Down and Dirty_A Bad Boy Romantic Suspense_Shameless Southern Nights

by J. H. Croix

  A sharp knock sounded at my door, and George, my foreman on the Maxwell job, stuck his bearded face in the door. “We’re loaded up and ready to go.”

  “You take the team and go on ahead. I’ll meet you there. I need to swing by the salon and straighten things up with Sarah first.”

  He shot me a thumbs up, rapping twice on the door and turning to leave. I heard him calling out to the team, “We’re moving out.”

  There was some yelling back and forth, vehicles starting and the boys were off. I left the office, jogging to my truck and heading straight to the salon. Traffic was practically non-existent in Cypress, so I pulled up to the salon minutes later.

  I’d been trying to shove thoughts of Marie out of my mind, but it was a losing battle. Her flat no to me smarted. More than I’d like to admit. Women didn’t usually get to me. Certainly not like this. Much as I wanted to chalk my draw to her up to pure lust, it was more than that. I wouldn’t deny the physical pull—hell, I couldn’t be near her and not want her—but I’d wanted more than dinner too. Now that she’d gone and turned me down, I wanted to know why. And that was plain crazy. I shook my mind off of Marie and rolled my truck to a stop.

  Sarah was outside when I got there, a small boy clasping onto her hand as she showed him something in the flower planter outside the door. I didn’t know the boy, and I didn’t know enough about children to guess his age, but he stood to just below her hip and had a shock of dark hair.

  “Good morning,” I called out after I’d parked, crossing the street to Sarah and the boy. She turned around, greeting me with a warm smile.

  “Morning Mr. Lovett.” She craned her neck, looking around to find the street empty of my team’s vehicles. “Unless you’re here to finish up by yourself, I’m assuming your troubles at your other job continue.”

  It wasn’t a question. “You assume correctly. I wanted to explain the situation to you personally.”

  Sarah waved me off, still smiling. “You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it. Please tell me you expect to be back soon?”

  “Monday,” I promised. “We’ll be here ready to go first thing in the morning.”

  The boy was watching our exchange quietly, half hidden behind Sarah and still clutching her hand. His eyes were alert as they bounced from me to Sarah and back again. I dropped to my haunches, extending my hand to him. “Hi there. I’m Jeremy.”

  The boy regarded me for a long moment and loosened his grip on Sarah’s hand to take mine, but he remained slightly behind her. “Good morning sir, I’m Austin.”

  His hand was tiny in mine, but he squeezed nonetheless. “It’s nice to meet you Austin. And none of that sir stuff, it makes me feel old.”

  Austin giggled shyly, stepping out from behind Sarah some. His deep green eyes lit up in childlike amusement and he glanced at Sarah, who smiled at him encouragingly. He met my eyes again, dropping his voice to a stage whisper. “But you’re older than my mom, and she’s old.”

  A laugh erupted from me before I could stop it. Sarah didn’t look hurt by his comment, her own eyes shining with amusement as she chuckled. “To be so young again that people in their twenties seem old.”

  “He’s not wrong,” I told her, my lips still pulled up into a smile. “I am on the wrong side of twenty five.”

  Sarah tsked, looking fondly down at Austin. “There is no wrong side of twenty five, unless you’re five yourself.”

  “I’m five,” Austin piped up. Sarah ruffled his hair affectionately and reached for his hand.

  “Exactly,” she said, starting to guide him back to the salon. “We’ll see you on Monday, Jeremy. Come on in with me, Austin. I’ll show you how I’m going to make Aunt June’s hair purple later.”

  Austin hesitated, looking back at me. He finally lifted his hand and waved at me, mischief in his eyes as he smiled, “Good bye Jeremy-on-the-wrong-side-of-twenty-five.”

  Another laugh escaped me as I waved back. “Bye five-year-old Austin.”

  He giggled and followed Sarah back inside. I stared after them for a second, watching as the salon’s door shut behind him. I assumed Austin was Sarah’s kid, though he looked nothing like her. He must’ve had his father’s looks. He was cute though, I liked him.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket, drawing my attention to a text from George informing me that they were at the job site and ready to get started. I turned and waited to cross the street to my truck when I heard my named being called out softly behind me.

