The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew Book 5)

by Piper Rayne

  “Yours will get cold.”

  “It’s fine. It won’t take much time to eat it.” He sips his beer.

  Patrice talks about how her husband would’ve prepared such a better meal. Five minutes later, the two men across the table are already done.

  I pinch Knox’s thigh. “Eat.”

  “No.” He exaggerates the no.

  Just when I’m about to pick up his fork and cut his meat for him like a child, the server returns with a plate pretty much full of vegetables, but I’ll take it.

  “We’ll stop somewhere on the way home,” Knox whispers in my ear. I appreciate his offer, but his breath in my eardrum is increasing my libido.

  I use my fork and knife to cut up my green beans as though they’re a steak. I’m used to not being catered to at a big event like this, and I’m happy to eat whatever they offer. The group at our table talks about the detective retiring, and the guy across the table who thinks I look like Leilani tells Knox that he’s up against some tough competition for the detective’s position.

  “He’s got it,” Patrice says. “No better cop out there than Whelan.” She winks at her partner.

  Knox reaches behind me to fist-bump her.

  “No other applicant with an ex-girlfriend they just had to arrest.” Both guys laugh.

  Knox stiffens but surprisingly says nothing. Maybe I’m typecasting, but Knox is so big and muscular that I expected he’d slide out his chair and ask the guy to go outside. But he cuts his steak and remains silent.

  “She got arrested for protecting animal rights,” I say.

  “Don’t entertain them,” Knox whispers to me.

  “Shooting a man in the nuts isn’t protecting animal rights,” the guy with the receding hairline says.

  I shrug. “So she has bad aim.”

  “Good catch, Whelan. Sounds like this one will be in the cell right next to the first one.”

  “Go to hell,” Knox says.

  “First of all.” I place my silverware down. “I’m not suggesting what she did was smart. It was reckless, but passionate all the same. But whether it was right or wrong, it says nothing about Knox. He wasn’t with her. Surely if you divorced your wife and she got mad at the traffic mom one school morning and punched her in the face, that wouldn’t be a reflection on you. Would it?”

  “Sweetie, I’d never do that,” the one wife says.

  “I’d run the bitch over,” the other wife says and sips from her wine glass.

  The men only look amused, not understanding my point. Maybe Knox was right and I’m just wasting my breath, but I refuse to sit here and blame Knox when none of it was under his control.

  “Here comes the person you really have to convince anyway.” The man smiles at someone behind us. “Cap.”

  A large hand falls on Knox’s shoulders. “Whelan, you want to introduce me to your date?”

  Knox wipes his mouth and sets his napkin on the table, sliding out his chair. “Captain, this is Kamea. Kamea, this is Captain Donnelly.”

  Now the real work begins.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Knox

  Captain Donnelly laughs at Kamea’s joke about being a vegetarian and living with Jax and me.

  “My third ex was a vegetarian and I will say I did enjoy this fried tofu thing she’d make.”

  I pass drinks to Cap and Kamea from the bar.

  “When I first started eating tofu, I didn’t know there are so many different consistencies and one time I wanted to pan fry the soft kind and well, the fire alarm for the entire building ended up going off.” He chuckles again. “My second wife was the worst cook. I finally took out the batteries from the fire alarms because they’d go off when she was making a pizza.” He leans in close to Kamea. “Don’t tell that to the fire department though.”

  Kamea zips her lips and pretends she’s throwing the key away.

  This entire time, I thought she was shy. That I’d bring her here tonight and she’d barely talk to a soul. But she was ready to go rounds with Milliken and now she’s winning over Cap.

  How can anyone resist her?

  She’s drop-dead gorgeous tonight. She is every day, but I almost couldn’t talk when I walked into Rian’s earlier. I had to remind myself that she isn’t mine, that this is all pretend.

  Then again, after the rooftop talk, I can’t help but think about what would happen if we crossed that line. I have to remind myself I’d never do that to her because she’s staying with us.

