I’ve crossed a line, but I can’t stop myself. “Does Tony know about your criminal history? Your addiction? Have you told him everything?”
“Stop it. Just stop.” She puts her hands over her ears. “You and I haven’t been apart for more than five minutes in the past two years, and we’re always tripping over each other. Maybe it’s time for me to find my own place.”
We stare at each other. Her declaration knocks the wind out of me. I struggle to recapture my breath. The thought of losing her slices through my heart. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do. I’ll see if I can stay with Tony or get a hotel room.” Without a backward glance, she charges down the hallway, ponytail swinging.
“Em! Come back. We need to talk about this.” My words hang on the empty air.
Cash opens the door. He’s fully dressed. “What’s the problem?”
“She doesn’t approve of your job.”
“So? Most people don’t.” He follows me back inside the bedroom. I perch on the edge of the bed and drop my head into my hands. The mattress dips as he sits at my side. His palm rubs soothing circles on my back. “Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters. I’ve already lost one sister. I can’t lose another one.” Em might not be a blood relative, but she’s the closest thing I have, next to Mr. Mercer.
“I get it. Gage is like my brother. It would be hard to give him up.” He places a finger beneath my chin and tilts my face up to his. “But I’d consider it for you.”
My pulse races at his surprising declaration. “Really?”
“Believe me, he wasn’t too thrilled about us, but we talked through it, and he understands that I’m seriously interested in you.”
I study his face, searching for insight into his complicated brain. “You’d break with your best friend over a fuck buddy?”
“You’re not a booty call, baby girl. I told you before—I’m not into that.” The pad of his thumb slides across my lower lip. “I want you to be my girlfriend.” He nuzzles the tip of his nose against mine. “Your friend cares about you. She’ll come around.”
“The last twenty-four hours feel like some kind of alternate universe.” I close my eyes to silence the noise in my head. I’m so tired of fighting with Em, my feelings, my conscience. “If you’re so into me, why did you avoid my calls? I’ve been freaking out over the FBI. I needed you, and you ignored me.”
“I change cell numbers every thirty days, and I didn’t give you the number. It was an oversight. I’ll text you the new number, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.” He rests his forehead against mine.
“Where did you go?”
“I had to make an emergency trip to Chicago, and things got complicated.”
“Everything about you is complicated.”
“Can’t deny that.” The corners of his eyes crinkle. “But the good news is that the time away gave me a chance to think about you and to realize that my interest in you goes beyond business.”
I open my eyes and draw back to decipher his sincerity. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
“I know you don’t trust me, but you will.” His strong arms wrap around me. Their strength feels so good. I’ve missed the touch of a man.
“You were such a dick to me before.”
“People can change, baby girl.” He kisses my hair. “You’ve only seen one side of me. I’m not a monster. At least not to the people I care about. Give me a chance to show you who I really am.” His phone buzzes with a text. “That’s Gage. He’s here to pick me up.”
“You’re leaving the car here? I thought we settled that.”
A cocky grin illuminates his face. “Drive it. Park it. Sell it. Do whatever you want with it. It’s yours.”
“You’re exasperating.” I shake my head. “I’m not going to win this argument, am I?”
“Nope.” The buttonless edges of his shirt gape open, exposing his washboard stomach. “But I appreciate your tenacity.”
“Fine. I’ll let it go for now, but only because I like the car.” Secretly, I’m thrilled. The rules of the game we’re playing are shifting in my favor. While he replies to Gage’s text, I grab a suitcase from the closet and start throwing in clothes.
“Taking a trip?” He tucks his phone back into his pocket and lifts an eyebrow.
“Em and I need some time apart. Mr. Mercer lives above the store. His place is empty while he’s at the nursing home. I’m sure he won’t care if I stay there a few days.” My eyes blur with tears at the thought of leaving Em. This is our first true disagreement. I can’t bear to make Em move out of her home.
