by Sharon Kay
“Sure. Sounds fun.” He leveled her with a heated stare. “Long as I get you all to myself before and after.”
How did he always know the right things to say to make her wish that she had no responsibilities, that she could spend entire days wrapped in his arms? “You got yourself a deal,” she murmured.
A before and after date with Cruz. Of all the unexpected things in her life, she had a feeling he was going to be the best.
Shane’s phone rang, cutting through the long boring afternoon. Cooped up inside thanks to the deluge, he and Denver were both grumpy. Shane grabbed the phone. Glancing at the screen he recognized the cell of one of the cops in Hamilton, the next town west. “Yo, Collins.”
“Marlow.” Nate Collins wasn’t the best cop, but he wasn’t the worst either. Shane regarded everything he said with a grain of salt. “What’re you up to today?”
“Nothing, thanks to this damn storm. You?” Shane paced to the window and scowled. Nate didn’t usually call to chat.
“Nada. Hey, did you hear the Quick-Mart in Marmion had a robbery last night?”
“No. What happened?”
“Suspect came in around 11:30 at night. Had a knife, threatened the clerk. She gave him all the cash in the register. He had a mask on.”
“Shit. Clerk ok?”
“Yeah, just scared.”
“Got any leads?”
“We’re reviewing the security footage.”
“All right. Sounds like you’re on it. What do you need me for?”
“Heard Sundown’s newest resident is an ex-con.”
Shane froze and instant anger spread through his veins. He didn’t particularly like Zaffino…but he also didn’t like cops making assumptions, and he really didn’t like cops suspecting people with zero reason. He cleared his throat. “Not exactly an ex-con, since he was exonerated.”
“Shit, man, you’re splitting hairs as bad as any lawyer. All right then—he’s an ex-inmate. That’s a statement of fact.”
Shane blew out a breath. “Fine. I know. I met him. Read up on him. You got reason to place him at the scene last night?”
“No. Just checking on loose ends.”
“You can’t make up a loose end that don’t exist,” Shane growled. “Look what that got him before. And his story is all over the web, making Cook County look like a bunch of fools.”
“Take it easy, man. Didn’t know you were buds with the guy.”
Shane ground his molars. “No one is buds with anyone. And I’ll be damned if Redemption ends up in the news for any fucked-up arrests.”
“Absolutely, we don’t want that kind of spotlight on our fair county,” Nate drawled. “And we don’t want to be known for a sudden spike in crime, neither.”
“No shit, Collins,” Shane snapped. “Do your investigation. If you have any shred of evidence that might tie back to Zaffino, call me first. Are we clear?”
“You got it. Your concern for our justice system is duly noted.” Nate ended the call.
“Fucker.” Shane stalked to the kitchen. Nate was a smug asshole and Shane didn’t doubt he was chomping for a suspect to haul in.
Shit. He should’ve seen this coming. Zaffino wasn’t a boy scout, but he wasn’t a murderer either. But some people judge without knowing the whole story. He got the same treatment, just the opposite way.
People stopped him and thanked him for his service to the nation. Shane hated the word hero more than anything, but he’d learned to accept that he was going to get that label. It was one he didn’t deserve, not when half his team had died needlessly, and he’d been helpless to save them.
He opened his fridge and grabbed a beer, wondering if his initial reaction to Cruz had been too harsh. Maybe he wouldn’t have thought as much about him if Rosie hadn’t been involved.
He took a long slow pull off his Bud. He’d keep his eyes and ears open, like he always did. And he’d reserve judgement of Cruz until he knew the guy. On a level he forced himself to acknowledge, they’d both been through their own hell, and for each it was something most people never had to endure. Giving Cruz the benefit of the doubt was the least he could do.
Chapter 19
A week later, after who-knows-how-many-miles of roads busted up and repaired, the weekend loomed like a gift. Cruz was thankful for the back-breaking work in the hot sun because the sheer exhaustion was the only thing getting him to sleep at night.
