He was still stewing on the situation as he unlocked the passenger-side door and helped her into his vehicle.
“Thanks,” she said, smiling sweetly.
Because he couldn’t resist, he reached down and quickly brushed his lips against hers before heading to the driver’s side.
After he’d backed out and was driving toward her house, she smiled at him. “What was that for?”
“No specific reason. Maybe I decided I was tired of waiting.”
“You’ve been waiting to kiss me?”
“You couldn’t have been that surprised.” He glanced at her again as he stopped at a red light. “Or, are you?”
“I don’t know. I am a little.” Taking a deep breath, she pressed a hand to her face. “You know? Never mind. Forget I said anything. I sound like we’re in eighth grade and you’re my first boyfriend.”
“I could do that.” Holding out his right hand for her to take, he said, “Do you want to go steady, Traci?”
“Stop. Now I’m totally embarrassed.”
He kind of liked this flustered side of her. It was unexpected and cute. “You’re a puzzle, Traci. Every time I think I’ve got a handle on what type of girl you are, you go and surprise me again.”
“I think that’s supposed to be a good thing. You know, that way there’s an air of mystery about me.”
“There’s already that.” Deciding that he was impatient for a lot of things, he added, “For example, why, out of all places in the area, did you decide that Gwen Camp needs to go into hiding in your house?”
She pulled her hand from his, brow furrowed. “You sound like you’re angry.”
“That would be because I am.”
“Why are you angry at me? I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“No, the right thing would be to put that girl in a safe house. Or in another house. Anywhere, say, but your house,” he said as he parallel parked in front of her building.
“Maybe you should just drop me off.”
“No. I want to hear what you and Officer Lange have cooked up.” When she reached for the handle, he barked, “No. Sit there for a minute until I come get you out.”
She sat, but she was fuming.
He figured if Vanny or Bennie or even his mother was sitting in the vehicle, they’d be angry at him too. He was acting like a chauvinistic jerk, and he knew it.
But someone had to take care of her. And at dinner tonight, while she was fending off his family’s comments and questions, something inside of him had shifted. He’d known right then and there that he wanted that person to be him. Traci might have two brand-new sisters as well as a new sister-in-law, but as far as he was concerned, she was far too alone in the world. She needed someone to have her back.
And yes, maybe to get her doors for her as well.
Opening up the door, he held out a hand for her to take.
She set her palm in his but glared at him while doing so. “I have half a mind to tell you what you can do with this opening doors crap.”
When she got to her feet, he pulled her close and kissed her again. Traci was obviously startled, but within seconds had rested her hands on his shoulders and was kissing him back. A sense of accomplishment sailed through him. Boy, she did something for him.
When they broke apart, she looked him in the eye. “This isn’t our new thing. You’re not going to go around kissing me every time I disagree with you.”
“I don’t intend to.”
“No?”
Walking by her side, he grinned down at her. “I’m going to go around kissing you every time I feel like it. And I’m warning you, it might just be a lot,” he said as he opened the door.
Traci stared up at him just as one of her sisters ran over to her.
“Traci, what is Dylan talking about?”
“Hmm? Oh, is everyone here?”
“We’re all standing here in front of you, Miss Lucky,” the tall model who he knew was Kimber said.
She blinked. “Hey, you aren’t supposed to be here.”
“My shoot ended early and I was able to reschedule my flight. I walked in the door twenty minutes ago.” Her chin raised. “I’d say just in the nick of time, too.”
Shannon cleared her throat. “Traci, are you ready to talk now?”
Right before his eyes, Traci did what she seemed to be able to do very, very well. Within two seconds, she had on her game face and strode forward.
“Right. Let’s all go sit down and I’ll tell you what I know.”
In spite of still being irritated with her for volunteering to put Gwen up in her own house, Matt couldn’t have been more proud. Traci really was a woman in a million.
CHAPTER 26
“Socrates learned to dance when he was seventy
because he felt that an essential part
of himself had been neglected.”
What had she done? Looking into her sisters’ eyes, Traci began to second guess every rationale she’d had while sitting in the living room of the Bridgeport Women’s Center. She’d thought she’d been thinking about Gwen. But what if she’d really been thinking about herself?
What if she’d somehow transferred all the pain, all the worthlessness she’d grown up feeling and wound it up into a ball of excuses to do a good deed?
If that was the case, she didn’t know if she could possibly be more embarrassed.
After staring at her a good long minute, Shannon turned to her husband. In a crisp tone, she said, “As much as I like all of us getting together on the spur of the moment at ten at night, I think we need some explanations, Dylan.”
Looking at Traci, Kimber nodded. “What do you have to share that’s so all-fired important?” Narrowing her eyes, she said, “Or is it about you two?”
“Me and Matt?” She knew she sounded as incredulous as she felt.
“That’s the only other couple I’m looking at.”
Ouch. She felt her cheeks start to heat. “Um, this is not about Matt and me.”
“Really? Because we all saw you two kissing outside.”
