by Amelia Shea
“I’m sorry.”
A wide grin spread across his face. “Why ya sorry?”
She shrugged feeling extremely awkward. She wasn’t sure why she’d even said it. “I don’t know, I mean…” She stammered to think of the right way to put it, but now it seemed whatever she said would come out wrong. “I j-just mean…I don’t know what I mean.”
Bogs chuckled. “Kenzie, it’s fine. No need to be sorry, but I think I get what you’re trying to say.”
“Really, ’cause I’m not sure I even know.”
“Are ya sorry that I was adopted because I don’t have my biological parents?”
She slowly nodded. Why the hell couldn’t she have just said that instead of looking like a complete jackass who couldn’t form sentences? “I’m sorry.”
“I feel ya. You feel bad ’cause I didn’t have my real parents like you did but the thing is, mine weren’t good like yours. Don’t even know my dad, not even sure Cheryl, my biological mom, knew who he was. She was really young when she had me. I was raised by my grandparents until they died when I was about seven.”
“You never lived with her?”
“A short stint when I was about three. I don’t remember much, but she came for me, wanting to give the mother thing a shot. Two months later I was back at my grandparents. And right after they died, I lived with her. Part of the will, she only got the money if she took custody. I guess it was my grandparents’ way of a last-ditch effort to be a mom.” He shrugged and looked off at the sidewalk as a jogger and dog passed by.
She got the impression he was avoiding looking at her because he didn’t want her to see it bothered him.
“You don’t have to talk about it, Bogs. I wasn’t trying to pry or anything.”
His head jerked back to her. The corner of his mouth curled. “I didn’t think you were. And it doesn’t bother me. Not anymore.”
He may have said that, but she was reading something else.
“How long did you live with her?”
He snorted playing it off, but she could see in his eyes, anger, and possibly hurt, though he was trying to conceal it. It was there, and she saw it.
“Until the money ran out and her boyfriend decided an eight-year-old was cramping their style. He made her choose.” He paused, and a dark shadow crossed his face. “Two days later, she walked me into children’s services and signed away her rights.” He shook his head. “Didn’t even look back as she walked out the door.”
“Bogs,” she whispered.
He sat up quickly leaning over the table and clasping her hand. “Hey, hey, pretty girl, you look like you’re about to cry.” He leaned closer and in a gentle whisper said. “Stop that. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay, that’s awful and sad and cruel.” She gulped down the knot in her throat. She wasn’t much of a crier, but his story was ripping her heart to pieces. How could a mother just leave her child without regret?
He looked down at their hands when she tightened her grip and squeezed. His other hand covered them and his fingers caressed over their clasped hands. “But that was the worst of it. Got adopted by my mom and dad, couldn’t have asked for two better people. Loved me more than I thought possible. Got three brothers and a pain in the ass little sister.” He smirked and raised his hand, brushing over her wet cheek.
She pulled away and wiped her eyes, feeling silly for getting so upset. She couldn’t help herself. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I would have shut it down, if I wasn’t willing to share, okay?” His hazel eyes gleamed.
She nodded, tightening her lips. He squinted and looked up. “But if you feel so bad and wanna make it up to me, I guess you could kiss it and make it better.”
She rolled her eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “Kiss what exactly?”
“I’ll let you choose.”
She scooted forward in her seat, resting her elbows on the table and leaned in to brush her lips across his. It was meant to be a quick kiss, but when she pulled back slightly and opened her eyes, he was staring at her, smiling. She was done. She pressed her mouth against his again, lingering closely before swiping her tongue across his bottom lip. His mouth opened slightly, and she took advantage, deepening the kiss.
She should be embarrassed. Making out with him over a table in public was not the norm for her, but with him, she had no restraint. His mouth matched hers, and as much as she knew she should end the kiss, she didn’t. Her hand squeezed his as she leaned closer.
