“Do you troll for girls or something?” I thought it was admirable that he rescued girls, but a part of me found it odd that he would.
He set his fork down with a smirk. “Elizabeth.”
“It’s Lizzie.” Elizabeth reminded me too much of my parents.
“Lizzie, I try to help girls in bad situations. I don’t expect you to believe me, and I’m glad you don’t. That tells me you’re cautious. Women should be more cautious and question things. I’ve been trying to teach Allie and Bee that very thing.”
“Do you kiss all the girls you help?” A large part of me knew he was a good guy, but doubt niggled in the back of my mind.
“I told you I didn’t plan that.”
Yeah, but the effort he’d put behind the kiss and the way his body had responded told me he’d liked it. I couldn’t blame him. I enjoyed his kiss. As badass and sexy as Dillon was, I was there on business. Although seeing Kelton again had kick-started my emotions for him.
“I’m not in Boston to get involved with anyone. Can we agree to get to know each other as just friends? Or business partners?” I wanted to complete our deal.
“You like that Maxwell guy?” His gaze roamed over my face.
I shrugged. “Does it matter? Don’t answer that. Look, are you going to sell me a gun or not?” My stomach growled.
“Eat, then we’ll talk.” He started spreading jelly on his toast.
I dove in and filled my plate with eggs, pancakes, and bacon. I had a feeling my body and my brain were going to need all the fuel they could get.
After breakfast and a trip to the bathroom, I went in search of Dillon. I was on the second floor landing when Baldy’s and Dillon’s voices carried upward. I stopped.
“That Maxwell dude is here,” Baldy said. “You want me to get rid of him?”
Kelton sure hadn’t changed. He was as persistent as ever.
“No, Josh. The guy won’t let up until he gets answers, and I don’t want any trouble. We can’t afford to have the cops sniffing around here.”
Considering he sold guns, I didn’t doubt the cops could be trouble. But the law wasn’t an issue at the moment. I thought about telling Dillon I’d handle Kelton, but I wasn’t prepared to face Kelton. Maybe after my mission was completed, I’d talk to him. That way my head would be clear, and he wouldn’t distract me from my goal.
Josh’s and Dillon’s voices died when the door closed with a resounding thud. I flinched then sprinted down one flight before ducking into a living room at the bottom of the stairs. I had to at least hear what Kelton wanted.
Two tall windows anchored the sides of the wide window in the middle. Luckily the curtains were drawn, but the men had to be on the porch because their voices were loud but not exactly clear.
Footsteps and giggles broke me away from dialing in on Kelton and Dillon’s conversation.
“What are you doing?” Allie asked.
I put my finger to my mouth.
“Oooh, you’re eavesdropping,” Bee said excitedly as she bounced in, her ponytail swaying back and forth. “Over here.” She pointed to a door adjacent to the stairs.
I followed her and Allie into a room that had a pool table and stank of cigarettes.
Allie hopped up and sat on the pool table, watching me. I went to the window. This room had the same style windows as the living room, and the curtains were drawn.
Bee touched her lips with her forefinger. “Dillon sometimes leaves the window cracked in this room when they’re playing pool,” she whispered. “And the guys were in here after dinner last night.”
I swiped my hand down one end of the curtains, feeling for a draft. Sure enough, cold air seeped in. I squatted and angled my ear at the opening in the window.
“I want to talk to Lizzie,” Kelton said. His voice was clear and crisp. “Is she here?”
“How did you find out where I lived?” Dillon asked.
“I have mob connections. Now where is she?” Kelton’s voice was unyielding.
I cringed at the word mob. The organization Dillon wanted to stay away from.
“Man, you don’t give up. Have you asked yourself why she walked away from you last night?” Dillon asked.
I wanted to peek through the curtains. Body language was always a better way to discern a person’s emotions. Truth be told, I wanted a glimpse of Kelton too.
“You know, Hart? Last night I had every intention of shaking your hand for helping girls get off the streets. But now? Now I want to ram my fist in your face again. I’ll find Lizzie, and she’ll talk to me.”
Dillon harrumphed. “What makes you think she’ll talk to you?”
“Obviously she hasn’t shared her past with you. Such a shame if you two are intimate, but she owes me.”
His last sentence gave me whiplash. He had been the one to declare that he’d find me one day. That didn’t mean we owed each other anything. The pain in my heart warred with the angry heat pinching my cheeks as I thought back to the day Gracie accidentally killed Karen. Blood had covered Gracie’s face as tears streamed down it, her breathing had been labored, her hands shaking. I couldn’t imagine being in the Maxwells’ shoes when they lost Karen. That aside, not one person among the Maxwells had tried to find out how Gracie was or said that they were sorry for what happened. My sister hadn’t died that day, but she might as well have.
A cold hand touched my face. “Lizzie.” Bee’s flowery voice brought me out of my trance. “Allie and I are here for you. Don’t cry.”
