Rescuing the Bad Boy: Bad Boy Sweet Romance (Last Chance at Love Book 1)

by Anna Catherine Field

  “I was shocked to see you there,” I admit. “And I thought you were a bad guy. I didn’t have faith in you. I thought you back slid, like my mother did over and over. She’d come home and tell us that she’d changed and within days, months, she’d wreak havoc again. When I saw you with the transport van, I thought the worst and it scared me.”

  It still scares me. I want to trust but how? How do I do it?

  “I know, and I understand if you can’t have a man like me in your life.” He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing in this throat. “I understand if you can’t handle my baggage.”

  I want to tell him that I forgive him. That I want him. But fear grips my heart. He must sense my worry, because he removes his hand from my neck and shoves it in his pocket.

  “I’m just…”

  “I know. You don’t have to explain. Thank you for everything, Maverick.” He looks around the small room until his eyes land on the bed in the adjacent room. Heat burns my cheeks. Our eyes meet and he gives me a tight smile. “I’ll let you get on with your life.”

  He walks away without another word, leaving me frozen. It turns out that some people can change. Unfortunately, it turns out that maybe I’m not one of those people.

  31

  Griffin

  The waiting room of the courthouse is quieter than the last time I was here. There are no protestors, no signs with my mug shot plastered across the front. Still, I scan the modest crowd waiting for their own hearings, looking for her. My heart sinks when it’s obvious she didn’t come.

  Why would she?

  “Today should just be a formality,” Mr. Burgess says, eyebrows impossibly bushier than the last time we were here. “I received a letter from the court explaining your involvement with the police. Judge Johnson should sign off on your community service and that’ll be the end of it.”

  I sit on the bench outside the courtroom and run my hands nervously down my thighs.

  “Griffin,” a female calls out. I look up, hoping it’s Maverick. Instead I see Gabrielle striding across the waiting room. “Good. I got held up at the house. I thought I may be late.”

  “Nope,” I say with an exhale. “We haven’t been called yet. What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to speak up for you personally—let the judge know how much progress you made.”

  It feels good to hear—unfortunately, she’s not the one I wished was here speaking up for me. I fight the disappointment and give her a smile. “I appreciate it. Really.”

  She tilts her head. “You don’t look like someone that’s about to walk away a free man.”

  I run my hand through my hair. “I guess in some ways it feels like too little, too late, you know? I hurt a lot of people with the crimes I committed. Changing now can’t take that away.”

  “No,” she replies, “you can’t change the past—just the future. There’s a lot of value in that.”

  “Griffin McGuire!” The bailiff calls from the half-open courtroom door.

  “Good luck,” Gabrielle says. “You worked hard. You deserve a second chance.”

  I follow Mr. Burgess into the courtroom. Judge Johnson is already at the bench, flipping through some paperwork. He glances down at me, his expression blank. Gabrielle files in behind me and sits on a long bench. Otherwise, the courtroom is empty other than the prosecutor at the other table.

  The judge looks up, curiously glancing over my head toward Gabrielle, then he says, “Mr. Burgess, you may proceed.”

  “Your Honor,” Mr. Burgess begins, “It’s been thirty days since Mr. McGuire entered your Last Chance program. As you know, he spent the time living at Redemption House and serving hours at Maverick Farms, an animal rescue organization. Both facilities report that he successfully completed his hours.”

  Judge Johnson nods and says, “Ms. Reeves.”

  She scrambles to her feet. “Yes, your honor.”

  “You found Mr. McGuire to be a cooperative resident.”

  “Yes, he was very helpful, participated in group, and seems willing to apply those concepts to his life.”

  There’s a strange current between the two—palpable over the seriousness of the hearing. I look back and see that Gabrielle has her chin lifted and eyes slightly narrowed. Huh.

  “I appreciate you coming today to speak up for Mr. McGuire. It says a lot about the work he’s done. I also appreciate the time you spend running Redemption House. It’s an asset to our community.”