  A clap on my back interrupts my thoughts and I blink to find Cap and Kamea staring at me.

  “Go out on the balcony,” Cap says. “They have heaters, and someone said the snow was floating down. I need to go find the wife before she ends up drunk on champagne. She loves the bubbly.” He shakes Kamea’s hand. “It was quite the pleasure.”

  “You as well.”

  “And I’ll definitely be in touch for the T-shirts for our district basketball team.” He twirls her card in his hand.

  How long was I not paying attention?

  “Sounds great. I’ll be at the first game to see you dunk.”

  Captain laughs and points his finger as if Kamea is a comedian. He leaves us, giving me a thumbs-up behind Kamea’s back. Some of the tension leaves my body. I definitely made the right decision bringing her tonight.

  “Want to go outside?” I ask.

  She glances at the balcony where a few people are gathered. “Sure, although I wish I had your hot cider.” She hooks her arm through mine, and I lead her to the doors.

  The cool rush of air when we get outside almost has me turning us around, but I shrug off my jacket and place it over her shoulders. “Better?”

  She touches my jacket and looks at me with so much appreciation, my heart jerks. Sometimes Kamea is everything I want in a woman, but I have no idea how to approach the subject with her or if I even should.

  “Thank you,” she says.

  We stand by a heater on the balcony that looks over the riverfront of Cliffton Heights.

  “I think I like Cliffton Heights more than Peekskil,” she says.

  “How did you end up in Peekskil, by the way?”

  She sighs and her eyes focus on the riverfront illuminated by lights along the sidewalk. During summer months, people hang out there, but not tonight. “Well, I came to New York after college graduation and had a few jobs in New York City, but then I yearned for something smaller. So I came out to the suburbs and got that job where we first met. Then a friend of a friend and I ended up in Peekskil somehow. Sometimes I feel like I’m barely hanging on in life, you know? Like, when is my time going to come?”

  I move in closer to her and sip my beer. “Yeah, I feel the same when it comes to the cop thing. Because of where I came from, I surprised the shit out of my old friends that someone like me would be a cop. I’d be fine being a street cop for the rest of my life, but I want to be a detective. I think I could do a good job.”

  “At least you have a career.”

  “You have the T-shirt thing.”

  She gives me a look and rolls her eyes. “Exactly. A T-shirt thing. Not a company.”

  I knock my shoulder to her arm. “Don’t do that to yourself. You’re talented and you’re going to make something of it. One day I’ll be telling people, I knew her once. Saved her from sleeping under an overpass one night.”

  She laughs It rings through the cold air and my heart warms at the sound.

  “That’s why I did it,” she jokes. “So that one day when I’m famous, I can say I worked my way up, you know? I had no money and was sleeping on the streets. Keeping out the fact that it was only one night. Because a cop saved me and gave me a roof to sleep under. It’s a good backstory, no?”

  I laugh. She’s talented, and I hate that she doesn’t believe in herself.

  “Why did you?” she asks. “Take me in.”

  “I told you, it’s not safe for you to be on the streets.”

  She turns toward me, leaning her side against the
metal railing. “Is it because I bailed Leilani out? Like you feel somehow responsible?”

  I blink in surprise. I wish for one night we could keep Leilani out of our conversations. If only Kamea never knew her, we could pretend we were strangers with no common link.

  “No.” I shake my head. “I just did it because you’re a young, beautiful woman.” I wink.

  “So you would’ve saved anyone?”

  “Yeah. For sure.” I shrug.

  “But Dell is on the street…”

  She brings up a woman who could probably take me down if she really wanted to. Dell scares me, but I’m not admitting that to anyone.

  Instead, I say, “Dell wants to be on the street.”

  “Oh. So if I had fought harder, you would’ve left me?” The way her lips are tipped up, I think she’s playing me.

  “No.” I step closer, my hand finding her hip.

  “Why then?” she whispers.

  “Because it was you.”