Their kiss wasn’t appreciated by all though. Someone blatantly cleared their throat, which made Bogs smile against her lips. He pulled away first but only an inch. His nose glided against hers. “Some people are so rude.”
She laughed. She looked over to the man who was glaring at them. “I think he’s jealous.”
“Of me or you?”
“I don’t know. You are pretty hot.”
They shared a chuckle and went back to their rightful sides of the table. It was a beautiful day, perfect for sitting around with a sexy guy and people watching.
“You surprise me, pretty girl. Didn’t peg you as the PDA kind of girl.”
“I’m usually not.” She lowered her head. It was Bogs who had that effect on her. Her past boyfriends could barely get a peck on the cheek when they were in public, but with him, she was practically crawling over the table to get more. If Taylor could see her now. She snorted, and he lifted his chin.
“What?”
“I’m just thinking how Taylor would be almost shocked. She thinks I’m a bit of a prude.”
“You?” He shook his head. “Not even close.”
“Well, compared to Taylor, everyone’s a prude. She is a bit of a wild child, has been since the day I met her. We’re like Felix and Oscar.”
“You been friends a long time?” Bogs asked.
Kenzie smiled thinking of the first time she met Taylor. “Since the ninth grade. We moved two months into my freshman year. It sucked. Being new and of course,” she smirked, “fresh meat.”
Bogs chuckled. “Must have been rough, huh?”
She nodded. “Yeah. People were nice, but by that time, everyone’s in their cliques, and I was just an outsider. I left behind my own little clique back home. I hated it.” She sighed. “But a week in, I was sitting in history, and the guy me behind was saying shit.” She paused.
“What did he say?”
Kenzie glanced over at Bogs. She usually spent time dodging questions about her past. Not many people dug into it, but when they did, she shut it down quickly. He was different though. Opening up to Bogs didn’t scare her, but it wasn’t the time.
“Typical fourteen-year-old, disgusting, perverted boy stuff.”
Bogs laughed. “Ahhh…I know it well.”
“I bet you do.” She chuckled. “Anyway, in came Taylor. He continued, and it was enough to get her attention. She marched back to where I was sitting. At first, I thought she was going to join in on the teasing. I had seen her a few times, and she had a mouth on her. I kind of braced for it but it never came. She told the guy to back off, but she used a more colorful language and then made him move seats.” Kenzie giggled. “And he actually moved. She took his seat, and when I turned around to thank her, she smiled and said, ‘I’m Taylor, and ya owe me.’”
“You been tight ever since, huh?”
“Yeah, I just have always trusted her, ya know. She gets herself into shit.” She narrowed her eyes. “As you know, but she’s a good person, she just doesn’t think she is. You spend your life having people tell you that you’re a screw-up, stupid, and won’t make anything of yourself—you start to believe it.”
“Her family?”
Kenzie nodded. She wasn’t going to say anymore. It wasn’t her story to tell.
“You think Trent will find her?”
Bogs widened his eyes in surprise. “You want him to?”
“I want her safe.”
He stared back at her. She got the impres
sion he was searching for deception in her face. He wouldn’t find any. At this point, with all that was going down, he hoped Trent would get her and save her from self-destruction. His eyes softened. The way he looked at her had the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. It made her feel beautiful.
“He’ll find her.” He stood up and offered his hand. “Let’s get back to the office. I’ll hear it from the guys if I’m late for the meeting because I went out for ice cream. It’ll tarnish my badass reputation.”
She giggled. Something she did a lot of when she was around him. Hand holding was strange but sweet. They walked down the street, and she couldn’t help but glance down at their hands. To anyone else, they looked like a couple. Were they?
Her face heated and she hoped no one else would notice. They were two doors away from the office. The last thing she needed was T or Stone to see her like this. She had a feeling they missed nothing.
“Blushing again, pretty girl. Are your thoughts naughty? Please say yes.”
“No! I was just wondering why you’re always holding my hand.”
He leaned over as they walked his face brushing up against her hair, close to her ear. “I like touching you.”