  Marie stood just outside the salon door, her arms entwined and her palms clasped together in front of her. A jolt went through me at the sight of her. She really was beautiful. Her green eyes were lined with black, just enough to accentuate them without overdoing it. An emerald green shirt further added to the pop of her eyes, hanging low enough in the front to reveal the beginning of a cleavage. I had to fight to keep my eyes on her face.

  The lush curves of her breasts were far too tempting.

  I allowed my eyes to drop once, lingering on the curves. When I lifted my eyes back to hers, I was surprised to find her checking me out right back.

  A slight flush colored her cheeks when she realized she’d been caught. It was so damn cute that one corner of my mouth lifted and a few too many naughty thoughts jumped into my mind. But I wasn’t in high school anymore. That Jeremy would’ve been all over her after a look that hot.

  Old Jeremy, as Austin had been kind enough to remind me that I now was, waited for her to finish her appraisal in silence, biting back the comments and simply raising an eyebrow at her.

  “Hey Marie. What’s up?”

  I forced my tone to stay casual. It rankled me that her rejection stung so. It shouldn’t. But then, I wasn’t accustomed to wanting someone the way I wanted her.

  Marie cleared her throat nervously, the flush on her cheeks deepening. “I… uh. I just wanted to apologize for not agreeing to the dinner the other day.”

  She wanted to apologize for turning me down? That was a new one. “It’s no problem. I understand.”

  I started to say goodbye, but she cut me off before I could get a word out. She was fidgeting with her hands in front of her, her eyes glued to the sidewalk. “If you’re still free tomorrow, I’d like to go to dinner with you.”

  If I were in an animation, my eyes would’ve popped out and my jaw would’ve hit the floor in surprise. Thankfully, in reality, I was able to stop that from happening. “Sure, I’m free.”

  Relief flooded her bright green eyes and her grip on her hands relaxed. “Okay.”

  “Okay.” I flashed her a smile. I had no idea what’d happened to change her mind, but this day was suddenly looking up. She must not have had a boyfriend after all.

  We exchanged phone numbers and by the time I got back to my truck, I felt like there was a new pep in my step. I kept Marie in my rearview mirror as I drove away.

  She was fucking hot. The day was definitely looking up.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Marie

  My breath caught in my lungs as I watched Jeremy drive away, only escaping in a rush when he turned the corner. A smile bloomed from the inside out, a sense of pride winding its way through me that I’d actually mustered the courage to approach him.

  He had asked me out first, to be fair. But for someone who’d crushed on this guy for years back in school and eventually in college, I couldn’t believe I’d put myself out there like that. I hadn’t been assertive with a man in years, if ever. This definitely hadn’t been a bad outcome for a first try.

  I would’ve punched the air, but there were people moving about on the sidewalk. I satisfied myself with a quiet happy dance inside and returned to the salon, so excited that I felt like I was floating on air.

  Sarah met me at my station, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes along with giddiness that rivaled my own. “So? Tell me everything.”

  “There’s not too much to tell.”

  She swatted my bicep, laughing. “Don’t be coy with me, girl. Are you goi
ng on a date with that fine specimen of masculinity or not?”

  “I am.” Warmth crept up to my cheeks at the admission, doubts threatening to creep in along with it. I pushed them away, clearing up the only thing that really mattered with Sarah. “Are you sure you’re okay with watching Austin tomorrow night?”

  Austin was playing over at the coffee station where Sarah had set out a blanket for him with some plastic farm animals. I had no idea where she’d produced that while I’d been outside. She seemed prepared for anything, and Austin had taken to her like a duck to water.

  “What do you say, little man?” she asked him. “You up for staying with me for the night tomorrow?”

  His spine straightened and his eyes lit up, glancing to me as though he was waiting for me to say it was okay. I nodded and he jumped up, running to Sarah and wrapping his arms around her legs. “Can I? Please can I?”

  She laughed. “You can, buddy. We’re going to have so much fun.”

