by Milan Watson
Burke smiled against her mouth. “One I can’t help but want to make again and again.”
Her lips brushed tentatively over his as her hands reached for his shoulders. He was muscled and smelled good enough to eat. He held true to his promise and didn’t touch her until her hands cruised down his arms, wrapping them around her waist. She wanted to feel his touch while she explored his taste.
He backed her up against the car, slipping into her mouth with a tender kiss. Her mind fogged with arousal even as she indulged in being reckless. Was it even legal to be this good a kisser? She pulled back trying to catch her breath. He didn’t move, instead just kept his gaze on hers.
Scarlet couldn’t resist, she went back for more, this time threading her hands into his short-cropped hair. A chuckle escaped her when she finally pulled back. “You’re right; it’s a pretty good mistake to make.”
“Pretty darn good,” Burke said, rubbing a finger over her lips. “You taste good, Scarlet, I’d like to taste more.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she wanted that as well. She wasn’t ready for this. He was overwhelming, addictive, almost intoxicating. She shook her head, unable to say no.
Burke smiled and stepped back. “Your eyes don’t lie, Scarlet, and pretty soon you’ll have to face the truth. This is going to happen… sooner or later…”
Again he turned and walked away, leaving Scarlet wobbly-kneed as she stared after him. He was right; she wanted this to happen but she didn’t want to let her heart get involved – and it already was.
How could it not be when Burke was sweet, sexy, and tender all at the same time? Bad boys were bad news and Burke was their leader. Nothing good could come from having a fling with him – except the memories Scarlet thought with a smile as she slipped in behind the wheel.
Perhaps the memories would be enough to soothe her broken heart when he left.
Chapter 16
• ---------------------------- •
He stood over the grave and felt the anger of his childhood return. He needed to find a way to bury the anger and pain, and thought his father’s grave would be the perfect place, instead it just brought back every fight, every insult, and that last night that drove him out of town.
He kicked the headstone, angry that he’d come here in the first place. He needed to forgive his father, to find a way to believe that he won’t become the same man one day, but it was hard. Harder than he imagined. His mom and Alice had gone to find his mother a dress for the wedding – Burke had thought it the perfect time to come to the cemetery.
He was furious with his father, but even more he was sad. Sad that they never could bury the hatchet, that his father had changed into his enemy. Tears clouded his vision but he swallowed them back. He wouldn’t cry, not for the man that caused him to abandon his mother and baby sister.
“Why couldn’t you just love me?” Burke asked with a thick voice. The headstone didn’t answer back, but Burke knew it wouldn’t. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at your funeral, but it was your fault. If you hadn’t…” he let out a heavy sigh. “Goodbye old man. I hope you find peace, wherever you are.”
Burke walked back to his car with a heavy heart. It would take time, he knew that, but he wished it was over. He wished he could forget the memories and the heartache, but it wouldn’t happen today.
He punched the gas, speeding all the way home, grateful that he would have the house to himself. His heart was raw, the conflicting emotions fighting a war in his mind. Slamming the door of his car he stomped into the house with a curse for the old man. The new recliner he had bought his mother stood in the living room, it was a reminder that he was gone, but it was also a reminder that he was once there.
“Burke?”
He turned with thunder in his eyes to find Scarlet standing at the dining room table. A frown creased his brow as he noticed dozens and dozens of party favors spread over the table.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Burke asked, lashing out. He was so angry he just couldn’t seem to contain it.
Scarlet frowned and glanced at the table. “I’m packing the party favors. Is something wrong?”
Burke cursed under his breath. “Everything is damn wrong. I can’t even get a minute alone in this town, should’ve never come back in the first place.”
Scarlet’s eyes widened and Burke regretted his words immediately. Instead of apologizing he rushed upstairs, and slammed the door to his room behind him.
A few hours was all he needed to get out of this slump. He was the master of concealing his feelings and his troubles, but when he got back from the cemetery it was just all too fresh. He had lashed out at Scarlet, who was only trying to help. Guilt washed over him but he knew if he went downstairs now he’d try and lose himself in her to forget; she didn’t deserve that.
He didn’t deserve her.
He remembered how his father had insulted Lisa that last night – and kicked the closet door. Why was the old man still haunting his mind if he was six foot under?
He sat down on the bed and dropped his head in his hands.
He owed Scarlet an apology. He thought of her big eyes and the kiss they had shared the night before. She was inching her way into his heart, no women had ever managed to do that since he left White Horse Creek. She had no idea who he really was and yet she cared enough to ask if he was alright.
He waited for his heartbeat to calm to a steady beat. The red started to fade from his vision until he finally could take a deep breath again. Standing up he walked to the window and glanced outside. It was five days before Christmas Eve, five days before his baby sister’s wedding, and he wouldn’t let his father’s memory ruin it for anyone.
Taking a deep breath he headed back downstairs. He stopped on the landing and watched her for a moment. Her dark hair was tied into a messy bun, her jeans clung to her hips and the shirt she wore was flannel.
