by Sharon Kay
“I don’t believe that. You didn’t do the crime you were accused of.”
“No, I didn’t. But I was ready to. Do you understand? I was prepared to kill, just to join up with more killers.” He ground out the words with palpable disgust.
She swallowed hard. “That’s not who you are now.”
“Doesn’t matter. One man lied, and the cops and the mayor wanted to solve the case.” He slowly closed his hands into fists. “You wanna know why it was so goddamn easy for them to pin it on me?”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Yes. Help me understand.”
“I have a juvenile record. I started picking pockets on the subway when I was eleven, stealing from stores when I was twelve. I stole my first car at fifteen. I idolized the leaders of the Cobras. Couldn’t wait to join and move up to dealing drugs and start getting rich. The cops knew all that. The city’s lawyers tried to get my record unsealed, because I was eighteen at the time of trial. They weren’t successful, but it didn’t matter.”
Her heart ached for the boy he’d been and a hundred questions raced through her mind. How had he turned to that?
“And tonight?” He bit out the words and paced back to stand in front of her. “I saw that woman. She was a prime target. Distracted, tired. Bag open behind her. I recognized the opportunity.” He jabbed a finger toward his chest. “I recognized it because I used to live that life. That was me, Rosie. All that knowledge of how to pull off that shit? It’s all still here. Just like those guys who harassed you. I knew they saw an opportunity. I knew you had less waitresses on staff. That same ugliness that was in them, that made them do what they did? It’s inside me too.”
The air whooshed out of her lungs. Unbidden tears sprang to her eyes at the painful undercurrent in his words. “I don’t believe that,” she whispered, fighting to keep her voice from cracking. “Everything you’ve done since you got here has been good. Maybe you saw the same opportunity, but you didn’t act on it. You did the opposite.”
“I can’t change who I am.” His tone softened ever so slightly as a lone tear slipped down her cheek. “That criminal will always be inside me.”
She swiped at the annoying tear. “You may not be able to change the past, but you don’t have to live in it.” She ignored the voice screaming in her mind to listen to herself. This moment was about Cruz. “You said it yourself, you moved here for a fresh start.”
“Maybe that was a bullshit idea.”
“It was not.” Determination crept into her voice. “You came out of a bad situation that wasn’t your fault. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
He shook his head. “I’ve already had a second chance. And a third, and a fourth. Doesn’t seem to matter.”
“It does matter. You’re a good man.”
“Stop saying that,” he growled, stepping closer.
“No.” She stood as tall as she could, and she still had to tilt her head up to meet his fiery eyes. “I refuse. You are a good man, an honorable one. Your actions show me that more than any words out of your stubborn mouth. I dare you to try and tell me you’re not. I will argue until I can’t talk anymore, and then I’ll start texting it to you and the whole damn world. Don’t you dare test me—”
A squeak left her lips as he grabbed her shoulders and closed the small distance between them. His mouth covered hers with a dizzying urgency. His kiss was hungry and wild, stealing her breath. Possessive.
Oh. Wow.
He backed her up against the side of the truck and dropped one hand to her hip. The other threaded into her hair as his warm lips shaped hers. Her heart kick-started in her chest as the need for more ignited, firing out to every nerve ending in her body. She skimmed her hands up his thick biceps and broad shoulders, something she’d been dying to do all week.
He wasn’t gentle and that aroused her more than she ever could have anticipated. She moaned into his mouth, parting her lips for his exploration. His tongue was so wicked, the way it stroked along hers was a sexy, caressing motion that made her imagine him doing the same between her legs.
And maybe that thought meant she was moving way too fast, but he pressed flush against her and she was ready to explode from the sensation of his tall muscular body aligned with hers. His hard length ground into her lower belly, nearly making her lose her mind.
He wasn’t just being nice, or polite, or gentlemanly any of the times they had hung out. He wanted her.
He tore his mouth from hers and began a devastating path along her neck from the base of her throat up to her ear. He took her lobe between his teeth. “Rosie. Fuck, woman.” His voice was gritty and strained and vibrated across her skin like a command.
She couldn’t form words, could only pant with arousal more intense than anything she had ever felt before. Heaviness settled in her belly and she fought to breathe. She knotted her fingers in his thick hair and tugged him back to her mouth.
He let her take over the kiss, letting her play and explore. But when his hand left her hip to wander up, caressing over each of her ribs, she lost all sense of what she was doing. Her breasts were so sensitive. If he touched her there, if those sexy rough fingers played with her nipples, she would die. She’d orgasm right here, in her front yard, up against his truck.
A delicious ache settled low in her abdomen and she knew she was done for. Her body wanted relief and was on a mission to get it. She rocked her hips against his, seeking his denim-covered erection.
His hand stopped just below her breast. Big and warm. She could imagine what he’d feel like touching her, how he’d caress and flick her nipples into stiff, aching points—
He pulled away only to rest his forehead on hers. “Rosie,” he panted. “God damn. We better stop.”
She made a sound that was somewhere between a question and a protest.
“I don’t have a condom.” A strained sigh escaped him. “Do you?”
