She giggled.
A door shut above us followed by voices and thud, thud, thud.
She backed away faster than the Roadrunner. A cold breeze whipped through me, my adrenaline dissipating as the voices drew near. Lizzie fluffed her hair as she went in search of her boots. I fell back, gripping the pinball machine, trying to get my system to quiet, my stomach to stop spinning every which way.
Dillon graced us with his presence along with the two girls I’d seen that day on the porch. They bounced over to Lizzie, clearly excited to see her. The one with a ponytail threw herself at Lizzie. The other one, who had hair shorter than mine, waited her turn to hug the girl who had just made my body fire into fifth gear.
“Are you okay?” the short-haired girl asked.
Lizzie nodded, lacing up her boots.
“Dillon says you’re going to stay with us awhile. For real this time,” the ponytail girl cooed like a high schooler.
Dillon came up to us. “I see you didn’t kill each other.”
On the contrary, although I might die if I didn’t kiss her again. I might die if I did. Yep, downshift, dude. Take a step back. Regroup. Help her. Keep your damn hands to yourself. A laugh roared in my head. Not after that kiss. A kiss that tasted familiar, felt like home. For fuck’s sake, I was screwed.
“Did she get ahold of the lawyer?” Dillon asked, cutting short the flashes of images of my tongue in her mouth, my hands on her ass, hell, her fingers burning my skin.
I casually rested my hands in front of my groin as I nodded, afraid to speak, afraid my voice would come out strangled.
“You know finding that dude who stole her money probably won’t get her money back. We could rough him up pretty good, though.” Dillon watched the girls, who were sitting on the chaise chatting away.
I couldn’t help but ogle Lizzie. She was smiling. “Those your sisters?” I knew he helped girls off the street, but the girl with the ponytail could pass for his sibling.
“Nope. The one to the left of Lizzie is Bee. The one with the short black hair is Allie. Both were on the streets, trying to survive.”
“I admire you, man. I also commend you. None of my business, but why do you get girls off the street?”
“Everyone needs a chance. And no one should be living on the streets, especially young ladies.” His voice dropped to almost a growl as if he were pissed about something. “So, lawyer, huh? You got any other lawyer ideas to help Lizzie?”
“Dude, I’m not even in law school yet. But I could talk to one.” As soon as I’d said it, I silently berated myself. I should’ve thought about that in the first place. Jeremy Pitt, Chloe’s old man, was a former lawyer. Better yet, I could speak to Mr. Davenport. After all, he was a practicing attorney. If I did, maybe then he wouldn’t see me as a naked model but as a valued summer intern who wanted to learn. Which might help my chances of getting the job and, at the same time, help Lizzie with her problem. In the end, though, we still had to find Terrance. For no other reason than to throw the book at him. Although ramming my fists into him several times would certainly feel good.
“You know, man,” Dillon said. “Whatever you do, don’t hurt her.”
“Where did that come from?” I asked. Dillon’s attitude had changed from cordial to protective. While I liked his bravado for wanting to protect Lizzie’s feelings, I couldn’t help but remember them locking lips at Rumors.
“You’re a player. And she’s not some one-night stand. Or even someone to use as your play toy then throw out when you tire of her.”
Lizzie and the girls were deep in conversation.
“Dude, I haven’t forgotten that kiss between you two. So I could tell you the same thing.” I ground my teeth together.
“Jealous, are you?” he asked, grinning. “Look, we need to work together to help her.”
He was right. I threw aside my jealousy. I had a lawyer or two to call.
Chapter 14
Lizzie
Dillon and I had just left Firefly, a restaurant and bar in a shady part of Boston. I had time to kill before art class, and he was meeting with a guy who knew the underground gambling scene in the city. I wasn’t about to miss that meeting.
“So this guy, Tommy, will call you if he hears of a poker game?” Tommy had given me the willies the way he’d sized me up.
“He will if he wants me to forgive his debt.” Dillon had sold him a gun, and Tommy still owed him for it.
