She trailed a hand along the ridge of her collarbone and over the mound of her breast at the thought of his wide shoulders and stubbled jaw. Her nipple tightened beneath her palm. She rolled it between thumb and finger, gasping at the sting of pleasure. With her other hand, she stroked down the swell of her belly to the narrow strip of curls between her legs. A moan slipped from her parted lips as she pictured his hands on her body and his lips doing things to her down there, the rasp of bearded stubble on the inside of her thighs, her begging him for more, his throaty voice whispering dirty commands in her ear…
She lay in bed glassy-eyed for a long time afterward. Her fingers had done nothing to quell the sexual tension inspired by the unexpected kiss at the bus stop. A stray breeze ventured in through the open window and carried on it the occasional voice of one of her neighbors or a television. When pink and orange streaked the eastern sky, she closed her eyes and thought no more.
Sometime in late morning, Karly’s phone shattered a deep and dreamless sleep. Disoriented, she rubbed her eyes and groped for her cell. The sound of Ally’s voice brought a smile to her lips.
“Hey, girl,” Ally said.
“What’s new, Suzy Q?” Karly replied, lips curving upward at their standard greeting.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re still going to Felony with me tonight. Or did you forget? You didn’t answer any of my texts." Ally was knee-deep in a sexcapade with Randy’s friend Jack, the manager of Felony Bar. Karly couldn’t blame her. Jack might possibly be the ultimate bad boy with his panty-dropping grin and rock star looks.
“I’m sorry. I did forget. I want to go, but…” She wavered, embarrassed by her pitiful situation. “To be honest, Al, things are pretty tight right now, and I wanted to ship a care package to Emma. She’s growing out of her clothes every other day.” Her gaze flicked to the pink backpack and fuzzy sweater on the dresser. Every few weeks, she sent Emma a little something, knowing her parents were less than generous with their time and money.
“Since when did a pretty girl like you need money to go out on a Friday night?” Ally asked brightly. “Jack put our names at the door so we don't have to pay cover. Once we get inside, you’ll have guys falling over each other to buy you drinks.”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lower lip. Ally had a great job, drove a BMW, and lived in historic Old Towne. She had no idea the amount of planning and work it took to make ends meet. “And this is my only night off for the next two weeks.”
“Exactly,” Ally replied. “I’m not going take no for an answer. Now, get your ass over here, and we’ll call a cab from my place. My treat.”
“Well…” Karly heaved a sigh as duty warred with conscience. A night out to clear her head and think about something other than bills, money, and Emma might save her sanity.
“I’ll feed you,” Ally said, her tone wheedling. “How about steak and a baked potato? On the grill?”
At the mention of food, Karly’s empty stomach growled. “Fine. I’m in,” she replied and sat up in bed, her interest in life renewed. “I do need it. Badly.”
“Late night?”
“Shitty night.” Without divulging the details of Jerome, she highlighted the evening, focusing on Emma, Mitch, and the disconnect notice.
She could feel Ally’s scowl through the phone. “You need a new job. You’re so much better than The Scotsman. Have you been looking? What about that job at the newspaper?"
“Not interested. They wanted someone with experience.” Karly sighed. “It seems a degree in English literature isn’t very viable in this city. At least not without a masters of some kind.”
“Stick with it. Get your teaching certificate, and they’ll be knocking down your door. You’ve made it this far. And I’m so proud of you. You can do it, Karly. You can’t get discouraged now when you’re so close.”
Did Ally know how badly she’d needed to hear those words? Her throat thickened, and she swallowed hard to force down the lump. “You’re right. I can do this." The words brought the sting of tears to her eyes. She swiped at them with the back of her hand. Time for a subject matter change. “Jack’s friend, Randy, was there last night."
“Randy Mackenzie? Really?” Ally’s tone brightened with interest. “Now there’s a guy with a story to tell. What was he doing?”
“I don’t know. He was alone. Drinking water. He seems really nice,” Karly replied cautiously. “I liked him.”
“Did you see that scar on his neck? Wicked.” Ally sucked in an audible breath.