  “Me?”

  My fingers tighten on her hip and I nudge her closer so there’s barely any space between us. “Yeah. All those years ago, I’m gonna be honest here, I made the wrong choice that night. It should’ve been you. And I’d do just about anything to have a do-over.”

  A barely audible sound falls from her lips. “What?” There’s a hint of disbelief in her question.

  “I should’ve taken you home that night. You’re the one who fits me.”

  “Knox.” She steps back and turns around, away from my hold. “What are you saying?”

  I step up behind her. “I want you. I want you in every way possible, but I won’t cross the line, Kamea. Not now.”

  “Why not?” She slowly turns to face me again. “Why did you just tell me all that then?”

  I have no idea why I laid my heart out there. Maybe I wanted it off my chest and she’s the one I trust the most. Maybe because I want her to know that I regret that decision. That Leilani didn’t bring me anything but heartache. Seeing Kamea tonight and the entire time she’s been living with us, she fits perfectly in my life.

  “Because I wanted you to know,” I say.

  She steps closer, her breasts pressing to my chest. “And why aren’t you going to act on it?”

  “Because you’re staying with us and I can’t jeopardize that. I don’t want you thinking you have to be with me to have a roof over your head. Nor do I want you to think you have to feel the same way as me.”

  “And if I do?” Her fingers run down my tie. “If I feel the same way? If I think you were an idiot all those years ago, but I want to start over, like that never happened?”

  “I’d say we’ll put it on the back burner until we find her and get your money back. When you’re back on your feet.”

  She shakes her head. “You’re used to dictating everything, aren’t you? Is that because you’re a cop?”

  She has a point. I tend to dictate how I want things to go. I like it that way. “Yes.”

  “Well, Officer Whelan, you’re not going to control this situation. Because I’m a grown woman and although I love your intentions, it’s my decision.”

  “Kamea,” I plead, but she grabs my tie and pulls me down.

  “Kiss me, Knox,” she whispers, her lips millimeters from mine.

  “Kamea,” I plea again, but the pull between us is so strong, I can’t resist when she presses her lips to mine.

  Damn, they’re soft and tender. She holds her lips against mine, knowing I can’t wait long before I lick along the seam of her lips, and she opens for me. My tongue tangles with hers. She tastes and feels amazing. She’s not tentative or shy, and her moan has me about falling to my knees to worship her, if only for more sounds like that. My fingers dig into her hips and my erection presses against her stomach.

  “This one is going to be arrested for public indecency,” a deep voice says from behind us.

  I push Kamea away from me and allow my breath to even out.

  “Leave the lovebirds alone, sweetie,” a woman says.

  I’m not even going to turn around to see who it is. My mind swims with leftover sensations from that kiss and how amazing it was. It ignited a spark I’m not sure will ever go out.

  “Is that convincing enough for you?” she asks.

  I shake my head. “We can’t. We shouldn’t have.”

  Her face falls and she takes off my coat and hands it back to me. “You regret it?”

  I pull on the back of my neck. “It’s not right.”

  “Because I’m living with you?”

  “Yes, don’t you see that?”

  She shouldn’t want to start whatever this is between us when she’d be the one on the street if it goes bad. Not that I’d allow that, but the apartment is mine, not hers. She needs to be more protective of herself.

  “Okay. Fine.” She walks away.

  “Where are you going?” I ask.

  “To see about cake. It’s the next best thing to an orgasm.”

  She disappears inside, and my head falls back, wondering how I manage to keep screwing things up with this woman. I follow her inside, but when I find Kamea, she’s got a slice of cake on a plate and she’s talking to Patrice. From the evil stare coming from Patrice, I’m guessing I’m not welcome to join that conversation.

  For the rest of the night, Kamea is polite enough, but once we’re in an Uber, the silent treatment commences.

  At our apartment door, I say, “Thanks for going with me.”

