“No date with Penelope?” Kody asked from the passenger seat.
“Nope.” Since I’d seen Ruby and learned that I could be a father, I couldn’t focus on anything. Penelope had been the furthest thing from my mind. “I’m calling it quits with her.” I had never planned to get serious with her in the first place.
I shot Kody a side glance. “So, Ms. Sharp, huh?” Kody had taken Ms. Sharp from Greenridge Academy on a dinner date last week.
“Dude, she’s fucking hot. She wore this pencil skirt that reached her knees, and when she sat down, it rode up a little, exposing the sexiest thighs I’ve ever seen.”
“Dare I ask if you explored more than her legs?” As brothers, we did share some details of our dates, but we kept the most intimate ones private.
“Let’s just say she’s a sweet lady.”
Flames flickered from a garbage can as we rolled by a group of homeless men trying to keep themselves warm. The neighborhood grew darker the farther down the street we got. A sinking feeling took root in my stomach. Every night, I envisioned Ruby and our child sleeping out in the cold temperatures that dropped into the twenties at night.
Broken windows poked holes in the dilapidated brick buildings along both sides of the street. Steam swirled from a manhole as I made a U-turn at the end of the road.
“We should’ve brought a handgun,” Kody said as he scanned the streets.
“We’re looking for a homeless girl, not a thug.” Still, he may have been right about the shadiness of the area.
“Do you want to get out and walk a bit?” Kody asked.
“Nah, I only saw that group around the fire. It doesn’t look like anyone else is out here. Besides, it’s Saturday. I want to check with Tommy at Firefly.” I hadn’t heard from Tommy since I’d almost used him as a punching bag.
“You know, Bro, don’t you think Ruby would’ve found you by now if there was a kid? It’s been four years.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing. But there are so many different scenarios. Maybe she had a miscarriage.” That was one possibility that stuck the brightest in my head.
“Well, when you do actually talk to her, don’t tear her head off. You’ll only scare her away. Remember what Dad always says: ‘Until you know their story, you shouldn’t judge or freak out.’”
I harrumphed. Easier said than done when I could be a father.
After ten minutes of navigating the streets, I parked alongside a curb outside of Firefly. Kody and I hopped out of my truck and crossed the street, blending in with a group of guys making their way into the place.
An earthy scent reached my nose as I stepped up on the curb. Rain was forecasted for that night—a cold rain that could turn into ice, sleet, or even snow. I shivered at the idea that Ruby would be somewhere on the streets in bad weather. My shoulder brushed someone as I trudged into Firefly.
“Watch out,” the stranger said rather tersely.
I honed in on the man, who was a few inches shorter than me. When our eyes locked, I growled. It was the businessman I remembered from the fight last week, the one with the bulbous nose, talking of pimps. The hair on the back of my neck rose. Kody slid his hand in between the man and me. The man’s phone rang as he gawked at me with disgust and anger in his bloodshot eyes. If the fucker wanted to go a round or two with me, I’d be game. It was too bad Dillon wasn’t there to get in on the fun.
The man’s phone continued to buzz.
“Come on, Kross,” Kody said. “Take it down a notch.”
The phone stopped ringing at the same time the man lost his fucked-up expression. “Kross? Kross Maxwell?” He held out his greasy paw.
“Who’s asking?” My voice was hard.
A couple came out of the club, forcing us to move out of the way.
He withdrew his hand. “I’m Trent Baker, a business partner of Tommy’s. He’s told me a lot about your boxing abilities. I wouldn’t mind discussing an opportunity with you for a potential fight.”
I wracked my brain, trying to figure out why his name sounded familiar. The man was dressed in an expensive tailored suit, complete with a handkerchief sticking out of his breast pocket. Rich Businessman Trent Baker and Thug Tommy didn’t match as business partners in my book. Then again, maybe Trent was mafia. The mafia entered into deals and partnerships with all kinds of people.