After a night in Rosie’s arms, all future nights would be too long. All beds he might lie in would be too empty, unless she was beside him.
She’d told him he could dress as casually as he wanted for the party at her friend Brenda’s, but dropped a hint that she had a dress she’d gotten and needed a place to wear it. So hell, if she was going to look hot, he certainly wasn’t going to slouch it. He grabbed a new dark green T-shirt with no logos on it, and khaki shorts, and headed to her place.
Summer temperatures had arrived this week with a wave of heat and humidity. The guys on his crew swore it didn’t usually get this hot in June. Should make an interesting party. All the homes he’d seen in Sundown were small, so he guessed the party would be outside.
He parked his truck in front of Rosie’s house and walked up the steps. The front door was open. He knocked on the frame of the screen door and called, “Hello?”
“Come in,” she said from somewhere inside. “Be right down!”
He entered the dark foyer. The old house was probably as cool as she could make it. He’d noted a window air conditioning unit in her bedroom, so he guessed there was no central air. “Take your time.” He wandered over to the dining room, which he’d only given a passing glance to last week. It had a china cabinet full of very old-looking china and knickknacks. A leftover from her grandparents? The house didn’t have a lot of clutter.
The padding of bare feet on the steps had him turning around. And oh, damn.
Rosie’s delicate feet and slender legs came down the stairs. Next, a teasing swish of pale blue fabric that stopped just above her knees. One hand held the bannister, while the other carried a pair of sandals.
“Sorry to make you wait,” she said as her tiny waist came into view.
Cruz didn’t even realize his feet had walked him back to the foyer. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her and now? Something clicked in his chest.
The blue dress cradled her breasts, showing him enough to make his mouth water. A row of tiny buttons marched up the center, begging him to undo them one by one. The damn thing ended with taunting skinny little straps that made tracks over her shoulders, exactly where he wanted to kiss her. Her hair hung in long loose waves, and a smile that rivaled the sun lit her face as she locked eyes with him. “You look hot.”
“You look better.” He stopped her on the bottom step, keeping his hands at her hips. They were at eye level…those blue, blue eyes. She’d put on more makeup, not that she needed it. “You look beautiful.” He eyed the red tint on her lips. “And I wanna kiss that right off your lips.”
Her hands linked behind his neck. “Yeah, I debated on the lipstick.”
He pulled her close and spoke against her lips. “How about I help you with that decision?” Before she could reply, he gently sucked her lower lip, sliding his tongue along its plump softness.
She opened for him like she was dying for air and she grabbed his shoulders with an urgency he didn’t expect. And one that ignited a barely abated need in him. It had been a week and hell, that was too long. He slid his hands down to her ass and squeezed, slowly inching up her skirt. She whimpered and wiggled against him.
“Forget the party,” he growled into her mouth.
She tore her mouth away. “We have to go.”
“Let’s be late.” He grabbed a handful of her bare smooth ass under that flimsy fabric. She was wearing a thong. Christ.
“Can’t.” Choppy
breaths from her kiss-swollen lips. “I’m helping Brenda make some of the food. God, Cruz.” She rested her forehead against his. “I missed you.”
“I missed you more.” Would it be too soon to start spending the night, every night? He hadn’t expected to be at that point with any woman any time soon. Yet here he was, having unexpected feelings for an unexpected woman in an unexpected town.
Maybe throwing that dart had been fortuitous. Maybe it was a sign, and he should stop thinking so hard.
“After the party,” she murmured. “I promise we’ll do something secret and fun and naughty.”
He groaned. “Damn, woman, you can’t tell me that and expect me to be civil at a party. I’m gonna haul you into a spare bedroom. Or bathroom. Or closet.” He grabbed her hand and held it to his rock hard erection. “You can’t even expect me to walk right now.”
She gasped as her fingers came to rest against the cotton of his fly. “Oh my god. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you…riled up.” She pulled her hand away. “I don’t want to make it worse. I mean, not until later.”