She shook her head. It had been so long since she’d had sex, anything she may have had was long expired. “You’re right. We should…stop.” And it was going to kill her. She still couldn’t breathe properly.
He dropped his hands back to her hips and a devilish grin played across his lips. “Kinda been wanting to do this ever since you walked out that door with that damn hat on.”
She giggled through a breath that finally filled her lungs. “Yeah? You like my hat, huh?”
“That hat should come with a hard-on-inducing warning.”
Now she laughed outright, keeping her hands linked loosely behind his neck. “You’re funny.”
“Thanks for showing me the fair.” He tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear.
“My pleasure.”
“And thanks for arguing with me.”
How many guys thank a girl for arguing? Cruz was full of surprises. She traced a finger along his stubble-roughened jaw. “Thanks for letting me in. I don’t sit quiet when things aren’t right. And you…” She fought the urge to trace his full lower lip, knowing that would bring them back to kissing. “You were wrong.”
He made a scoffing sound. “Oh, I was?”
“Yep. Don’t argue with a country girl.” She winked.
“Duly noted.” He slid an arm around her shoulders and walked her toward her door. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” They climbed the three steps to her door and she dug in her pocket for her keys. She unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Cruz grabbed her hand and pulled her close enough to kiss her cheek. “Sleep well. See you soon.”
“You, too. Night.” She ducked inside and closed the door. Peering through the front window, she watched the red taillights fade into the distance as he drove away.
Not how she thought this night would go, in more ways than one. Her world had shifted, all because of this handsome, damaged man. His ability to keep moving forward and overcom
e his past awed her—even if he said he hadn’t changed.
If only she could have an ounce of that strength.
Chapter 12
Cruz whistled as he worked under his truck. Turned out, the thing was due for an oil change after all. Good thing he’d thought of it last night in his futile efforts to stop mentally undressing Rosie.
He carefully removed the used oil filter and slid the pan in place to catch all the grubby, sediment-filled remains from the reservoir. God, that woman. He’d been seconds from fucking her up against his truck. And judging from her breathy moans and roaming hands, she was thinking along the same lines.
Soon. Maybe? He didn’t want to be an ass. But she ignited a crazy need to touch, to protect, to make her his. Top that off with her sass and sweetness, and he didn’t think he could stay away.
The rumble of an engine pulling into the driveway behind him pulled him from his thoughts. Huh. He wasn’t expecting any visitors, and this vehicle sounded way more powerful than Rosie’s little Ford. He scooted out from under his truck, eyes adjusting to the bright morning sun.
Parked in the driveway was a dark blue SUV marked Redemption County K9 Unit. Well, shit. Cruz wiped his hands on a rag, guessing the visitor’s identity.
A man got out with eyes that matched Rosie’s blue ones, only his hair was close cropped and brown. He whistled, and the biggest German shepherd Cruz had ever seen bounded out behind him.
“Zaffino?” The man wore jeans and a gray T-shirt, but had the air of someone used to giving commands and being listened to.
“That’s me.” Cruz fought an instinctual, building distrust. He’d dealt with cops for so long, none of their interactions good. And the faults lay on both sides.
“Shane Marlow.”
“Nice to meet you.” Cruz spoke the words out of habit and, for Rosie’s sake, he hoped it would be. He eyed Shane, who was as tall as Cruz and had a similar build. No paunchy belly for this cop. “What brings you out here?”
Shane pinned steely eyes on Cruz. “What brings me out here is a photo someone texted me.” He pulled his phone from a pocket, scrolled, and turned the phone around.
Cruz leaned in, holding up a hand to shield the screen from the sun’s glare. It showed a text message displaying the name Charmaine at the top. Below was a photo of Cruz and Rosie, laughing as they ate dinner last night. A text bubble read “Thought you’d want to see who Rosie is with at the fair right now. Do you know this guy?”
Cruz took a step back, noting that the dog had leaned forward at the same moment he had. Now, it settled back. He idly wondered what the dog had decided. “Wow.” He didn’t know whether to be impressed or pissed that small town rumor mills were aided by cell phones. Or should he be happy that Rosie had people looking out for her? Still, no one had been looking out for her the night he’d met her. Moreover, he couldn’t read Shane. So he waited.
“So you went to the fair.” Shane put his phone away. “One of Rosie’s favorite places.” He studied the small rental house behind Cruz. “Not sure how to say this. But she’s my only sister.”
She’s an adult too. Cruz bit his tongue.
“She can be too trusting,” Shane went on. “Sees the good in people before she’ll ever see the bad. I don’t want anything to happen to her.” His dog took that moment to park its furry butt on the driveway.
“Neither do I.” Cruz forced calm into his voice.
Shane glanced from the animal to Cruz. “She told me what you did for her, the night after she walked out of work alone. I owe you a huge thank you.”
Cruz nodded, surprised at the unexpected gratitude. “It was the least I could do. Those fuckers gave her shit the whole night.”
Shane’s fist clenched. “Goddamn it. She told me you beat them all up.”
“Well, two of them. One turned chicken shit and ran.”
He shook his head. “I should have been there.”
“She said she usually walks out with someone, but they’d gone home sick. And that this has never happened before.”