Dillon had mentioned Tommy was into all kinds of illegal stuff, from the underground fights to theft. Apparently, Tommy stole high-end cars for some dude who sold them on the black market for more than the cars were worth. Maybe Trent was the guy. Regardless of cars, I associated Trent with pimps, and that alone made my blood boil.
“I don’t deal with strangers. If you’re interested in setting up a match, then talk to my coach at Crandall’s Gym.” Jay wouldn’t go for his proposition. Jay was all about legal fights and keeping his business legitimate.
Trent whipped out a business card from his suit pocket. “If you change your mind, then give me a shout.” He handed me his card then strode off.
I briefly glanced at the card that read Trent Baker, Owner of Baker Shipping. Now I knew why his name was familiar. I’d read about Baker Shipping in the Herald when Penelope’s father’s shipping company was up for sale. Apparently, Trent’s company wanted to buy out Penelope’s old man. Not only that, Trent Baker had his hands in other businesses like car dealerships.
Kody snatched the card from my hand and read it before he said, “Scum.”
I agreed, but he was a scum who was richer than Donald Trump. I pocketed the card as we entered Firefly. Maybe I would have my buddy, Detective Rayburn, check out the man. I wasn’t into ratting on people, but Trent must be up to something bad.
People filled every table, chair, barstool, and corner in Firefly. Hard rock music pumped out of poor-quality speakers as the voices tried to talk above it. A round-faced waitress zipped around, plucking empty glasses off tables and serving drinks in the process. I was just about to step up to the bar when Kody tapped me on the arm.
“Hey, man.” He pointed to our right. “Isn’t that Penelope?”
I wasn’t sure I heard him. Penelope Harris came from a prestigious family. She would have never hung out in a dive bar. She was the type of girl who was pampered with spas, cars, a credit card with a thirty-thousand-dollar limit, and her daddy’s company jet at her disposal. She recently tried to get me to join her and her friends on a weekend getaway to Costa Rica. My old man certainly had money, but we didn’t flaunt it like her family did. Then again, Penelope and I had values that didn’t jive. I didn’t care about material things. She did. I was all about family. She was all about herself. The only connection we had was in the bedroom.
When I turned in her direction, her green eyes bugged out. We weren’t committed to each other. We weren’t in love, or at least I wasn’t with her.
She hopped out of her chair, said something to the girls she was with, then bounced over. “Kross? I’m so glad you came.” Her blond hair was piled on top of her head in some type of funky style.
I cocked my head to one side. “Come again?” I searched my brain for something I might’ve missed. I hadn’t seen her in two weeks. I hadn’t even called her, which wasn’t unusual with my boxing schedule.
“I told Kelton where I’d be. He told you. My friends and I are here to see Wyatt play tonight.”
I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t talked to Kelton since yesterday morning. “No, he didn’t. You and your friends shouldn’t be here.” Her scantily dressed rich friends were being ogled by a table of men with beards and leather vests that sported the name of a motorcycle club on the back.
She reared back. “Why? Are you doing something behind my back?”
Fuck. I didn’t have time for her, but I also wasn’t a complete jerk. “What I mean is this place isn’t exactly your style.”
She rubbed her breasts against my arm as she grabbed my hand. “It’s so nice to hear you’re worried about me.”
Kody tapped me
on the arm then subtly flicked his head at the bar. “Is that her?”
I glanced in the direction of the bearded bartender. When I did, I about lost my breath. Standing on the other side of the bar was Ruby. A pendant light above her head shone down. Gone were the bruises, the swollen eyes, the ashen skin, and the greasy hair. I was looking at the girl I’d met back in the tenth grade. Her skin glowed. Her auburn hair was pulled into a side ponytail, and I swore she was the angel I remembered. She smiled at the bartender as though she was reacting to a compliment. Hell, she was beautiful.
“Who are you looking at?” Penelope asked.
My past. A girl who could be the mother of my child. A woman who was certainly a mystery. Tommy had thought she was homeless, yet she was working there. That meant he’d known her all along, and the fucker hadn’t called me like he was supposed to.
I ground my teeth, the fury burning through my veins. I was going to kill him.
“Kross, I’m talking to you,” Penelope whined.