Her face heated. He stopped walking and turned to her. “Don’t you like when I touch you?” he asked almost innocently. But she didn’t miss the innuendo behind his words. His tone was seductive. She could lie and say no, but he wouldn’t buy it.
She had never been super shy around people, but Bogs had a weird effect on her. In one instant, she was open and honest, and in the next, she was blushing and shy. She blamed his sexiness. If he told her to drop her panties, she wasn’t sure she’d deny him. Truthfully, she didn’t want to.
“I like it,” she whispered, feeling the crimson heat spread across her cheeks.
His face transformed into a half smile. “Now ya got me thinking dirty thoughts.”
She blurted out without thinking. “How dirty?”
“Want me to show you?”
Yes, was on the edge of her lips.
“About fucking time!”
She jerked her head to the left to see Stone standing outside the door holding it open. She instinctively tugged on her hand when his eyes drew down to their clasped hands. But Bogs didn’t let go. If anything, he tightened his grip and proceeded forward with Kenzie a step behind.
“Union break, man,” Bogs joked. His tone had changed from seductive to light in a matter of seconds.
Stone rolled his eyes as they approached. For the first time, she noticed how handsome he was even with his scarred face. His green eyes landed on her, and she gave a tight smile. Good looking or not, he and T both made her nervous.
“Enjoy your lunch?” It wasn’t sweet or friendly. It was sarcastic and directed at her.
“Ice cream.” The minute the words came out of her mouth she regretted them. She peered up at Stone and blushed. His hard face transformed into a mocking smile.
“Really?” He jerked his head to Bogs. “You took her out for ice cream?”
Bogs was through the door when he glanced back and smirked. “Yeah, working my tongue muscles. Can’t let the tongue get lazy, man.”
Kenzie dropped her head, making no attempt to lift it. This was embarrassing. The snicker from Stone behind her only intensified the heat on her face.
Chapter Thirteen
Bogs spent the last hour and a half researching Dante. He may have underestimated him; the man was no joke. The Houston area underground fight club network wasn’t huge, but it was large enough to score a profit. Dante ran most of it having only three men above him. It was his baby, which made Kenzie’s situation more dangerous.
He had stalled him, but it was apparent Dante would not back down when he realized he was being played. Even if they were able to get Taylor and return the money, he doubted Dante would wash his hands of this. Kenzie might be in the clear, but Taylor had gotten herself in a whole world of shit.
His phone rang, and he answered without looking, something he rarely did.
“Yeah?”
“We got her,” Trent said.
“You did? About time, man, where’d ya get her?
Trent sighed, and Bogs could hear the frustration in his voice. “It’s a long story and having lived it I need more time before rehashing the details.”
Bogs chuckled. “She’s a handful, huh?”
Trent snorted. “I believe the phrase you’re looking for would be psychotic batshit crazy. How this woman managed to survive twenty-four years without being strangled is one of life’s mysteries.”
“You reach out to Dante?”
“Not yet.” He sighed. “Still getting settled here.”
“Where are you?”
“The cabin. It’s the only chance I have of keeping her from running though she is crazy enough to think she can run away. I’m tempted to eat the twelve grand and cut my losses.” Hearing the always even-tempered Trent thrown off his game was new for Bogs. Taylor was doing a number on his associate. The cabin would be the best hideout for them. It was secluded enough to keep her safe and quiet.
The sound of a high-pitched whine and shout came from the background. Maybe not quiet.
“Listen, Bogs, let me handle Dante.”
Bogs dragged his hand over the top of his head, pulling at the strands of hair. Too late. “That’s gonna be a problem, already had words with him.”
Trent sighed. “All right, so where we at?”
“Well, with Taylor in the wind, I was left with little options. Made a deal to help find her for Dante, which you know is bullshit, but he agreed to take the heat off Kenzie. Dante coming here is too fucking dangerous and you know he knows where we’re at.”