A salty tear slid down my cheek, finding its way into my mouth. I blinked to find Allie and Bee at my side, rubbing my arms. I was beginning to believe the three of us had many things in common, but one that stood out—we were standing in Dillon’s home, brought together by fate.
“Is that your pimp outside?” Allie whispered.
I busted out laughing. They both joined in.
“No. But I should talk to him.” Kelton wasn’t going to stop until he got what he wanted. I couldn’t let Dillon deal with my problem. Besides, the cops would be here if they beat each other. I didn’t want trouble.
I shook off the tears, the nerves, even the pain poking at my heart, as best I could. I stuck out my chin and made my way out of the house and onto the porch. Allie and Bee were on my heels. I wanted to laugh, cry again, and hug them for sticking by my side. I mean, we didn’t even know each other.
Dillon and Kelton stopped talking. Kelton’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
“He’s hot,” Bee said close to my ear.
I was beginning to love this girl. She was so right. The dark-blue Henley underneath his leather jacket ignited his midnight-blue eyes.
“It’s okay, Dillon. We do need to talk,” I said as Allie grabbed onto my hand as though she wanted to protect me. I swear. I was a second from bawling like a starving baby.
“Girls,” Dillon said. “Let’s go inside.”
For a second, Allie and Bee didn’t move. Then Dillon raised his brow. The girls huffed at the same time before going back into the house.
Dillon came up to me. “If he gets out of line, knee him in the balls,” he whispered in my ear. “And I’m just inside if you need me.”
My heart swelled with so much emotion at my overnight family. I would’ve said thank you, but I didn’t think I could speak.
Once Kelton and I were alone, we didn’t say anything until a hard wind blew, rustling the branches on the oak tree in the front yard. Snow fluttered to the ground.
“Remember the tree house?” Kelton asked as he relaxed on the edge of the porch railing.
Lord, please help me through this conversation. I don’t want to cry. I don’t want to be rude. I don’t want to touch him. You cannot let me touch him. If I did, I’d be a goner. I was so screwed up. I wanted to disappear a
nd never see him again. At the same time, I longed for him to hold me, kiss me, and tell me he still loved me.
“What…” I cleared my throat. “What do you want? I don’t owe you anything,” I said evenly.
He rubbed his neck. “Is one of those girls Gracie?”
I shook my head as I pressed my hands on the wood slats, willing the tears not to surface.
“How’s she doing?” he asked, his tone repentant.
“After seven years you want to know how she’s doing?” I mashed my hand into the siding hard, hoping it would swallow me up.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He knitted his eyebrows. “You moved away like we had the plague.”
I inhaled sharply, the cold morning air prickling on the way down. “Your family didn’t bother to check on her. My father contacted yours to see how your family was doing. He left all our information with your dad. After that we never heard from him.”
He straightened to his full six-foot height. “I didn’t know that. But why didn’t you return my emails or phone calls after you moved?”
“Is that what you think I owe you?” I squinted so hard it hurt.
“We loved each other, Lizzie.” He took one confident step toward me and stopped.
“That was a lifetime ago. We were thirteen, Kel. Then someone died, and life changed.”
Bee squeaked. I had no doubt Dillon, Allie, and Bee were listening. Honestly, I didn’t mind. I was certain Dillon was there just to be sure I didn’t need his help. If Dillon and I were building trust, then here was his chance to get to know a little more about Elizabeth Reardon.
Kelton shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “That didn’t mean we couldn’t talk.”
“So, are you saying you would’ve still loved me, even though my sister was the one who pulled the trigger?”
Another squeal filtered out from inside, followed by Dillon shushing them.
“You wouldn’t have looked at me any differently? Your parents wouldn’t either? Your brothers?” I wasn’t sure I could face his family. Something as tragic as what had happened changed people.
His gaze dropped to his booted feet.
I went to the other side of the porch. Five feet was way too close to Kelton. “Yeah, I thought so. Your family will always blame mine. My presence in your life would always remind them of that day. It was best to cut all ties with you.”
He inched closer, maintaining the distance between us. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t even Gracie’s fault.”
I used the porch rail to support me. “In part, I agree.” My dad had always taught us not to touch a gun, especially when he’d learned that Mr. Maxwell had been schooling the boys in how to shoot. “I saw how determined Karen was to be like you and your brothers. She wanted to do everything you boys did, including shooting and hunting. When I think back, part of me gets angry with your dad. He didn’t bother to teach Karen gun safety. If I recall, his reasoning was that girls shouldn’t handle guns. The other part of me gets mad at my sister. She knew not to go anywhere near one.” I gripped the rails on either side of me, feeling as though I’d just discarded seven years of anger, hurt, and sadness that had been targeted at the Maxwells.
He swung his pensive gaze out toward the street. A lady bundled up in a heavy coat, hat, and scarf cleaned the snow off her car.
He threaded his fingers through his hair. “Why are you in Boston? Have you been living here long?”
The past week had felt like a lifetime, especially the last twenty-four hours. “Where are you going with this?” I wasn’t sure where or how I wanted this conversation to go.