“Bro, are you in there?” Kody asked. “That’s her, isn’t it?”
I was about to answer him when Ruby’s eyes met mine, erasing my rage for the moment. Instead, my heart sputtered because she smiled as if she was happy to see me. Then, in an instant, her lips turned downward, fear claiming her beautiful face. She scoured the room every which way as though she was searching for an escape route.
Not a chance in hell was she getting away from me tonight. I would lock us both in the bathroom until I got answers. I leaned into Kody. “Can you keep an eye on Penelope and her friends?” As much as I wanted answers, I also wanted to make sure the women were safe. Those biker dudes were chatting with Penelope’s friends.
“Don’t worry,” Kody said. “I’ll take care of them.”
“Kross,” Penelope said.
Her voice faded as I pushed through the crowd. The closer I got to Ruby, the more my pulse sped up. For an entire week, I hadn’t been able to sleep. I’d hardly eaten. I’d fucked up so bad during training that Jay threw up his hands and stalked off. I’d even knocked out poor Liam during a sparring session.
A large man blocked me. We danced around each other before he moved one way. Then I had a clear view of Ruby’s blue-green eyes, which were wide as saucers. Those same eyes held me prisoner where I stood. She blinked once then scanned the room again for a way out.
Fuck. I wasn’t a bully. I wasn’t going to hurt her. I couldn’t imagine why she would be frightened, unless Tommy had something to do with her state of fear. I clenched a fist. He and I would have a chat as soon as I talked with Ruby.
Chapter Eight
Ruby
I blew out breath after breath, feverishly wanting to hide or run. My heart leapt into my throat, thinking of how I should react or what I should say to him. The past few days had been busy, so I hadn’t rehearsed what I would say to Kross if I even ran into him. Honestly, I’d tried to push him out of my mind. I needed to focus on the ins and outs of waitressing.
I tracked his movements from the other end of the bar until he disappeared into the crowd. When he came back into view, my brain shut down. Actually, it shut down the moment I met his gaze from the other side of the bar.
As he started toward me again, a big-breasted blond girl, dressed in a silk top and shiny jewelry that screamed money, hooked her arm through his. I couldn’t hear what she was saying over the band, but thank God. She’d given me at least a minute to catch my breath.
I couldn’t say I was surprised to see Kross. After all, Tommy had said he would let Kross know that I was working there. I’d been so busy with learning the ropes of waitressing that I hadn’t had time to check with Tommy. I didn’t want to know anyway. The less I knew, the fewer nerves I would have. Yeah, like that worked. My nerves were singing a tune to a drummer’s beat in a metal band. In fact, I’d been jittery for the last two days, constantly dropping what I was doing to check each customer that entered.
“Something wrong?” the bartender, Pete, asked.
“No. Just nervous about serving so many people.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. I’d only been waitressing for three days. My skills were improving, although two customers would have argued that I was a screw-up. But serving drinks was the last thing on my mind at the moment. I scanned the room and found Alex waiting on tables. I kept searching until my gaze landed on Norma. She was also busy. I needed her advice, but I knew what she would say. “Talk to Kross.” The problem was that this wasn’t a good time. The club was hopping. Not only that, but I had to figure out what I would say. The truth came to mind. I certainly had to atone for the many questions Kross would have. I also had several questions for him. In all, I was terrified. What if he fought me for custody of Raven, especially after he found out the life I’d led up until this point? I’d also been fooling myself if I believed that the three of us would become an instant family. My muscles tightened as I thought of how I’d repeatedly called him. He hadn’t even texted back to say hi or to let me know he wasn’t interested. Instead, the man had ignored me as though we’d never had sex or even dated.
Pete’s warm hand touched mine. “Ruby.”
“I need to use the bathroom.” I had to collect myself, get my hands to stop shaking, my heart to stop fluttering, and my stomach to stop churning.
“Drinks first.” He set down the last drink for my order. “Can’t keep your customers waiting. Boss won’t like it.”