“I didn’t know that.” What was happening to her tonight?
This time is was Jennifer who spoke. “It’s late. Will someone please tell us what’s going on?”
“All right.” Taking a deep breath, Traci said, “I invited Gwen to stay here for a while.”
Shannon threw a hand in the air. “Gwen? Who’s—” She gasped. “Oh my gosh, are you talking about the pregnant drug addict girl you pulled out of that shack?”
“Way to put it all out there, Lucky,” Dylan chided.
“Oh, stop. You know your first impression of her wasn’t any better,” she said before turning back to Shannon. “Yes, that’s her.”
“Gwen is pregnant, but she’s not a drug addict,” Matt said.
“Are you sure about that?” Kimber asked.
“Positive. She did have a crystal meth in her system when she arrived at the hospital, but we later learned that it had been her first time to do that. She was mostly malnourished and exhausted.”
“And you believed her?” Shannon asked.
“We did,” Traci replied, her voice hard. “I’m not saying I approve of what she did, because I don’t. But that’s the truth.” She looked at her sisters. “Look, this girl has been barely subsisting for months. She’s been really alone and in a tight spot. She needs to be someplace safe.”
Jennifer crossed her legs. “I feel really bad for her. I really do. But I don’t understand how it went from her being in a home to needing to come to our home.”
Dylan answered that one. “There was a problem tonight. Gwen’s ex-boyfriend broke into the place and fired two shots at her. When he missed, he attempted to remove her by force.”
Kimber’s whole expression changed. “Oh my gosh! Is she okay?”
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“She’s shaken up and scared to death,” Traci said. “If Clyde, the off-duty security guard hadn’t been there, he would have abducted her.”
“How did he stop this guy? Is he dead?” Jennifer asked.
Jennifer’s matter-of-fact way of asking such a thing made Traci even more aware of her past. She’d been attacked in a parking lot by three men a couple of years ago and was still dealing with the after-affects. That, plus the fact that she was a cop’s sister, gave Traci even deeper concerns about her spur of the moment decision. “No,” Traci finally answered.
“What happened to him? He’s in jail?” she asked.
“No. He got away,” Traci finally admitted.
Dylan continued. “That’s why we need to put her someplace safe.”
“But this isn’t safe,” Shannon countered. “Jennifer and Kimber live here. I have high school girls who take lessons here. This is a really bad idea.” She glared at her husband. “You know how much finding my sisters has meant to me. How could you just put us all in jeopardy?”
Dylan reached for her hand. “Honey, it wasn’t like that.”
Shannon snatched her hand away. “How could it be any other way?”
“You’re forgetting that Traci’s a damn good cop and she lives here.”
“But she’s working. You’re working. And I don’t want to start taking shooting lessons to have to defend Kimber.”
“You won’t have to defend me,” Kimber retorted. “I can take care of myself.” With a pointed look at Dylan, she added, “Not that I’m real happy about this little setup either.”
“She had to go somewhere safe,” Traci said again.
“Couldn’t you have put her in a cell or something?” Kimber asked. “At least then she’d be safe.”
“Gwen is eighteen years old and pregnant. She’s been through hell,” Traci added. “What she needs is someone to care.”
“So you decided it would be you two,” Shannon said.
“Yes, Shannon. And listen, before you get mad at Dylan, you need to know that he didn’t come up with this idea. I did.”
“I think it’s a good option,” Matt said.
Shannon eyed him warily. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand why you’re here.”
“First, because Traci and I are dating, so I care about her health and safety whether she thinks I should do that or not. Secondly, because Gwen’s my patient and I can honestly say that putting her in a jail cell would not only do damage to her, it might even harm the baby.”
“And third?” Shannon asked, a hint of a smile appearing on her face.
Matt leaned back. “I don’t have a third reason why this is a good idea. To be honest, Traci took me by surprise, too. I’m not real happy about her putting all of you and herself in danger. I told her that as well.”
Jennifer stood up. “That settles it then.”
“What is settled?” Dylan asked.
“You and Traci are going to have to go back and tell Gwen that she can’t stay here. We don’t want her.”
We don’t want her. Boy, how many times had she heard that phrase? It hurt her almost worse than anything she could imagine.
Traci inhaled, trying to keep a grip on herself. “Jennifer, Gwen’s mother kicked her out of her house. She’s been yanked around by an abusive boyfriend. When she finally finds a safe place to live, someplace where she could actually get healthy and learn something, her ex breaks in. Then, because he’s a danger to the others, she was asked to leave. And it’s just not herself we’re talking about. She has a baby on the way.”
“You’re not being a fair, Traci.” Kimber said. “I’m sorry if this girl has had a crappy life, but we can’t save her.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Believing in her is going to save her. She needs that. Please, you guys.”
“I asked Shannon over here tonight because I want us to move in here for a while too,” Dylan added. “That way either Traci or I can always be here.”
“But you two are partners,” Shannon said. “Is that even allowed?”
“We can split up for a few weeks. We’re also going to find this Hunter guy and make an arrest.”