Karly’s fingers curled at the memory of his hard chest beneath her hands and the taste of his kiss. Her lips curved into a secret smile. “I kissed him, and I have to admit it was pretty hot.”
Karly heard the muffled sound of voices in Ally’s office as she spoke with her receptionist. “Sure, Penny. I’ll be with her in a minute. Sorry, Karls. I've got a meeting in a few.” She cleared her throat. “Excuse me? Did you just say you kissed him? Seriously? Damn, girl. I wish I had your balls."
“Yeah, well, I’m pretty embarrassed about it.”
“You keep telling me to go for it with Jack. Maybe you need to take a little of your own advice.”
The idea of repressed Ally dispensing advice about men made her snort with amusement. “I don’t have time right now for a relationship. I need to focus on school and Emma."
"All work and no play makes Karly a dull girl,” Ally chimed. “I miss fun, crazy Karly. I want her back. I hate seeing you tired and sad all the time. And ever since London, you've been a little...off."
London? Just like that, Jerome reared his ugly head again. She tapped the phone against her forehead to knock out the disparaging thoughts. How could she possibly tell Ally about her relationship with Jerome or explain the sickening self-loathing it inspired? Ally, with her black-and-white attitude toward the world, would never understand.
A fierce knock at the door caused her to flinch, and she nearly dropped the phone.
“Someone’s here, Al. I’ve got to go. I’ll text you later, okay?"
Karly scrambled out of the disheveled bed and trotted to the door wearing a T-shirt and panties, dropping the phone onto the coffee table on her way. No one ever came to her apartment. Not even Ally. She was careful to keep her friends away so they wouldn’t know just how pathetic her life really was. She glanced through the peephole to find Mitch standing in the hallway, dressed in his blue police uniform, an irritated scowl on his face.
“Hang on. I’ll be right there,” she shouted. "I’m not dressed.”
Mitch pounded on the door again. The pictures on the wall rattled from the impact. Mr. Gonzalez pounded on the ceiling directly below her feet. She pulled on a pair of sweats, scowled, and stomped on the floor in reply.
“I said hold on,” she grumbled and flung open the door. Mitch pushed into the apartment followed by a small, pale shadow. Emma. Karly fell to her knees and pulled her into her arms. She felt so thin, almost as if her bones might snap with too much force. The little girl wrapped her arms around Karly and held on for dear life. It was the best feeling in the world.
“Hey, jelly bean, I’ve missed you,” Karly said. “What are you doing here?”
“I tried to call,” Mitch snapped, “but your cell went to voice mail.” He didn’t pause for an explanation but continued in his usual steamroller fashion. “She ran away. One of my buddies from Precinct 12 picked her up at the bus stop and called me.”
“I was coming to see you,” Emma said into the crook of Karly’s neck. “I know you said to be strong, but I just couldn’t take it any longer.”
“Oh, honey, it’s okay.” Karly stroked the length of Emma’s back, smoothing down the long strawberry curls so like her own. She pulled back a little so she could smile reassuringly at Emma, but the smile faded from her lips with one glance at the little girl’s face. An ugly green smudge on the pale cheek and a swollen bottom lip brought tears to Karly’s eyes.
“Did he hit you?” Karly’s voice
shrilled into the next octave. “Look at me, Emma. Did the bastard hit you?”
Emma’s beautiful blue eyes filled with tears. “No, he tried, but I kicked him in the nuts like you showed me.” Karly bit her lip to hold back a smile while her chest constricted with remorse. “I climbed out the bedroom window and fell. And then I ran to the bus stop so I could come here.” Emma tugged on a strand of Karly’s hair. "Am I in trouble?”
“No. You aren’t in trouble.” Anguish, unlike anything she had ever known, squeezed her insides. She should have been there to stop him. She should have done more to protect this precious child. With a flood of fierce emotion, she wrapped Emma in her arms, wishing she could take away all the hurt and fear with one hug.
“Stop it, Karly. You’re squashing me,” Emma protested and tried to wriggle free.