“Hey, hey. No tears.” Cash draws me into another hug. I rest my nose in the notch of his collarbone. His touch drives away the anxiety. “You can stay with me. As long as you’d like.”
“Won’t that be awkward?” Although the idea is tempting, I’m reluctant to rush into more than a sexual relationship. “We aren’t even dating. This is happening a little too fast for me.”
“I’m not proposing marriage, just offering you a place to stay for a few nights.” His laughter rings through the room. “That house has eight bedrooms. You can have your pick. We won’t even run into each other—unless you want to.”
Seven
Jagger
At lunch, I park a few blocks away from an outdoor café and walk to meet Loretta. On the way, I catch a glimpse of a guy in a rusty pickup truck. For just a minute, I’m reminded of Kyle. The thought sends a shiver up my back. I pause at the next intersection and glance over my shoulder, but the truck is gone. Maybe it wasn’t him. I haven’t heard from him since the night at Cash’s bar and decide it was a figment of my imagination.
The incident is forgotten when Loretta arrives at the café a few minutes after me. Her dress hangs on her usually curvy figure. Dark shadows are smudged beneath her eyes. I don’t know why, but I’m nervous. If she doesn’t want to participate in this next job, life with Cash will be difficult.
“Hey,” she says as she slides into her chair.
“I’m so glad you decided to come.” Persuading her to meet had been much easier than I expected.
“Well, your call came at a really good time.” Her shoulders slump. “My ex-husband took everything. The furniture, the dishes, even the toilet paper in the bathrooms. And to make matters worse, he charged up all our credit cards. He cashed out our investment accounts. I’ve got nothing.” With a heavy sigh, she clasps her hands on the table between us.
“Oh Loretta, I’m so sorry.” I rest my hands on hers. “Isn’t there anything you can do?”
Her voice trembles. “He has friends in high places. He’s an attorney. He knows all the loopholes. And he has my kids.”
We’re silent for a few minutes. A pigeon lands on the ground next to our feet, pecking crumbs of bagels and bread left by the previous occupants. My heart goes out to Loretta. “I can’t imagine the stress you must be going through right now. What can I do to help?”
Her eyes lift to meet mine. “I need a lawyer. No one will handle my case. Everyone is either friends with my ex or afraid of him.” Tears pool in her eyes. My chest aches with empathy.
“I don’t want to get your hopes up. But I might know someone who can help.” Cash has many resources at his fingertips. After what he put me through with the money, I’m not afraid to ask for a favor.
“Really? That would be amazing.” The shadow lifts from her features. “I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
“Like I said, no promises.” I pat her hand and lean back in my chair. “And you don’t owe me anything. Let’s just get back to business and see if we can raise some money for your divorce fund.”
At the store, Em avoids me. Two customers come in, providing a distraction from our feud. The longer I think about her words, the more angry and upset I become. She has no right to decide whom I date. Tension continues to grow between us until the air is so thick, I can hardly breathe. After a day of unpleasantness, I confront
her in the office.
“I think you’re right about us needing some space.” I hover inside the office door with my arms crossed over my chest. “You can stay at the house. I’ve already packed a bag.”
“Okay.” She pulls her purse from the bottom desk drawer and digs around for her lipstick.
“Can’t we even talk about this?”
“I said everything I need to say this morning. You know where I stand.” Using the mirror above the filing cabinet, she drags the red lipstick around her mouth, touching up the corners with her pinky finger.
“You’re being unfair.”
“You brought up hurtful things, Jagger.” She tosses her purse back into the drawer and closes it with a bang.
“I never meant to hurt your feelings. I just wanted to remind you that we’ve been through some tough times together, and neither of us are without flaws.” Guilt softens my irritation. “Why are you being so stubborn about this?”
“I don’t know—I just—I don’t know.” Emotion thickens her voice. She begins cleaning the glass cases with more vigor than necessary. “Maybe it’s time for me to move on. I mean, you’re going to be working with Cash. I’m sure you can find someone to take my place here. This town is growing old anyway.”