I’d asked Tommy if he knew the name Terrance Malden. His response had been, “I know faces, not names.” After I’d described Terrance as blond with hazel eyes and a big belly, Tommy had laughed. “You know how many men in this city fit that description?”
I yawned as Dillon braked at a stoplight. The last two days had been hectic. I’d moved out of the hostel and into Dillon’s house. For some reason, I felt like I belonged there. Bee and Allie were so excited, as was Dillon. Even though he didn’t express his feelings like the girls did, he did smile every time I entered a room. I didn’t pry anymore into his business about his sister. The girls had mentioned he continually searched for her. I wanted to help him but wasn’t sure how. Maybe when I got my life back in order I could do something for him. For sure, I would somehow repay him for all his help and hospitality.
“Any word from Pilkington?” Dillon asked.
“No. He’s tied up in some big trial. I asked his secretary if she could send me the documents, but she had to get his approval.” I’d have jumped on a plane to Florida, but my intuition told me I would have better luck staying close to Zach. And money was tight.
“What about Kelton? Has he talked to Zach?” Dillon gave his Camaro some gas.
“He said we’d talk when he saw me later.” Kelton’s other task was to contact an attorney he knew for some advice. Maybe that lawyer could help me with Mr. Pilkington. After all, a call from a lawyer might have more clout than one from me. “Can you drop me off at Rumors?”
His eyes wrinkled around the edges. “Isn’t Kelton in school?”
“Yeah, but I’m not going there for Kelton. I need a job. I think the manager has an opening for a waitress.” I’d called Peyton that morning to ask if her mom had any catering jobs on the horizon. Since she didn’t, I’d remembered something Lacey had said when I was in line for the bathroom at Rumors. Kade had been going through résumés for a waitress.
“You know the manager is Kade Maxwell?” Dillon shifted his attention from the road to me. “And if I’m not mistaken, you don’t want to get involved with the family.”
“True, but I can’t live at your place for free.” My insides were twisted over seeing the Maxwells. But I wasn’t worried so much about the brothers as I was about their parents. Anyway, since Kade knew me, maybe he would hire me. “You know, I recall that when we first met, you didn’t want anything to do with the Maxwells because of the mob. What changed your mind?”
“Kade gave me the lowdown that the Maxwells are not involved with the mob or any of their business. And my gut tells me they’re good people.” After several more stoplights and turns, Dillon parked in the lot behind Rumors. “I’ll go in with you.”
“Afraid Kade and I might rumble?” I was having second thoughts as we walked up to the back door.
“You don’t have to work,” Dillon said. “Or are you here to confront your past?” The light breeze blew his shoulder-length hair over his eyes.
“Maybe I want to see what Kade thinks of me after all these years.” I believed Kelton didn’t blame Gracie or anyone in my family for what had happened. Deep down a small part of me wanted to see if Kade or any of the other Maxwells did.
Dillon pushed his hair out of his face. “Why do you care what Kade thinks?”
“Because I care about Kelton.” And Kelton was all about family. If his family didn’t welcome me, then a
relationship between Kelton and me would never work. Oh my God. I was getting so far ahead of myself. I didn’t even know if Kelton wanted a relationship. Boy, that one kiss— slow, wet, tentative, and amazing—had screwed me up. “You’re right. Let’s go. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
I was headed back to the Camaro when I heard the click of the door.
“Dillon, man. What are you doing here? Kelton bothering you again?” a deep male voice asked.
“Nah, Kade,” Dillon replied.
I almost laughed that Dillon had told on Kelton. I should’ve thought about that angle. Yeah, that wouldn’t have prevented Kelton from finding me or talking to me. I pivoted and met a sparkling pair of copper eyes.
“Lizzie?” Kade kept his gaze riveted on me. “Is that you?”
Damn. I feigned a smile as I sized up a tall and broad-chested Maxwell.
Kade’s expression was soft. “I’m sorry to hear about the deaths in your family.”
Dillon cleared his throat. “Lizzie and I—”
“I came here because I heard you had a job opening,” I blurted out.