  I was surprised that Austin had taken to Sarah so quickly and so completely, but it soothed my nerves about leaving him with someone for the night. He would be fine with her, more than fine. He released Sarah’s legs, hugged mine too and then zoomed back to the blanket, chanting with his fists in the air. “Fun, fun, fun.”

  Both Sarah and I watched him as he settled back into the makeshift play area. It was early yet and our first customers wouldn’t be coming in for a few minutes, so I reached out and gave Sarah’s arm a squeeze. “Thank you so much for doing this for me.”

  She smiled softly, placing her hand over mine to return the squeeze. “It’s an absolute pleasure. He’s a great kid. It’ll be nice to have that energy around the house for a while.”

  “He’s energetic, alright. If there’s ever anything I can do...”

  She didn’t allow me to finish that thought, nudging my shoulder with hers. “Nonsense.” Watching Austin for another second, her lips curled into a grin and she turned her attention to me. “Well, one thing. If you get lucky, I want to know all about it.”

  Heat bloomed from my chest to my cheeks, all the way to my ears. “Sarah! That’s not going to happen.”

  “The getting lucky or the telling me about it?” she countered with a sly grin, capturing my eyes with hers.

  “Either. Neither.” I shook my head vigorously. “There is no telling you about anything. And don’t be ridiculous, nothing is happening other than dinner.”

  Sarah arched a brow, a snort escaping, as she broke away from me when the bell jingled to indicate the arrival of our first customer. “A man who looks like that? You should climb him like a tree. None of this ‘nothing is happening’ BS.”

  My cheeks got so hot, I didn’t dare look in the mirror, afraid I’d find my face beet red. “Sarah. Don’t.”

  Tinkling laughter followed her all the way to the door as she went to meet the client, winking at me over her shoulder before greeting her customer. “You can tell me ‘don’t’ as much as you want, as long as you have more fun than that. Annie! How are you?”

  Annie, a blonde woman who looked vaguely familiar looked between Sarah and I, then smiled and made her way to Sarah’s station. “I’m good, ready for a change. What scandalous things are you telling your new girl that’s got her looking like a tomato?”

  Sarah laughed, draping the protective sheet over Annie’s clothes. “The new girl’s name is Marie. Marie, this is my niece Annie. Don’t know if you two have met, Marie’s a few years younger than you.”

  “Doesn’t take much these days,” Annie sighed, smiling wide. She lifted her hair from out under the covering and met my eyes in the mirror. “Whatever she said to you, you should ignore her. That’s what I do, else I would spend half my life hiding under a rock in embarrassment.”

  “Oh hush,” Sarah said with a smile, swatting Annie’s shoulder with the small towel she was about to drape over her.

  “They’re talking about climbing trees,” Austin piped up helpfully, suddenly behind us.

  Oh Dear God. Sarah burst out laughing, while I wished for that rock Annie had mentioned to crawl under and a knowing, amused expression crossed Annie’s face.

  “Trees huh?” she asked with a giggle, casting her eye over Sarah before doing the same to me, finally settling on Austin. “I’m sure they were, cutie. Who are you?”

  I coughed, trying to push down my mortified humiliation that he’d overheard at least a part of our conversation and was now sharing it with this woman. “This is Austin, my son.”

  Sarah’s laughter and Annie’s amusement seemed to seep into Austin, who was soon chuckling as he walked up to Annie. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You too, Austin. I’m Annie.”

  The bell jingling mercifully signaled the arrival of my first client and soon, the other stylists arrived and our work day kicked off in earnest. Austin spent the day at the salon with us, playing between Sarah and I, chatting to other stylists and our clients.

  Everyone was ecstatic about him, and he basked in the attention. I hadn’t seen him so upbeat around other people in a really long time. He was completely comfortable in the salon. Between all the people there throughout the day, it was hard to believe it was his first time there.

  It had only been a couple of weeks since the move, but Austin was already doing so much better. He was crawling out of the shell he’d retreated into before we’d left Savannah at a startling rate. It reaffirmed my belief that I’d done the right thing by moving us here.

