Chapter 342: Nathan To The Rescue

Kayla’s POV

The restaurant door chimed with that soft, cheerful little sound that felt completely wrong for the tension crackling at our table.

Heads turned…including mine…because the energy in the room suddenly shifted, like someone had flipped a switch from soap-opera drama to full-on action movie.

Nathan walked in like he owned the place.

He wasn’t in uniform, but he might as well have been. Dark jeans, a crisp black button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showing off the kind of muscle that came from real work, not just gym mirrors.

His hair was still slightly messy, like he’d run his hands through it a dozen times on the way over, and those sharp eyes scanned the room once before locking straight onto me. The corner of his mouth twitched…not quite a smile, more like he’d just spotted the exact problem he was here to solve.

Behind him, two plain-clothes officers lingered near the entrance, trying (and failing) to look casual.

One had a hand resting lightly on his belt, the other pretending to check his phone. Probably backup. Subtle, but there.

Caleb and Vera both stiffened. Vera’s perfectly manicured fingers tightened around her designer bag like it was a shield. Caleb’s rehearsed calm cracked for the first time…his jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscle jump.

He must have recognized Nathan from yesterday at the mall.

Did Holly tell him about this? Is that why he’s here?

Nathan didn’t rush. He strolled over like he had all the time in the world, boots quiet on the tiled floor, but every step felt heavy with purpose.

When he reached our table, he stopped right beside me, close enough that I could smell his cologne…something clean and woodsy that cut through the garlic bread smell like a fresh breeze.

Without a word, he reached down and rested a hand on the back of my chair, the other sliding casually into his pocket. The gesture screamed possession and protection at the same time.

His eyes flicked over Caleb and Vera, cool and assessing, like he was sizing up two suspects in an interrogation room.

“Kayla,” he said, voice low and steady, the kind of calm that made people listen. “Sorry I’m late, babe. Traffic was a nightmare.”

Babe?

The word landed like a grenade. Did he just call me babe? Why is he getting into character so smoothly?

Did he overhear everything? But how could he have? Didn’t he just walk in moments ago? Or maybe… Holly fucking texted him or something?

So, she has his number?

What the hell are you even thinking about, Kayla?! Focus!

Holly almost laughed out loud when she noticed the expression on my face, but she quickly turned it into a grin as she poked my side.

Caleb’s face went from red to purple in half a second. Vera looked like she’d swallowed something sour.

Nathan didn’t wait for an invitation. He pulled out the empty chair on my other side and dropped into it, leaning back like this was the most normal lunch in the world. His arm remained draped casually along the back of my seat, fingers brushing my shoulder in a way that sent an unexpected spark down my spine.

He looked straight at Caleb, eyes hard. “Didn’t realize we were having company. You must be the creep who’s been causing problems for my woman.”

I’m his woman? Since when?!

Caleb opened his mouth, but Nathan kept going, smooth as butter, that captain voice slipping in…authoritative, no-nonsense, the one that probably made rookies snap to attention.

“I’m Nathan Vargas. Captain Nathan Vargas, actually. And from what my wife told me about you before I got here…” He tapped his ear lightly, and I realized with a jolt that he must have had some kind of wire or someone listening outside. “…you’ve got quite the sob story going. Infertility, inheritance, DNA tests on a kid’s toothbrush without permission. That last part sounds a lot like theft and stalking, by the way. Felony territory.”

How did he know all that?

I groaned as my eyes slid to Holly. She was just giggling like she wanted to let me in on something so badly but can’t because of the people with us.

I poked her arm as I drew her closer. “Hols…what did you do?” I whispered into her ear.

“Nothing,” she whispered back. “But… I might have texted Nathan about this and while Caleb was speaking, I might have called Nathan and had him listen to everything…” she replied, mouthing an oops at the end like she was caught being naughty.

Might have? Or she actually did it? I groaned in my head, rolling my eyes. I didn’t want to involve Nathan. I don’t need any uniformed man to save the day.

Vera tried to recover, lifting her chin. “This is a private family matter, officer. You don’t have to…”

“Funny,” Nathan cut in, still calm but with steel underneath. “Because last I checked, showing up at someone’s apartment in the middle of the night trying to break in isn’t exactly ‘private.’ Neither is harassing a woman…my woman…as a matter of fact, who’s been doing everything on her own while you played house in your mansion.”

He turned his head slightly toward me, voice softening just for me. “You okay, baby?”

I managed a nod, my heart hammering so loud I was sure the whole restaurant could hear it.

The slap I’d been about to deliver to Caleb was forgotten. And suddenly, Nathan being here…dropping the “babe,” the casual arm around my chair, the way he’d just inserted himself like he belonged…felt like a lifeline and a complication all at once.

Holly leaned forward, unable to stay quiet any longer. “Oh, this just got good. Captain…sorry…brother in-law, you have perfect timing. This asshole here is threatening to take you and Kayla’s son!” She said, pointing a finger at Caleb like she was reporting a bully to her big brother.

Did she just say, I and Nathan’s son? Come on, Hols. You’re embarrassing me at this point!

Nathan flashed her a quick, crooked grin before his eyes went back to Caleb, all business again.

“Here’s the thing, buddy. Kayla doesn’t need to hand over anything. She doesn’t need to negotiate. And if you think throwing money and lawyers at this is going to work…”

He shrugged, the movement casual but loaded. “Well, I’ve got the entire department behind me, and trust me when I say I can make sure every single move you make from here on out is documented, legal, and airtight. Starting with that little midnight visit last night. You know you can be charged for that? Now imagined presenting this in court…you think the judge will let you take custody of a child? Really?”

Caleb pushed his chair back, anger flashing. “You can’t just—”

“I can,” Nathan said simply. “And I will. So unless you want this conversation to move to the station instead of this nice little restaurant, I suggest you and your wife finish your lunch and find a child somewhere else. Far away from my wife and our son.”

Wife. Son. Oh God.

The word hit me like a truck. Holly choked on a laugh beside me. Caleb looked ready to explode. Vera’s bully smirk had completely vanished, replaced by pure shock and anger.

Nathan’s hand gave my shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

His eyes met mine again…steady, intense, promising he had my back no matter how messy this got.

And in that moment, with the whole table staring and the restaurant half-watching, I realized this “way out” Holly had started with her wild lie had just walked in wearing dark jeans and carrying the full weight of a police captain’s badge.

Maybe I should just play along…right?

I mean… What’s the worst that could happen?