“Got it. I’ll take it from here. I’ll meet up and see what I can do to get her out of this.” He paused, and Bogs could hear the muffled ranting in the background. Trent sighed again like a man about to lose patience. “How’s Kenzie?”
Bogs chuckled. “Boss wants to know?”
“I might just kill her.”
He burst out laughing. “She’s fine, safe, and I made a call to Jonah. He’s got a place, pretty secluded. We’ll stay there at night. Not too concerned during the day. Got so much surveillance on the office, no surprise visits to worry about.” With T and Stone as his backup, Dante wouldn’t get past them. “You wanna let them talk?” By their talk earlier, he knew Kenzie was worried. It would probably put her at ease knowing Taylor was safe.
“Not yet. Need to have leverage with Taylor, and I have the feeling Kenzie is the best I got. Let’s hold off on using her until I need it.”
“Sounds like a plan. So, does she have the money?”
Trent snorted. “It’s an interesting story. I’ll fill you in when we get together, not over the phone.”
“Got it. Later, man.”
“Later.”
He hung up and wondered if he’d ever heard Trent so unhinged before. He didn’t think so.
The phone rang before he even put it back on the desk. He glanced down. Roxanne. Well, that lasted only a few hours. The girls must have been in a group text. Nothing was kept secret for very long in his family when it came to his sister and all three sisters-in-law.
“What time do I need to be there?” He didn’t even bother with formalities with his little sister. He knew why she was calling.
“And hello to you too, asshole.”
Bogs smirked. “Is this a social call, Rox?’
“Can’t I call to see how you’re doing? Jeez, Bogs, wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” She giggled. “Or just alone?”
There it was. He’d bet they weren’t even past the driveway when Cassie put the family on blast about Kenzie.
“Definitely not alone.”
“When were you going to tell me? And why am I the last to know?” Roxanne was basically the hub of their family. Not much happened without her knowledge.
Bogs laughed. “I see you’ve talked to Cassie. That didn’t take
long.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She seemed almost offended.
Bogs laughed. “Tell you what?”
“Oh, I don’t know…maybe you met someone. Why am I always the last to know?”
“Okay, reel in your crazy, little sister. I just met her, not planning to elope in Vegas this weekend. Although, a Vegas wedding would be epic.”
“Cassie said you’re bringing her to Dad’s. You never bring any of your women home.”
“Any of my women?” He snorted. “You’re making me sound like a fucking gigolo.”
“I would have used the term ‘man-whore,’ but that’s in the past. So? What’s she like? Don’t bother with the basics. Cassie’s already filled me in.” If he had to guess, Rox was pacing around the room with a grin on her face.
He scrunched his brows. “Filled you in?”
“Yeah, she said she’s beautiful and really sweet. Aww…and you call her pretty girl. I don’t think I can wait. I’m gonna pop over tonight and meet her. How’s seven work for you?”
“It doesn’t. Jeez, Rox, slow down. Finally get a keeper, and you and the rest of the girls are gonna scare her away.”
Roxanne gasped and then did a girly whine like she just saw a puppy. “Aw, she’s a keeper? That’s so sweet.” She paused. “Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my asshole brother?”
Bogs shook his head, laughing. “That was a joke, Rox. Damn, settle down. I. Just. Met. Her.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, whatever. I talked to Stone earlier. You can’t fool me.”
“What did he say?”
“Like I’d tell you.” She snorted. “You wouldn’t even tell me about Kenzie.”
He rolled his shoulders trying to relieve the tension in his neck. He loved Roxanne, but she could be a pain in the ass. “Did Stone happen to mention she was a job?” He would be having a word with Stone after he hung up. Kenzie was definitely something more than just a job, but he didn’t need his family involved. Not yet at least.
Roxanne giggled. “So was Cassie.”
She had him there, and he had no snarky comeback. It was useless trying to cover it, and why should he? The thing he had with Kenzie was different. Were they going to elope? No. But the connection they had went beyond a job.