“And I suppose you didn’t do anything about it?” Karly turned her rage and indignation onto her brother. “You’re just going to let him get away with this? Let him beat her until she’s broken like Mom?” The flames of fury consumed every thought until she saw nothing but red. "Well, I’m not. If you don’t do anything about it, then I will.”
The floor shook with the impact of her steps as she stomped to the phone on the coffee table.
“You’re not reporting this, Karls. There’ll be an investigation, child services will come in, and they’ll take Emma away. You don’t want that do you?” He scrubbed a hand over his face, the features a more masculine version of hers and Emma’s. "I can’t afford the scandal right now. I’m up for detective.”
“I don’t give a crap about your promotion,” Karly hissed. “If you don’t do anything about this, you’re a shitty cop and an even shittier brother.”
“Please, don’t call.” Emma’s voice rang with terror. She clung to Karly with renewed fervor, blue eyes wide. Tears spilled down her freckled cheeks in twin rivulets. “I don’t want to go away. Can’t I stay here with you? I promise to be good. I’ll pick up around the house.” The small hands stroked Karly’s hair. “I can fix you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
“No one is going away,” Karly said.
“Do what you want. Just keep my name out of it.” Mitch glared and threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know why I worry. You never listen to me anyway.”
“Because you never give me any good advice,” Karly said, returning his glare with equal force.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Karly asked Emma a little while later. They were lying on the bed in Karly’s room. With the curtains closed and the window air conditioner turned to full blast, it was a cool oasis from the oppressive heat outside. Emma curled into Karly’s side, wriggling and sighing like a blissful kitten.
“Too frigging much. That’s what Mitch says,” Emma replied. Her eyelids drooped with exhaustion.
“Emma Ann, language,” Karly reprimanded, determined to keep a straight face but having difficulty.
“You say it all the time,” Emma said with her eyes closed.
“Well, I’m going to stop right now. Ladies don’t swear. You can help keep me in line.” Karly smoothed a hand over the curve of Emma’s cheek where her eyelashes fanned against the pale skin.
A fierce flood of self-righteous indignation surged through her at the bruise on the innocent face. Maybe he hadn’t hit her this time, but next time might be another story. Emma was nothing but sweetness and light and represented everything that was good in the world. She was the reason that Karly kept trying to do better, and damned if she would let a heartless son-of-a-bitch like their father ruin Emma’s life the way he had ruined hers.
“Do I have to go back?” Emma asked. Her small hand found its way into Karly’s, but her eyes stayed shut. “I want to stay with you.”
“I know, june bug. There’s nothing I would like more. As soon as I get a good job and a place for us to live, we can talk about it.” She dropped a kiss on Emma's forehead, choking back tears. “Go ahead and take a nap. Then we’ll have some lunch before I take you home.”
CHAPTER 5
FROM AN outside table at Giovanni’s Bistro, Randy watched the hustle and bustle of the city, drinking in the sensations of urban life on a Friday morning. Heat shimmered across the busy sidewalks in glittering waves. Car horns beeped over the rumble of traffic. An ambulance siren bleated from a few blocks away, interrupted by bursts of jackhammers from the construction site at the next intersection. He glanced at the clock on the bank building across the street. Quarter past eleven. Pilar was late.
Wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans, he tried to ignore the nervous apprehension in the pit of his stomach and focus on the headlines of the morning newspaper. Crime rates up. Unemployment rates climbing. Gas prices at an all-time high. No surprises there. He rolled his eyes and folded the paper, preferring to watch the crowd instead.
“Daddy!” An excited shriek from behind had him twisting in his seat just in time to see Caleb break free from Pilar’s grasp and rocket down the sidewalk. He rose from his chair and swept the little boy into his arms. Red-haired and freckled, Caleb clutched Randy’s face between chubby hands and peppered his cheeks with sticky kisses. The swell of his heart tested the boundary of his ribs, threatening to burst within its confines.
“Hi, buddy. How’s my boy? Look how big you are.” Randy closed his eyes and drank in the clean scent of the curly red hair. Caleb ducked his head and squealed with glee.