  “Thank you,” she says. “Your support is appreciated. I want to add that we’re hopeful that Griffin will continue to use our transition services as he reacclimates to a more positive future.”

  He nods and gives her a small smile. “You may be seated.” He turns his focus back on me. “Griffin, please approach the bench.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I stand and move to the center of the room.

  “The court is aware of your progress and dedication toward rehabilitation. The fact you assisted the police in the arrest of several members of an illegal dogfighting operation, as well as other criminals, only goes to show how much you’ve changed since you first entered my courtroom.” He clears his throat. “I have a letter from Maverick Frayer supporting the decision to consider this rehabilitation a success. It’s quite complimentary. You made quite the impression.”

  His eyes flick to mine and there’s nothing more that I want than to read that letter. But it’s not to me. It’s to Judge Johnson and I respect that.

  “I’m waiving any and all sentencing for your past crimes and consider your rehabilitation complete.” He holds my gaze. “You have a clean slate, Mr. McGuire. I don’t want to see you in this courtroom again, do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir, I do.”

  “Then you’re excused. Congratulations, Mr. McGuire.” He stands and walks around the bench, offering to shake my hand. I take it, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

  “Thank you.”

  He leans in and says, “Don’t give up on the challenges in life, son. Earning back trust takes hard work.” He pulls back and holds my eye. “If she’s worth it, she’s worth it.”

  He releases my grip and the bailiff encourages us out of the room. Out in the waiting area, Gabrielle gives me a hug and Mr. Burgess shakes my hand.

  “I’m not kicking you out yet,” Gabrielle says. “We can start looking for housing tomorrow. I know a few good places.”

  “Do they allow dogs?”

  We both turn to see Maverick standing a few feet away.

  “Because I’ve got a room for rent. It’s small. Tiny, actually, but it’s furnished and comes with a dog bed.” She glances toward the glass doors where I spot Paul waiting with Buddy on a leash. “And a dog that really wants you to come back.”

  Gabrielle smiles. “Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Not sure I can find something better than that.”

  She squeezes Maverick’s arm and walks toward the front doors, leaving the two of us alone.

  “Sorry I missed your hearing,” she says.

  “You sent a letter—that was more than enough.” I rub the back of my neck, hands itching to touch her, but forcing myself to hold back. “Are you serious about that room?”

  “I am,” she says. “And I’ll throw in a job, too.”

  “Sounds like you don’t mind having me around.”

  She takes a step toward me. “You’ve changed, Griffin. I know that. And I’ve realized that if I want the best for my life, I’ve got to change, too.”

  I reach for her hand, threading my fingers through hers. “Don’t change too much. I’m pretty partial to the woman standing in front of me.” With my free hand I press a finger under her chin, tilting her face up. “I didn’t know when I came to the farm, when I met you, that you’d be the one rescuing me.”

  I brush my lips across hers in appreciation and sigh in relief when she doesn’t push me away, instead wrapping her hands in my jacket and holding me close. It’s in that moment that I know for certain, that if Maveric
k needs me, I can rescue her, too.

  Epilogue

  We picked spring for the grand opening because of the weather, and Mother Nature didn’t disappoint. The sky is blue, not a cloud in sight, and a warm breeze rolls off the fields in the distance, making the banner hanging over the door flap.

  “I’ll tie that down better,” Max says, grabbing a ladder and propping it against the siding.

  “I’ve got the welcome desk stocked,” Sherilyn reports. “Anything else I need to do?”

  “No,” I say, trying to make sure I’ve done everything on the list. I’m sure something fell through the cracks. “I think we’ll be ready when the doors open.”

  “I can’t believe you turned this place—what used to be a nightmare—into something so amazing.” Sherilyn smiles at me. She’s proud. I’m proud.

  “This wasn’t even my idea,” I say, looking across the driveway. Paul and Griffin are back by the kennels. “Griffin had the idea to buy this place.”

  “He’s smart,” she says, squeezing my shoulder as she walks back in the building. “And a keeper.”

  She doesn’t have to tell me that. Over the last six months I’ve learned a lot about Griffin McGuire—and myself. Second chances are important, which is why we named the new facility Second Chance Animal Project.