“Rosie.” He threaded a hand behind her neck and grabbed the hair at her nape. “One more word and we’re skipping this thing. I don’t care if everyone goes hungry.”
Her eyes widened.
“You get to talk about the weather. Sundown history or some shit. Nothing about later, until it is later.” He leaned close enough to nuzzle her ear. “Or I’ll throw you over my shoulder in the middle of that party and we’ll leave so fast everyone will be talking about it.”
She blinked. Opened her mouth and closed it. Her chest rose and fell as a tantalizing flush spread over her skin. “Okay.”
He released her and stepped back to let her take the last step. Her sandals had fallen to the floor and her lips were back to their natural pink hue.
“You need to bring anything?” he asked.
“Just that bag there by the door.” She pointed to a shopping bag heaped with serving bowls and utensils. “Oh, wait. One more thing.” She turned and ran up the stairs, holding her skirt close to her rear as if to prevent him from peeking. Hell, he would have.
She returned carrying a bulging duffel bag with what looked like a towel peeking from the nearly closed zipper. He raised a brow but didn’t question it, needing to be out of her house ASAP. Any more alone time with her in that dress and he couldn’t be responsible for them going AWOL for the rest of the weekend.
They locked up the house and got into Cruz’s truck. As promised, Rosie kept to general topics. “Okay, so, Brenda’s family will be there. Her mom and the girls, some aunts and uncles. A lot of friends as well. And Ariel’s birthday is in two weeks, so she’s getting a cake.”
“So she’s late on her kick off summer party. But she’s early on her kid’s birthday?”
“Yep.” Rosie tucked that damn flirty skirt tightly around her legs. “She’s kind of a free spirit. And that’s my endearing term for disorganized. Oh, and I hope you don’t mind, but I told her about you...your exoneration.”
He stared at the yellow lane dividers streaking by. “It’s public information.”
“I know. But she didn’t know before I told her. I just…she’s a close friend. I wanted to tell her myself.”
“You don’t need my permission to tell people things that are easily found online.” He draped an arm across the seat, brushing his fingers along her shoulders. “I’m going to operate on the assumption that everyone in this town knows, and no one wants to bring it up.”
She gave a soft laugh. “That’s probably a good way to look at it. Oh, turn here.” She pointed to the right. A little street about a block long stretched out before them. Towering trees lined both sides and their branches arched up to meet in the middle. “Go to the end, and it’s on the right.”
Cruz parked on the street in front of a tidy ranch home. It rambled out to the sides, sprawling and wide, like ranches tended to. White siding, black shutters, a dark red shingled roof gave it a homey appearance. “Cute place.”
Cars lined the curbless road, parked half on the grass, and half on the street. As they exited the car, music and laughter carried on the humid air. “Everyone’s out back,” Rosie said. “She doesn’t have central air.”
Cruz picked up her bag of bowls and the duffel bag. “You need both of these?”
“Um, just that one for now.” She pointed to the bowl bag, eyes dancing with mischief.
“What about this?” He tossed the duffel into the back of the truck.
“I can’t say.” Taunting sexiness dripped form her voice.
“Why not?” He grabbed her around the waist with his free hand.
“I’m not allowed.” She blinked in over-the-top feigned innocence. “I was forbidden to mention it.”
A warning rumble rose in his throat. “Rosie-girl, you are—”
“Rosie!” A woman called from a convertible that was parking behind Cruz’s truck.
Rosie turned to wave. “Hi, Aunt Patty!” She turned to Cruz. “That’s Brenda’s Aunt Patty. Everyone calls her that. She’ll expect you too, as well. And that’s Uncle Steve. But some folks just call him Steve. Wait and see how he introduces himself to you. They’re the sweetest people ever.”
“Got it.” Cruz watched them get out of the bright red car. They could be in their fifties or sixties, judging from the laugh lines that fanned out from their eyes as they approached with smiles. Aunt Patty wore a blue T-shirt with a glittery American flag on it, her short salt and pepper hair teased into a halo around her head. He released Rosie, because this woman had her arms out all ready for a hug even from six steps away.
