Free Sworn to Protect by Jo Davis Page A

occasion.
    But he knew Brad, of all guys, was looking down on them, getting a laugh out of Shane making a date at his freaking funeral repast. The man would think it was great.
    “Are you okay?” she asked in concern.
    “I’m fine. Really.”
    “All right.” She looked doubtful, but relented. “Then I’ll let you get to your other guests. Talk to you tomorrow.”
    Leaning in, she reached to give him a kiss on the cheek. But this time he turned his head so that it landed on his lips instead. She pulled back in surprise that he’d made the move here, with their colleagues nearby. Then her mouth curved in a slow smile as she walked off.
    Shane’s insides were quivering. The woman got to him as no one else ever had. He hadn’t been able to forget her, and God knows he’d tried.
    Now he had to figure out how to woo the woman he’d once so carelessly thrown away.
    And how to piece back together some semblance of a family for a heartbroken boy.
    •   •   •
     
    Friday arrived all too soon, and with it the reading of the will in the conference room of Albert G. Farnsworth, Attorney at Law. One week to the day after Brad’s funeral.
    It seemed like yesterday. And a lifetime.
    As expected, Brad had provided generously for his driver, housekeeper, and a handful of acquaintances. Then came Shane’s turn, and he sat uncomfortably next to Drew, not knowing what to expect.
    “To my best and oldest friend, Shane Andrew Ford, I leave the sum of five million dollars.”
    Several in the room gasped, and Shane swayed in his seat. Drew grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight, shooting him a look of satisfaction as Farnsworth continued.
    “I would’ve left you more, because you’re priceless to me. But the truth is, you’re a tight bastard and probably won’t spend a fraction of it. At least quit that sucky job now, for God’s sake, before you get shot again.” Soft laughter met those words, as Brad had intended. Even the stuffy attorney’s lips twitched. “You probably won’t do that either, so please be careful. Take care of yourself, because I’m trusting you with what means more to me than all the riches in the world—my son. Never forget that I love you, brother. I’ll see you again.”
    Shane hung his head as Farnsworth paused before the next section. There was no help for the tears that escaped to stream down his face. Hearing one last personal message from his best friend shattered his resolve to hold in his grief. He struggled to collect himself as the attorney finished.
    “And finally, to my son, Andrew Cooper, I leave my estate, including my home, cars, and personal possessions. I also leave to him the remainder of my money, a total sum of more than fifteen million dollars, to be held in trust by his legal guardian, Shane Ford, until he reaches the age of twenty-five.”
    Another pause while the murmuring died down. It was no less than Shane had expected, and was what Drew was entitled to.
    “Son, if you’re already an adult by now, then I know you’ve grown into the fine man I always knew you’d be and will use your inheritance wisely. If for some reason I’ve been taken too soon, look to Shane for the example of what a real man should be. After all, you’re his namesake, if I never told you. If you let Shane guide you and be your second dad, you can’t go wrong in life. I’m so proud of you. You’re the best son a dad could ever have been blessed with. Remember I love you, always and forever.”
    Except for Farnsworth, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Thank God the reading was over.
You really know how to rip my guts out, don’t you, old friend? And oh, yeah—set the bar so high in Drew’s eyes I can never hope to reach it.
    Why did you do something so stupid? Did you know the possible price?
    Drew was bent over now, weeping quietly. Shane laid a hand on his back, rubbing, trying to give what comfort he could. This had been a god-awful week for them both, especially Drew. And he