He stalked over to me.
I dug my palms into the railing, tensing every muscle in my body. My pulse beat in my ears, growing louder the closer he got. The tips of his boots touched mine. I dropped my gaze, afraid to meet those damn blue eyes that caused my insides to do funky, sexy things.
His military-style boots were unlaced at the top, his jeans were ripped at the knees, and his red briefs peeked through a hole just under his right pocket.
Lord, you’re not helping me.
His cold fingers landed underneath my chin. “Look at me, Lizzie.”
Oh, hell no.
Steam blew out of my nose.
“I’ve missed you,” he said softly, his thumb moving back and forth on my chin as his chest rose and fell rapidly.
My brain became fuzzy as he continued to hold my chin between his fingers. Every emotion I had for Kelton was locked in a box and stored away. Yet, at that moment, the way he continued to rub my chin, light and soothing, the closeness of his body, his warm breath breezing over me, and his hands on my face, was too freaking much.
I pried my hand from the rail and pushed against his hard abs. He didn’t move. I tried again.
“I’m not leaving yet,” he said in a husky voice that sent an electrical charge to the center of my heart.
He grasped my wrist before dragging my hand over his heart. I was catapulted back in time to when we’d stood on my front lawn the day we’d moved. He’d given me my half-heart necklace. Then I’d asked him where the other half was. He’d taken my hand, pressed my palm to his heart, and said, “Right here.”
His cinnamon breath shattered the memory. I quickly checked to ensure the charm I’d never taken off was still hidden beneath my shirt. When I lifted my gaze, time stopped. He was looking at me the same way he had when we were thirteen—with love stamped in his eyes.
I swallowed several times to try and get the lump in my throat to go down.
Then he slowly dragged his thumb over my lips. “They’re still as pink as ever,” he said, his gaze on my mouth.
I touched the scar on his chin, smiling, remembering the time his foot had slipped on the rungs of the ladder to the tree house. He brought my fingers up to his mouth and kissed them lightly. Goosebumps fired along my arms. I knew I should create some distance between us, but the spell he had me under was strong. We stared at one another, trying to figure out words, life, what was going through each other’s minds in that moment. At least I was. Until his lips brushed mine.
I held my breath. If he full-on kissed me I’d want more, and more wasn’t possible. Not with our past.
A car door slammed in the distance. Kelton edged back, releasing me. One of Dillon’s neighbors was starting her car.
“Kel, what do you want?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to disrupt your life. I just needed to confirm you were really Lizzie. You didn’t give me a chance last night.”
My heart fluttered and sputtered. He sounded sad and happy at the same time.
“Okay. You’ve seen me. Now what?”
“Now I leave you to your life,” Kelton said. “It was good to see you.” He swept his gaze over me as if he was taking pictures with every blink of his eyes. Then he gave me a half smile before dashing off the porch as though I was contagious. He jumped in his Jeep and sped away.
I pushed out all the air in my lungs as I touched my lips. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to feel thirteen again. I wanted to go back and erase the day my mom screamed at the top of her lungs when Gracie came into the house with blood splattered on her face and hands. But what I wanted I couldn’t have or change. However, I could shape my future. Kelton and I would be better off staying away from each other.
The front door groaned before Dillon stepped out with a green army coat in his hand. “Is the coast clear?”
I bobbed my head.
“Here, put this on.” He held out the coat. “You have to be freezing. I would’ve brought it out to you earlier, but I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Dillon continued to surprise me. He was definitely a sweet man. I took the coat from him, even though I wasn’t cold. I had on my clothe
s from the night before, but I’d found a heavy sweater in the bedroom I’d slept in, since the house had a chill to it. “We can go inside.”
“Let’s talk first. It’s a little more private out here.” He sat on the bench underneath the window. “Come.” He patted a spot next to him.
Easing down next to him, I draped the outer garment over my legs. “My conversation wasn’t private,” I said evenly.
“I’m sorry about that. I had to make sure he wasn’t going to hurt you. And after their last squeal, I sent the girls up to get ready for the movies and closed the window. Are you okay?”
Kelton would never hurt me physically. Emotionally was another story. “I’m good.” I was, and I wasn’t. I’d gotten one thing off my chest, and it felt like a load of bricks had been lifted off me. On the other hand, I wanted someone I couldn’t have. I couldn’t build a relationship with Kelton. Our past would never allow it. His family would never allow it. Most of all, his girlfriend would never allow it. “So, you’re not going to chastise me about the Russian mob and all?”
“He’s not going to cause trouble. He wanted to shake my hand, not out me to his future father-in-law.”
Sadly, the last part of that statement drove a stake through my heart.
We both watched his neighbor across the street shovel the sidewalk.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to explore more of our kiss. But I can clearly see you still have feelings for Maxwell. I would like to be friends, and I do want to help you,” Dillon said. “Tell me what the guy stole from you. And who he is. And if it’s Kelton Maxwell, I’ll make his life hell.”
The Maxwell Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3 Page 70