“It’s good to see you, honey. Tell me you’re making your potato salad.” Aunt Patty embraced Rosie.
“I sure am.”
“Oh good. My day will be complete. Your potato salad. Cake. And those two little girls. Steve, come say hi.”
Steve ambled over and hugged Rosie, then turned to Cruz and extended his hand. “I’m Steve.”
“Cruz.” Cruz shook his hand.
“Cruz is new to Sundown,” Rosie said.
Aunt Patty grabbed his hand and shook it. “Welcome! Sundown is such a special place to live. I’m Aunt Patty. Make sure you call me that, now.” Warmth twinkled in her brown eyes.
“Will do. Nice to meet you,” Cruz said.
They made their way around the side of the house to find dozens of people already in the back yard. Lawn chairs were grouped in clusters all over the grass. Picnic tables with brightly colored plastic tablecloths formed a square at one side of the yard. On the other, people tossed bean bags. “This is more people all in one place than I’ve ever seen here, except for the fair,” Cruz murmured.
“Yeah, Brenda’s parties are quite popular. Oh look, there’s some of your crew. Right?” She nodded to a circle of lawn chairs where Julio sat with their co-worker Carter and several others.
“Well, what do you know? Thought I wouldn’t know anyone but you.”
“You’re a Sundowner now.” She squeezed his hand. “Pretty soon, you’ll never be anywhere in this town where you don’t know someone. Oh, there’s Brenda!”
She pulled him toward her friend, who he couldn’t remember at all from the bar. Was she the one who’d gone home early that one night?
Who knew...after Rosie, everyone else faded like the backdrop scene of a school play. It was there, but you didn’t really notice it. You only saw the star of the show.
“Hello!” Brenda hugged Rosie, then hugged Cruz as well. “Welcome. I don’t know if we actually met officially. I’m Brenda.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
“So, get yourself a drink, settle in. I might steal Rosie for a tiny spell.”
“Aunt Rosie!” Two short, shrieking bundles of poufy fabric and sparkles barreled toward them, arms outstretched, and collided with Rosie.
“Oof.” She knelt to hug two girls, one blond and one dark haired, both with crowns and tons of plastic jewelry. “Hi, sweeties!”
“Will you play princesses with us?” The smaller one twirled in a circle.
“I would love to. In a little bit, though, okay?”
“Okay.” The taller one stared at Cruz. “Can he be a prince?”
Rosie’s eyes went as wide as her smile. “Um…”
“Girls. Mr. Cruz is our guest. You need to ask him very nicely if he wants to play. And he might not want to,” Brenda said, then swung her focus to Cruz. “I’m sorry. Didn’t think they’d try to drag you in before you even sat down.”
“It’s okay.” The little munchkins were damn cute.
The dark-haired girl peered up at him with a shy smile. “Will you play with us too? You can be a prince because we don’t have any yet.”
Cruz debated for a half second. But he couldn’t say no to the pint-size girls, whose excitement radiated off them in waves. How bad could it be? “Sure.”
“Yay!” the little blonde cheered.
“In a little while, girls,” Brenda said. “Go on now.”
The girls dashed off to the back of the yard, where a miniature table and chairs and a pink play house sat under a tree.
“That was nice of you,” Rosie murmured.
“You really are a good sport,” Brenda said. “And I’m gonna steal Rosie in like, one minute. But right now I need to make more punch.” She hurried off to the house.
Rosie and Cruz made their way to the drinks table, where she got lemonade. “Looks like I need to help Brenda for a bit.”
He grabbed a beer. “If you’re getting roped into kitchen duty, I’ll hang with the guys. Unless you need someone to make eggs.”
She giggled and took the bag of kitchen stuff. “Eggs at a barbeque would be funny. I’ll let you know. See you in a bit.”
He slid an arm around her waist before she could get away and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Can’t wait.”