There was absolutely nothing about her that should attract him and yet everything did. He wanted to untie her hair and feel it fall into his hands. He wanted explore the curves of her legs and he couldn’t help but want to find out what type of underwear she wore. Would it be cotton or would it be lace?
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled as he moved down the stairs.
She turned to him with a wide-eyed gaze. “If I knew what set you off I’ll be sure to avoid it in future. I never thought someone could have such a strong dislike for white satin bags and party favors.”
Burke allowed the corner of his mouth to tilt into a grin. “It wasn’t you or the party favors.”
Scarlet set down the bag she was busy with and turned to him with a curious look. “Want to talk about it?”
Burke considered for a moment. How much longer did he have to carry around the best kept secret in White Horse Creek? He shrugged. “It’s not a pretty story.”
“Most aren’t,” Scarlet said softly. “Talk to me, Burke; help me understand why you looked ready to commit murder a few moments ago.”
Burke sighed and walked to her. He needed to touch her, needed to know that there was good in this world, not just the bad memories that haunted him. “Are you sure you want to know?”
She nodded, but didn’t move away from his touch. Instead her gaze softened. “Let’s go sit outside.”
Burke nodded, grateful to leave the house.
They sat on the porch swing, side by side. Burke didn’t even know where to start, so he started at the beginning, his ninth birthday. He told her everything; the fights, the insults, the disapproval until that last night. When he finished where his mother was on the ground bleeding and his father rushed to her side, he expected her to flinch or gasp, instead she reached for his hand. “I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you. No one knew…”
Burke laughed wryly. “That was the plan I suppose. I didn’t want anyone to know. Everyone liked him but no one knew about the monster he became behind closed doors. We tried to shield Alice from it as much as possible, but I think she knew.”
“The best kept secret in White Horse Creek – John Birkowitz was an abusive drunk.” Burke shook his head. “I went to his grave this morning.” Burke looked up and waited for the pity in her gaze, instead what he saw there was anger.
“He didn’t deserve a visit from you, Burke. He didn’t deserve to call a man like you his son.”
Burke scoffed. “Funny how we don’t always get what we deserve.” He glanced out over the snowy landscape and turned to Scarlet. “I’m sorry about lashing out earlier. You didn’t deserve it. I hoped no one would be home ’cause I knew I’d be screwed up after I went to see him.”
Chapter 17
• ---------------------------- •
Scarlet nodded, holding his hand tightly. She couldn’t imagine any of what he’d told her. He had been the guy everyone wanted to be. Sure, he had a few moments of being an asshole as well, but everyone thought that was just him being him, now Scarlet understood that he tried to be in control at school because he had none at home.
Her heart swelled in her chest as she looked at him. No one had known. There hadn’t even been a rumor of John Birkowitz being an alcoholic, or that he pounded on Burke and his mom. Scarlet doubted Alice knew half of what happened while she was being distracted in another part of the house.
“Hell, I could do with some coffee,” Burke said standing up.
Scarlet followed him inside. She watched as he filled two cups with coffee before joining her at the island counter. “Did Lisa know?” She knew now wasn’t the time to bring up his ex-girlfriend, but she couldn’t help but be curious.
Burke shook his head. “No. How could I tell her my father wanted her, that he picked fights with me over her? I left without saying goodbye. I think I told her I was tired of her.”
Scarlet sighed. “So many lies, so many heartaches. You should tell her the truth, Burke. All this time she thought she wasn’t good enough.”
Burke turned to Scarlet with a questioning look. “She thought that? I wasn’t good enough. My father wasn’t good enough.”
“I know…” Scarlet trailed off. “So you left to protect your mom and Alice.”
“Yeah.” Burke sighed. “I’m just grateful it worked. Ma says after that night he never lifted his hands again.” He turned to Scarlet and for a moment she was frightened of the look in his gaze. “I would have killed him that night if something happened to Ma, Scarlet. I had to leave before I did.”
Scarlet nodded, understanding. She couldn’t imagine standing by while your father beat your mother. “I wouldn’t have blamed you.”
Silence hung over them for a long time. Scarlet wanted to hug him, wanted to soothe away the bad memories. He had made something of himself regardless of his abusive father or being chased from his childhood home. She turned to him and let her hand graze over his back.
Burke turned to her with a dangerous look, no hint of a smile in sight. “Scarlet, don’t…”
She frowned and kept rubbing his back. “Why not? Why can’t I try and be there for you.”
“Because right now I’d like nothing more than to lose myself in you, to forget him. You don’t deserve that.”
Scarlet’s breath caught when she realized it was arousal in his gaze, not anger. She stood up and used both her hands to rub his shoulders. “Maybe I want to help you forget,” she whispered against his ear. She was playing with fire, but she wasn’t afraid of getting burned anymore.
Burke had never been the bad boy, he had simply tried to find a way to cope with the horrors he faced at home. He swiveled the chair and met her gaze. The air thickened around them with need. Burke had just revealed his heart to her and she wanted to take it in her hands and keep it safe. She stepped forward, and this time she didn’t kiss him first.
His hands framed her face in the tenderest way before he brushed a kiss over her lips.