When he opened his eyes, he met the cool brown stare of Pilar over Caleb’s shoulder. Not so very long ago, those liquid eyes had glowed with affection and desire. Today they held nothing but contempt and irritation. Balancing Caleb on one hip, Randy withdrew a chair for Pilar then took a seat beside her. Caleb settled on his lap.
“Nice of you to make it,” she said.
“I’ve been here for thirty minutes,” he replied.
The shrug of her slender shoulders suggested disbelief. The tone of her voice indicated she was ready for a fight. He choked back any further comments and waited patiently for her to say something, anything, to get the unpleasantness over and done. When she didn’t speak after a full minute, he cleared his throat and gave it a try.
“You look good,” he said and meant it. Her waist-length, glossy hair was piled into a messy updo, loose tendrils framing her oval face. Caramel skin glowed with a healthy tan, enriching the auburn highlights in her hair. A loose halter-top flowed over her small breasts in the minimal breeze. She’d never been more beautiful.
“Save it,” she said with a wave of her hand, refusing to meet his eyes. “Let’s just get this over with.” She opened her purse, withdrew a set of familiar keys, sunlight glinting off the metal, and slid them across the table. The finality of the gesture made his gut twist with unfamiliar angst. “Your keys. And I packed up the rest of your stuff. I'll send it over to you in a couple of days.”
“I can come and get it…” he began, but she shook her head.
“No. It’s better if you stay away.” All business, she withdrew a card from the purse before snapping it shut. “This is my attorney’s name. We’ll need to set up some sort of custody agreement and support payments. You can contact her next week. She’s expecting your call."
The detachment of her voice rang with finality. So this is it. He stared at the business card, the fancy script, and the downtown address, wishing he could close his eyes and make it all go away.
“We don’t need lawyers, Pilar. I’m sure we can work this out.” When his hand rested on top of hers, she winced as if he’d struck her and pulled her hand away.
“No, Randy, we can’t. We’ve been living apart for months. You need to accept it. I’m not coming back.”
Why the hell couldn’t she look him in the face when she stabbed him in the heart? All he could see was her profile, and it told him nothing. Caleb squirmed in his lap, silenced by the tension between his parents, tiny brow furrowed with distress as he looked from mother to father.
“You could at leas
t tell me why.” His voice cracked on the words. Searching her face, he saw the answer, knew it even before she spoke. “There's someone else, isn’t there?”
Tears glimmered in her eyes, sparkling in the sunlight, but the set of her face remained stoic. “Yes. There is.” His gut wrenched, torn in two by the clipped precision of her words.
“Who? Who is he?” Pain shot up his arm. Looking down, he saw his free hand clenched into a tight fist, knuckles white with the strain.
“I’m not going to tell you. You’ll just do something stupid.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “He’s what I want, Randy. He’s got a good job, kids of his own.”
Whatever she said after that was lost in the heat of his anger. If Caleb hadn’t been in his lap, he would have broken something, probably his hand on the lamppost or the table. A fleeting memory of Karly holding an upraised stick, searching for something to smash, flashed through his thoughts then disappeared as quickly as it came. He sucked in a breath and tried to remain calm.
“We’ve been together for a while,” she said, eyes cast down to the pigeon pecking crumbs from the sidewalk.
“For a while? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Fuck,” Caleb repeated, eyes trained on Randy’s mouth in fascination.
“No, buddy. That’s a grownup word. Daddy shouldn’t have said that.” Caleb frowned while Randy put his hands over the little boy’s ears and leaned across the table, the words hissing out of him with a fury he didn’t know he was capable of. “So when you came by Felony a few weeks ago and seduced me? That was what? Some kind of going-away fuck?” In his arrogance, he’d taken the incident as a sign of hope when it had been nothing but a farewell.
The set of Pilar’s jaw tightened. “Sure. I guess so. We never had problems there.”
“So where is the problem? Make me understand.”
The legs of her chair scraped across the cement as she pushed the chair from the table and stood. Lips pressed tight with rage, she yanked their son from his arms. Caleb’s lower lip trembled, and his eyes filled with tears.
Felony Romance Series: Complete Box Set (Books 1-5) Page 27