Traci nodded. “That’s our priority.”
Shannon pressed her hands to her face. “I don’t know what to do. If I was reading about his in a magazine or a newspaper, I’d say that people should absolutely take her in. But this affects not just me, but people I love. This isn’t easy.”
“I know it isn’t,” Traci murmured.
Kimber leaned forward. “What if she goes back on drugs? Or gets back together with this guy and steals our things?”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Traci, I’m sorry, but it can happen,” Kimber said. “I grew up in New York City and have traveled all over the world. Sometimes people do relapse or go back to the life they once knew. It happens to people even when they have the best of intentions.”
Matt held up a hand. “Everyone, for what it’s worth, I believed a lot of the same things you all do. As a matter of fact, I spent most of the drive over here telling Traci that I thought she was wrong. But now, I have to admit that I was wrong.” His voice softened. “Listen, I know this girl. Gwen isn’t perfect—not by a longshot. But she’s not going to rob you or bring in this ex-boyfriend. I’m ninety-nine percent sure that she’s not that girl.”
“But what if you’re wrong?” Jennifer asked.
“But what if I’m right?” Traci countered as she looked at each of them. “What if all she needs is someone to believe in her? Someone to give her some slack so she can take the lead?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but . . . okay,” Kimber said.
“Really?” Traci had been sure that, out of all of them, Kimber would be the hardest to convince.
“Really.” Looking reflective, Kimber spoke again. “Look, I’m not saying that I’m not a little worried, but if she’s had as hard of a life as you say—who am I to decide that she doesn’t deserve someone to sacrifice something for her? I am who I am because of my parents.”
Jennifer nodded. “Dylan, I believe in you. You’ve been a cop for years and helped a lot of people. If you believe in this woman, than the least I can do is believe in you.”
“I’ll have officers patrolling around here more often. I promise.”
“I’ll get Jack to come over more often too.”
“That’s good. Next time I see him, I’ll fill him in.”
Jennifer walked to Traci’s side and gave her a quick hug. “I know this conversation wasn’t easy for you. Thanks for doing it, though. Night.”
“Night.”
Kimber walked to her side. “Hold up, Jen. I’ll walk up with you. Good night, everyone. See you in the morning.”
Traci sat down next to Matt and gazed at Shannon. Of all the women in the house, she would’ve thought that Shannon would be the first to help Gwen. She’d sure been wrong. “Is there anything I can do or say to help you?”
“To help me what? Come around to your way of thinking?” She shrugged. “Traci, I’ll go along with this, but I don’t feel good about it. I realize I’m not being very kind or understanding, and I know I’ve disappointed you. I’m sorry.”
“You can’t help how you feel.” Thinking about it, Traci realized that of all of them, Shannon had had a bit of a charmed life. She’d been adopted by a well-to-do family who doted on her and gave her a wonderful life. She’d had some success in dance. And, while her career path hadn’t been exactly easy, it also hadn’t involved a lot of hardship.
Of course everything about Gwen sounded foreign and a little frightening to Shannon.
“I promise you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by this girl.”
“I feel sorry for her, but I’m still worried. I just found all of you. Jenn
ifer, too. What am I going to do if this guy hurts one of you?”
“He won’t.”
“You can’t promise that, though.”
Dylan took her hand. “Honey, life isn’t made up of promises. Life is made up of days and nights and survival and hope.”
“And love.”
“Most of all, if we’re lucky, love.” He kissed her brow before standing up. “We’re outta here. I’ll call the captain in the morning, Lucky.”
She nodded. “I’ll stop by and speak to Ellen and Gwen.”
“Sounds good.”
Traci walked over and stood in front of Shannon. “Please don’t be mad at me forever.”
“Oh, you.” She wrapped her arms around Traci and hugged her tight. “I’m not mad. I love you.”
After they told Matt good night, they walked out.
Matt gazed at her. “How are you doing?”
“Better now. Thanks for standing up for me.”
“I wanted to. I thought you were right.”
“Have I even thanked you for taking me to your parents?”
He laughed. “To be honest, I’ve been afraid to mention that dinner. I prepped them so much, they were ridiculous.”
“Did you really tell them they couldn’t call me a cop?”
“It didn’t sound respectful.”
“Or policewoman?”
“I didn’t think you were allowed to say that anymore.”
She burst out laughing. “Oh, Matt. One day I’m going to make you hang out with all my cop buddies. Then, you’ll know that cops are a pretty hardy lot. We’ve got thick skin. It takes a lot to offend us.”
“You might have thick skin, but you’re a sweetheart underneath, Lucky,” he said before he kissed her.
Realizing that he was exactly right—and that she didn’t mind it one bit—she kissed him back.
CHAPTER 27
quickstep: This dance is inspired by the
foxtrot, but it has a much quicker tempo, which
is where the name of the dance originates.
“I still can’t believe I’m moving in with you,” Gwen said as Officer Lucky drove them to her house in her Subaru. “Are you sure it’s okay?”
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