I sucked in air as I snagged a lime wedge. As I squeezed a bit of its juice into a gin and tonic, I peeked in Kross’s direction. He had his back to me, shaking his head at the blond woman who was pouting.
I breathed a sigh of relief until he cupped the girl’s face in an adoring gesture. She smiled. A pang of jealousy took root inside me. I had no reason to get all weird about some girl, who was probably his girlfriend. After all, I was trying to avoid the man. Still, I would have given anything to have him touch me like that.
“Get your ass in gear,” Pete ordered. “If the boss finds you standing around, he’ll give you and me the third degree.”
Pete had been nice to me when I’d spilled drinks. The last thing I wanted to do was get him into trouble or have Tommy breathing down my neck, especially not with Kross in the house.
I picked up my tray, turned, and Boom. Crash. Splash. The drinks smashed in between Kross and me. Bottles fell to the floor. The couple closest to me cussed as they checked their shoes, which took the brunt of my clumsiness. Suddenly, the room began to disappear. My stomach pitched and rolled. Alcohol soaked into my blouse. Not caring if I had a wet T-shirt vibe going on, I stared into the deepest blue eyes. They reminded me of Raven. Keep it together, girl. I wasn’t sure I could. Kross’s spicy scent tickled my nostrils, and those damn blue eyes nailed me to the bar. Butterflies scattered in my stomach.
“I’m s-sorry,” I managed to say.
“Just like when we first met,” Kross said. “Only you dropped your books and keys.”
Wow. He remembers.
Pete’s voice resounded from somewhere behind me. Other voices hummed nearby, and the music played, albeit softly, or maybe not at all. Maybe I was hearing the ballet music I’d danced to as Kross watched me practice.
One side of Kross’s mouth quirked up, displaying the lone dimple in his right cheek. “You look amazing.” His whiskey-smooth voice belied the hard look on his face. The rippling planes of his muscles strained against the tight long-sleeve shirt he was wearing.
My tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth as my body heated in ways I’d never felt, or at least didn’t remember. I had the sudden urge to launch myself at him, hug him, hit him, kiss him, and tell him how much I saw him when I looked at Raven. A lone tear slipped out. I longed to be part of a family. I wanted Raven to know her daddy. I wanted to know her daddy. I wanted so much, but I didn’t deserve anything, not until I could prove I was a good mother. I quietly inhaled, praying my heart would stop trying to pound out of my chest.
“I’m sorry about this,”
he said, bending down.
I licked the dryness from my lips and slowly squatted, never taking my eyes off him. When he placed an empty bottle on the tray, his hand brushed mine. My body reacted before my brain, and I started wiping beads of alcohol off his stark blue T-shirt. My fingers stopped over his heart. I glanced at my hand to make sure I wasn’t shaking as fast as his heart was beating. Then as though someone snuffed out the fire inside of me, my body went cold. He was trying to use his Maxwell charm on me. He was trying to get me to cave. He knew I had a weak side when it came to him, particularly if he started to recite Star Light, Star Bright.
Run now. No, tell him what he wants to know. Then get back to your job. Oh, shit. My job. As the voices in my head argued, I couldn’t move. In fact, my cheeks burned. I couldn’t even withdraw my hand from his hard chest. It had been way too long since I touched a man. But Kross wasn’t any man. Kross was the father of my child. He was my first love, the boy who made my palms sweat. The boy I gave my virginity to. Even now, four years later, I wanted to sit under the oak trees at Greenridge Academy and talk about nothing as he played with my hair. I was suddenly lost in the past, in his spicy scent, in the heat of his body, and the desperate longing in his midnight-blue eyes.
From far away, a gruff voice tried to cut through the bubble I had created around Kross and me.
“Ruby. Ruby.” Irritation colored Tommy’s tone as he said my name close to my left ear.
Kross dragged the backs of his knuckles over my cheek, the one with the beauty mark. He’d done that same gesture many times when we’d been together. I leaned into him, not wanting this moment to end. You’re supposed to be mad at him. I silently screamed at my inner voice to shut up.
The Maxwell Series Boxed Set - Books 4-6 Page 8