Scarlet sighed at his soft touch. She stepped closer, moving between his thighs, and kissed him back. When his hands trailed from her face down her sides, slipping under her shirt, she sighed with ecstasy. His hands were hot as they coasted up her back before drawing her even closer.
His kisses weren’t the kisses of man in need, but rather the honest caress of a man who had experienced pain and rejection from the one person who should have supported and protected him. Stepping back she undid the buttons on her shirt, to give him access to her chest. His mouth cruised down the column of her throat before she felt a smile tilt the corners of his mouth. “I didn’t take you for black lace.”
Scarlet couldn’t help but grin. “I might be sweet but I like sexy underwear, especially black.”
Burke groaned as he cupped her breast and kissed her through the lace. She felt the resounding jolt of arousal hit low in her belly before the moan escaped her. She wanted this, she wanted him, and she wanted it now.
When a door slammed outside Burke jerked up straight. His eyes were clouded with desire, his voice rough. “That’s Alice and Ma, they’re back.”
Scarlet glanced down at her disheveled clothes and cursed before she quickly buttoned her shirt and smoothed a hand over her hair. She had just picked up a party favor when the front door opened and Alice and Rowena stepped through the door. She glanced at Burke and saw the need pulsing through her veins still reflected in his gaze. Scarlet knew right then and there, she wasn’t going to be able to resist him for another second.
She wanted him, the real Burke. Not the Burke he allowed the world to see, but the vulnerable Burke who just shared his biggest secret with her. The Burke that made her heart swell instead of her panties melt, that’s the man she wanted.
Chapter 18
• ---------------------------- •
After watching his mom parade in her dress, Burke decided it was time to talk to Lisa. Scarlet was right, Lisa deserved to know the truth. The way he’d left, what he’d said… none of it had been her fault.
If he’d known that’s what she thought he would have contacted her ages ago. For some reason he just accepted that she would think he was the heartless prick everyone warned her he was.
He glanced at Scarlet one last time where she was helping his sister with the party favors, then put a leash on Pal and headed out the front door. He didn’t take his car this time. A walk in the cool air would clear his mind and give Pal some exercise.
So much had happened that morning; visiting his father’s grave, facing the demons, and then Scarlet… It was hard for Burke to admit he was falling in love, but he couldn’t deny it anymore.
The teenager he had always teased had now become the woman that filled his mind and dreams. He turned onto Main Road and shook his head at the sign of the Wash and Whirl in the distance. Lisa had always been quirky, that was one of the things he had loved about her back then. It struck him like a thunderbolt that he remembered Lisa affectionately, but didn’t feel the love he had felt for her back then. It had been a long time, but looking back now Burke couldn’t help but wonder if what they had shared was puppy love compared to how he felt about Scarlet.
“Don’t mark anything, Pal,” Burke said to the pup before stepping into the salon. It was anything but a Laundromat.
The fittings were high end, the color scheme monochrome with bright splashes of color. It was Lisa’s place without a doubt. She stood behind the counter chewing on a pencil, wearing a bright red knit-dress. A smile curved Burke’s mouth.
“Be with you in a minute,” she said thoughtfully.
Burke watched her for a moment and the fond memories of their teenage affair rushed over him. When she looked up he saw the surprise in her gaze before it quickly clouded with wariness. “Burke?”
“Hi Lisa,” Burke said with an apologetic grin. “If you have the time, I’d like to have that talk now.”
Lisa cocked a brow as she placed a hand on her hip. “You mean the one you avoided seven years ago?”
Burke nodded. “Pretty much.”
Lisa glanced
at her diary before meeting his gaze. “I charge by the service. Unfortunately eating crow isn’t on the list … haircut?”
Burke couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sure, but what about Pal?”
“He can have one too, or we can put him the kitchen. I might have some biscuits that are stale I could treat him with,” Lisa offered, practical as always.
Burke nodded and followed her to the kitchen. Once Pal was settled he took a seat before Lisa sprayed his hair with something sweet smelling.
“You’re not getting a wash, cause my next client is due in twenty minutes. So if you want to grovel you’d better start.”
Burke sighed, wondering where he should start while Lisa combed his hair. She picked up the scissors and cocked a brow at him in the mirror. “Slit throat, or trim?”
Burke laughed, feeling the tension drain from his body. She might still be angry but at least she was joking, or at least he hoped she was. “A trim would be great.” When the scissors zapped for the first time Burke drew in a deep breath and began. “I’m sorry, Lisa. I’m sorry if you thought you weren’t good enough. You were too good for me. I didn’t leave because of you.”
“No, you left because you were tired of small towns, and small town girls if I remember correctly.”
When the scissors zapped perilously close to his ear, Burke flinched. “I deserve that. But I left because my pa was an asshole.”
Lisa’s face turned into a frown as she met his gaze in the mirror. “What’s your pa got to do with you dropping me like a hot potato?”
Burke fisted his hands beneath the cape. “Everything. That night before I left… he said some things about you… it got out of control…”
Lisa dropped into the chair beside him, his trim completely forgotten. “You fought about me?”