  It’s not just a rescue, or a clinic, it’s everything. There’s medical with affordable veterinary care, an adoption center, educational facilities, fostering, training and more. It’s a dream—one Griffin and I built together—right on the most unlikely place.

  The dog fighting warehouse.

  After it was shut down and Marco went to prison, the county planned to sell it off. Over dinner one night, Griffin, Paul, Josie, Lewis, Kat, and I came up with an idea. We’d buy it ourselves and turn it into a one-of-a-kind facility. It took hard work, dedication, and a lot of money, but we got it done.

  “Hey,” Griffin says, walking my way. Buddy follows a few steps behind, yellow ball in his mouth. He looks amazing; dark hair tousled from the wind and his skin tanned. He’s wearing a Watkinsville Woodpeckers baseball shirt—he helps coach in the afternoon. Three-quarters length—I can still see that muscle in his forearm that drives me wild. “You ready?”

  “I think we are.”

  He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close, kissing my temple. “I’m proud of you, you know that?”

  “Stop. You did all the work—I was tied up at the farm.”

  Buddy whines at his feet and he looks down, grabbing the ball from his mouth and throwing it toward the field. It sails in the air, landing not far from Paul. Buddy takes off.

  “He never gets tired of that, does he?” I ask.

  “Nope.”

  A minute later, he comes running back. There’s something in his mouth—but not the yellow ball.

  “What’s he got?” I ask the dog, who obediently sits by Griffin’s feet.

  Griffin bends over and reaches into the dog’s mouth, pulling out something black. I frown. “What is that?”

  “Oh look,” he says, “I think it’s for you.”

  He holds it out, it’s a little slobbery and covered in teeth marks, but now that I see it, I know exactly what it is: a box.

  A ring box.

  “Griffin, what are you doing?”

  He grins, the kind that lights up his face, and proceeds to bend down on one knee. My stomach flutters nervously and my chest pounds as he opens the box. A diamond sparkles against the velvet background.

  “Maverick Frayer, you’ve changed my life. You’ve upturned my world. You’ve shown me what real family looks like, what love looks like, what redemption feels like. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to raise dogs with you, cats, and even pigs.” He stands, taking the ring out of the box, and holds it between his fingers. “I want to raise children with you, and fill our farm with little footsteps, not just animals.” He swallows, holding my eye. The smile is gone, replaced with absolute seriousness. “Will you marry me?”

  I’m struck silent—stunned by his profession of love, life, and happiness. I feel it too, so much, and I finally sputter, “Yes, I will marry you.”

  He grins, heartbreakingly happy, and slides the ring on my finger, while sealing it with a kiss. When he releases me, I look around and see my family and friends all around, big smiles on all of their faces.

  “You knew?” I ask, laughing and glancing down at the ring. Buddy licks my fingertips.

  “Yep,” Paul says, walking over to give me a hug. “We all knew, way before you did.”

  “How?”

  “Because this wasn’t about you rescuing someone, or someone rescuing you, it was you being there for one another.” He glances between me and Griffin, the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. “And that’s how you know it’s real.”

  Afterword

  If you liked Rescuing The Bad Boy, preorder the next book in the Last Chance at Love series, Redeeming the Bad Boy.

  I thought my life of crime and punishment was in the rearview mirror, but when the cops catch me in a stolen vehicle reality hit hard.

  So does Judge Chance Johnson.

  He’s giving me one more opportunity. One more shot. One last play for redemption.

  Unfortunately, my fate is in the hands of my latest victim.

  And my heart is suddenly in the hands of his daughter.

  Life keeps trying to take me down but can this girl, this woman, be the one that finally redeems me?

  You can also find Anna Catherine Field’s series, Love in Ocean Grove, on Amazon.

  Acknowledgments

  Special thanks to Lisa for beta reading this book! VCEdits and Cate Ashwood Designs for the lovely cover—all my awesome ARC readers and all the lovers of Sweet and Clean Romance!