She studies me, her blue eyes raking across my face. “No. You still look like an asshole.”
I smirk, giving her a wink. “The fire’s still there, sugar. You can’t deny it. You feel it, don’t you? Still feel me inside you after all these years.”
“The fire is barely an ember now, Rocco. And as for your dick…” She pauses, and I know she’s going to say something shitty, but when she squeezes her legs together, I know I’ve got her.
She still feels me buried deep.
There’s a satisfaction in it that I can’t describe, but it’s fucking magnificent.
“Whatever you need to tell yourself. But while we’re talking, want to tell me why you’re running?”
She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose as she rests her right side against the door. “After Carrie died, I went wild. I don’t even know how I’m still alive except for the simple fact that I got pregnant and decided to clean up my act.”
Her admission isn’t shocking. I spent more than enough time doing dumb-ass shit, not caring if I lived or died until my father righted my ass. He helped me channel my rage and helplessness into something more productive and safer.
“And then what happened?” I ask her, hoping she’ll keep talking.
She turns her face away so I can’t see her eyes. “I got married.”
Those words are like a punch to the gut, but they shouldn’t be. Ten years is a long time, and I didn’t expect her to wait for me since I sure as hell wasn’t waiting for her. “Wait. Carmello said you had an ex-boyfriend you’re running from. Not a husband?”
She pulls at a string at the bottom of her shirt. “I married Collin almost six years ago. He’s Adaline’s biological father, but he died before her first birthday.”
“I’m sorry,” I say and mean those words.
“We didn’t love each other.” She glances my way, sadness all over her face. “After he died, I was alone with Adaline for a long time, scraping to get by, and then I met Beau. He was nice at first, but then he changed. First, it was only his words that hurt, but then…”
I brace myself.
I know the next words out of her mouth are going to set me off.
They should set any man off. No man should ever lay his hands on a woman.
Never.
My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, and I sit up a little straighter but somehow keep my mouth shut.
It isn’t the time to insert my foot or chide her for getting involved with an abusive prick. Men are good at hiding their shitty personalities until the girl is in too deep to leave.
“He only hit me once, and I packed my things and we left. I’d had enough bad in my life. I wasn’t about to stick around for more.”
My chest aches and fire burns inside my veins, but I keep my voice even, controlling myself. “You deserve so much better than that, Reb.”
“I called you after Collin died, you know,” she says softly. “I was in trouble, and I couldn’t think of anyone else to call except you. But when you didn’t answer…”
“Fuck,” I hiss. “Now I feel like an even bigger asshole than I already did. If I’d known…”
What would I have done? Offered her another I’m sorry? Leaving her in the dust, most likely.
“You didn’t know, couldn’t know, and I didn’t leave a message to tell you.”
“I should’ve at least picked up the phone. I saw your name flash on the screen, and I froze. I was a dumbass.”
“I won’t argue with that.” She gives me a small smile when I look her way.
“Then what happened?” I ask, needing to know more and not wanting to linger on all the ways I’ve fucked up.
“There’s nothing more to say. I had Adaline and lived off his life insurance for a while. Then I met Beau, and shit went south in a hurry. I called Carmello, looking for a place to get back on my feet and hide out for a little while. And now here I am, sitting in your truck.”
I know there’s a hell of a lot she’s leaving out, but I don’t press her. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, and I know she isn’t going anywhere for a hot minute.
“Do you think he’ll come after you?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s not like he was in love with me or her, but anything is possible. He was starting to get more possessive, and not in that fun and sexy way either.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” I promise her. “You two are staying with me for as long as you want. No argument, Rebel. Until we know if he’ll come for you or we eliminate him as a threat, you’re at my house.”
“I don’t think—”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing to think about.”
“But—” She lifts a finger.
I give her a look, and she drops her hand back to her lap. “You want to live?”
“Yes.” She frowns, narrowing her eyes.
“You want to never have to look over your shoulder again, wondering if he’s there for you two?”
“Of course.” She sighs, sinking down into the seat.
“Then you’re at my house, sugar. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Under my roof is the safest place for you to be.”
“We’ll cramp your style.”
“I don’t have a style.”
“You’ll see. You’ll kick us out in a week.”
“I’d never do that. You’re stuck with me now. Until I know you’re safe, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Fucking fabulous,” she mutters into the window, bringing a smile to my face.
I don’t want to admit it, but although I am kicking myself for not answering the phone in the past, this is the first time in ten years I’ve felt any semblance of normalcy. And it has everything to do with her.
8
Rebel
“We can just stay there.” I point to the small hotel on the corner as we sit at the traffic light. “It’ll be easier for everyone.”
Especially me and my heart.
The feelings I had for Rocco haven’t faded, no matter how many times I’ve told myself they did.
Sitting this close to him and alone, I haven’t stopped buzzing with excitement.
He still has a pull, one I can’t shake, and my body has never forgotten the way he touched me.
“Nope,” he snaps with the slightest shake of his head. “Not happening. I need to keep an eye on you.”
Keep an eye on me?
I blink, hoping I heard him wrong.
Rocco always was bossy, but this is extreme, and I am not digging it.
Not at all.
“Excuse me?” I ask, turning my head to the side and glaring at him. “Keep an eye on me?”
“Rebel…”
“No. No. No. I don’t need a keeper, Rocco.” I roll my eyes and wave my hand in his direction. “Didn’t have one for my childhood, and I sure as fuck don’t need one now.”
“Be fucking serious and think about this shit. You could be in some real trouble. I’d be worried if you were in a hotel and alone. Don’t you want Adaline to have someplace comfortable and safe to stay?”