  “Sure thing.” She walks in and is about to go into her room, but she turns back around, lifting her long hair off her neck. “Could you do one last thing and unzip me?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  My fingers go to her zipper and I lower it. It goes down to her mid ass, which means I’m looking at her in a thong. A black thong that reveals her amazing ass. Fucking hell. Why can’t I be a douchebag? If there was ever a time for me to be one, now is it.

  She steps away before my fingers even leave the zipper. “Thanks. Good night, Knox.”

  She walks into her bedroom and shuts the door.

  You could be in there naked with her, dumbass.

  “Night,” I whisper.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kamea

  Lucky for me, I’m the first one awake on Saturday morning. Instead of working on my T-shirts—which is what I should do—I decide to play a little game with Knox.

  I get in my yoga pants and sweatshirt, put on a cap, and take the elevator down to street level. I cross the street and walk right into Sweet Infusion. It’s hectic and Rian is breezing from the front to the back. Customers are waiting by the pick-up station.

  “Do you need help?” I ask her since there’s no one else here.

  “Oh my God, yes! Pour some coffee, or if you want to go in the back and grab the muffins I just made, that would be great.”

  “I’m good with the coffee pouring,” I say and grab a pot. Then I notice a list of tickets for specialty drinks. I pick up a ticket and hold it up for her. “What about these?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be back to make those. Dylan’s in the shower and then he’s coming over.”

  “I’ll make them.”

  “You know how?” she asks.

  “Country club folks love their fancy coffee drinks.”

  She laughs. “I owe you whatever you want.” She disappears into the kitchen.

  Well, I hope she remembers that promise when I tell her my plan.

  I prepare the coffees and get orders out to a few people who thank me. Rian comes out with a tray of muffins right when Dylan walks in, freshly showered.

  “What do you need, babe?” he asks Rian.

  “I had another savior.” She smiles at me before kissing Dylan quickly.

  Dylan nods at me. “Hey, Kamea.”

  “Hi, Dylan.” I lift my arm in a wave. Lately, I’ve been getting some bad vibes from Dylan and I’m not entirely sure why. I’ve barely ever talked to the guy.

  “Thanks, Kamea. Dylan can t
ake over.”

  A customer comes over to the pick-up ledge and holds up his latte. “This is the best one I’ve ever had.” He smiles at me.

  I nod. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow.” He leaves.

  Rian gapes at me. “Um… that man complains about everything every time he comes in. What did you do?”

  I shrug. “I just made him a latte.”

  “Show me,” she says and leaves Dylan.

  “I’ll manage the register. Is there anything in the back you need me to do?” Dylan puts on an apron that says, “I belong to the baker.”

  “Nope. Everything we have is out now.”

  I show Rian how I make my lattes, though I don’t really think it’s that different from anyone else. Twenty minutes later, another rush comes in. I’ll give it to Dylan—he manages the front end without hardly needing Rian, allowing us to work on all the drinks.

  After it slows down, Dylan grabs a croissant and sits down with a coffee and his phone.

  “Did all your help call in?” I ask Rian.

  She nods. “Yeah, that’s high schoolers for you, right? During the week, I have a few moms who come in the morning and get all the big orders together with me. I’m really going to have to rethink who I’m hiring.”

  “Well, you can keep me on standby. I don’t have any hours at the country club, what with them closing for renovations until the spring. Besides that, I only have my T-shirts.”

  “Oh!” She touches my arm. “I was talking to Jax and he said you did some specialty T-shirts for him?”

  I nod because he swore me to secrecy, but once he actually has them, I plan on disappearing. Frankie might just kick my ass.

  “Could you do some for the shop?”

  I nod. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’ll come by tonight and we can talk about it?”

  I glance at Dylan, who isn’t paying us any attention. “I had a favor to ask you actually.”

  Her shoulders fall. “What?”

  “It’s kind of a long story.” I glance at Dylan again. “Could we talk in the kitchen?”

  “Sure.” She walks toward the kitchen, and I follow her.