A flash of anguish colored the cop’s face, only for a second. “Told her to call me if she ever has to walk out alone again.”
Cruz thought about telling him that he told Rosie the same thing, but decided not to. The guy clearly felt some responsibility, deserved or not. “I have a younger sister too. I get it.”
“Well, that’s one thing we have in common.” Shane raised a brow. “I looked you up online.”
Shit, the man was as direct as Rosie. Cruz had to admire that. It was way better than people who played mind games or beat around the topic. “I know.”
“I read all the articles, plus I know you have a sealed juvie record that the prosecution wasn’t able to get open.” Shane set his hands on his hips. “I’ve been a cop long enough to see the difference in men who’ve done hard time. It changes you.”
Cruz’s skin flushed with anger. This guy may be Rosie’s beloved brother, but what the fuck? “Do you have a point, ‘cause I’m about ready to finish up this oil change.”
“I wanted to put an actual face with the name. And to remind you that people keep an eye out for Rosie. And, you know, like I said, to say thanks.”
Well that was the oddest mix of reasons to meet someone he’d ever heard. “All right. Nice meeting you then.”
“Likewise.” Shane uttered a gruff command in a foreign language, and the shepherd jumped back into the SUV, which the door still hung wide open. In seconds, they were backing out and disappeared down the street.
Cruz shook his head. He knew he’d stick out like a sore thumb here, at least at first. But gauging these folks wasn’t easy. Friendliness could be coated in saccharine falseness. He couldn’t tell if Shane thought he was an ass or tolerable.
But then there was Rosie. And everything was uncomplicated around her.
Cruz’s phone rang a couple hours later as he stepped out of the shower. The screen lit up with a familiar number. He wrapped a towel around his hips and answered. “Hey, Rosie.”
“Good morning.” Her sunny smile carried through the phone. “Well, I guess it’s almost noon by now. Have you had lunch?”
“Nope.” He grabbed another towel to dry his hair. “You wanna get a bite to eat?”
“Well, I’m making grilled cheese. I know it’s like, kid food, but I just had a taste for it. Want to join me?”
“Sure. And it sure as hell isn’t just kid food. Homemade grilled cheese is the best.”
“Oh, good. Come over any time.”
“You need me to bring anything?”
“Umm… no, I’ve got all the fixings.”
Christ, his mom and grandma said fixings. Every word out of her mouth endeared her more. “Okay. I’ll be there soon.” He‘d wait until he saw her to tell her about Shane’s visit.
“Okay, bye.” She ended the call.
Ten minutes later, Cruz found himself again in Rosie’s extensive driveway. The sun had stayed out and the spring weather had coaxed forth all kinds of blooms. Towering trees with big white flowers marked the edges of her yard.
He parked and strode up to her door. The main door was open, and only the screen door was closed. He knocked loudly on the frame. “Hello?”
“Come on in!” she called from somewhere within the house.
He let himself into the small foyer. Maple hardwood floors stretched beneath his feet. To his left was a tidy living room, to his right was an equally tidy dining room. He followed a hallway straight back and found himself in a kitchen that was a hodgepodge of old and new.
Cheery yellow walls reached up to a border along the ceiling with white and yellow flowers. Modern white appliances mixed with a big white sink and a huge window at the back wall. A tiny table that looked older than Rosie perched under the window. He peered closer. The glass was almost wavy at the bottom, the way really old wind
ows were.
And at the tan-flecked laminate counter was Rosie, buttering slices of bread. “Hi there,” she said with a huge smile.
Her hair was in a ponytail, but tendrils escaped to frame her face. She wore a bright pink V neck top and tan cropped pants. She was barefoot, her tiny toenails painted cherry red.
“Hi, yourself.” He leaned against the fridge. “Nice house.”
“Thanks. It’s been in my family for a long time.” She pulled a frying pan from a lower cabinet and set it on the stove. “It belonged to my grandparents. When they passed, my parents were slow to sell it. They kinda didn’t want to, and neither did I. Then I decided I could swing the money for the property taxes. I convinced them to keep it and I moved in.”
“Lotta memories here, huh?”
“Oh, yeah. Me and Shane got into all kinds of trouble, catching frogs and snakes when we’d come here.”
He grinned at the thought of a little blond-haired pigtailed Rosie. Bet she was just as determined to catch frogs as her brother.
“How about your family? They still live in the city?” She dropped a dollop of butter in and cranked the burner.
“Yep. My grandma is in a two flat that she’s had forever. She rents out the bottom part. My mom and sister live in a newer condo.” Finally. They’d lived in enough shitty apartments over the years.
Rosie chattered on as she expertly cooked the best grilled cheese he’d ever had, filling him in on the adventures she had with Shane growing up. He couldn’t help but appreciate their closeness. Hell, he was close to his sister, Jenna, too. So close that his own experience had fueled her career choice of being a criminal defense attorney.
They had devoured most of Rosie’s sandwiches by the time she stopped to just sit quietly. And he didn’t mind. She idly pushed a potato chip around on her plate. “My gosh, I’ve talked your ear off,” she said.
“It’s all right,” he said. “Not too much to add. Been a quiet morning.”
“Yeah? What’d ya do?”