  The move had been beneficial to us both in more ways than one. I could kick myself for not making the move earlier, but then again, it was probably working out as well as it was because the timing had been right for it. I kept an eye on him all day, but I wasn’t the only one.

  The other stylists took him under their wings, making sure he had everything he needed while I was busy with my customers. I’d heard the saying before that it took a village to raise a child, but for the first time, it was making sense to me.

  I’d been my own village for so long that it had been unfathomable to me that others might want to or be able to help. Seeing him blossom under all the attention, growing comfortable and eagerly learning as others explained to him what they were doing, I was starting to see the error in my ways.

  I was finally among people I could trust with him. It was a strange feeling, but a good one. Austin was tuckered out by the time we arrived home and ate dinner quickly before brushing his teeth and heading off to bed.

  Tucking him in later, I smoothed his hair back off his forehead and pressed a kiss to the soft skin there. “You sure you’re okay with staying over at Sarah’s tomorrow, baby?”

  A tired smile came to his lips as his eyes sought out mine. “I like Sarah. We’re going to have fun mommy.”

  “I know you are, but if you’re not having fun anymore, you can call me anytime, okay?”

  Nodding, something occurred to him and his brows knitted together with a worried frown. I hated to see it because he was far too young to be wearing it. “I’m okay with it, but are you?”

  Warmth spread through me as I pressed a kiss to his temple and brushed his hair back from his forehead. Despite my worries about what he’d been through, he was a sweet boy and for that I was blessed. He was always looking out for me. “I’m okay with it. Promise.”

  The line between his eyebrows smoothed out as his lids fluttered closed. “Good. I’ll be fine mommy. I like Sarah.”

  “So do I, honey,” I whispered, staying with him until his breathing evened out, and I knew he was asleep. I rose quietly and gently from his bed so as not to wake him, leaving his door open just a sliver so some light could filter in the way he liked.

  I would have to remember to tell Sarah that he didn’t like sleeping in complete darkness. My heart started racing as I thought about spending the night away from him, and I began making a list in my head of everything that I needed to remember to tell her.

  Pressing a hand to my chest, I forced myself to take a deep
breath and calm down as I headed to my own room next to Austin’s. Sarah was great with him, and she had my number. No matter where Jeremy and I went to dinner, I’d be minutes away from him at any given time as long as we stayed in Cypress Creek.

  We’d both be fine. I knew some anxiety at being separated from him was normal, but I had to calm down. I smiled as I thought back at the day and how happy and upbeat he’d been at the salon. I hadn’t heard him laugh so much in ages. I relaxed on my bed, pulling the sheets up to my chin once I’d completed my nighttime routine and changed into my pajamas.

  Perhaps it wasn’t Austin I should be worrying about. I hadn’t been on a date in years. And now I was breaking that ice with Jeremy Lovett of all people. Just being close to Jeremy was like brushing up against fire. He made me hot all over, and my mind hazed with need. And he was nice. Dear God. He was nice. He’d make me want all kinds of things if I let myself. For now, I told myself I needed to keep this simple. It was just a date. Maybe, just maybe, a taste of Jeremy Lovett was all I needed. A corner of my heart and all of my body seriously doubted that.

  Drifting off to sleep, I wondered if I wouldn’t be better off simply staying in with Austin and Sarah too.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jeremy

  “How do I look, boy? Decent?”

  Arcadian didn’t even lift his head at my question, his eyes closing as soon as he huffed out a breath and collapsed onto my bed. “Thanks for being a pal.”

  He didn’t react to that either, the hulking black beast starting to snore softly after burrowing deeper into the mattress. He was my best friend, but sometimes I wondered about his intentions toward me. Whatever, I knew he’d be there for me if I really needed him.

  Stopping at the mirror on the way out of my room, I gave myself a last look over. I wasn’t the type to fuss over clothes, so I figured my jeans and black button up shirt would do. I was good to go.

  Glancing at my watch, I needed to get moving if I wanted to be on time. I didn’t believe in being fashionably late. You were either early, on time, or late. My football coach had drilled that into us, telling us on more than one occasion that being late was only acceptable if you wanted to run drills.