sometimes. Maybe it’s a foster thing. They loved me, and I them, but there were times I couldn’t help feeling as if I were intruding on their lives somehow.”

Cole squeezed her hand. He didn’t let go, and Sarah wasn’t in any hurry to pull away. She had no idea why she was sharing such intimate thoughts, but something about the small connection of their hands made her feel safe enough to keep talking.

“I was scared to death of women when they first adopted me. I’d been in two previous foster homes where I was locked in closets during the day for being too loud. The women would smack me around and treat me like shit . . . at least until their husbands came home. Then they were as sweet as could be. So I was perfectly happy going to live with Mike and Jackson. I liked the fact they weren’t married to women.”

“That had to be scary for you,” Cole said.

“It was. But from the second I met my dads, I felt comfortable with them. I never missed having a mother, because my dads did everything in their power to make my life happy. Mike was the one who went dress shopping with me, and took me to the spa to get pedicures. Jackson was a more typical dad, who loved to threaten my dates with a look. They were both so proud of me when I got my CNA degree.” She grinned. “They were also the ones who taught me to always be nice.”

Sarah knew she was talking way too much, but couldn’t make herself stop. It had been a long time since she’d been able to reminisce about her dads with someone. Often people just looked uncomfortable when she brought up the fact that she’d been adopted by a gay couple, but she didn’t see any judgment in Cole’s gaze. Only interest.