“Em, is there something else going on with you?” Unhappiness deepens the shadows beneath her eyes. I try to touch her arm, but she shrinks away.
“No, I just want you to give me some space. Why do you have to be up in my business all the time?”
“You mean like the way you’re up in mine?” By now, we’re both shouting. “Maybe you’re jealous that things are finally turning around for me.”
“Of your gang banging thief of a boyfriend?” She rolls her eyes. “Please.”
“You’re so judgmental.”
“Ladies, ladies!” We freeze at the sound of Tony’s voice from behind us. Neither of us heard the bell over the door jingle when he entered the store. “Do I need to call for backup?” He’s in plain clothes, wearing a baseball cap and jeans.
“What are you doing here?” she asks. “I thought you were working a case on the southside.”
“I am, but I finished up early and thought I’d stop in to see my favorite girl.” He wraps an arm around Em’s waist and pulls her in for a kiss. “Is that okay?”
“Sure.” Her eyes meet mine over his shoulder then flick away.
“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” I suggest. “We aren’t busy. Some time away from here might be just what the doctor ordered.” Although the peace offering is small, it’s the least I can do. She’s right. We need some time apart.
“That’s a great idea. Let’s go catch a matinee. We can see that movie you like—the haunted house one.” Tony gives her a squeeze.
“Okay.” She musters a smile for him. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve protested an expected furlough. Not today. My heart sinks knowing she’s so upset.
“I’ll close up. We can talk about things when we’ve both had some time to cool down.” The thickness in my throat hurts when I swallow. “You guys enjoy your day.”
For the first time in two years, I close the store early. With my suitcase in the back of the car and Lucy in the passenger seat, I drive to the nursing home for a visit to Mr. Mercer. He’s sitting in the back garden, throwing birdseed to a flock of pigeons. His face brightens when he sees me walking down the path with Lucy at my feet.
“There’s my girl.” He points toward the bench next to his wheelchair. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come and tell me all the news.” His expression sobers as I draw closer. “Uh-oh. Why the long face?”
“I had a fight with Em.” I plunk onto the bench. The struggle to hold back tears is more than I can bear. I swipe the back of my hand across my cheek. “I hope you don’t mind if I stay at your place for a few days.”
“Oh no. What happened?” The genuine concern in his voice almost breaks me. “You can stay there as long as you like. Tell me all about it.”
“She doesn’t like the guy I’m seeing.”
“You mean Cash?”
I almost fall off the bench. “How do you know that?”
“He was here last week. Said he has serious intentions toward you and wanted my approval. Seems like a nice man to me.” His hand dives into the bag of birdseed. The pigeons coo and flutter to his feet. Lucy watches with interest but doesn’t budge from my lap.
“Cash Delacorte? With the tattoos?” I don’t know why my ribs feel too small to contain my heart.
“Yes. That’s the one.” He’s silent for a minute before speaking again. “I told him that you’re a special girl and you deserve someone who will treat her like a queen. He said he’d move heaven and earth for a chance to make you happy. Any guy who’d go to those lengths for a woman is okay by me.”
Once again, I’m blinking back tears, but for a different reason this time. “I can’t believe it.”
“Well, it’s true. If you like this guy, give him a chance.” His gaze softens as he stares into space. “Did I ever tell you about the time I went to prison?”
For a second, I think he’s drifting out of coherence, but when his eyes meet mine, they’re sharp. “Yep. Five years for racketeering. Only served three. Got out early for good behavior. But there I was—a convicted felon, twenty-six years old. No one would hire me. No one but Hattie’s dad. He gave me a job, helped me get back on my feet. And Hattie—she never gave two shakes about my mistakes. ‘The past is in the past,’ she’d always say, and she was right.” He leans across the arm of his wheelchair to pat my hand. “If you like this guy and he likes you, then you hold on to him with everything you’ve got. Em will come around, eventually. You’ll see.”