Kade rubbed a hand along his jaw. “Forgive me, but there are a ton of places in Boston to get a waitressing job. Why here?”
“It was a bad idea.” I glanced at Dillon. “I’ll walk to BU from here.” I needed to be alone for a while.
“Please don’t hurt him,” Kade said, pain coating his words. “Kelton will never come back from it this time.”
I knew Kade was watching out for his brother. I didn’t blame him, but I couldn’t help but dig my nails into my palms. “You’re forgetting I was thirteen and I didn’t have a choice. So don’t blame me. And not that you care, but I bawled my eyes out when we moved. It took me a long time to get over Kelton.” I wasn’t anywhere near over Kelton.
Kade came closer to me. “I’m not blaming you. But I know you’re not in town to stay. I’m asking you not to hurt him. As far as my opening, I don’t think you working here is a good idea.”
I let out a small laugh. “Protecting your brother’s feelings now? You haven’t changed.” I started for the street. “Oh, and you should probably tell him not to hurt me.”
Dillon said something to Kade, but I tuned them out as I picked up my pace. Seeing Kade hadn’t resulted in the outcome I’d expected. But he did remind me that I needed to keep things between Kelton and me strictly platonic.
The walk to BU allowed me to shed some of my anger and hurt before I saw Kelton. I didn’t want him to know that Kade had irritated me, but only because I didn’t want a brotherly fight. I’d seen a couple of those as kids. They had ended with bruises and blood.
I made it to the art building then found a restroom. I wanted to don my wig and contacts. Mr. Brewer knew me with red hair. I wanted to keep things simple. It was none of his business anyway. I thought about dropping the class since I’d found Zach, but I’d already paid the fee. Plus, a selfish part of me screamed no. How else will you get to see Kelton practically naked?
A girl ran in and directly into a stall. I combed through my wig, examined myself in the mirror one last time, then left. As I did, I bumped into Mr. Brewer. “So sorry.”
“Hello, Emma,” he said, steadying me before we headed toward his classroom. “Did Zach help you with any techniques?”
“He tried, but I wasn’t feeling good.” It wasn’t that big of a lie. I had gotten queasy when Zach told me his father had gambled away his college fund.
“I see. Well, no running out of class early today. I expect to see what you’re capable of before the end of class.” He called to a student ahead of us as he hurried off.
I spied Kelton out of the corner of my eye not far beyond Mr. Brewer. A short brunette sashayed her wide hips as she came up to him and handed him a piece of paper. He glanced at it, folded it up, and stuck it into the pocket of his jeans.
Quietly berating myself, I stomped down the hall, merging with a crowd of people who were coming out of a classroom. The last time I’d acted like a jealous fool was in the seventh grade. Erika Ames would pass love notes to Kelton in social studies. After a week of five love notes scented with perfume and Kelton smelling them like he wanted to eat the words off the paper, I’d returned the notes to her with the words, You’re ugly, and I hate you and Kelton’s signature at the bottom. Then she cried every time she saw Kelton. I wanted to do something similar to the cute brunette, but I wasn’t in grade school anymore, and I had no claim to Kelton. All the feelings of need, want, and desire for Kelton had to be sealed away in a place whose key I didn’t have access to. Keep things platonic.
The girl laughed at something Kelton said. I tucked my chin to my chest and sped down the hall.
One foot past him, a strong hand gripped my bicep. “Lizzie?” Kelton asked. The deep timbre of his voice nestled into me, awakening the butterflies.
Swear words sat idly on the tip of my tongue. I peered up at him, hoping I didn’t have a trace of jealousy on my face. The brunette glided off in a huff.
He pulled me closer to him, out of the way of traffic. A small space separated us. Filtered sunlight from the window above illuminated all that was Kelton Maxwell. Jeans covered his strong thighs. Bright green boxer briefs peeked through a rip on his left thigh. A red shirt stretched tightly over his broad chest, defining the outline of his biceps. To put the cherry on top of a delicious specimen, his face had a five o’clock shadow. There was no way in hell I would make it through art class.