Do I want a relationship with Cash? Before now, the possibility never entered my mind. I place a hand on my stomach to ease the flurry of butterflies. The past twenty-four hours have cast him in a new light. The iron chains around my heart begin to creak. What if we could build a future together? What if he’s the one? I squeeze Mr. Mercer’s hand, careful of his fragile bones. “I hope you’re right.”
“So, tell me about the store. How are we doing?”
“Not great.” No matter how difficult the words might be, he deserves the truth. “Sales keep dropping. I had to cut back the store hours.”
His shoulders sag. “Maybe it’s time to throw in the towel. I know you’ve been floating the payroll from your personal account. You can’t keep throwing good money after bad.”
“We can’t give up yet. I’m going to be running another store for Cash. It might be good for our business.” I have no idea how, but there has to be a way to bolster sales at the smaller gallery. “At least, that’s the plan.”
“Really? Cash never mentioned being in the business. I’ve never heard of him.” He shrugs. “But then I’m out of touch with the young folk. Do whatever you think is best. I trust you.”
His words echo in my head on the drive to Cash’s house. Maybe he’s right. Maybe we need to think about closing the store and directing our efforts in a new direction. Defeat has never been a word in my vocabulary. I refuse to quit until I find a suitable resolution.
My worries take a new turn a few hours later when I pull into Cash’s driveway, key in the security code he texted to me earlier, and pass through the gates. A dozen motorcycles, the Escalade, and Cash’s Range Rover crowd the driveway. I park in front of the garage, my tummy alight with butterflies. The closer I get to the front door, the greater my anxiety grows. Life is barreling along at breakneck speed, faster than my brain can process. With Lucy tucked beneath my armpit, I rub the sweaty palm of my free hand over the skirt of my sundress before pressing the doorbell.
“Door’s open,” Gage’s gruff voice calls through the intercom.
I pass through the foyer and down the steps to the living room. Through the windows at the back of the house, the swimming pool overflows with half-naked women and burly bikers. The glass muffles their shouts, the laughter, t
he thumping bass of heavy metal music. I pass through the French doors onto the patio. None of the faces are familiar. The aroma of barbecue wafts through the air, making my stomach growl.
Finally, I spy Cash at the umbrella table in the far corner. He’s wearing Hawaiian board shorts, his chest bare. There’s a woman in his lap. Her large breasts spill over the tiny triangles of her bikini top. He grabs her by the forearms and gently evicts her from his legs. She laughs and drags a hand across his bare chest. Jealousy surges through my veins, blinding me to everything but Cash and the woman. I launch forward, oblivious to the stares and murmurs of amusement. My dress and high heels feel out of place among the nearly naked guests. Cash still hasn’t noticed me. I stop at his elbow.
Cash glances up. Black sunglasses hide his eyes. The rest of his face smooths into a handsome blank. “You made it.” Cash extends a hand to me like I’m going to claim the space on his lap. “Join us.”
“I don’t want to interrupt.” I tuck Lucy tighter into the crook of my arm, hovering a few inches out of his reach.
He cocks an eyebrow. “What’s with the attitude?”
“I made a mistake.” I pivot on my heels, hold my head high, and retrace my steps into the house. I’m being ridiculous. I know it. Cash isn’t my boyfriend. I have no right to be jealous, but I can’t help the way I felt at the sight of him with another woman.
Cash follows on my heels, catching up to me at the French doors. He grabs my bicep. “Whoa. Hold up. What’s the matter?”
“I’m not stupid, Cash.” I shake off his grasp and keep walking. Across the living room. Up the steps to the foyer. “You had a naked woman on your lap.”
“She wasn’t naked. Half-naked maybe.” The amusement in his tone fuels my irritation. “Are you jealous?” His laughter rings through the foyer. “Yes. You are. I thought you didn’t care.”
“You asked me to be your girlfriend, and twenty-four hours later, you’re messing around with someone else. I don’t play those kinds of games.” My voice is thick. I don’t know why I’m so hurt by his actions when I have no intention of being with him.
Absolute Trust Page 4