He leaned into my ear, his hot breath sending a shiver all the way down to my toes. “See something you like?”
“Are you too cheap to buy jeans without holes in them?” I blurted out in a voice that was way too terse.
“You know I might be naked today. Can you handle that?” A devilish grin flashed across his face as he cocked his knee, planting his foot on the wall.
Those butterflies busted out of their cocoons. “So did you talk to Zach?”
“What’s with the red wig?” he asked. “I already know who you are.”
“I’d rather not have to explain myself to Mr. Brewer.”
“Mmm.” He scratched his chin. “I don’t like you with red hair.”
And I don’t like you taking notes from girls.
The hall became crowded as more classes let out.
“Did you talk to Zach?” I asked again. If not, I’ll take matters into my own hands.
“I haven’t seen him.” He sounded annoyed. “He left a note saying he’d be down at the Cape for the weekend. But I do have an appointment with an attorney later this afternoon.”
“I’m going with.” My tone was stern.
He tapped a finger on my nose. “You don’t have to get bossy. I was going to ask you anyway.”
His scent of rain made me dizzy for a second. “Will he charge for his time?” I didn’t have money to hire an attorney.
“Consultation is free.” He pushed off the wall. “Come on. We should get to class.” His phone dinged. As he read the text, fun and cocky Kelton transformed into a man I didn’t know, stone cold. The light in his eyes went out.
My guess? It was a message from Kade. I didn’t have time to ponder that thought. When we entered the art room, all eyes went to Kelton. His indifferent demeanor changed immediately as he plastered on one of his thigh-squeezing smiles.
Heavy sighs chorused around the room, even from the guys in class. Kelton bowed his head like he had just given a superb performance on Broadway.
“Settle down, folks,” Mr. Brewer said. “Mr. Maxwell, get changed.”
I sat in the same spot I had the week before. Then I took out my sketchpad, praying that I could draw something. During the last class I’d had a problem with the placement of the eyes. Mr. Brewer had given me pointers on positioning the pupils, but I hadn’t listened, not with
Kelton an arm’s reach from me in nothing but a freaking cowboy hat. My pulse began to beat like a drumroll. I blew out a breath, thinking of lawyers, my money, anything other than Kelton.
On stage, Mr. Brewer removed the screen Kelton had been changing behind. Sharp intakes of breath sounded in the room. Heat seared my cheeks. Handing in any artwork today would be impossible. The urge to run sat heavy within me. I squirmed in my seat.
Kelton winked.
Asshat.
I shook off my impure thoughts and set pencil to paper in an attempt to sketch Kelton as he rested against the back wall in nothing but bright-green boxer briefs. His left arm lay casually across his forehead while he pulled down his briefs on the right side, exposing his perfect V. The tightness of the fabric accentuated the shape of his manly parts. I licked my lips as I envisioned tracing the colorful lizard tattoo that made an alluring path south.
As I began my quest to bring Kelton to life on paper, I wasn’t certain how I was going to walk into a lawyer’s office with him that afternoon. The only thing on my mind would be Kelton’s penis.
Chapter 15
Kelton
Leather furnishings, deep burgundy walls, and an oriental carpet gave the reception area of Davenport Law Offices a luxurious atmosphere. As Lizzie and I waited for Mr. Davenport, sharply dressed men and women breezed by in both directions. Some hurried with folders in their hands while others casually strolled and talked. I hadn’t heard back from Mr. Davenport yet on my interview. I thought I might that day.
“Why are you nervous?” I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.
She chomped on a fingernail. “This place looks too rich for my bank account.”
“You sure that’s the reason?”
Lizzie had had a tomato-red face all the way through art class. Occasionally she’d wiped her brow as she’d sketched me. When she wasn’t clearing the sheen of sweat from her face, she was writhing in her seat. Hell, I was trying not to do the same as I posed. I had to keep my gaze on the door as I usually did, repeating my mantra. Patriots, football, Super Bowl. Getting a hard-on was impossible to control, especially when I replayed our kiss in Dillon’s basement. By the time Brew called time, I was the one sweating like a pig.
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